iSmart, Now Smarter Than Ever

Touted as the first ever product to be designed from the ground up by Hero MotoCorp at their new R&D facility in Jaipur, the new Splendor iSmart retains everything that endeared the bike to the public while adding on some more to make it even more endearing

- Aninda Sardar

I STOP AT THE purpose-built signal on the test-track and after about 30 odd seconds of idling the bike’s engine cuts off. On green, I pull the clutch in and it restarts without batting an eyelid. I slot it into gear and continue riding. Now, this particular aspect of the newly launched Hero Splendor iSmart may not be entirely new, but there’s plenty of newness in this machine to make you want to take a spin on it. At the same time, Hero MotoCorp have been really smart in not fixing (or even upgrading) anything on the bike that previous customers of the iSmart found endearing, including the red and grey paint scheme on our test bike.

But who’s interested in the old stuff, anyway; we all want to know what’s new, correct? To start with, the new bike features edgier styling and looks sharper and more contemporary than before. The fairing and the head lamp have been redesigned for a slightly more aggressive visage and the lines of the 8.5-litre petrol-tank, too, have been sharpened. At the rear, the split grab-rails look very nice and are great to hang on to as well. What remains unchanged is the upright commuter-like riding posture, which works really well when commuting through the Indian cityscape. Look closer, and you’ll also realise that the iSmart 110 is bigger than the 100-cc iSmart (refer sizing chart). The seat is mostly flat and super comfortable, which will be a key ask for the average Indian commuter.