Hero Glamour Review
Bike Tested: 2014 Hero Glamour
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 65,740/-
The Glamour got recently updated and is Hero’s top selling bike in the 125cc segment
Hero MotoCorp is taking the entire industry for a roll coaster ride since October 2013. They ended up showcasing over 15 products last year and can you imagine they are about to do the same this year as well? We have to believe it but it’s not necessary that you do too because you are the consumer who will wait for anything specific you want and buy it if you like it. So here we are with one of the products which was refreshed last year. The Glamour gets cosmetic updates and the mechanicals remain unchanged till now. So is the new refreshed Glamour enough to set your pulse go high with a 125cc engine when considered over age old 100cc motorcycles? We find out by being the first to review the 2014 Hero Glamour and tell you how the motorcycle is.
Motor Quest: Hero launched the Glamour in India in 2005, a time when Hero Honda had become a strong name in the country. In 2008, Hero updated the Glamour and also launched an FI version with another revision happening in 2011. The latest update to the bike came in 2013.
Front headlight and cowl design is new and so are the new graphics, rear end remains pretty much the same
Styling – The Glamour has become more glamorous after the comprehensive update which was done to it years ago. The fairing has seen some changes in design and continues to attract customers with the same old red and black scheme which is being seen on this motorcycle since a really long time. The graphics have changed and the new chequered scheme looks good on the bike. The headlight is more compact but the rest of the things such as body coloured mirrors, exhaust, wheels, tail lights and shape of body panels remain the same. Fit-finish is of the highest order and quality is on par too.
Ergonomics – The seating position on the Hero Glamour is upright and the wide handlebar coupled with front set footpegs complete the comfortable riding position of the bike. The seat is well cushioned and is quite long too. Pillion comfort is great with one piece grab handle for him/her to hold on to. Seat height is low and should accommodate small to medium heighted riders in absolute ease. The mirrors are well positioned and give a good view of what’s behind.
Instrument Cluster and Switchgear – The cluster looks much better than before as it had aged miserably. The Passion inspired small digital cluster houses the odometer, trip meter and fuel gauge. Solitary turn indicators are as always welcome because they look neat and don’t show extensive signs of cost cutting. Textured plastic around the cluster looks and feels very good. Fonts of the analogue speedometer look great and as expected, a tachometer is missing on this 9 BHP motorcycle. Switchgear also remains the same as Honda bikes, so it has pass flash and everything on the left leaving the electric start button to be lonely on the right side.
Performance – Powering the Hero Glamour is the bomb proof Honda engine mounted in sleeping position (Slopper engine), a layout you will find on older motorcycles. The engine is smooth and refined and has a bit of vibrations on the top end of the power band and that’s about it as rest of the time it runs very smooth. Taller gearing unlike the usual shorter gearing on commuter motorcycles robs it away of the pickup that the commuter usually demands. The motor ends up producing mediocre amount of horsepower which is 9 BHP but the torque of 10.35 Nm is just about adequate. Despite everything comes in at a very low RPM, the heavy kerb weight of 129 kgs (FZ weighs 132 kgs) is the culprit resulting in the motorcycle not moving swiftly enough. It is a typical Honda motor with low initial pickup but good in the mid-range but there is no top-end.
The Glamour’s engine layout helps in reducing vibrations, this Hero lacks punch for a 125cc bike
The motorcycle starts to max out at 90 km/hr, post which it struggles to 95 km/hr. A 125cc should at least do 100 km/hr or 95 km/hr quite easily because this segment is all about that extra punch. Glamour owners have been seen complaining about this fact as well. You cannot fool the people just by displacement as it’s only helping by a very small margin. Hero really needs to bump up power or reduce weight significantly on the Glamour. For relevance, we had the Ignitor earlier and enjoyed it very much with a 5-speed gearbox and 11 BHP of power, we did not complain about the performance as it felt swift enough for a 125cc. The 4-speed gearbox is quite frankly making its charm felt only in the mid-range. Upshot of these horsepower and performance shortcomings are that we ended up getting 61 km/l in the city which is quite frankly good when you consider the riding was done in a spirited fashion. That does not happen usually with Honda motors quite often because the very moment you up the pace, fuel efficiency goes down the drain.
Riding Dynamics – Armed with a double-cradle frame, regular dual shocks at the rear and telescopic front forks, the Hero Glamour does offer sufficient amount of nimbleness but not class leading. The soft suspension at the rear and wooden setup at the front like a Honda makes riding easy but not fun at all. Handling is just about average but it’s not fun to ride in any way due to high kerb weight and softer suspension when it comes to ringing the motorcycle to the absolute limit. Obviously it is a commuter with frontset footpegs so we should not be hoping for fun either but there are other motorcycles which feel more agile and powerful. All of these problems solely exist because of the high kerb weight and slouchy engine. Tyres are good though and offer adequate grip and stability. Drum brakes at the front don’t offer a good bite or power as always but it’s the rear brake which always does duty in commuter motorcycles and is well calibrated.
Verdict – So the Glamour isn’t particularly impressive as a 125cc motorcycle as it lacks the oomph and isn’t that fun in corners either. However, it’s fuel efficient enough for a commuter who is looking for 125cc needs but in the end the bike lacks that punch which he is looking for and also ends up sacrificing on the 100cc mileage at the same time. Quite frankly, it does not make sense because the compromise is on both ends. But given the fact that it is a Hero with a Honda engine which will last forever as most owners just want a motorcycle where they don’t want to feel the harshness, not wanting high maintenance costs and will change engine oil once a year while selling the motorcycle every three years despite it being reliable. The Hero Glamour is only for people who want glamour on the outside and for them it is a deal which they cannot refuse.
The Hero Glamour is a commuter motorcycle which will get you from point A to point B quite easily and comfortably but not fast enough as a 125cc bike should. Everything else is good as usual but if you need more power, look for other alternatives.
What’s Cool
* Smooth and refined engine-gearbox combo
* Stability and ride quality
* Better looking than before
What’s Not So Cool
* Under-powered for a 125cc bike
Hero Glamour Specifications
* Engine: 125cc, 2-valve, OHC, air-cooled single-cylinder
* Power: 9 HP @ 7000 RPM
* Torque: 10.35 Nm @ 4000 RPM
* Transmission: 4-speed
* 0 – 60 km/hr: 7.5 seconds
* Top Speed: 95 km/hr
* Fuel Consumption: 55-60 km/l
* Fuel Type: Petrol
* Frame: Tubular double-cradle
* Suspension: Telescopic forks (Front), dual shock (Rear)
* Tyres: 2.75/18 (Front), 3.0/18 (Rear)
* Brakes: Drum (Front), Drum (Rear); (Front disc optional)
Hero Glamour Dimensions
* Length x Width x Height: 2005 mm x 735 mm x 1070 mm
* Wheelbase: 1265 mm
* Ground Clearance: 150 mm
* Seat Height: 790 mm
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 13.3-litres
* Kerb weight: 129 kgs
Rider – Hrishikesh Mandke
