At last, I am out here, to write about a bike that is so close to my heart. Yup, this is a bike, I share a lot of sweet memories and joyous moments which I still cherish. Hero Honda Splendor, the splendid star and my best friend is going to be the point of analysis out here. It give me immense pleasure to express my views on this “As smooth as silk” bike. Splendor is an ultimate economy bike and read on to know more about it.
The Hero Honda Splendor is the successor of the Hero Honda CD100 which itself was a big hit. But Splendor by now has become the best selling 4-stroke bike and no wonder !! The Splendor is a perfect common man’s bike. It has got everything from style to mileage. Ask any proud owner of this bike and they are bound to say “No regrets, Whatsoever”. Let us look into its features.
The style and build of the Splendor is simply unquestionable. Though not much of trendy styling is done, there is not a single flaw that you can find in the bike’s styling. With the modern doom concept kept alive, the bike is rendered a unique, 4-stroke look. There is not much of a work on styling but after all, who needs it? It is the bike and its performance that counts.
The downtube cradle chassis complement the excellent build of the bike. The telescopic forks and a very good shock absorbers provide a great balance. The relatively low kerb weight only means that disk brakes are not a necessity. In exact terms, the bike looks perfect and very much ready to handle demanding situations. The meter pod lacks a rev counter but is it necessary, really? The protrusion on the backside as a carrier provides the needed versatility. The suspension the vehicle is awesome. It shows no fatigue even after putting it to great testing. Whether it be a ride down the city roads or a long road trip on a Highway, the Splendor handles them all. The rider never feels anything bad about the bike.
Going into engine details, the Splendor has a 99cc engine with a power of 7.5bhp. The four stroker with 4 gears doesn’t have the sting in it really, to develop top speeds and give us the necessary punch. But the reliability is striking. The engine can take a great amount of toil and yet not break down. Now that is what we all most necessarily need.
As mentioned earlier, the bike is as smooth as silk. So handling is not at all a problem. Indian conditions, pits ‘n’ potholes, nothing can deter the bike from going into a smooth ride. With lower weight, the stability is certainly more. The seats are so designed so as to give the rider, ultimate comfort. On the brakes counts also, the Splendor excels. I’ve never seen the brakes give up or underperform.
Coming to the most important of all features. The fuel efficiency. The Splendor simply puts all 4-stroke bikes behind. With an average mileage of 70 kmpl, the Splendor is the soulmate of any middle class man. No bike has matched the fuel efficiency of this bike and so, the Splendor is a winner.
But wait. You might ask me if Splendor is “Mr.Perfect”. Actually not. The Splendor lacks far behind other vehicles in terms of pick-up and power. Going up a slope is always a problem. The Splendor cannot pull as much as other bikes. This is the only aspect where the bike looses. But all is fair in the game of love. I love this bike and wouldn’t let it down.
To sum it up, I can say, Splendor is the choice of anybody who always looks into his pockets, like me. But it is also the choice of many a people who wish for a smooth ride and easy handling. The relatively flawless nature of the bike certainly makes the bike 90 % perfect. Now wonder, it is a best-seller. And no wonder, it has brought smiles in many a people. So the verdict is, Hero Honda Splendor is the Ever Reliable bike and that’s true.