Hero Passion X Pro

Looks

The Passion X Pro shares most of the components with the Passion Pro, but still gets many cosmetic changes to differentiate it from the predecessor. The X Pro is offered in eight colours and it gets the subtle but stylish graphic design, making it look trendy. The wheelbase has been incremented to 1,265mm from the regular Passion’s 1,235mm. Overall the motorcycle is bigger in dimensions, but it is not noticeable. It has also lost a lot of mass, making it ultimately look slim. The angular bikini fairing lends the fascia a sharper look and the tank has also been contoured making it look lean and in line with the front portion. The tank gets new shrouds that sport the 'X Pro' badging. The change in design still has been kept minimal to make it easily recognisable as a part of the Passion segment of motorcycles. The side panels are slightly toned down in size, which is a good change from the slightly bloated look the earlier model had.

The bike boasts of the new decals that beautifully taper out towards the tail section in the rear panels. The single grab rail complements the body colour. The single seat design has been carved out well as it remarkably goes with the flow of the curvy silhouette. The company has given the alloy wheels, engine, chain guard and the up-swept exhaust a neat all-black treatment, while the rear shock absorbers come painted in silver unlike the red ones on the Passion Pro. The bulging tail lamps from the sibling have been redesigned to sharper looking multi-reflector ones. I like the way the manufacturer has brought in small but effective changes while improving on the quality of materials used. In terms of overall looks of the Passion X Pro, the manufacturer has put forth a slimmer and sharper looking machine with quality that is unmatched.

Features

Hero MotoCorp brought in a major upgrade to the X Pro in terms of features with the introduction of the digital-analog combo meter console. Not many commuter motorcycles these days get all this equipment. This instrument cluster comes equipped with digital displays for the fuel gauge, odometer and trip meter, and also features an indicator for service reminders. The digital display is on the right of the circular analog speedometer, and neutral and high beam indicator are to the left. All of the markings are clear enough with the indications on the display being easy to read.

The top-end variant of the X-Pro comes equipped with alloy-wheels, electric start, tubeless tyres and a front disc brake. Black alloy-wheels are offered as standard while the electric start is optional. The main highlight of the Passion XPro is the sealed VLRA battery, which is a small, light-weight, maintenance-free and something which is not seen on its younger siblings. The headlight has been upgraded to a trapezoidal multi focal unit that basically has got new reflectors to improve visibility and also comes with a pass function. The quality of the switchgear is top-notch and the handle grips give a good feel due to the quality of material used, which despite continuous riding feel very gentle and soft.

If I was to nit-pick I would say the only drawback one can find is that the 9-litre fuel tank is smaller in comparison to the Passion Pro's 13-litre fuel tank. This means the earlier range of more than 650kms with the larger fuel tank has gone down to 500-525kms with the new tank. But I don’t think any of the customers will complain as it still proclaims Hero's age-old 'Fill it- Shut it- Forget it' advertising campaign.

Performance

The most crucial change Hero MotoCorp brought in with the Passion X Pro is the vertically mounted engine. Unlike the other products from the manufacturer's commuter segment line-up, the company has taken this motorcycle a step ahead with an 110cc engine. It is the same Honda engine powering the CB Twister and Dream Yuga. The four-stroke air-cooled motor produces 8.7bhp of power and 9.36Nm of torque, whilst it still comes mated to a four-speed gearbox with an all-four up-shift pattern.

The ignition method is a full transistorised ignition system unlike the DC - Digital CDI on other bikes, meaning quick cranking of the engine. Hero has termed this engine as APSDVI (Advanced Pro Series Digital Variable Ignition). The refinement of the mill is visible right from the start, to continuous riding in varied traffic conditions and relatively high speeds. Never did the engine heat up or give a feel that it was under stress, through the longish ride. Coming to the power delivery, it is linear and sufficient enough to make the bike zip through the city traffic. The clutch is light and the gear-shifts are smooth.

In terms of fuel economy, Hero is known to produce fuel-efficient bikes and the Passion X Pro isn’t different. On our road test, the bike easily returned a 56kmpl on an average with a mix of city traffic and highway riding conditions. Undoubtedly, the performance of the engine is on par with any other 110cc motorcycle in this segment.

Ride & Handling

The Passion X Pro is bigger in dimension than the currently sold Passion Pro, yet, is lighter than the younger sibling by 3kg. With most of the loss in weight due to the slimmer engine fuel tank, the X Pro weighs 116kg.

The company has upgraded the motorcycle to the diamond tubular type frame instead of the conventional tubular double cradle frame seen on their other entry-level commuter bikes. Thus with a combination of the new engine and a rigid chassis, the manufacturer has made the Passion X Pro a more fun to ride bike. Though the ground clearance has gone up to 170mm, the seat height has been lowered by 10mm from 795mm. So with an upright seating position, soft yet firm seat at a height of 785mm, the posture of the rider is perfect for a commuter motorcycle. Further with the combination of telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers at the front, rectangular section swing arm with five-step adjustable hydraulic shock absorbers at the rear, it provides a good comfortable ride even on undulated roads.

The conventional drum brake version of the X Pro has adequate braking ability, but with the optional 240mm disc brake in the front and standard 130mm drum at the rear, now there is more than sufficient stopping power. And it being the safer option, I would advise you to consider the disc brake version. The 18-inch alloy wheels are shod with MRF tubeless tyres that offer adequate grip and never did they give a feeling of losing traction quickly on heavy braking. Even with a pillion, ride is good, but yes, at speeds beyond 90kmph, the bike does remind you that it is being pushed hard and it would be better if ridden at 65-70kmph.

Verdict

The Passion X Pro is offered in five different variants with the option of choosing between a disc brake and non-disc brake version or with alloy or spoke wheel alternative and with or without the self-start choice. Neither does the Passion X Pro fall short on features that its competitors have to offer, nor does it look bad. The model has fairly succeeded because of its good looks and features it has to offer. It surely provides a good overall package but starting at a price of Rs 50,095 (ex-showroom, Mumbai), the motorcycle is a bit expensive if the other commuter bikes are taken into consideration.

Competition like Bajaj's Discover series, Honda's Dream Neo, TVS's Star City Plus and Mahindra's Centuro are available at a much lower price than the Hero Passion X Pro. True that none of these motorcycles are equipped with a digital instrument cluster, but at the price of the Passion X Pro other brands offer similar features with a bigger 125cc engine like the TVS Phoenix, Bajaj Discover 125 T and Honda Shine. However, the price takes a back seat looking at the quality, reliability and flawless service experience Hero has been offering for years. The Passion, then, is a superb option for those looking for a trendy model without much experimentation on it.