Hero Splendor iSmart - The iSmart Choice

Looks & Styling

The Splendor iSmart’s overall design cues have been taken from the Splendor NXG. The iSmart looks much better, thanks to the two- tone paint scheme. The paint is of excellent quality, and I won’t be surprised if the paint lasts without fading for many years. And if you are someone who is colour conscious, do not worry. You get an option to choose from four colours – Sports Red, Leaf Green, Excellent Blue and Heavy Grey.

Other things that distinguish the Splendor iSmart from the NXG are the large body-coloured split grab rail that offers immense support for pillion; the foldable aluminium footrests that are present for both rider and pillion and that are not standard for the segment, just like the bar-end weights it has. None of this is offered by its closest competitors, the Bajaj Discover 100M and the Honda Dream Series. The Splendor iSmart has got many components from its other siblings. The bikini fairing that houses a clear lens headlight is nothing to talk about as the entire Splendor family boasts a similar fairing. From the side, the bike will remind you a lot of the Splendor NXG.Just like the other bikes in the segment, the Splendor iSmart gets a single seat which is quite comfortable. But one attribute that distinguishes itself from others is the red stitching on it. It is not a big addition but is a good effort put by Hero to make it look premium.

Instrument Cluster & Switch Gear

The Hero Splendor iSmart gets an all-new instrument cluster which looks neat and fresh. Hero MotoCorp has made sure there are more than enough colours on the dash to give a user the ‘feel good factor’. However, just like the other bikes in the family, an analog speedometer does the job here. The speedometer features two trip meters and a combination of blue and red in the background. The fuel indicator is analog as well but is very accurate. On the left side of the console, the bike gets four indicators – neutral, side-stand, turn-light and i3S indicators which glow when the bike is fired up. If the i3S is switched off, this light won’t light up. On the right side of the console, a single indicator that indicates the upper-dipper light does the job. If given a choice between the instrument cluster of the Bajaj Discover 100M, the Honda Dream Yuga and the Hero Splendor iSmart, I will blindly choose the Splendor iSmart. Not because it offers more than others but it just feels nice and up to date.

Hero MotoCorp has smartly done a sticker job around the key lock area that looks like a carbon fibre finish. The overall quality of the console is top-notch. The switchgear is little hard but shows good quality and has been built to last. My only grouse is the gearshift lever, which has terrible finish on the underside that will certainly destroy your left shoe if you’re the kind of person who doesn’t use their heel to change gear.

Engine & Gearbox

Powering the Hero Splendor iSmart is the ‘iconic’ 97.2cc air-cooled single-cylinder engine. This engine has been powering the Splendor 100cc family since many years now but will see its last day soon as the company cannot use engines from Honda from 2015 onwards. This small engine produces 7.69bhp at 7,500rpm and maximum torque of 8.04Nm at 4500rpm. The engine is mated to a four-speed gearbox and transfers power to the rear wheel via a covered chain. Just like the other Splendors, the iSmart gets an all-up gearshift pattern which is light and positive. The engine is very refined and with the help of its excellent gearbox, the Splendor iSmart is a very good example of perfect mechanicals. The power delivery is linear and the bike easily goes till 70kmph, after that it shows signs of effort but still the vibrations are at the minimum. Our test included a pillion team member weighing close to 100kg. The bike performed very well but with that much weight, it showed signs of stress and refused to go above an indicated 70kmph.

So what happens when you add a “first in class feature” to such a bike? The Hero Splendor iSmart gets the i3S – integrated start stop system. What this system does is, it helps you save fuel. Stop at a traffic signal, pull the clutch, shift into neutral, let go of the clutch and wait for four seconds. The engine shuts off, thus saving you fuel. So when the signal is about to turn green or has turned green, all you need to just pull the clutch and the bike’s engine fires up. This system is a boon for someone who rides in heavy urban traffic each day, it is sure to save him lot of money in long term. And knowing how price sensitive the target audiences are and the daily increase of petrol prices, this bike is sure to find home to these set of buyers. Interestingly, Hero MotoCorp hasn’t claimed any number on the amount of fuel saved with i3S technology, but globally the statistics stands between 5-7 per cent overall. There is an option to switch off the “Start-Stop System” as well. And this is what bothers me. Now why will you want to spend millions on developing this new technology and then you spend another million marketing it when the customer gets an option to switch it off at the final product. The Splendor iSmart gets electric start as standard along with the kick start.

Ride & Handling

The Hero Splendor iSmart sits on tubular double cradle frame which provides decent ride quality. It gets telescopic forks at the front and a set of hydraulic rear shock absorbers providing a little stiff ride but the overall riding experience is very good. The bike gets MRF tubless tyres that offer more than decent grip in corners and but not quite sure the way it will behave in rains. The ergonomics of the Splendor iSmart is just like the other executive commuter bikes in the segment- very rider friendly with an upright riding position making it very easy for comfortable commute in the city.

Just like the Splendor NXG, the stopping power for the Splendor iSmart comes from the 130mm drum brake at the front and 110mm drum brake at the rear. The overall bite is quite good but being marketed as a little special bike over others, the company should have provided a front disc as an option. This will increase the cost marginally, but an option would have been appreciated.

Verdict

The Hero Splendor iSmart has been priced at Rs 47,250 (ex-showroom Delhi), just Rs 2000 more than the regular Splendor. But it is also Rs 2500 over than the Bajaj Discover 100M and Rs 838 cheaper that the Honda Dream Yuga bike which is a 110cc but none of them offers any new technology on the level of the i3S. Even in the small village in Karnataka where I’m writing this review, I have managed to see more than a dozen Splendor iSmarts doing the rounds of the village, making me believe it will be the same in the neighboring villages. However, the target audience for the i3S technology is urban markets where the instances of stopping at signals are more. If you are someone who commutes to office during rush hour and have been looking to reduce your fuel bills, then the Splendor iSmart should be your blind choice.