The Hero Splendor is an entry-level motorcycle made in India by Hero MotoCorp, the company known until 2011 as Hero Honda. It uses a 97.2 cm³ engine derived from the Honda Cub in a tubular double-cradle frame, and by 2009 Splendor models were selling at a rate of one million units a year.
Hero Honda Splendor at a glance
| Maker | Hero MotoCorp, formerly Hero Honda, India |
|---|---|
| Production | 1994–present |
| Engine | 97.2 cm³ single, based on the Honda Cub C100EX |
| Bore × stroke | 50 × 49.5 mm |
| Frame | tubular double cradle |
| Ignition | electronic |
| First generation | Hero Honda Splendor, 1994–2004 (BS1) |
| Second generation | Splendor Plus, 2004–2011 (BS2/BS3); alloy wheels from 2007 |
| NXG | 2007–2015, self start and new bodywork |
| Cafe-racer version | Splendor Classic, 2014–2018 |
| Latest model | Splendor Plus XTEC, from 2022 |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Splendor.
History of the Hero Honda Splendor
The first Splendor
The Hero Honda Splendor was introduced in 1994 as the company’s entry-level motorcycle. Its 97.2 cm³ engine was based on the Honda Cub C100EX, with the same 50 mm bore and 49.5 mm stroke, and it sat in a tubular double-cradle frame with electronic ignition. The first generation, built to Bharat Stage 1 emission rules, stayed in production until 2004.
Plus and NXG
The Splendor Plus arrived in 2004 as the second generation, built to BS2 and later BS3 norms, and gained alloy wheels in place of spoked wheels in 2007. A 1 Crore Special edition with black paint on the body, engine and alloy wheels followed in 2009–2010. The Splendor NXG of 2007–2015 brought a completely new body, self start, alloy wheels and a new instrument cluster with trip meter, but kept the same 97.2 cm³ engine. The Splendor Pro of 2011 added self start, alloy wheels and the new instrument cluster.
After the split with Honda
When the Hero Honda joint venture ended, Hero MotoCorp replaced the Hero Honda logo with its own on later models. The Splendor Pro and Splendor Plus were rebadged in 2011 without other changes. The Splendor Classic of 2014–2018 was a cafe-racer-styled version with a handlebar shaped like clip-ons, a round headlamp and tail lamp, a single seat and chrome details, dropped in 2018 because of low sales. The Splendor iSmart of 2014–2016 was an updated NXG with the i3s idle start-stop system.
Recent models
The Splendor Pro of 2015–2018 had a new instrument cluster, tank and body design. The Splendor Plus i3s, from 2018, gained idle start-stop and new colours and graphics, and later integrated braking, a catalytic converter, an oxygen sensor and programmed fuel injection to meet BS6 rules in 2020. The Splendor iSmart 110 of 2017–2021 used a new 110 cm³ engine and was the first bike in India to meet BS6 norms, in 2019, but was dropped in 2021. The Splendor Plus XTEC, launched in 2022, added a front disc brake, an all-digital instrument cluster with Bluetooth, LED daytime running lights and a real-time mileage indicator.
Design and features
- Cub-derived engine: 97.2 cm³ with the same 50 × 49.5 mm bore and stroke as the Honda Cub C100EX.
- Simple frame: a tubular double cradle with electronic ignition.
- Enormous volume: by 2009 the Splendor was selling at a rate of one million units a year.
- Constant updating: from BS1 in 1994 to BS6 fuel injection in 2020.
- Many body styles: standard, Plus, NXG, Pro, cafe-racer Classic, iSmart and XTEC.
Hero Honda Splendor versions
- Splendor (1994–2004): the first generation on BS1 rules.
- Splendor Plus (2004–2011): second generation with alloy wheels from 2007.
- Splendor NXG (2007–2015): new body, self start and new instrument cluster.
- Splendor Pro (2011–2012, 2015–2018): self start and revised instruments, then new styling.
- Splendor Classic (2014–2018): a cafe-racer version with clip-on-style bars and chrome.
- Splendor iSmart (2014–2016) and iSmart 110 (2017–2021): idle start-stop, the later one with a 110 cm³ engine.
- Splendor Plus XTEC (2022–): disc brake, digital cluster with Bluetooth and LED DRLs.
The Splendor was the commuter stablemate of the Karizma and the CBZ; more models are in the Hero collection.
Sources
- Splendor (motorcycle), English Wikipedia: engine, frame, generations and models
