I bought my Splendor in Dec 98. I owned a Hero Puch Automatic prior to that.
When I first rode it, man!!! The sound of that thumper had me jumping for joy. It has that relaxed unruffled beat. (Not much of a comparison to the Bullet tho :-p ) I have been servicing it promptly every two-months (authorized only - roadside blokes can damage it) and it has been a jolly ride so far.
4 years + down the road, what do I feel? If u are looking for a sensible, and dependable bike, the Splendor fits that bill.
Pluses :
> Unfailing economy. Tragic mileages are like 45 kmpl. (And u have to torture that bike for long to get there.)
> Looks. Classic clean lines. No excess baggage.
Minuses :
> Brakes fade. Fast. (Problem with Hero motors? I dunno. Same prob with Puch. Dunno abt the competition tho)
> Very hard acceleration will cause knocking. ( Hey man the compression ratio is higher and fuel is bad)
> Lighting is poor ( If Bajaj Caliber can gimme 45 watts, why cant Splendor? Any rule stopping them? )
> Vibes (less than some competitors but is still there)