Words: Abhay Verma | Photography: Saidatta Naik
It’s exactly 20 years now since the Hero Glamour was launched as a stylish 125cc commuter motorcycle. Of course, we have seen it evolve significantly over the past two decades, in keeping with buyer demands, but the Glamour X 125 here is the motorcycle in its most premium avatar yet. What’s also worth noting is that while Hero launched the Xtreme 125R just over a year ago, positioned as a sportier 125, the manufacturer firmly believes there still exists a strong demand for a 125cc commuter motorcycle, but with a more youthful vibe to it, which is why, an all-new Glamour. Also, interestingly, the Glamour X 125 is powered by the Xtreme 125R’s peppy little motor and gets a bunch of segment-first features to add more zing to it. So, priced from Rs 90,000 ex-showroom onwards, is this still a workhorse?
The design is sportier now as you would expect, and a set of larger and sharper tank extensions help in adding more visual mass at the front. The headlamp gets H-shaped DRLs like some of the other Hero motorcycles, helping the front end look more stylish, while the windscreen is now a taller unit. So, most of the motorcycle’s mass is concentrated towards the front, while the rear half is a lot slimmer. The bike also has a taller and more athletic stance than its predecessor, partly courtesy its 18-inch wheels and partly thanks to its sharper lines. There’s also a more premium feel thanks to the new decals, the chrome garnish on the side panels and the fact that the Glamour X uses LED lighting all round. Fit-finish levels are decent, though quality of switchgear could be slightly better, and the switches could also offer a more tactile feel.
Like I mentioned, Hero has added a bunch of new features, and it now gets cruise control, panic brake alert, which basically has both turn indicators flash if you have to brake hard suddenly, three riding modes including Eco, Road and Power and a Type-C USB port, all of which are segment firsts. That’s not all though as you also get a colour LCD display instrument cluster with over 60 functions, including Bluetooth connectivity for call and SMS alerts, and turn-by-turn navigation too. This is a lot of kit for a 125cc segment and I’m compelled to think how motorcycles are heading in the same direction as cars, where manufacturers are constantly trying to outperform each other by offering more features.
The Xtreme 125R’s air-cooled engine is in the exact same state of tune here, which means you get 11.56PS and 10.5 Nm, and the engine is mated to a five-speed gearbox. So, there is a familiar feel to the powertrain, especially with engine’s impressive power delivery and acceleration. A bigger highlight to me though is the engine’s refinement and how unstressed it feels even at high revs and highway speeds. At the same time the engine also offers excellent tractability at slow speeds, so riding through traffic at speeds below 30kmph in fourth gear, without any knocking, is easy. Gear ratios are also well-spaced and the fifth gear is tall enough to allow crossing the 100kmph mark on the speedometer. This is a powertrain that’s impressed a lot in the Xtreme 125R and it does not give you a chance to complain on the Glamour X 125 too.
Also worth noting is the fact that throttle responses are smooth and precise. And Hero MotoCorp tells us this is the first time in the world that a motorcycle with a kick starter has been equipped with Ride-By-Wire, which has helped it equip the Glamour X 125 with the three riding modes. There is a noticeable difference between the modes in terms of throttle responses and power delivery, and the jump from Eco to Road and Road to Power is big enough to be noticed instantly, as the Glamour X 125 runs three different engine maps. I also tried the cruise control function and it works well, adding to ease of sustaining speeds on open roads. But with that said, usability of cruise control on a motorcycle that’s meant to be ridden in stop-and-go traffic primarily, is a question mark.
The riding position is typical of a commuter with an upright stance, and Hero has also made the handlebar wider and reprofiled the seat to make it more comfortable, especially for the pillion. The Glamour X does not get gas charged shock absorbers at the rear, but the ride quality is very pliant as the bike soaks up broken roads very well, without unsettling the rider. The 30mm telescopic front forks also help on broken roads, along with the 18-inch wheels at both ends. The Glamour X also feels confident on the handling front, be it in a straight line at highway speeds, or around corners and feels light and agile, yet planted. Overall, the Glamour X 125 thus offers a good balance between ride and handling, as is required of a 125cc commuter motorcycle.
The Hero Glamour has been around for exactly 20 years like I mentioned at the start. But while it has evolved significantly, what has not changed about this new Glamour is that it still comes across as a light, nimble and comfortable commuter. The addition of new features has made it slightly more expensive, but its biggest highlight is that it still is an excellent workhorse in the 125cc segment!
