2019 Hero Maestro Edge 125 First Ride Review

Gallery Introduction The Visuals The Package The Ride Conclusion

Introduction

The Maestro Edge 125 is Hero MotoCorp’s attempt to capture the growing 125cc scooter segment. Yes, the Destini 125 has already been in the market since the last few months, but this one is a bit more premium and is targeted at Indians who are style conscious and want something premium. Hero claims that a lot of focus has gone into making the Maestro Edge 125 an easy going, comfortable and performance scooter. We spent a few hours with it in the grueling New Delhi traffic to uncover some of its traits.

The Visuals

At first glance, it will remind you of the Maestro – a 110cc scooter from Hero MotoCorp. Hero has retained the Maestro styling but in a smart way. While you can still see the sharp and angular body panels, Hero has neatly packed the Maestro Edge 125 to reduce its visual bulk. So the front and side panels have been compactly integrated onto the frame. The rear, however, continues to offer a big and bulky look.

Then there’s the dual tone paint touch. The external panels get one colour and the seat along with the floorboard and the plastics around the instrument cluster gets another. This has been done to give this Hero a better road presence and a more premium feel. Sadly, the instrument cluster is the exact one as seen on the 110cc variant. The exhaust design also looks a bit dated. The Maestro Edge 125 misses out on LED headlamp and turn indicators, however, it does get an LED setup at the tail section.

The Package

Performance and features– these are two aspects upon which Hero MotoCorp focused much for this scooter. The same focus has made the Maestro Edge 125 one of the powerful scooters in the segment. It is also the first scooter in the segment to get fuel-injection.

In terms of features, the Maestro Edge 125 isn’t offering anything new or revolutionary. It continues to offer a decent under-seat storage space, external fuel-filling ability and two luggage hooks. There’s a boot light and an USB charging point under the seat as well. The fuel-filler cap, ignition and boot – all can be operated using the key switch.

The Ride

A city commuter’s needs are different and the new Maestro Edge 125 works well in most situations that come up while driving through urban traffic. The 125cc motor is peppy, and the CVT tuning has helped the overall experience. Unlike the Destini 125, this one feels quick, especially during off the line starts. The refinement and the NVH is quite good. However, minute vibrations can be felt between 30kmph and 40kmph. Also, thanks to the fuel-injection and the extra power, the Maestro Edge 125 feels like a perfect companion for every-day city commute.

The scooter feels light and that has resulted in some great city maneuvering capabilities. The combination of upright riding positon and the large floorboard results in a contented ride throughout. The overall ride quality too was decent as it ate up most of the bumps and bad roads easily. The large seat was fantastic as it offered great comfort for even someone who weighs close to 100kgs. Hero Motocorp has fine-tuned the brakes pretty well, especially the front disc setup. The IBS system reduces the speed quite efficiently. Hero has claimed a WMTC fuel efficiency figure of 51kmpl, but we’ll tell you the real world figure once we get the scooter for a detailed test.

Conclusion

The Maestro Edge 125 checks all the right boxes. It is good looking, sports a peppy 125cc motor and is also equipped with features that are practical and usable. Plus, it also gets fuel-injection, making it a unique scooter to own. Then there’s the pricing, which makes the Maestro Edge 125 a tempting affair. The carburetor variant costs Rs 60,000 whereas the Fi variant retails at Rs 62,700 (ex-showroom Delhi). Had Hero equipped the Maestro Edge 125 with a more modern instrument cluster and LED headlight, this scooter might have earned the value-for-money tag.

Photography by Kaustubh Gandhi