Hero Splendor iSmart 110: First Ride Review

For a lot of brands, there’s one product in their portfolio that defines them, and becomes an identity. For instance, since its introduction the iPhone has become tech giant Apple’s identity, overshadowing all its other products. Which is why Apple is very particular about the updates and changes made to the phone each year. The case of the Hero MotoCorp’s Splendor is not any different. The bike has become synonymous with the Hero brand, and is in fact the largest selling motorcycle in the world, pretty much like the iPhone. Hence, the bike maker has been very cautious about the updates and design changes made to the bike, of course helping it evolve over the years. 

When Hero introduced the Splendor iSmart, it brought in a new wave of technology to the rather staid 100cc commuter segment, with its start-stop technology to aid efficiency. And it is no secret that the 100cc commuter segment is the bread and butter not just for Hero MotoCorp, but almost every single motorcycle manufacturer in the country. Hero has just launched what is an all-new version of the iSmart, and this time the changes are thorough, right from a slightly larger, 110cc engine, a new chassis and a completely revised design. In fact, the new Splendor iSmart 110 is Hero’s first ever indigenously develop product post its split with Japanese giant Honda. 

Unsurprisingly, the manufacturer chose to revise its best-seller to showcase its technical prowess, especially after inaugurating its massive research and development centre earlier this year. We know that the Global Centre for Innovation and Technology (CIT) Jaipur, as it is known, has had a hand in the development of the new Splendor iSmart, as we had the top heads from the facility present with us during the test ride. And that to me, is a clear indication of Hero’s focus on creating products that are technically advanced and don’t simply rely on their legacy. To the motorcycle then. 

As I mentioned, the Splendor iSmart 110 looks a lot more youthful – Hero is hoping to attract youngsters this time and not just office going executives. Perhaps also reason why the bike’s design draws a lot of inspiration from its 150cc bike, the Xtreme. The headlamp design is a clear indication, and so are the tail light and split grab rail. Turn indicators are sharper looking in keeping with the rest of the design, while the tank is curvier and looks more appealing. The plastics, such as the ones used for the switchgear have a nice feel too, and while I cannot say quality is the absolute best in class, but it is certainly good. 

The clocks again exude a nice feel, with a large speedometer taking its place of pride in the centre, flanked by a fuel gauge on one side and a digital readout for the odometer and tripmeter on the other. A distance to empty readout would have been welcome here. The body panels flow rather seamlessly, while fit-finish levels are excellent for the segment. The graphics and two-tone paint scheme add to the premium feel, especially the i3S sticker on the tank that looks like a watermark. The mirrors, like most new Hero products get two-tone colours, and a nice touch is the chrome finish on the tip of the all-black exhaust can. Overall there’s a nice, fluid look to the motorcycle from end to end, and that’s appealing in its own way.  

The chassis underneath that flowing design is all-new too, though it still is a cradle type unit that houses the new, 110cc air-cooled single cylinder engine. The cylinder block is now vertically inclined instead of the primitive horizontal block on the older bike. Amongst others, the vertically mounted cylinder block aids cooling for the engine, especially in the monsoons when grime and water sprayed from the front wheel tend to get clogged onto the cylinder fins. The engine itself is an all-new unit, and we’re told a lot of efforts have gone into its development, since it is the first ever unit to be developed by Hero in-house. Outputs for the new motor are 9.5PS, produced at 7500rpm and 9Nm of torque that’s developed at 5500rpm. 

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The first thing I noticed on cranking the engine was the refinement of the engine. Quick to start it felt smooth at idle, and the smoothness didn’t go away even when revved harder. Hero claims a lot of work went into reducing friction and the losses caused thereby, and the same was visible as the new engine felt a lot smoother than the older unit. It felt the same even on the go, with the engine offering the same buttery feel while accelerating in a linear fashion from the word go. Typical of a commuter, the bottom end and midrange grunt were good, but what impressed me even more was the performance at the top of the rev range. The bike seemed relatively unstressed even at above 60kmph, with some more grunt on offer. 

It was refreshing to note the same, as most current commuters are geared in a way that they run out of breath as they cross the 60kmph mark. The Splendor iSmart 110 seemed good enough to offer vibe-free acceleration even at the speed. What I really wished for then was a five-speed transmission. The four speed unit currently on offer does its job well, no doubt, but a 5-speed unit would have given top end performance a boost while also hiking Hero’s current efficiency claim of 68kmpl (in real world conditions). That said the figure is really impressive if that’s what the Splendor iSmart 110 can deliver in our kind of conditions. 

The highlight of the motorcycle of course is the i3S (idle start and stop system). It is the same as the previous iSmart, wherein the system kills the engine each time the motorcycle is stationary in neutral, with the clutch lever released, for more than five seconds. To have the engine running again, all the rider needs to do is pull the clutch lever. While we would have liked to argue that five seconds is a bit too long when it comes to actually waiting for the system to kill the engine – as I tried on the test ride – the truth is five seconds is barely any duration when stuck in traffic or at a traffic light. Should you want to deactivate the i3S, a blue coloured switch sits in place of what usually is an engine kill switch. 

The ride quality is as good as ever, with the new Splendor ironing out the undulations on the road, which means the bike will be as good as its predecessor in tackling bad roads, if not better. What's more, the iSmart even gets tubeless tyres as standard, though sadly there is no option of a front disc brake yet. The Splendor iSmart then is a bonafide attempt from Hero MotoCorp at upping the game in the 110cc commuter segment with the new Splendor, especially when you consider the impressive fit-finish levels and build quality. What’s even more interesting though is the fact that the new iSmart has been priced at Rs 53,300 – that’s actually lesser than the outgoing version of the iSmart, which means you get an all-new, quicker, better looking and more refined motorcycle for less. Now, isn’t that a deal if you want to eke out that last bit of efficiency from your motorcycle?