Hero Maestro Edge First Ride Review

How does it ride?

The frame of the Maestro Edge has been developed from ground up. That means, everything is new on this scooter and the result is quite evident on the performance and cosmetic front. Riding it on the city roads is a breeze. The suspension setup is quite soft, and handles the bumps very pleasantly. And with a kerb weight of 110kg, flicking the Maestro Edge in Mumbai traffic was an easy task. The scooter gets a 12-inch wheel at the front and 10-inch at the rear, which rides on tubeless tyres. They offer good grip, but aren’t very inspiring on wet roads.

Like we mentioned in the introduction, the Maestro Edge is powered by a new 110cc engine that produces 8.31bhp at 8000rpm and peak torque of 8.30Nm at 6500rpm. This engine is mated to a CVT gearbox, which is pretty smooth. The new engine is refined, smooth and honestly, one of the best ones in the segment. Open the throttle and you will notice that the scooter isn’t quick at the initial revs. That’s because the engine has been tuned to deliver the best fuel efficiency which Hero claims to be at 65.8kmpl. But our fuel efficiency test stood at 51.3kmpl. The sluggish feel stays till about 25kmph-30kmph and once you cross that, the scooter performs satisfactorily.

Our test bike had a slight vibration on the floorboard between 50kmph and 55kmph. While the overall engine characteristics of the Maestro Edge are good and appreciable and is highly competitive, it does lose out due to the lack of initial punch. The integrated braking system works really well and even after trying hard to lock the rear wheel, the scooter performed efficiently.

Anything else I should know?

The Maestro Edge is one attractive scooter. While the design language of the bike is quite similar to the Maestro, Hero has given it a more sharp and aggressive touch. And we aren’t complaining. The fascia gets an attractive headlamp design with two big side indicators and this takes up majority of the front fascia. The V-shaped front design also adds little bulk to the scooter and I think that has worked well for the Maestro Edge. Also, don’t forget to look at the rear-view mirror from the front because the black-silver colour combination genuinely looks nice.

The side profile exudes a balanced look with a sharp design but with curves in the right places. The Maestro Edge 3D emblem on one side adds to the premium feel of the scooter. However, you will find it only on one side which is a slight turnoff. On the other hand, the company has gone bonkers with the exhaust design, something we haven’t seen on any mass market scooter in India. The tail section, for me, is the best looking feature of the Maestro Edge. The large LED tail light assembly does a very good job of turning heads, especially, when it’s lit. You should also know that the instrument cluster of the scooter is really good in terms of features as well as the quality of components used on it. For storage, you have the under seat space, where you can keep your scooter documents along with a small bag. It can also eat up a half-face helmet. We tested the VX version and that came with the glove box and a luggage hook at the front and below the seat. The LX version loses out on the glove box as well as the hook below the seat.

For someone who is colour conscious, Hero is offering the Maestro Edge in seven colours – techno blue, shooting night star, matte blue, matt vernie grey, panther black, candy blazing red and pearl silver white.

Why should I buy one?

Are you bored of the looks of the current scooters? Do you want something fresh and attractive? If the answers to both the questions are yes, then the Maestro Edge will fit the bill. The scooter offers great styling, very good quality and is extremely fuel efficient too. Also, don’t forget the service reach of Hero MotoCorp along with a five years warranty. It doesn’t just stop there. The Maestro Edge is equipped with an external fuel filling cap, which is covered and can be opened by twisting the key to the right on the ignition system. And the list goes on with a USB mobile charging point and boot light, which are placed under the seat.

Where does it fit in?

With a price tag of Rs 50,700 (ex-showroom Delhi), the Maestro Edge is Rs 2,650 more expensive than the Maestro. In fact, the Maestro Edge is Rs 1,183 expensive than the segment leader – the Honda Activa 3G as well. It also demands Rs 2,711 more than the TVS Jupiter and Rs 2,595 more than the Yamaha Ray. So basically, it’s the most expensive scooter in its segment but worth it.

Photopgrahy by Kapil Angane.