[TusharK]

Hero MotoCorp has filed a design patent for what appears to be a sportier version of the Karizma XMR. Could this be the Karizma XMR 250?



At first glance, the bike looks similar to the Karizma XMR 210. However, there are subtle differences between the two. The patent image reveals a pair of winglets extending from under the headlamp unit. The fairing of the bike also appears to have been redesigned.

Also, note that it is equipped with an upside-down fork instead of the telescopic unit you get on the Karizma XMR 210. That being said, some parts have been carried over from the XMR 210. These include the fuel tank, 2-piece seat, and tail section.

If this is indeed the Karizma XMR 250, it is expected to be powered by a 250cc liquid-cooled engine from the 2.5R Xtunt Concept. It could be paired with a 6-speed gearbox.

Link to Team-BHP News

[rudra_shiv]

Hero has already lost their game.

They brutally got negative images to their famous badges - Xtreme, Hunk & Karizma. They missed all the flights, trains and busses they had to catch to get into the top of the charts in these segments.

Really sad for Hero Moto Corp.

[saitvsk23]

Originally Posted by rudra_shiv

Hero has already lost their game.

They brutally got negative images to their famous badges - Xtreme, Hunk & Karizma. They missed all the flights, trains and busses they had to catch to get into the top of the charts in these segments.

Really sad for Hero Moto Corp.

It indeed is really sad about what's going on with Hero MotoCorp. All of their motorcycles had a certain brand image, a certain character to them.

The CBZ Xtreme was that one lean streetfighter which had the meat to take on the Pulsars. Lean, slim, agile and sharp were the attributes that were associated with that motorcycle. A great commuter too. I personally know people who have held on to that motorcycle because it did its job very well, and has seen no replacement since then.

The Hunk was that one macho 150cc commuter that you had to sit up and take notice of. A wide feeling bike for its class, along with somewhat wider tyres and absolute butch macho styling. It was marketed as a macho machine, and it did get sold on that line!

Well, don't get me started on the Karizma. That one machine which was the poster child of performance motorcycles in the early 2000's. I'm kinda happy that the moniker has been relaunched but I'm disappointed that the 210cc engine was very late to the scene. They have finally made a modern DOHC powerplant but they didn't market the bike well enough! The R15 still continues to be the leader of its segment because it has cemented itself in that position. The handling, performance and ease of maintenance has made sure of that. Given Hero has a much bigger service network, its a shame that they haven't given it the right kind of marketing.

And also, if they're planning to make this into a 250cc, I'm hoping that it needs to be wide to deliver that big bike feel. This wide big bike feel is what my CBR 250R absolutely excels at, and to this date there's no replacement for that wide feel of that bike in its segment! Maybe the RR310, but that's expensive. And yes, they need to get rid of those MRF tyres. Get some nice TVS Protorqs or something that a domestic manufacturer makes which is better than those MRF Nylogrips. I hated those tyres when I had it on my CBR. I think a pair of Apollo Alphas will change the way the bike handles in curves.

[b16h22]

Originally Posted by TusharK

Hero MotoCorp has filed a design patent for what appears to be a sportier version of the Karizma XMR. Could this be the Karizma XMR 250?

This is an aesthetics driven segment. The Karizma is a very good looking bike sans the very maxi scooter looking front end and headlight. They need a better headlight design to lure at least some youngsters away from the R15. It'll be a tough sell against the Yamaha even if they make a vastly better and VFM product with their commuter-ish brand image.

[chinmaypillay]

Don't know what is stopping them from plonking the 400 cc engine in their Karizma and getting started.

They already have good chassis experience with their older ZMR, which had amazing ride quality and was a tourer.

Use that tech, update a bit and plonk that 400 cc engine to make this desirable.
There is actually a good scope for faired tourers in a reasonable price.

250 seems to be too underpowered in todays scenario.
Really hoping for this and aggressively come out of their splendor dependency.

[b16h22]

Originally Posted by chinmaypillay

Don't know what is stopping them from plonking the 400 cc engine in their Karizma and getting started.

The 440 air cooled engine is not fit for a sports bike/sports tourer. It is designed as a long stroke low revving single and is more suited for retro and ADV platforms.

It is not the engine or the product itself that is holding Hero back. The sub 250 sports bike segment is currently ruled by R15 and to a small extent, the RC200 as well. Both brands have a youthful and sporty brand image. R15 sells 10-12k units a month despite being more expensive than the 210 XMR and that is massive. Hero needs to go back on brand building and setting up more premium dealerships that only sell their modern products. Their bread and butter is still the Honda partnership era commuters and that is a double edged sword.

It is not just the XMR that is struggling. The 440 platform is nowhere near the top in the segment. Mavricks are nowhere to be seen even after almost a year. And they are sitting on the Xpulse 400 project for too long. They had the odd success with the Xtreme 125r and that should tell us something. It is a great looking bike in the generally mundane 125 segment and the youngsters really took a liking to it. Sort of like an MT15 for the 125 crowd.

[Vagabond27]

I don't think that Hero will launch a 250cc Karizma. Earlier they have said that there is no market for 250cc in India.