HERO SPLENDOR iSMART 110
Touted as the first ever product to be designed from the ground up by Hero MotoCorp at their new R&D facility in Jaipur, the new Splendor iSmart retains everything that endeared the bike to the public while adding on some more to make it even more endeari
ISTOP AT THE purpose-built signal on the test-track and after about 30 odd seconds of idling the bike’s engine cuts off. On green, I pull the clutch in and it restarts without batting an eyelid. I slot it into gear and continue riding. Now, this particular aspect of the newly launched Hero Splendor iSmart may not be entirely new, but there’s plenty of newness in this machine to make you want to take a spin on it. At the same time, Hero MotoCorp have been really smart in not fixing (or even upgrading) anything on the bike that previous customers of the iSmart found endearing, including the red and grey paint scheme on our test bike.
But who’s interested in the old stuff, anyway; we all want to know what’s new, correct? To start with, the new bike features edgier styling and looks sharper and more contemporary than before. The fairing and the headlamp have been redesigned for a slightly more aggressive visage and the lines of the 8.5-litre petrol-tank, too, have been sharpened. At the rear, the split grab-rails look very nice and are great to hang on to as well. What remains unchanged is the upright commuter-like riding posture, which works really well when commuting through the Indian cityscape. Look closer, and you’ll also realise that the iSmart 110 is bigger than the 100-cc iSmart (refer sizing chart). The seat is mostly flat and super comfortable, which will be a key ask for the average Indian commuter.
The most notable visual difference between the iSmart 110 and the 100-cc iSmart is the change in the engine’s orientation for the old and familiar 100-cc sloper has now been replaced with a 110-cc engine that is vertically orientated. The other noticeable change in the bike is the absence of a headlamp switch. Hero have preempted future regulations and have equipped the iSmart with auto headlamp on (AHO), which keeps the headlamp on throughout the duration that the engine remains on, thus improving the bike’s and the rider’s visibility to other road-users.
Apart from the visual changes, Hero claim that the bike has been designed by them from scratch. What that essentially means is that both the engine and the chassis of the Splendor iSmart have been designed at Hero MotoCorp’s Centre for Innovation and Technology (CIT) in Jaipur. The bike is now powered by a 109.15-cc air-cooled single-cylinder engine with two valves. Output ratings, though increased from the max power and torque of the 100-cc iSmart, are a modest 9.5 PS at 7,500 RPM and 9.0 Nm at 5,500 RPM. On the go, thanks to the extra power and torque, the bike feels a bit peppier than before. Despite its humble output, it doesn’t feel underpowered. There is enough grunt for commuting duties, even with a pillion on board. Of course, if you’re going to whack the throttle and try your skills at drag racing, then this is probably not your best bet.
Engine apart, the chassis of this bike has also been redesigned with changes to the geometry. According to Markus Feichtner, Head of Engine Design and Development at Hero MotoCorp’s CIT, the change in the engine’s orientation from near horizontal to near vertical also meant a change in the chassis. The new double-cradle frame has been designed for enhanced agility through traffic. As a result, the iSmart 110 feels more intuitive when you want to filter through traffic, which, in turn, boosts rider confidence. The fact that Hero engineers have worked on lowering the centre of gravity despite increasing ground clearance by five millimetres also helps the bike’s ability to instil confidence in the rider. This, however, has not been at the cost of ride comfort. The Hero iSmart continues to offer a pliant ride quality, which is a boon for Indian commuters.
Where braking is concerned, the iSmart 110 gets a 130-mm drum up front and a 110-mm drum at the rear. Under hard braking the bike remains stable and tracks a straight line. For a complete drum brake setup, there’s decent bite and progression, too, but we would still prefer at least a front disc. More so since there are other 110-cc bikes that offer this option.
On the whole then, here’s what we think of the Hero Splendor iSmart 110. It’s got some innovative (including at least one first-in-class) features. It handles well, rides well and there’s enough grunt from the engine to fulfil a commuter’s needs. The bike has been launched at Rs 53,100, ex-showroom in Pune, and at that price this Hero sits squarely between the offerings from TVS and Honda, their two big rivals in this segment. Is it good value for money? We would think so but will Hero’s customers concur? We’ll have to take a look at Hero’s sales charts over the coming months to answer that one.