Hero MotoCorp has launched its first completely in-house developed motorcycle. And it's no surprise that it is a Splendor, the Splendor iSmart 110 to be exact. But, is it significantly different from the older Splendors, the iSmart 100cc included? Time to dissect the bike and find out...
All new engine with TOD
Not only does the Splendor iSmart 110 displace higher capacity than the Splendors of yore, it uses a completely, ground-up new engine. For starters this is the first Splendor not to use a sloper or horizontally installed engine. Plus, Hero has focused on usable torque. Besides reducing friction for all possible moving parts, the intake and exhaust lengths as well as their design has been fine tuned to deliver a higher degree of tumble for better combustion. Valve sizes are bigger, and along with the revised cylinder head design, the engine now delivers a near flat torque from 3,000-7,500rpm. Hero calls this TOD for Torque on Demand which in the real world should translate into good city ride-ability and low rpm pull. This new 110cc single-cylinder air-cooled engine has been co-developed with AVL Engineering. It produces 9bhp at 7500rpm and 9Nm at 5500rpm. And it is the only BS-IV compliant engine in its class currently.
All New Chassis
The chassis is all new as well says Hero. It is lighter and better balanced. It is stiffer in the head stock area, and thanks to the engine moving away from the sloper engine configuration, the weight has shifted more towards the centre of the bike. This has automatically improved the low speed handling of the bike according to Hero. The swingarm is stiffer as well even though it is the same length as on the regular iSmart. The suspension, front and rear, uses the exact same tubing and springs, but the dampers have been retuned to give the bike a more pliant ride especially over broken roads. The bike also gets new wheels and revised seating. The seat is new and Hero engineers have also altered the position of the footpegs. According to the company, the changes have made the bike suitable for riders of varying heights.
i3s (Integrated Start-Stop System)
This is not entirely new. We saw this system first in the Splendor iSmart - the 100cc sibling. The i3S, or integrated start-stop system, helps in saving fuel in city conditions. This system automatically cuts power to the engine whenever the gearbox is slotted into neutral and stays there for five seconds. This is usually useful at traffic signals. So once the engine turns green, all you need to do is pull the clutch and the engine will start by itself. Now, according to Hero, even though the new bike displaces higher engine capacity, thanks to i3S along with revised gearing and higher friction busting changes, it is no less efficient.
AHO (Automatic Headlamp On)
The Splendor iSmart 110 is the first motorcycle in the segment that gets a headlamp that stays on continuously. As is the case in Europe, India too is considerably making day time running lights on motorcycles mandatory. The reason is added safety since it decreases the risk of accidents by making the motorcycle - otherwise difficult to spot thanks to its puny dimensions - more visible to approaching vehicles. Hero says, it realises the safety benefit of AHO and has therefore introduced it in the Splendor iSmart 110 even though it isn't mandatory yet. It adds, that having AHO has increased the load on the generator affecting its fuel efficiency a little. But given the iSmart 110 is already so efficient, it accepted the trade off in favour of added safety.
Digital console
The Splendor iSmart 110 uses a part-digital-part-analogue instrument cluster. And for an entry-level bike, it looks pretty good too. The fuel level indicator and speedo makes up the analogue part - which is more dominant part of the design - while the LCD screen - a little small for our liking - displays the odometer and trip meter. There are no additional readouts. However, the iSmart 110 does get a side stand indicator and service reminder as part of the tell-tale lights. The switchgear is basic too with electric start and i3S switch on the right and turn indication, high and low beam, and pass-by switches on the left.
