Hero Splendor Plus is arguably the most important two wheeler in the history of Indian transportation for it has been the best-selling motorcycle in the country for decades.
The unspectacular commuter bike has gone on to be more than just a form of personal transportation – with a cultural status transcending ingrained social structures, and spanning across demographics and locations.
Hero Splendor Plus: Origins and Evolution
Lineage The Splendor family was one of the first model families to come out of Hero’s alliance with Honda in the mid-1990s, born as the successor to the CD100.
Though the relationship came to an end in 2011 with Hero carrying on sans Honda, the Splendor’s basic design ethos has hardly changed since—emphasizing reliability, efficiency and approachability over trendy styling or superfluous complication.
The Splendor has entire life span has never seen any major overhaul, the motorcycle gets new colours but nothing more than that.
This evolutionary strategy is born from an intimate understanding of THE CHERISHED CUSTOMER, one who seeks dependability and sameness in a car that is less luxury-lifestyle statement and more often the rickety sawhorse holding up the household.
Ease of Use ” Convenience, elegance and simplicity converge in a sleek, minimalist design.
The design of the Splendor Plus is aimed at those who consider such sobriety the best of virtues — this is a silhouette that has been as much at home in the diverse landscapes of India as is possible.
The uncomplicated tubular frame cradles an (in our opinion) smallish fuel tank with trademark side panels emblazoned with the Splendor name.
The long, level seat allows two riders easy access and provides a spacious riding position that is ideal for eating up miles and hours on your favorite highway.
Flare (chrome trim) on headlight casing, fenders, digital meter cubby hole, mirrors and exhaust shield add character to the bike without being gaudy and detracting from its low key appearance.
Colour options are usually conservative hues with some bright colour variants, which would likely appeal to younger commuters considering its wide demographic application.
A functional over fashion-focused attitude where every detail is based on a functional use other than just appealing to potentially outdated trending fashion.
The aesthetics produced as a result are timeless, superseding traditional design lifecycle, which is unusual in automotive terms.
Simple As That For Engineering Excellence
A heart of the Splendor Plus is the highly refined 97.2cc air-cooled single-cylinder engine. This basic but capable engine produces approximately 8.2 horsepower and 8.05 Nm of torque—relatively small numbers for an engine that also makes a statement in terms of durability and efficiency. Four-stroke OHV – provides you with the reliability you need and long engine life you expect from a Honda.
Over head valve design offers cooler, fuel-efficient operation, and cast iron cylinder sleeve provides longer service life.
Fuel economy is still the Splendor’s trump card and we regularly see real-world economy in excess of 70 km/l in normal riding conditions.
It is worth noting that this exceptional efficiency is not the product of high-tech wizardry, but of rationalised engineering, to such an extent that it is still possible to extract modest improvement without necessarily applying complex fuel injection and electronic management (which has since been incorporated on later models to cope with increasingly stringent emissions restrictions).
The four-speed constant mesh gearbox is a no-nonsense unit with well spaced ratios that allows you to crawl through town on the right cog but still cruise at a decent speed on the highway.
Indeed, the whole powertrain is more about simplicity and reliability than outright speed – an attitude that neatly sums up the practical requirements of those it’s intended for.
Ride Quality and Handling
Nothing special here, which is just as well since the Splendor’s tendency to be used as a means of daily transportation, on all sorts of roads, has been duly taken into account.
The traditional telescopic front forks and twin rear shock absorbers with 5-way preload adjustment provide sufficient cushioning on Indian roads while not compromising on predictability for normal day to day riding.
Tipping the scales at about 110 kgs gives the Splendor lightness which adds to fuel economy and makes it more maneuverable in bumper-to-bumper city traffic.
The 18-inch diameter wheels support drum brakes (front disc is optional on some versions) provide predictable stopping power befitting the bike’s limited performance envelope. Newer versions feature a combined braking system, with ABS, to allow to reduce on emergency braking.
Legacy and Cultural Impact
The Splendor’s impact goes beyond the sales tally. For millions of Indians, especially in the countryside and beyond, this motorcycle is transformational mobility, offering access to employment, education and the quality of life.
It is the durable, affordable transportation that is frequently a family’s first motorized vehicle and an essential tool for broader economic inclusion.
That reputation/possibility of low maintenance, long life is a lot of ‘bang for the buck’, especially for owners who don’t have easy access to service or don’t have the money to put their bike back in running condition every three years.
This “trust value” for quality and performance has led to a virtuous customer cycle, where in a household with multiple members, be it a man taking the Splendor to work and his wife using it for house hold related chores, or dad using it for work and the son using it for college, have led to multiple purchases of this bike(modern day splendors), with word of mouth referrals happening enough to convince any other bystander of its robustness and reliability.
Market Evolution
Though it remains true to its roots and retains its core values, the Splendor Plus has evolved with time and now comes with features such as programmed fuel injection, integrated starter-generator system for a smooth start and better emissions to comply with emission norms.
These updates reflect our commitment to keeping Hero current and to the continuation of Hero’s legacy features that you have come to rely on.
Hero Splendor Plus:
The Hero Splendor Plus is a case study in what engineering for really well known, understood user needs can do for a product in terms of longevity of market presence and standing.
With steadfast reliability, efficiency and accessibility without unnecessary complication, Hero has cultivated a bike that has reached beyond its simple time of origin and become a true institution on the Indian transportation scene.
While automotive markets believers are adjusting to a changed buying-table where the utility of mobility in a resource-strained context is now paramount, the Splendor’s sustained success brings indispensable lessons regarding the product development pecking order and long term building of a brand.