Hero Maestro Edge
Refuelling has never been more convenient
AAFTER THE KWID LEFT the evo fleet last month, I honestly expected the Ed to send another car my way. Instead, occupying one-fifth of the space in my garage is the Hero Maestro Edge. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with the Maestro. It’s the weather that is the problem. Commuting on a scooter when Zeus has decided to wreak havoc in Pune isn’t a particularly joyful experience. Oh well, out comes the raincoat and gum boots. The Maestro doesn’t feel as robust as the competition but it does have a couple of unique features to sell itself on. Like that versatile keyhole. You’d call me a lazy bum if I start complaining about how refuelling a scooter is a bothersome affair. But when you can replace the act of getting off, opening the seat and unscrewing the fuel lid with a simple flick of wrist… it puts things into perspective. I don’t even have to get off the scooter because the fuel lid that opens is located conveniently above the tail light and the fuel attendant does the rest.
But then they’ve gone and put a cubby hole on the front apron and that requires a completely different key to open. And the steering column eats into most of the space inside, leaving you with a really quirky shaped storage space. I generally just store my wallet, phone and maybe a cloth there. But if you want to store anything remotely larger, you’re better off putting it in the storage under the seat. What the Maestro scores points for though is its height. It’s tall, and that is a good thing because it keeps me clear of most puddles I encounter. The tall front apron is an added plus as it keeps a lot of the spray from the vehicle ahead, away from me. And honestly, in the rains, I am more than grateful for anything that will get me to my destination a little dryer.