The Hero Splendor has been one of the most iconic names in the history of Indian mobility and has revolutionised the way India rides every day, for almost 30 years.
And the newest entrant to this iconic family of trust and efficiency is the Splendor 125, a bigger evolution that retains the quintessential values of reliability and efficiency that have been the gold standard for millions of commuters all over the world for more than two decades and now adds in more power and contemporary features to cater to today’s riders.
Hero Splendor 125: A Legacy of Trust
Ever since its launch in 1994, the Splendor has become a byword for trust on the Indian street, and for millions it is the bike they’ll always take home.
The Splendor 125 continues this legacy and addresses the needs of those riders who want more power, but don’t want to let go of the attributes that made the original so beautifully practical.
At the core of the Splendor 125 is a solid 125cc air cooled single cylinder engine which offers a nice mix between power and efficiency.
The engine makes around 10.7 bhp at 7,500 rpm and 10.6 Nm at 6,000 rpm, which is a substantial gain in comparison to the 100cc Splendor variants.
This extra power means quicker acceleration and better performance while riding with a passenger, or when climbing an incline -something Indian commuters regularly have to do.
The five-speed gearbox, which replaces the four-speed unit from smaller Splendor models, yields slicker gear shifts and more relaxing highway cruising.
Efficiency Remains King
The 125 version of the Splendor maintains its legacy, with its fuel efficiency remaining top of the class despite it now possessing more displacement.
Benefited with a fuel efficiency figure close to 90 km/l under standard test conditions, the Splendor 125 is surely one of the fuel efficient motorcycles in its class.
In practical riding scenario the owners can hope for 75-80 kmpl which is still a very good rangy feel that comes out of the 10-litre fuel tank.
In simple terms, this means significant savings in fuel costs with less visits to the petrol pump compared to less fuel efficient competitors of the 125cc class.
Refined Design Evolution
The undeniable shape of the Splendor 125 has been retained that millions are accustomed to, yet it features subtle tweaks that make the look more modern. Sharper lines and bold graphics offer a sportier look, but shouldn’t turn away longtime Splendor fans.
The body panels come in all-new design cues which look in sync with the Splendor family, yet sets it’s own identity as a 125cc bike.
Offered with colorful graphics in red, blue, and black color options, the Splendor 125 is an attractive proposition for both conservative and style conscious riders.
Increased Comfort and Convenience
Comfort has not been ignored on the Splendor 125, long comfortable seat not only for the rider but also the pillion as well.
The ergonomics are pretty much the same; those who know (or own) a Splendor will appreciate the upright riding position that Splendor riders like, with a tweak here and there for the slightly larger engine.
Handling duties are handled by Telescopic front forks and 5-step adjustable rear twin shock absorbers to ensure comfortable ride over rough roads.
With 165mm of clearance under the belly, the Splendor 125 can tackle the rough roads and speed breakers that are a common feature of Indian streets without being worried.
Today’s Rider in the 21st Century
Limited features that make it a modern day motorcycle: In spite of continuing with its utility based design, one gets a few necessary mod cons that step up the motorcycle a tad.
Semi-digital instrument console with real-time mileage reading
LED light head for better visibility
Tubeless for added safety and convenience
v USB charge port to keep device full of power
CBS (Combi Brake System) for better braking efficiency
Higher trims get you more goodies, like the option for a front disc brake for better stopping power, and Bluetooth for linking up a smartphone.
The i3S Advantage
Hero’s clever idle stop-start system, or i3S as it’s been branded, moves across to the Splendor 125 and shuts the engine off whenever you’re idling for more than a couple of seconds, summoning life again just as quickly when you hit the clutch.
This increases fuel economy to an even greater extent, especially in stop and go traffic, and reduces emissions.
Competitive Positioning
The Splendor 125 undercuts its nearest rivals, the Honda SP 125 (₹89,468) and the TVS Raider 125 (₹80,848), with prices ranging between ₹82,000-₹89,000 (ex-showroom).
Though with a tad bit more power or an extra feature, rivals may seem better ones, the Splendor 125’s reliability, the supremely fuel efficient engine and the extensive Hero sales network make it a very tempting choice.
Ownership Experience
For that matter, the Splendor 125, like all Hero offerings, will also benefit from the company’s wide-spread number of outlets across the country with over 6,000 touchpoints available.
This broad coverage assures that service and maintenance remain easy and affordable, a vital concern for price-conscious buyers.
The mechanical simplicity of the bike helps ensure the an easy to service character of the Splendor, and not to mention cheap and easily available spare parts.
This keeps the overall TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) as low as possible, which is critically important for daily commuters who rely heavily on their transport.
Environmental Considerations
Thanks to OBD-2B conformity and cleaner emissions over its forebears, the Splendor 125 meets India’s tightening emissions norms.
The i3S system and fuel efficiency also bring down its carbon footprint, making it a greener alternative for the commuter class.
Perfect for the Modern Indian Commute
The Splendor 125 is here to serve a particular demographics: those who have graduated from shorter commuters but not looking for the performance (or higher expense) of bigger bikes. It is especially useful for:
Daily work commuters who value reliability and performance
College students who want a cheap ride to class
Small owner/operators using motorcycles for delivering or getting around.
One Sentence Review Riders in semi-rural and rural areas that require a dependable form of transport with some highway use.
Hero Splendor 125:
The Hero Splendor 125 is the result of 80 million development of India’s most trusted motorcycle nameplate. Hero MotoCorp has done exactly that and has successfully built a motorcycle that honours the lineage and also evolves with the times with meaningful upgrades in power and features.
Even when everything else is changing in the commuter segment, here we have a product that has been built on three decades’ trust and is created on sound principles of balance in today’s times of higher fuel prices and increased environmental consciousness.”
For the millions of Indians that want practical, efficient, reliable transportation, the Splendor 125 represents a continuation of a legacy of mobility that countless millions of riders across the subcontinent have experienced for generations.
As an entry-level machine for fresh entrants to the world of motorcycling or a replacement to existing Splendor owners; the new Splendor 125 shows how much better evolution is over merely maintaining the status quo of what made the original an icon.
Somewhere between tradition and advancement, the Splendor 125 ensures the future of one of India’s most cherished motorcycling names.