Hero Karizma XMR vs Suzuki GSX-S1000 [2019-2020]

Hero Karizma XMR 210 Long Term Review: Conclusion

The Hero Karizma XMR has done over 5000km since it arrived at BikeWale late last year. Of this, half the distance was covered on the highways, and that experience has already been discussed here.

The last two months of the year are always a great time for us. With a few motorcycle festivals being held in Goa, we get to spend a few days chilling with the fraternity. It was the same this time around and my plan was to take the Hero Karizma XMR – BikeWale’s long-termer – on a long ride and test its touring abilities.

The Suzuki GSX S1000 is a lot of things. It is Suzuki’s first litre-class naked. And one that isn’t just fashionably late to this naked party, it is late, period. And we say that because everyone from the Japanese to the Europeans to the Italians and even Aprilia already seems to have one. It has superbike championship winning DNA. And more importantly, it has sabre tooth and nicely filed ones at that. To us, however, the GSX S1000 is a motorcycle with minimal bodywork, lovely noise, and superhero performance; it’s one of those bikes that make you reach for your cheque book, only to realise that at Rs 14.5 lakh it’s also one of the most expensive in its segment.