You read it first on MotorBeam. Expanding the Hero portfolio, the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer by volumes will be adding two new products to its lineup including the Dash automatic scooter as well as the Xtreme Sports motorcycle in the coming months. Both the models were first unveiled before the 2014 Auto Expo earlier this year along with a slew of new products and concepts that would make their way to the showrooms in the coming years. Hero MotoCorp has been on an update spree for its existing lineup since the beginning of this year with new features and styling.
Starting with the Hero Dash automatic scooter, the new 110cc scooter will be aimed at male buyers and sits above the Maestro in the company’s scooter range. The scooter uses the same 111cc 4-stroke, forced air-cooled engine developed by Honda that produces 8.44 BHP of power at 7500 RPM and 9.4 Nm of torque at 5750 RPM (slight increase in output over the Maestro). The Dash uses telescopic front forks, while riding on 90/90/12 front tyre and 90/90/10 rear tyre wrapped on alloy wheels. Stopping power comes from 130 mm drum brakes at the front and rear and the scooter uses Hero’s Integrated Braking System (IBS).
Measuring 1850 mm in length, 822 mm in width and 1270 mm in height with a ground clearance of 155 mm, the Hero Dash comes with a pleasing design language with subtle yet sporty design and clean lines running across the scooter. The fuel tank capacity is measured at 6.0-litres and the scooter weighs 110 kgs. The Dash also gets some interesting features including a key operated external fuel-lid, USB mobile charging socket, under seat storage light, analogue-digital instrument console, service reminder, side stand indicator, LED tail light and dual-tone mirrors among other salient highlights.
The second product to be launched will be the Hero Xtreme Sports 150cc motorcycle. True to the name, the bike is the sportier version of the Xtreme and gets more equipment to boast off with the new title. The Xtreme Sports is powered by a 150cc air-cooled, 4-stroke, single-cylinder engine producing 15.2 BHP of power at 8500 RPM and 12.80 of torque at 6500 RPM, paired to a 5-speed gearbox. The bike uses hydraulic telescopic front suspension and a 5-step adjustable setup at the rear.
Stopping comes from a 240 mm disc brake at the front, while the rear gets a 220 mm disc brake as optional. In addition, the Xtreme Sports also gets equipped with a wider rear tyre, new handlebar, headlight with LED position light, winkers, split-type seats, speedometer with side stand indicator and new front and rear fenders. Further accentuating the sporty credentials are new racy body graphics on the motorcycle that will be available with 5 colour shades on the palette.
While erstwhile partner Honda is the king of the 110cc scooter segment with the very popular Activa, Hero has been playing catch up in the segment along with Yamaha and Suzuki that have also joined the bandwagon more recently with the Ray and Let’s respectively. The 150cc motorcycle segment on the other hand has also seen some interesting changes with the Yamaha FZ updated recently and the Suzuki Gixxer 155 at the brink of launch.
