2017 Hero Glamour Fi First Ride Review

How does it ride?

Things are quite simple with the new Glamour. The frame is now a single-downtube and lighter too, which is bound to benefit the handling (we’ll get there in a bit). The suspension is the same that we find in other commuter bikes – telescopic in the front and adjustable shocks at the rear. The MRF tyres are the same as the ones on the previous generation – they just grip better. But the way Hero has fine-tuned these simple changes has made the Glamour a fun motorcycle. The bike feels light on its feet. Thanks to the light steering, the Glamour is very flickable. These aspects coupled with the upright and comfortable riding position will find favour among daily commuters. Now, filtering through blistering city traffic is not only easy, it also stops being a daily commuting challenge. In a pothole-filled city like Mumbai, the new Glamour comes as a big saviour. The soft setup eats up the bad roads with ease. Although the bike has lost weight by 3kg, it feels planted even at 90kmph. The single long seat can easily take a wide body, however, it is too soft for long haul. A rider who´s on the heavier side is bound to feel uncomfortable during long rides.  

In matters of speed, the new Glamour gets its power from a new 125cc single-cylinder air-cooled fuel-injected motor. This heart churns out 11.53bhp at 7500rpm and peak torque of 11Nm at 6000rpm. The refinement level is excellent, and so is the rideability. While the fuel-injected Glamour is smoother and offers less vibrations than its carbureted sibling, the bike feels less eager and lazy to climb up the revs. However, the wide torque spread helps the motorcycle do as low as 35kmph on fourth gear. This means, less gear change and this is something that a majority of the Indians love to experience. The throttle response is good, however, it requires some additional input. The four-speed gearbox shifts smoothly, but in hurried usage, especially from second to third gear, the lever needs to be tapped twice.  The stopping power is taken care of by a 240mm disc in the front and 130mm drum at the rear. There’s enough progression from the front, but the rear lacks the power. 

Anything else I should know?

You should know that the new Glamour is easily the best looking 125cc bike in the market today. In fact, Hero has tried to make it look very close to a 150cc bike. Angular shrouds on the tank, bigger panels at the tail section and rear tyre hugger – all these have surely enhanced its cosmetic appeal. The wheel design too, isn’t boring to look at. But the best way to look at the Glamour is from the rear, thanks to the beautifully designed tail lamp which sports LED bulbs. 

The instrument cluster is all new – the part analog, part digital layout is a nice touch for a motorcycle in this segment. Other than the basic ride data like odometer, speed, tripmeter, the Glamour FI sports an average fuel indicator as well and this is unique in the segment. There’s also a service indicator which flashes on depending on the usage. The quality of the plastics around the cluster is built to last. And it’s the same story across the bike. The plastic panels feels nice to touch - the credit also goes to the paint quality. The Glamour FI misses out on i3s system but it does get a kick starter. 

Should I buy one?

The new Glamour checks most of the right boxes. It is stylish, offers a fantastic ride, the level of comfort is decent too, plus the daily liveable aspect is quite high with this bike. The new 125cc engine performs fairly well and is refined. However, it doesn’t offer the same level of excitement like the carbureted version does. It is slower and also lazier and paying Rs 8688 more for the fuel-injected version over the carbureted version doesn’t make sense. If you’re moving up from a 100-110cc motorcycle and want something powerful without compromising on fuel economy, the Glamour should be on the top of your list. Still, it is better to spend on a carbureted version because the benefits from the FI version is minimal.

Where does it fit in?

With a price tag of Rs 69,548, the new Glamour FI is the most expensive 125cc bike on sale. The Honda CB Shine SP CBS will cost you Rs 65,161 whereas the Yamaha Saluto is priced at Rs 53,898. The latter, however, doesn’t offer the kind of features that the other two do. There’s also the Bajaj V12 at Rs 59,552. All prices are ex-showroom Delhi.