You can see where Hero is coming from with this one. Priced at Rs 86,500, the new Super Splendor XTEC 2.0 is for those who want to be frugal. The 72kpl claim and the new hazard lights are the story here, along with a look that is both a bit of a throwback and a step up in intelligence, not to mention the connectivity.
Price and buyer value
The tag of Rs 86,500 ex-showroom in Delhi is a little under what you’d pay for the front-disc version of the current Super Splendor XTEC (Rs 88,044). For a lot of riders, that difference is worth it, particularly if you’re looking to keep running costs down.
If you’re trying to have your cake and eat it too when it comes to cost and convenience, the upgrades here are hard to miss. A case in point:
– You’re in at a lower price than the disc model
– 72kpl means a less expensive run to work
– Hazard lights to be seen in the city
– The good old Splendor feel with a bit more on top
What you get for the money
It’s still very much the tech-forward bike its forerunner was, with a feature-rich cockpit and hardware that doesn’t get in the way. It’s about being practical and having a bit of a modern edge to it.
Efficiency and daily performance
Under the tank is the 124.7cc single-cylinder you know, making 10.7hp and 10.6Nm. The stats are the same, but Hero is now putting 72kpl on the table, a jump from the 68kpl of the present-day XTEC.
They put that down to the Advanced Programmed Fuel Injection and the i3S idle stop-start. There’s also an Integrated Starter Generator to make for a hush in stop-and-go traffic and a smoother start-up.
Connectivity, convenience and safety
The all-digital cluster is where you’ll find the Bluetooth. You can see calls, texts, missed call info and even how much juice is left in your phone. A Real Time Mileage and low fuel readout are there to let you know what’s what.
There’s a 2A USB Type-C for when you need a charge. And for the first time in the Super Splendor line, you have hazard lights – a must for the road. Toss in the handlebar kill switch and a front disc and you should be in good hands.
They haven’t skimped on the ride. The long seat and roomy handlebars are made for the long haul. Telescopic forks and a broad rear rail will do you and your pillion a favour on rougher tarmac.
Design updates and colour choices
The styling is a matter of degree, but it does put a fresh face on things. We’re talking dual-tone graphics, 3D emblems and the XTEC 2.0 name. A two-textured, stitched seat and some sporty rim tapes round it out.
You have five to pick from: Glossy Black, Candy Blazing Red, Matt Axis Grey, Matt Nexus Blue and Matt Chestnut Brown. It’s for the mainstream, with a touch of panache.
Where it fits for 125cc buyers
It’s built on the same 125cc bones as the Glamour, the Xtreme 125R and so on. But the XTEC 2.0 is about making every litre count and adding some everyday utility without the bill to prove it.
When you put a trusted brand up against the cost of petrol, it’s a tough sell to pass up. At 72kpl and Rs 86,500, the XTEC 2.0 is right where it needs to be.
Now we have to see if the real world backs up the numbers on mileage and comfort. If it does, then Hero has only made its hold on the 125cc value segment a little firmer.
