Hero Honda Splendor NXG: What you've been dying to know

Yes, like many of you predicted, it is indeed a new Splendor. Not the Super Duper Splendor, not the Super Splendor+, or the Super Splendor Deluxe ++, but the Splendor NXG. Like I had thought, it is essentially the Splendor with the new motor from the CD-Deluxe, but there's more. The panels, tank etc are all new, the motor sounds quite authoritative, and hell I'll ride it and tell you if 7.7 bhp is the new creme de la creme. But for the moment, here are some moments from the launch (please note that vids and images are unedited and untouched, so more horrible than usual even, excuse kindly).

Officially Hero Honda says

Hero Honda unveils the next generation 'Splendor NXG'

Spendor NXG with engine & irrestible features,
takes Splendor lineage to the next level

Highlights of engine performance characterisitcs of Splendor NXG

• New engine which delivers power of 7.7 PS


• Better power & torque at lower engine RPM for comfortable city riding


• Optimum gear ratios for better pickup

Product features of Splendor NXG

• Powerful & stylish trapezoidal mutlireflector headlight that provides better visibility even at lower speeds


• Large & stylish tail light


• 160mm ground clearance for smooth ride on all types of roads
  
• Unique & stylish visor


• New design fuel tank with knee grip


• Sleek instrument panel with trip meter


• Attractive aluminium die cast rear grip
  

Splendor NXG will be available for test driver and bookings immediately. The Delhi ex-showroom price is Rs 40,990 for the spoke version and Rs 41,990 for the
alloy wheel version.

Bajaj XCD 125: Ridden!

I got to ride one for a short distance. I was not really impressed to start with. It felt more or less like a Super Splendor/Glamour/Gladiator/Shine would or should. It didn't feel as fast as a Discover at high revs... no, this bike wasn't for me. Then I parked for a minute and got chatting with this chap. I was parked next to his Splendor, and when I told him that the bike was Rs 41,000 ex-showroom, he remarked that that was roughly what he paid for his bike.

Then it struck me. I was riding a proper 125cc bike that cost as much as his 100cc bike. And mine had a digital dash (fuel, battery, speed, no tacho), LED tail lamps, a neat front number plate that folds flat over bumps (a lever connects to the top of the number plate to the bottom triple clamp. The plate is spring loaded at the bottom. When the suspension compresses, it pushes the plate forward and flat. Benefit? Fairing can be mounted lower. I'm told a patent has been applied for and will bet that the all/most of the next bunch of motorcycles from Bajaj will sport this), standard electric start (yes, standard) and a box/saree guard that isn't lockable but a neat cubby hole nonetheless. To look at, it isn't jaw-dropping, but it is not anonymous and certainly striking. The XCD looks quite eye-catching, especially as an upgrade from the rather ploddy 100-110cc bikes we're used to.

Riding about, I liked the early torque and cruising the stupidly low speeds in ludicrously high gears is possible – should this fuel economy fixation thing be happening to you. The torque curve is flat and high, but I thought the top-end was a bit weak. I'm not completely sure about it yet, but it might just be that the early torque is so much, that it makes the respectable 9.5 bhp top-end look all wilted and all. Could also be that the peak power comes in at an early 7,000 rpm, so when the revs do get up high, you're past the power peak and suffering. But as I said, more on this when I get to properly ride the bike, as opposed to mooch it for ten minutes.

Ride and build quality is good, handling is light and maneuverable. In fact, the bike is remarkably light. At 112 kgs, it should be one of the lightest in the market right now. Which helps both the performance and the mileage aspects. And don't ask me why, but if you're buying one, get a bike that's wearing Eurogrips as OEMs and the Dunlops. There's not much in it, but the Euros, my source tells me, are slightly better.

Overall, I'm very impressed with the XCD as long as I can remember that it's supposed to compete with the Splendor/Platina. Problem is that the XCD is no effortless at being a regular 125 (Super Splendor-Glamour, even Gladiator, I think) that it makes that fact very hard to remember.

Related links:

• Bajaj XCD 125: Launch release (includes tech specs)
  
• Bajaj DTS-Si: What it cannot do
• Updated | Bajaj DTS-Si: My take
• Bajaj DTS-Si: The TVC
• Press release: Bajaj DTS-Si unveiled
• TVS Star City 110: Up grade

Bajaj XCD 125 versus TVS Flame: Clarifications

I think some clarifications are needed. I've been monitoring this thread at yahoo/bajajpulsar and from whatever I've read, not everyone is clear about the XCD and Bajaj's intent behind the bike. So I thought I'd post some clarifications.

1. DTSi was supposed to boost power and mileage. Now you have S also, so where is the extra power?
   
   The S(wirl) is designed to promote the speed and efficiency of combustion (as in speed up and clean up events inside the combustion chamber) at part throttle loads. That means, the DTS-Si motor is burning best at less than full throttle riding, when the engine is not heavily loaded. Why is this crucial, because the average entry-level rider (actually, this probably applies to almost everyone) does not spend any significant time at full throttle. So, the S is designed to boost efficiency and not power, which is why Bajaj says 109 kpl from a 125cc engine is pretty significant. Why 109 kpl? That's 1 kpl more than the Platina's standard-test claim, and I think, that's the exact message going out – more than Platina.
   
   Extra power? Who said anything about extra power? Bajaj clarified during their press conferences that the S' benefits lay in torque and efficiency, while the F (Fi) was where the tuning for more power would be done. Also, if you look at the specs, the engine's pretty much a square configuration (bore and stroke are nearly identical). Given that almost all of Bajaj's other engines are oversquare by varying degrees, that's another sign that Bajaj never inteded for the XCD DTS-Si to be a really high-power machine. As you may have noticed from the DTS-Si launch curves (they're XCD curves), the bike has a massive, massive torque advantage over the Platina, and a still considerable, but not quite so towering advantage over almost all the 125s at lower revs. I'm not just talking the peak torque here, I'm talking the of the torque at 1500-2500 rpm kind of the low-down torque. In fact, the only motorcycles I can think of which sport similar torque curves are the Suzuki Heat and Zeus, which have torque peaks at an unlikely 4,000-odd rpm.
   
   
2. BAL is claiming performance comparable with other 125s...
   To some extent, that is imaginable. The Super Splendor class of 125s make 9.5 bhp, which is exactly what the XCD makes. So, will it outperform the Disco or the Gladiator?
   
   No, and that isn't the point. Bajaj's point simply, is that despite the high efficiency, the XCD still has the guts to clean out clocks in the 125cc segment – not the intention, really but a definite possiblity. On the other hand, the XCD's real enemies are the Splendor-class machines (which are priced almost exactly the same) and lower bikes (Platina, CD-Whatever etc). Among this lot, its faster, quicker, more frugal, and more feature loaded by a fair margin. Those who scoff at the claims that the Exceed sorry, XCD, has 150cc class features, it isn't an empty claim. The XCD does have the goodies, right? Like the digital speedo, LED lights etc. Also, I think a standard electric start is a first in the entry-level segment, in the sense that there is no kick start only variant.
   
   
3. Comparisons with the Flame
   The TVS Flame 125 is a sticky topic that keeps running around and around. Before I bring the XCD into this, lets get a few things very clear. The TVS Flame 125 is without a price at the moment, and has not been launched. TVs is likely to miss the festive season burst and will probably launch it after Diwali. The TVS Flame claims 10.5 bhp, peaking at 8,250 rpm and 0.98 kgm at 6,250 rpm. The TVS Flame weighs 121 kg (kerb).
   
   All right. First, TVS clearly announced that the Flame will compete in the 125cc segment. And Bajaj clearly announced that the XCD would compete with the entry-level bikes, and any cannibalisation from the 125cc segment (or conversion of rivals, for that matter) would be welcome. That means, the Flame will directly compete with the Shine, Zeus, Gladiator, Super Splendor, Glamour, Discover pantheon. But not with the XCD. On the other hand, the XCD may draw some sales from this lot also. However, the markets never work that clearly, right? So yes, I expect that there will some spill over in both directions.
   
   So, how will the performance compare? The XCD makes 1 bhp less, and the power peaks one thousand rpm earlier. On the other hand, the Bajaj makes 0.2 kgm more, 1250 rpm earlier. In riding terms, this should mean that the Bajaj will have the advantage in acceleration for a short while before the Flame kicks in properly and takes off. On the other hand, the XCD also happens to be 9 kg lighter, which isn't a difference you can laugh off. That kind of a weight difference should mean that the XCD will keep up longer with the Flame than the curves would suggest. Of course, this is all pure speculation, since I've only actually ridden the XCD. In practice, on the open road, the XCD will feel out of breath at higher speed cruising, while the Flame will feel fine. In the depths of traffic, this could be reversed. Again, the gearing will play its part, and this is purely speculative guesswork.
   
   Be that as it may, in this light, the price difference between the XCD and the Flame might actually work to the Bajaj's advantage. The XCD is priced at Rs 41,000 ex-showroom and the Flame should come at about Rs 45,000 ex-showroom, if it is to remain in the segment ballpark. On the other hand, while the XCD merely looks fresh, sharp-ish and all right, but the Flame does look very, very neat... Yes, this is going to be a close-run thing.

Related links:

• Bajaj XCD 125: Ridden!
• Bajaj XCD 125: Launch release (includes tech specs)
• TVS Flame: Fire starter
• TVS Flame: stunning... & a storm-bringer too
• Bajaj DTS-Si: What it cannot do
• Updated | Bajaj DTS-Si: My take
• Bajaj DTS-Si: The TVC
• Press release: Bajaj DTS-Si unveiled
• TVS Star City 110: Up grade

Rearset's Annual Motorcycle Awards: List Two

Still here, so what of the year
Hero Honda CD-Deluxe

Despite the brand new engine, it changed absolutely nothing. That has to be an achievement. Imagine if the US launched a Space Shuttle, which returned after years in orbit and billions of spent dollars. The first words the astronaut says, 'Well, the shuttle runs quieter than before. And... yeah, that's it.'

Too late of the year
TVS Flame

The Flame is the motorcycle that the GLX upgrade (cosmetic upgrade 2007) should have been. Then, by now, the court case would have been closer to a solution. And TVS's sales wouldn't have been at half-mast. I mean flagging.

Famous no show of the year
Bajaj Sonic

So much for Collection 2006, the theme of Bajaj's 2006 Auto Expo Stall. The Sonic, which still gets an enormous amount of web traffic at this blog is still firmly under wraps. Don't tell me they'll unveil the upgraded Sonic at the Auto Expo...

Rehash of the year
Suzuki Zeus CD

'Hey, the Zeus isn't selling, wonder why?'
'Let's do a customer poll.'

'What do you mean they miss the electric starter, alloy wheels and stuff that the competition we have. Can't they see the build quality'

'Oh all right, have it your way. Call so-and-so-san and ask him to send you the production specs for the alloy-electric-disc version.... Can't believe they didn't spot the amazing build quality. Nuts-san!'

Worst named bike of the year
Hero Honda Hunk

Self-explanatory. Cue rustic, lantern-jowled man in black muscle tee pumping iron while indiscriminately leering at female passers-by from shop window. Ugh.

Disaster of the year
Hero Honda Spendor NXG

The idea was to fiddle as little with the super-acceptable Splendor package and create a replacement that would eventually take over from the ageing, slow, stupid sterile Splendor. No such luck, I'm afraid.

Product of the year
Electric bikes

Ecoweenies be damned. Anything that has a top speed of 40 kph, takes ages to get to it is a hazard of a public road, no matter whether it has zero tailpipes or eight. Unless all you plan to do is go to the shops to buy toothbrush replacements, steer clear until their performance becomes more respectable.

Did not notice it only of the year
Hero Honda Karizma R

What's there to notice? The additional plastic does not an all-new bike make. Ditto yellow clock faces.

Most improved bike of the year
Honda Unicorn

What can I say? The black alloys cut down the 0-60 kph time by 0.4 seconds. Polished engine fins and red text on the crankcase is worth an extra 6 kph. Absolutely amazing. No wonder the sales are up 20 percent. Or something like that.

Most meaningful cosmetic upgrade of the year
Hero Honda Hunk

What well-crafted plastic will do, eh? The best bike of last year, gets the best plastic of this year. Then gets saddled with a name that will, in time, become a nomenclature nadir of some repute. So close, yet so far...

Manufacturer of the year
Yamaha

I made a list of launches this year. There was one name missing. . Then, they made up for it. And how.



Read about last year's, erm, winners