The current HHSplendor Plus model is not good in its quality. The then newly released HHSplendor in the year 2000 used to be the best and had a great resale value. I had the old model of Splendor with blue sticker with me. I sold my old Splendor(2000 model) for Rs. 21000 after using it for 5 and a half years while I purchased it for Rs. 45000 on road. This old model was highly reliable in its make and spare parts.
The HHSplendor Plus model that I newly purchased on 1st Nov 2010 is the October 2010 model. I have the model with blue sticker which I always like when Splendor is on road. In this model, the midship muffler(exhaust pump) is fully black in colour and has a fancy steel fixture on top of it which the showroom’s workshop mechanic will attach it once when you buy the bike. This is the only difference with its preceding model. It costed me Rs. 49700 exactly(on road). A sales agent in the showroom at Mody Motors, R.P. Road, Secunderabad expressed great demand for this bike and asked me for a cash down payment. I paid the amount to him because at the time I was in great need of a fuel-effiicient bike and my sole trust was on Hero Honda again as I already very well know about the 2000 model of Splendor which I have driven and used for 5 and a half years. With this blind belief, I purchased the new HHSplendor Plus thinking that it would be very efficient in its performance.
But, to my surprise, my current HHSplendor plus is not up to the mark. I’ve been using it from November’2010 till date for about 11 months.
1) Although there is continuous traffic on Hyderabad roads during evening and night times, my earlier 2000 model Splendor used to give a mileage of 58 to 62 kmpl consistently. But, my current HHSplendor plus is not fuel-efficient and is very bad at mileage. After the first free service, it gives only 43 kmpl! on an average. Inspite of second servicing done at Mody Motors, R.P. Road, Secunderabad, the mileage is still the same at 42 to 45 kmpl. When I asked about this to the showroom’s workshop manager and servicing worker, they said to me that the new HHSplendor plus models don’t give better mileage and they are not as good as the old models that were manufactured from 2000 through 2006. Is this the correct answer? I got pissed off with this reply. They should have told me this on day-one while purchasing the bike. But, there is no use of shouting at them wasting our precious time and energy. Its high time that we need to decide ourselves. Now-a-days, HH Splendor plus is NOT the bike we should be looking for. We are to be on the lookout of better bikes out in the market.
2) The very next day after my third free service, the chain guard started making a peculiar tapping sound now and then. When asked at the Mody Motors workshop, the mechanic applied some lubrication to the chain and delivered my bike and said that the work was completed. When I drove outside, the sound became more intense. I drove back to him and told him the problem. He said that I need to replace the chain and it would cost me around Rs. 1200 bucks. What the hell!. I bought this bike just 8 months ago and why the hell do I have to replace the bike’s chain? It is totally ridiculous! Again, it is waste of time and energy shouting at the workshop manager and worker. So now, I am waiting for some more time to replace the chain until the chain gets damaged!.
3) The left rear side indicator of my HHSplendor plus got detached while I was driving. It happened without any specific reason that I could think of! I’m not a rash driver. I drive at 35-55 kmph speed on an average and at the max. 60 kmph, that too rarely and don’t exceed further to this. Also, I regularly check for air fill in my bike’s tyres.
4) The riding comfort in the current new HHSplendor plus model is being modified slightly. I’m experiencing severe back pain at times when I ride this bike. Recently I suffered a ruptured spinal slip disk because of driving this bike as diagnosed by doctors. I was under treatment and it took about 1 month for me to recover completely. I still now and then experience slight back pain(especially during nights) whenever I ride this bike.
5) On 08-October-2011, I’ve been to Mody motors for my 4th free servicing since my bike has clocked 8027 kms. After the servicing was done, in the evening when I went to collect my bike, to my surprise, the workshop person Mr. Sunil(Workshop 2nd floor incharge, Mody Motors workshop), said that my bike’s battery is not working i.e., it failed to charge it seems. Its not even 1 year my dear friends, the bike’s battery is gone! The battery should be able to perform at its best based on the bike’s make i.e., the bike should be supportive to the battery without causing overheating or freezing and maintain the temperature levels inside. But, the bike’s make itself is not compatible to the battery being placed and as a consequence it results in malfunctioning of battery. Now tell me friends that what shall I tell about Hero Honda? Of course it is now Hero Motor corp only! The Honda collaboration is gone forever! The workshop incharge says I need to talk to a Mody motors’ showroom employee with the battery’s warranty card for any kind of replacements. Thank god my bike’s battery is under its 1 year warranty period since I purchased on 01-November-2010. What if the warranty period had finished? Now the only thing remaining is that I’ll have to try my luck in Mody Motor’s showroom before the battery’s warranty expires. I went on Monday, 10-October-2011 to Mody motors for the replacement of my bike’s battery, but in vain my friends! The showroom sales person says that the battery is overheated and this case doesn’t get covered under warranty inspite of my arguing with the sales person. I had to now buy a new AMCO battery for Rs. 700 for my bike. I am at loss now.
HHSplendor plus is a bike shortlisted by people for mileage and comfort and being sold in the markets is not serving its purpose when it comes to mileage and comfort. Then, why should we buy a splendor? I feel I have no meaning in owning this bike right now.
I recommend everyone reading this review to have a second thought when choosing a HHSplendor plus since we all have a lot number of other company bikes that give good mileage and riding comfort. Then, why to choose this one which is no more of any value and fall prey to Hero Honda’s false promises.
Yours truly,
KS