Hero MotoCorp is today the undisputed leader of the Indian motorcycle market. Its entry-level models, such as the Splendor and the Passion, have garnered almost stellar success and look strong for at least another few years to come. Hero MotoCorp can also be credited with the creation of new segments in our two-wheeler market. It is Hero who created the Indian performance bike segment with the launch of the much loved Karizma over a decade ago. While the Karizma has played a definite role in the development of Indian performance bike sector, it can’t be denied that the once successful motorcycle isn’t much of a match for its newer rivals, which is something that even the latest facelift has failed to cure. Having realized that the game has moved on, Hero MotoCorp is now readying an all-new model that is likely to play the perfect gatecrasher to the new Pulsar RS 200‘s and KTM 200 Duke‘s party. Hero unveiled the all-new Hero HX250R motorcycle back at the Auto Expo 2014 and while this motorcycle is taking its own sweet time to enter the market, the HX250R could very well become the next big thing in the world of affordable performance bikes in India. Hero has recently stated that unlike what was being speculated, EBR’s sudden shutdown won’t affect the Hero HX250R launch plans as the product was completed much before EBR’s closure. Here, in this report, we have compiled all the important details about the upcoming Hero sportsbike in India.

Launch Date

Our guess is that the Hero HX250R launch date will fall towards the end of 2015, and the new motorcycle will go on to rival the likes of Bajaj Pulsar RS 200, KTM 200 Duke and Honda CBR250R.

Price

Hero has never priced its products ultra competitively and the HX250R isn’t expected to wage a price war in its segment. Our guess is that the much awaited Hero bike could go on sale for a base price of INR 1.5-1.7 lacs.

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Specs

Powering the upcoming Hero HX250R is a new 249cc single-cylinder, water-cooled, fuel-injected engine that belts out a maximum power of 31 bhp and a peak torque of 26 Nm. The engine will come mated with a six-speed manual transmission. This is the first engine that Hero has developed with any sort of technical assistance from Honda. Instead, Hero is likely to have benefited from its relation with EBR. Like the KTM 200 Duke, 390 Duke and the Bajaj Pulsar 200 NS, the HX250R gets an underbelly exhaust. The bike has a kerb weight of just 139 kgs.
The bike gets disc brakes on both wheels. Up front, it will come with a 300 mm disc, while the rear gets a 200 mm unit. ABS is expected to be provided as an option. The HX250R will ride on 17-inch wheels that will be shod with 110/80/17 spec rubber at front and a 140/70/17 tire at the rear. Hero claims that the bike will be able to dismiss 60 kmph from standstill in just 2.7 seconds and 100 KMPH in less than 8 seconds. Top speed is claimed to be around 160 kmph.

Overview

Hero MotoCorp Limited is a world renowned Indian motorcycle and scooter manufacturing company with its headquarters in New Delhi, India. It was started as Hero Honda Motors Limited in 1984 as a joint venture between Indian company Hero Cycles and Japanese company Honda. Together, they have manufactured a lot of successful and praiseworthy bikes until December 2010, when they both decided to went on in separate ways. Hero MotoCorp Limited was the new name decided by the company on July 29, 2011 along with the development of a new brand identity and logo.
Later on, the company acquired 49.2% of shares in a sports motorcycle company, Erik Buell Racing based in East Troy, Wisconsin, USA in July 2013 to enhance their development in the field of motorcycle technology which was certainly faded out a lot after Honda left. It has a total of three manufacturing facilities in India based at Gurgaon and Dharuhera in Haryana and at Haridwar in Uttarakhand. It also has an extensive sales and service network with over 3,000 dealerships and service points all over India.

Recently, Hero MotoCorp Limited has unveiled a concept version of their and India's first diesel engine bike, Hero RnT at an event in New Delhi on January 29, 2014 along with four other remarkable products. All the five products will be showcased at the 2014 Delhi Auto Expo in February in detail, while the launch date for them differs by months. Talking about the extraordinary diesel engine bike, it is still in concept stage and will be launched by the mid of 2015. It is called as the MUV of bikes by MD and CEO of Hero MotoCorp, Mr. Pawan Munjal along with giving it a one of a kind status and world's smallest 150cc diesel unit. Let's check out this bike in detail.

Design and Style

Hero RnT seems like a true combination of a style, space, sturdiness, power, technology and performance with its extraordinary features which includes main front mounted LED headlights, a removable secondary LED with internal Li-Ion battery that can double up as a torch, wide and flat loading surfaces with strap bars, multi-use folding side racks, spacious footboards, a large and comfortable seat, an optional hub electric motor in the front wheel powered by an electric battery pack to provide 2-wheel drive option and channels up to 1.34bhp of power to the front wheels for off-road conditions with the possibility to shut off the rear drive and drive in city on electric power front-wheel-drive only, an integrated stationary generator which provides 1500W of uninterrupted supply of 6.5A at 230V thus working along with diesel engine to deliver extra electrical power for work or play at remote places, 17-inch alloy wheels with 120/70 front and 150/60 rear tubeless tires, rear tail light, self-start, black rear view mirrors on the handlebar and maintenance free battery.

Dimensions and Weight

This magnificent bike has a length of 2029mm, a width of 739mm and a height of 1077mm as its dimensions and has a good ground clearance of 168mm for a bump-free ride. It has a kerb weight of 136kgs and a fuel tank capacity of 6.0liters. The instrument panel consists of a digital speedometer and fuel gauge, an analogue tachometer, two digital trip meters, a pass light, a low fuel and a low battery indicator and a side stand indicator.

Engine and Gearbox

Hero RnT has got a 150cc, 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, direct-injection diesel engine with a maximum power of 13.5bhp at 4,000rpm and a maximum torque of 35Nm at 1,600rpm and is mated with a six speed mesh gearbox. There is also present an option for a turbocharger. It has a top speed of 70kmph and reaches 0-60kmph mark in just 5.0 seconds with an impressive fuel economy.

Suspension and Braking System

Hero RnT has got a braking system which consists of 300mm diameter single disk brake with multi-piston callipers at front and 220mm diameter disk brake with single-piston calliper at rear. The suspension system consists of 37mm telescopic hydraulic forks at front and swing arm with adjustable hydraulic shock absorber at rear.