Hero MotoCorp Karizma XMR Review
Hero MotoCorp Karizma XMR Pros
• Massive brand recall as it was the first successful "sports bike" in India
• Fantastic styling coupled with acceptable build quality
• Value for money! We find the Karizma well-priced for what it offers
• Powerful 210cc engine mated to smooth 6-speed gearbox with slip & assist clutch
• Comfortable seating for both rider and pillion
• Hero MotoCorp's widespread sales and service network
• Features such as adjustable visor, automatic headlamps, slip & assist clutch, dual-channel ABS, turn-by-turn navigation, USB Charger etc.
Hero MotoCorp Karizma XMR Cons
• Not as ground-breaking as the original Karizma. Might not live up to its legendary status
• Market is dominated by competition. Hero needs to aggressively market this bike if they intend to get a breakthrough
• Fairly neutral to ride. Not as exciting as some rivals
• Small 11-litre fuel tank will limit touring range
• Missing features such as riding modes, upside-down fork, traction control etc.
• Available in a single variant only and just 3 colours
• 6,000 km service interval is on the shorter side
Introduction
It's difficult to believe that almost two decades have passed since the first Karizma rolled out on our roads. It was a premium motorcycle and Hero Honda, as the company was known back then, went out of its way to promote it. One of the most impressive programmes was the track run of 2,500+ km in 24 hours of non-stop riding. This programme saw 12 national records being shattered and established the Karizma as an extremely reliable long-distance tourer (
source). I also remember following up on the story of the incredible Bharadwaj Dayala who did
a world tour on his Karizma.
The beautiful yellow bike was well known for its comfortable and relaxed touring ability. But with the passage of time and the end of the Hero-Honda partnership, the bike slowly lost its position. A couple of half-hearted attempts to revive its sales did not work and it was pulled out of the showrooms around 2019.
Hero MotoCorp sells 3,00,000 Splendors every month (
source). This gives the company market reach that is mind-blowing. They are truly the ultimate "hero" of the mass market. But every hero needs
Karizma (pun intended) and it was only a matter of time before the flagship bike was brought back into the market.
In 2003, I was fresh out of college and landed a job in Hyderabad. So I sold off my Splendor and came to this beautiful city. Within a few days, the itch for a motorcycle became unbearable. The Hero Honda Karizma was launched. This bike was right on top of my wish list but my dad made it clear that if I was going to buy a bike, it had to be a Royal Enfield. I ended up buying a Thunderbird and it became an integral part of my life. But it was a choice that could have gone easily in favour of the yellow beauty. These were the thoughts running through my mind as I watched the launch of the all-new Karizma XMR.
Since then, a lot has changed in the motorcycling world. Some of the old players have been forgotten, while some like Yezdi, are back with some beautiful bikes. Bajaj is making bikes for Triumph and even Hero just helped launch a brand new Harley-Davidson. In this medley of choices, where exactly does this new bike stand?
The people who either bought or wanted to buy the Karizma then, are now 40-year-olds like me. The boys who were fascinated by its looks as they saw their older siblings or college seniors show it off, are now in their 30s. The people for whom this segment exists are in their 20s. Will the hype of "the legend" matter to them?
Hero MotoCorp clearly knows that just relying on the legendary status of this bike will not help in making it a success. Therefore, it has also brought in a lot of new technological improvements to attract the much better-informed buyers of 2023. While the more obvious additions are the tubeless tires and digital console, I feel that the real improvements are the dual-channel ABS, all-steel trellis frame and even the very interesting battery placement - on the top of the petrol tank.
But what about the 210cc engine? When the old Karizma was launched in 2003, it was one of the fastest bikes on the road. The new Karizma, however, is not going to be anywhere close to taking that spot. Yes, it is among the most powerful bikes in its segment, but in 2003, there was no segment above the one in which the Karizma ruled. Today, this segment is, frankly, just about the entry-level for premium bikes. In my personal opinion to live up to its legendary status, this bike should have come in with a much more powerful engine.
Hero MotoCorp Karizma XMR Price & Brochure
The bike has been launched in a single variant with three colours - Matte Phantom Black, Turbo Red and Iconic Yellow, at an introductory price of Rs. 1,72,900 (ex-showroom) which we feel is fair for what it offers.
The official brochure of the Karizma XMR can be downloaded here:
Hero Karizma XMR Brochure.pdf