Hero 125cc Scooter Launch In The Offing; Spy Images Surface

Hero 125cc Scooter spotted testing; Launch next year

Hero MotoCorp, the erstwhile Hero Honda, continues to be the undisputed leader of Indian Two Wheelers market, even after its Japanese two wheelers giant Honda gave up on its ties with the Gurgaon-based bike manufacturer and called it quits around a couple of years back. Hero MotoCorp enjoys quite a lethal arsenal, with some well sorted out products positioned in almost all segments of mainstream Indian bike market. The manufacturer is also planning to come up with a 250cc faired model, which should take the fight straight to the likes of Honda CBR250R. However, the one area where Hero MotoCorp is bettered by Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India (HMSI) is the fast growing (and the very lucrative) scooter market. While HMSI boasts of some really competent models such as the Activa, the Dio and the Aviator, Hero’s contenders for this segment, the Pleasure and the Maestro, have got only a luke warm response from the buyers. It is only due to the stellar sales performance of its automatic scooters that today, HMSI almost threatens to displace Hero MotoCoro from the top of the sales charts. However, it seems like the boffins at Hero MotoCorp have taken notice of this and are busy readying a worthy rival to the high selling Activa 125. Yes, you guessed it right, Hero has been working on a 125cc automatic and seen here on this page is probably the first ever picture of the Hero 125cc scooter.

Launch

While there hasn’t been any official word on the launch of this scooter, our guess is that the model could be out by next year’s festive season.

Engine

In all probability, the upcoming scooter will sport the same engine that powers the Hero Dare Concept, which was showcased back at this year’s Auto Expo. This air-cooled 125cc engine has a maximum power of 9.1 bhp and a peak torque of 9.5 Nm.

Design and Styling

As we just said, Hero MotoCorp showcased a 125cc scooter earlier this year. However, it is pretty much for sure that the upcoming Hero 125cc scooter, the one that can be seen in the above picture, isn’t the Dare. We say this on the basis of conventional positioning of the headlamp, turn indicators and a sliver grab rail. The Dare, however, has far more futuristic looks with a headlight that is positioned on its apron, has sportier wheels (probably larger too!) and a stylish black-colored grab rail.

Suspension

As revealed by the image, the upcoming 125cc scooter boasts of a set of telescopic shock absorbers at the front. The rear suspension setup, in all probability, would be a unit Swing with spring loaded hydraulic dampers.