HERO SPLENDOR iSMART

                                  HERO SPLENDOR iSMART

Hero Splendor iSmart Price - ₹ 51,030 onwards (Ex-showroom, Mumbai). It is available in 2 versions. Splendor iSmart has a mileage of 92 kmpl and a top speed of 87 kmph. Hero Splendor iSmart is available in 6 different colours : Sports Red, Leaf Green, Excellent Blue, Red & Black, Silver & Black and Heavy Grey.

Hero has introduced start/stop tech in its popular Splendor and has called it the Splendor iSmart. But, has this given the Splendor a new lease on life? We rode it to find outMeet the new Splendor. It's called the Splendor iSmart. Okay, it isn't exactly new - the iSmart uses the same cycle parts that have been on Splendors for years. It borrows the styling from the Splendor NXG, which again has been in the market for over half a decade. And, the engine, well, it is essentially the same 97.2cc sloper unit which has been powering Hero's range of entry-level motorcycles for like, ever. But, there's one big difference. The Splendor iSmart uses start/stop tech. Yes, the same tech that has now become de rigueur in cars in Europe as they try and achieve lower CO2 emissions and higher fuel economy. The i3S tech on the Splendor iSmart is supposed to do the same. And, it is supposed to function in the same manner as well. i3S, by the way, stands for idle Start Stop System.

Stop at a signal, pull in the clutch, and the bike shuts off. Let go of the clutch lever, and the bike fires up again. On the Splendor iSmart though, things are slightly more tedious. Come to a signal, and only after shifting to neutral and letting the clutch lever go, does the motorcycle switch off. Pull in the clutch lever, and it fires up. So, the idea is right, but the execution, not as spot on as we would have liked. What this prohibits, is turning off of the motorcycle in stop and go traffic. And, all said and done, no one really shifts to neutral in bumper to bumper traffic. And given that, bumper to bumper traffic is what city commuting - at least in larger cities - is all about, the iSmart loses its significance somewhat

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Now we did say that the iSmart borrows its cycle parts from the regular Splendor, and it does, but there are a few differences. For starters, it has a longer swingarm and with it, the wheelbase is slightly longer. It also uses grippier, tubeless tyres from MRF. But, the likeable change is the use of foldable, alloy rider footrests, and bar-end weights. In terms of styling and features, the two-tone paint job is new, as are the split grab rails at the rear. The iSmart also gets colourful switchgear.  The instrumentation meanwhile, though not digital, does get a trip meter and side .

The Hero Splendor iSmart costs Rs 47,250 ex-showroom in Delhi. It is more expensive than the likes of the Honda Dream series and the Bajaj Discover 100M. Given how price sensitive the entry-level motorcycle class is in the country, the higher price does put the Splendor iSmart at a disadvantage of sorts. But, consider the extra features, the fuel saving tech and the feel-good elements like a nice paint job, alloy footrests, bar-end weights, and split grab rails, and the iSmart looks like a good deal. Its proven mechanicals and Hero's huge after sales network only sweetens the deal.tand indication.

The Hero Splendor iSmart might use the same 97.2cc engine that has been in service for decades now, but it makes slightly more power in the Splendor iSmart. The power output is a claimed 7.8PS. The torque rating is slightly higher too. But, in the real world, it's near impossible to tell the difference. What we can tell you is that the iSmart might not be very quick, but it is a refined motorcycle. And even if you sit at its top speed (which is easy to do), all you can feel are mild vibrations and hear the slightly stressed engine over the wind noise. But nothing that will leave you buzzing or bugged even after a few hours of riding. The gearbox is a four-speed unit like on other Splendors and the gear shift quality is crisp and precise.

The Honda Activa, which was the largest selling two-wheeler from January to September 2016, has been overtaken by the Hero Splendor thanks to the festive demand in the month of October. The Splendor now reclaims its position as the most sold two-wheeler across the country. According to the data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), last month, Hero MotoCorp sold 254,813 units of the Splendor, which was around 4,000 more than the Honda Activa, which sold 250,681 units.

The Honda Activa, previously the best-selling two-wheeler in the country, has registered a 6 per cent growth against the Splendor's 8 per cent in the month of October 2016 as compared to October 2015.

Over the years, these two-wheelers have fought it out for the top spot by staying on top of their games. For instance, Hero, over the years has been introducing new variants of the Splendor such as the Splendor, Super Splendor, Splendor ISmart, Splendor ISmart 110, Splendor Pro, Splendor Pro Classic and Splendor+. On the other hand, the Activa has also kept up with the Splendor's pace by introducing new variants such as the Activa, Activa i, Activa 3g and the Activa 125. In fact, Honda even tried to strike a blow to the Splendor's market by introducing the Honda Livo. But, that could not topple the Splendor from its lofty perch.