Hero Passion Pro TR in dealerships

Purchasing a dual sport motorcycle may get a lot more affordable with Hero MotoCorp’s new off-road motorcycle Passion Pro TR. The Passion Pro TR has already made its way to select Hero dealerships, although the company is tight-lipped about a launch date or the price of the motorcycle.

At first glance, it may look like an off-roader, but don’t expect the performance of a true blue adventure bike. The motorcycle is essentially the 100cc commuter motorcycle Passion Pro and retains the same design and body but with some additional features to give it what could be called ‘adventure bike’ credentials. 

The more visible changes are at the front and include a high front fender with tyre hugger, headlight grille, dual sport tyres and new graphics sporting the Passion Pro TR badging. The Passion Pro TR also sports a bash plate for engine protection, a sturdier handlebar with crossbar, hand guards for added protection and knee hugger fuel tank pads. 

Mechanically, the engine remains unchanged and is the same mill as the Passion Pro’s – a 97.2cc air-cooled single cylinder developing 7.8PS of peak power and 8.04Nm of maximum torque.

Hero MotoCorp has yet to announce the price of the motorcycle or when it will be available on sale, but we expect the motorcycle to be priced around Rs 50,000-51,000 ex-showroom Delhi.

So, if one is so inclined to have a budget adventure motorcycle, and one that will cover some serious distance on a tankful of fuel, the Passion Pro TR may just be the answer. It may not pack the power to effortlessly climb up high mountain passes, but we feel it sure can tackle broken roads, mud and gravel better than any conventional 100cc street bike.

The Passion Pro TR may not excite the typical motorcycle enthusiast – one who looks for larger displacement, more power and comfortable high-speed cruising abilities in an adventure motorcycle. But in emerging markets as well as in rural India where road networks include a fair bit of riding through sand, slush, gravel and mud, the Passion Pro TR indeed makes very good sense. 

Hero MotoCorp has already established its presence in several countries in Central America, South America and Africa. For these markets, the Passion Pro TR may very well provide an interesting off-road alternative and that too at a very good price.