Motorcycles have become increasingly popular when it comes to a private means of transportation in the Nepali consumer market. Having your own vehicle eliminates the need to rely on public transportation services, which can be a hassle and, in certain conditions, unreliable. Once you have your own vehicle, you can drive wherever you want at any time you want. For this reason, motorcycles have become very popular. Sure, you could own a car but they are several times more expensive and if you want something cheap, you could opt for a scooter instead-but motorcycles are generally a cut above scooters. If you’re capable of spending a bit more and putting more effort into learning a motorcycle, then it’s going to benefit you much better than using a scooter.
If you want to own a motorcycle that can fulfil your daily commuting needs and can handle other actions as well, then have a look at the Hero Splendor Plus. Hero is a relatively new brand into the Nepali motorcycle scene that started operating in Nepal back in September of 2012. Even though the brand itself may not be as well known as brands like Yamaha or Honda, the brand’s successful venture in the Nepali market vouchers for its products. Aimed at audiences that have commuting needs, the price of this bike is set at Rs. 1,77,500.
The Hero Splendor Plus has a very simplistic design since it’s a commuter bike. While it may not make you stand out in traffic, that’s really the charm of it. The bike is available in a whopping 8 different colours: Black and Accent in Beetle Red, Black and Accent in Firefly Golden, Black and Accent in Bumble Bee Yellow, Black with Purple, Black with Silver, Black with Sport Red, Heavy Grey with Green and Bumble Bee Yellow. While the bike itself may not look inherently stylish or sporty, these colour schemes will surely be to your liking.
Specifications
Let’s take a look at an overview of the Honda Splendor Plus’s specifications:
Engine
Engine Type: Air-cooled, 4 stroke single OHC
Displacement: 97.2 cc
Max power: 8.02 PS @8000 rpm
Max torque: 8.05 Nm @ 6000 rpm
No. of cylinders: 1
Cooling system: Air cooled
Valve per cylinder: 2
Drive type: Chain drive
Starting mechanism: Kick and self Start
Fuel supply: Fuel Injection
Clutch: Wet multi plate
Ignition: DC – Digital CDI
Transmission: Manual
Gear Box: 4-speed constant mesh
Compression ratio: 9.9:1
Chassis and suspension
Chassis: Tubular double cradle type
Front suspension: Telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers
Rear suspension: Rectangular swing arm with 5-step adjustable hydraulic shock absorbers
Brakes
Front brakes: Internal expanding shoe type, 130 mm
Rear brakes: Internal expanding shoe type, 130 mm
Tires and wheels
Front tire size: 80/100-18
Rear tire size: 80/100-18
Tire type: Tubeless
Front wheel size: 457.2 mm
Rear wheel size: 457.2 mm
Wheel type: Alloy
Electricals
Head lamp: 12 V – 35 W / 35 W, Halogen bulb, Multi-reflector Type)
Taillight: 12 V -5 / 10W, Multi-reflector type
Battery: 12 V 2.5 Ah (Kick) / 12V-3 Ah MF (Self)
Turn signal lamp: 12 V -10 W x 4 nos., MFR with clear lens
Dimensions
Length: 1970 mm
Width: 720 mm
Height: 1040 mm
Fuel capacity: 9.8 L
Saddle height: 785 mm
Ground clearance: 159 mm
Wheelbase: 1230 mm
Kerb weight; 112 kg
Fuel tank capacity: 11 L
Mileage: 80.6 km/L
General
The Hero Splendor Plus has a couple of nice touches to it that are generally a rarity among commuter bikes. First off, it has a small storage space below the tank with a toolkit and medical kit that you can store and use. There’s also a small protection on the rear brake lever so that your foot doesn’t slip and can stay in place easily when using it. The rear grab rail is also extended, allowing you to tie certain items and carry them around easily.
Console
The console is fully analogue with speedometer, odometer and tripmeter that are all analogue. It has a fuel gauge, engine light, side stand indicator, and high beam indicator for additional features.
Suspension
The hydraulic shock absorbers present on this bike make it easy for the rider to sustain bumpy rides easily on rough terrain so the bike is capable of tackling some off-road action if needed.
Integrated braking system
This system of braking mechanics makes it so that whenever you engage your rear brake, your front brake is applied simultaneously as well. This minimizes any chance of skidding in emergency or unfavorable driving conditions, thus making it safer for you.
Tires
The bike uses tubeless tires which are lighter, less affected by low air pressure, decrease the chances of puncture through pinching and increase stability while driving at high speeds. If a puncture happens, the air will escape slowly and the sealant inside will close up the hole shortly which makes it safer to pull up to the side of the road.
Fuel Injection system
The bike relies on a Fuel injection system which is a much superior fuel supply system compared to the conventional carburettors. This means you can get better performance, fuel economy and durability out of your bike than if you were to use a bike with carburettors. Moreover, you’ll also do the environment a favour since FI produces significantly fewer emissions as well. Even though you don’t need to use a vehicle with an FI system as a Nepali citizen since our emission standards are very outdated, unlike Indians which adopted an emission standard similar to the Euro-6 emission standards, this aspect of the bike is one of its strongest selling points.
As for other things like maintenance cost, resale value and further modification, you can expect the same degree of cost or freedom as other commuter bikes. You won’t need to pay anything extra for repairs or get less money when reselling. Modification is also quite unrestricted so you’re free to make whatever changes you wish so long as it’s safe and legal.
If you want to test ride a Hero Splendor Plus yourself, you can visit a related showroom or if you want to book one for yourself, visit their website to make a booking here: https://ngmhero.com/product/splendor-plus.
