[Foretio]

Model: 2021 Hero Splendor Plus i3s
Kilometers Covered: 9,500
Garage Companions: 1968 Royal Enfield G2, 2004 Honda Activa, 2019 Pulsar 150

Note to readers: This review is based on my real-world daily city usage experience, rather than focusing solely on the bike’s power figures and specifications or features.

Buying Decision: One of my relatives purchased the bike but found it unsuitable for their daily needs and my dad bought it from them, as we needed an additional vehicle at home. The bike had only clocked 300 km when I first started using it. Initially, it mostly stayed parked, used only for occasional short trips. However, for the past 8 months, it has been my daily commuter, covering a 34 km round trip to the office.


Features and experience:

• The bike is as basic as it gets, comes with an analog speedometer and fuel gauge, along with indicators for the side stand, neutral, and high beam.

• The switchgear includes a self-start switch, standard indicator switches, a high/low beam button, a horn button, and an i3s start/stop switch. While most switches are of decent quality, the i3s switch feels quite cheap. I rarely use the start/stop feature, and it’s almost always turned off.

• The rearview mirrors provide clear view of what's behind.

• Headlights are standard yellow halogens which are sufficient for city use.

• The toolbox offers minimal space, just enough to carry essential papers, with no additional storage available.

• The bikes comes with drum brakes at both the front and rear, and performs adequately in city rides but only up to 60 kph speed. You won't want to risk riding it at anything above that as the brakes aren't sufficient for emergency situations and also there's no abs.

• In heavy summer traffic, you might feel some heat on your legs, but aside from that, the engine doesn’t overheat.

Engine and gearbox: The engine isn’t particularly eager to rev, but with proper gearing, it keeps you within the power band. The gears are short so you will have to shift until 4th gear even at 45kph. The bike allows you to ride at low speeds in higher gears, which is convenient for city commuting. Gear shifts are smooth with no false neutrals, and the clutch is much lighter than on my Pulsar 150, making it easier to navigate through dense traffic without straining fingers.

Build quality and styling: The bike is free from unnecessary plastics or styling elements, which is a plus. Everything present serves a function and is well-built for its purpose, so you don’t have to worry about anything failing in day-to-day use. In terms of styling, this 2021 model closely resembles previous generations and doesn’t stand out compared to the current Splendor models, which feature daytime running LEDs and digital meters. It’s a very common and neutral-looking bike.

Paint quality: The paint quality is average—not particularly good or bad. I’ve noticed the paint on the fuel tank getting slightly dull, but this might be because I sometimes place my office bag on it.

Space and Comfort: The seat is long enough to comfortably accommodate two people of average build. The seat upholstery is a bit softer compared to my Pulsar 150, but for me, the Splendor’s seat becomes uncomfortable after 30-35 minutes due to its narrow width. There’s decent space even for a pillion. While not recommended, three average-sized people can squeeze onto the seat, though it will be tight. The bike is ideal for riders between 5'2" and 5'10" with a normal build; it may not be as comfortable for those who are particularly tall or wide.


Pros:

• Ease of Ride: The bike is extremely flickable in heavy traffic, making it easy to maneuver due to its lightweight build. You can even pick up speed from 20 kph in 4th gear if necessary. The first gear is useless 90% of the time as its too short but it’s possible to cruise in 4th gear for about 60% of the time, even in city conditions.

• Mileage: I use this bike exclusively within Ahmedabad city, primarily during peak office hours (9 AM and 6 PM), and it consistently delivers a mileage of 60-62 km/L. This has been my favorite aspect of the bike so far.

• Reliable Workhorse: Whether it's heavy rain, muddy terrain, or broken roads, the Splendor handles everything with ease. You never have to worry about something going wrong with it.

• Carefree Ownership: Spare parts are affordable and readily available. I follow the owner's manual for maintenance, either doing it myself or visiting local garages. You don't have to worry about something breaking, even if someone rear-ends you in bumper-to-bumper traffic—a frequent occurrence during peak hours over here.

• Suspension: The suspension is well-tuned for comfort, easily absorbing broken roads and potholes. However, it does feel a bit bouncy sometimes.

Cons:

• Engine and power: The bike lacks overall power. If you're someone who enjoys riding fast, this bike isn't for you. It takes its time to reach 60 kph due to frequent gear changes till 4th gear to avoid straining the engine, it's slightly slower than the Activa 110 for comparison. You'll always find yourself wanting more power, and overtaking requires a little careful planning, as you might struggle to gain speed quickly compared to a 150cc motorcycle. The engine is not rev happy and it gets quite noisy if reved to its limit. I do find it boring to ride as per my taste but also its just about adequate for city commute so can't blame.

• Seat Comfort: I ride 17 km every evening in traffic, which takes about 45 minutes. After 30 minutes, the narrow seat starts to become uncomfortable, causing discomfort. I'm 5'8" with body weight of 63kg for reference. This is one of the bike’s biggest drawbacks, and if I were to buy a new bike in the future, it would likely be due to this issue, even more so than the lack of power.

• Speed: The bike is comfortable to ride at speeds till 55-60 kph. Beyond that, the engine feels strained, and it takes much longer to gain any additional speed. The brakes become less reliable at anything beyond that, and vibrations in the mirrors and handlebars become more noticeable.

Other:

• The only mechanical issue I ever faced with bike was during initial months of ownership, the bike would turning off automatically while riding (not the i3s start stop) despite of clutch pulled in completely but it was resolved by Hero service center guys.

Final Thoughts:
If you're considering buying this bike, it's best suited for those who need a durable, low-maintenance vehicle for city rides with good mileage. If you expect more—like speed, power, or long-distance comfort—you might want to explore other options, such as the TVS Raider or moving up to the 150cc segment. In a nut shell Splendor is a no-nonsense bike that prioritizes ease of mind and cost savings over the thrill of the ride.

[GTO]

Thread moved from the Assembly Line to the Motorcycle section. Thanks for sharing!

Going to our homepage this coming week

[bblost]

Very sweet review and it brought back memories of my college days.

I rode the splendor (1999) everyday for about 70 kms on the Chennai GST between Adyar and Vandalur.

The bike was solid and I never had any issues beyond the regular service.

I think this bike redefined commuting in our country.

[Foretio]

Originally Posted by bblost

I think this bike redefined commuting in our country.

Thanks, I do think that Splendor was one of the pioneer in the 2W motorcycle market in India.

[RD410]

Congratulations on owning one of the finest 2 wheelers our country has ever got. I myself own a 2010 bs3 Hero Honda Passion Pro, yes one of the last one's right before the Indian and Jap partners split. Here are my thoughts about this 100cc platform.

• Right after the split, Hero reduced the paint and plastic quality. Paint chips off easily, especially from the chassis, plastic panels are brittle and break easily. Rest everything is of high quality. I can tell the difference as I also own Honda Dio and it's paint & panels are of much higher quality.

• Mine being a bs3, is very peppy and revv happy. It has strong mid to near top end performance. It can cruise at 70-75 with pillion and even at 80 if ridden solo. The pull from 50-80 is strong compared to other 100cc's of todays age. All this because bs3 era was far less restrictive to IC engines. Not just the Passion Pro, my Dio (also bs3) is very peppy, so I am sure it's a bs3 thing. Low end of Passion has alway's been bad compared to Splendor, as Passion weighs almost 120kgs, which is too heavy for a 100cc.

• Ride quality of Passion/Splendor is far better than other bikes in the segment. But this platform is old and not as agile or fun as say a Honda Shine or TVS Radeon / Raider.

• This Honda Super Cub derived engine and chassis are incredibly durable and rugged. Splendor and it's counterparts are sort of mini ADV's which can survive insane amount of abuse.

Since your's is a bs6 version, I have one important advice for you. Bs6 Splendor has a compression ratio of 10:1, which is quite high for a 100cc. You have to be vigilant about it's battery health and self starter's condition. As kick starting the bs6 model is a real pain.

[ss11011988]

Dear OP,

You beat me to it when it came to posting the review of the Hero Splendor Plus as I too own the same machine since 2021, and I've been thinking about posting one (thanks to my procrastination) but now that you posted yours, let me hijack yours. Jokes aside, congrats on owning one of the most rugged, durable and reliable machines in our country, wishing you many happy miles with it. Your ownership review resonates mine, down to the last bit, it's been an absolutely stress-free experience owning the bike (compared to the cranky drama queen that is my Thunderbird 350). The bike cranks up without the slightest hesitation, and is tailor made for the chaotic roads of our metros. Yes, there is not much zeal in the bike post 45-50, but in our traffic choked roads, how quickly it can move from 0-40 is what I really like about it. Couple that with the flexible and agile chassis, and the slim build, weaving in and out of traffic is mad fun. 4th gear is where it's at home, and it can do that all day around chugging and pulling heavy loads with absolute ease while delivering fantastic mileage. The only thing that conked off repeatedly in my bike was the speedometer cable which was quickly replaced by the guys in RT Krishna Autos, Hosur. In fact, have to give it to them for the speed and efficiency with which they do mass servicing, and it was always a pleasant experience interacting with them.

OT: All being said, the quest for power is the only thing that will prevent me from keeping the bike for a longer term, because power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely, especially when that power is accompanied by an orgasmic 270-degree parallel twin rumble: p

[Foretio]

Originally Posted by RD410

• Right after the split, Hero reduced the paint and plastic quality. Paint chips off easily.

Thanks, I agree with you, even I have noticed the paint quality difference in newer vehicles when compared to decade old vehicles and its not just restricted to motorcycles but also in cars.

Originally Posted by RD410

• Mine being a bs3, is very peppy and revv happy. It has strong mid to near top end performance. It can cruise at 70-75 with pillion and even at 80 if ridden solo.

Even my splendor can do 70-75 but I don’t find it too safe for my liking. While I feel much more confident reaching 90 on my Pulsar 150.

Originally Posted by RD410

Splendor and it's counterparts are sort of mini ADV's which can survive insane amount of abuse.

Couldn’t agree more to this, its the simplistic toughness you feel of splendor on broken roads that makes me absolute love it.

Originally Posted by RD410

You have to be vigilant about it's battery health and self starter's condition. As kick starting the bs6 model is a real pain.

So far, I haven’t faced any issues in starting the bike. A single kick or just a single self even without throttle does its job perfectly.

Originally Posted by ss11011988

I've been thinking about posting one (thanks to my procrastination)

Thank You, I checked if there were any recent Splendor’s ownership reviews and didn’t find any so took a plunge to do it as its one of the most selling motorcycle in the country !

Originally Posted by ss11011988

it's been an absolutely stress-free experience owning the bike (compared to the cranky drama queen that is my Thunderbird 350).

Agreed and having a 1968 RE bullet 350 in garage too, I know about the dramas they throw !

Originally Posted by ss11011988

Yes, there is not much zeal in the bike post 45-50, but in our traffic choked roads, how quickly it can move from 0-40 is what I really like about it. Couple that with the flexible and agile chassis, and the slim, weaving in and out of traffic is mad fun.

Completely agree with you, city riding and mileage have always been the strong suite of Splendor. It does what it is supposed to do without any problems.

Originally Posted by ss11011988

The only thing that conked off repeatedly in my bike was the speedometer cable

So far my bike haven’t given me any such issues and I hope it stays that way.

Originally Posted by ss11011988

OT: All being said, the quest for power is the only thing that will prevent me from keeping the bike for a longer term

I can relate. Even after riding the Pulsar 150, I feel stark difference in power of Splendor and Pulsar and it makes me realise the fun to ride factor that I’m missing out with Splendor.

[karthis91]

Lovely review. I own a Hero Honda Splendor Pro from 2021. That was the upgrade of Splendor Plus with Alloy wheels and self start. Covered a little more than 35000 kms. There have been some years when I've rarely touched the vehicle (when I was away for college, during COVID WFH days, etc) and some years when it has been my daily rider. Even if you start the bike after 3 months, the bike starts like a charm. It has been such a fuss-free ownership.

As noted by RD410, the paint quality is much better. It has almost remained intact. I also like the design from those days. Some of the Splendor models sold these days are straight bland with no designs.

I rarely take the bike beyond 50 km speed mark, as I feel the control and braking goes for a toss. A lot comfortable below 50 and the drive is sedate and relaxed - purely a city commuter bike. I still get mileage of ~60 kmpl.

I've tried a few 'Hero' Splendors from later days. I feel the refinement and quality has gone a notch below. So, I even cut down my plans on selling/upgrading my bike a few years back and decided to keep this bike for as long as possible.