FASHIONABLY LATE

The Xoom 125 is sharply dressed, packed with surprises, and ready to make a scene. And honestly, isn't that what we want to see?

- By Manaal Mahatme Photographs Kaizad Adil Darukhanawala

Ever met that one guy who arrives late to the party but somehow ends up being the life of it? For me, the Hero Xoom 125 had the potential to be just that. The TVS NTorq 125, the Honda Dio 125, the Suzuki Avenis 125 and the Aprilia SR 125 are not bad or dull scooters, but they have been here long enough, and some have just replicated the successful formula of others. But Hero MotoCorp? It didn't do that.

And the Xoom 125's design made that pretty evident, too. Perhaps, that's one advantage of arriving late — people notice, turn heads — that's exactly what the Xoom 125's presence did. Sure, the whole idea of the front-apron-mounted headlight, edgy side panels and split tail-light design is not exactly new, but the way Hero executed these made it a little more appealing. Or maybe it was what very few, or rather just one, experimented with in this segment — 14-inch wheels.