Intro
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 rest is purely from my daily commutes which is quite a lot, 130kms to be precise. This route is filled with rush-hour traffic, empty highways and some deplorable roads. Basically, it is the perfect route to test a motorcycle and its various aspects.
What we liked
Seating comfort
The Hero Karzima XMR is possibly one of the most comfortable fully faired bikes I have ever ridden in my life which is a big surprise because I’m taller than the average rider. The brand has managed to get the seating triangle extremely right. Firstly, there's the clip-on handlebar, which is low-set but good enough to provide the rider a comfortable position. Then there are those footpegs, which aren’t entirely rear-set but is in line with the seat, and that allows the rider to hold onto the fuel tank area with ease. I liked the seat too – the spacing, the cushioning – all are apt for the city experience.
Fuel Efficiency
Even after riding the Karizma XMR in peak hour traffic and also on the highways at the same time, the bike consistently returned a fuel efficiency of around 37-38kmpl. With a fuel tank capacity of 11 litres, the bike can be ridden for almost 350km in one full tank.
What we didn’t like
Mirrors
In a city like Mumbai, where it's always a fight for space, there's one aspect of the Karizma XMR that doesn’t manage to provide a good experience – the rearview mirrors. These mirrors protrude quite a bit, and as a result of that, it gets extremely difficult to filter through tight traffic conditions. The actual blame goes to the mirror stems – they are long. There were a few instances where I almost scratched some cars while trying to get to work.
Delay
The Karizma XMR faced a starter motor issue a few months ago, due to which the bike used to automatically shut down. It took a few days to identify the issue, but as soon as it was found, it took a while for that part to arrive at the service centre. As a result, I couldn’t ride the bike for a few weeks. While I do understand that a part like starter motor isn’t available off the shelves, for a premium bike like the Karizma XMR, the turnaround time should have been much faster.
What’s next?
The monsoon is here! So this time around I plan to explore the beautiful side of Maharashtra and the Hero Karizma XMR will give me company to some of the prettiest waterfalls.
Photography by Kaustubh Gandhi
Gallery
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Hero Karizma XMR Bike Seat
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