New Hero Splendor iSmart 110 Test Ride Review

• Jul 23, 2016
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Hero MotoCorp has begun to establish their very own indigenously manufactured product lineup, after the launch of Maestro Edge, they have come up with new Splendor i Smart 110 designed and developed by their home team. After parting from the Japanese partner Honda, Hero went on to develop their own engines for both scooters and motorcycles.

In the slew of indigenously manufactured products Hero has recently launched Splendor iSmart 110 equipped with their brand new 110cc engine, which is featured with the patented i3S technology. Let’s find out how the new entrant from the house of Hero MotoCorp turns out when we test the new machine in different riding conditions.

Rider’s Note: Having the torque available at virtually all rev range makes the new Splendor iSmart a friendly commuter especially in city riding condition. The pulling capacity of the bike from as low as 20 kmph speed in top gear is something that impresses me after Platina 100 ES.

Style & Features:

The new Splendor iSmart 110 is certainly a serious update from the company, be it the brand new engine it is featured with or the design element it carries. No matter how many features are added to the new updated product by Hero, they have maintained the peculiar styling of the brand iSmart. The signature dual tone color options come with distinct graphics making the new iSmart stand out of the crowed similar to its older sibling. Hero consolidating their commitment towards safety has introduced the industry first Automatic Headlight On (AHO) feature on the newly designed headlight assembly of iSmart 110. The AHO is something that we will get to see on every two wheeler rolling out from each manufacturer starting from 2017. On account of imposing additional safety feature on two-wheelers the Government authorities have made it compulsory.

To tell you a little about how the AHO works- the moment you thumb start/kick start the engine, the headlight automatically gets on. Irrespective of day or night now your headlight will remain on aiding to the better visibility at all the times in all conditions. To ensure the system remains intact, there is no headlight switch present at all, through which one can switch off the headlamp manually. However, there is a passing switch and an upper/dipper toggle switch present on board via which one can use the headlamp on high or low beam. To me, albeit all of its safety benefits, the AHO feature would affect the life of the headlight bulb as there would be good chances of fused bulbs seen more frequently. However, since the headlamp runs on AC circuit, it is not likely to affect the battery life. The patent i3S technology is also featured on the new iSmart 110, it is through this system the brand iSmart is known for what it is today. The system is switchable and one can either switch it on/off manually.

The i3S system works on a simple principal, it simply shuts off the engine automatically when the transmission is in neutral and the engine remains on idle for few seconds. One can restart the engine by just pulling up the clutch and you are good to go. If you find the system annoying or simply don’t want to get into it and would like to go the conventional way, just switch off the system.

To summarize the i3S system’s efficiency- it is only helpful when you are at traffic signal and have slotted the transmission into neutral. The system will shut the engine off after few seconds and you can restart the engine by just pressing the clutch lever when you are good to go, thereby saving fuel and hence getting improved fuel efficiency. Other than this there is no way the i3S system directly affects the ride or in any way disrupts the ride unwantedly.

Engine & Performance: The brand new engine of iSmart 110 is designed and developed by the R&D team of Hero MotoCorp at their local facility in India. The entire engine is been manufactured indigenously by the home team and there is nothing to do with the Honda technology. The 110cc i3S engine is capable to produce 9.1 Ps of power and 9.0 Nm of torque. The mill is mated to 4-speed transmission gear and the torque is evenly distributed to all rev range.

The new engine is smooth and there is no unwanted vibration seen on it. Apparently Hero has mastered the technology from their erstwhile Japanese partner Honda and in fact is trying to take it even further ahead. The new engine plonked on the iSmart 110 is vertical, opposite to the previous generation Honda derived 97cc engine which was horizontal. After the indigenously developed CVT engine slapped on the Maestro Edge, this vertical 110cc engine is going to be the base for the rest of the higher displacement engines which we will be seeing in near future from Hero’s stable. The new 110cc mill is featured with 4-speed gear with same popular gear pattern. The transmission is as smooth as engine and we were able to drop all the gears in right slots with no false neutral seen.

One thing that we noticed on the new iSmart 110 is its power delivery, it’s pretty linear and you get decent amount of torque available at all rev range. Pulling the bike further when it is at as low as 20 kmph speed in top gear seemed effortless, it is one feature that comes pretty handy while riding in city traffic condition.

Instrument Cluster & Switchgear: The instrument console comes in part analog and part digital display, the bold analog speedometer sits right in center, whereas the digital meter on the right side of the console. The Blue backlight of the console and the use of blue tint bold letters make the display legible even in low light condition. There is a trip meter given on the digital display along with Odometer. The signature side stand indicator is also featured on the center console along with neutral light. The Switchgear however are very basic in nature and lacks fit and finish. The plastic parts used on the switchgear seem below standards and they are not snugly fit as well. This is one area where Hero has to pay attention as it’s time to give importance to the detailing of the product.

Riding Dynamics: We tried to test the new Splendor i-Smart 110 on variety of terrains, including natural rocky tracks filled with pebbles, steep incline of hill and city traffic. The new iSmart felt NEW indeed, the ride quality is plush. Soft handle grips along with soft and firm seat adds to the overall smoothness to the ride.

The new lightweight double cradle frame not only provides better stability under all conditions but also renders new dimension to the bike. The increased ground clearance comes pretty handy while going over hurdles.

When we took the new iSmart to the rough terrain it was nice and quiet experience as not only the increased ground clearance helped us crossing uneven rock bed but the feature like plastic chain cover made it rattle free ride also. The suspension is also decent for a commuter, a pair of red colored spring loaded suspension like in the previous gen iSmart is featured on new iSmart as well. Hero has given an option for tubeless tyres on the new Splendor i-Smart, those who want to get the tubeless tyres can get the variant by paying extra. However, the all black alloy wheels come as standard fitment and the stopping duty is been handed over to the drum brakes (there is no option for disc brake available). The brakes are also good and both front and rear drum brakes offer decent amount of bite. While city riding condition and load condition such as steep hill incline, the flat torque of the engine makes the ride easy and fun. One amusing thing we experienced with the AHO is, since people are not habitual of this functionality, neither the majority is aware of it, we found passerby indicating that the headlight of the bike is on (assuming the headlamp is on by mistake in a broad day light). Verdict:

The new Hero Splendor iSmart 110 is a true commuter in all sense, Hero has tried to club what all is needed to make a commuter a no nonsense bike. Hero can be trusted for its competent technical backup and their vast sales and service experience. The new Splendor iSmart can be considered as beginning of a new era for Hero MotoCorp, as in near future we will be seeing many more new products in different capacities from the house of Hero based on this indigenously developed platform.

Ride Courtesy: My Bike, Bhopal.