Hero Motocorp, India’s largest two wheeler manufacturer, has re-launched its premium segment offering, the Hero Karizma ZMR, after having discontinued the bike one-and-a-half year ago. Exciting as it is, there are no technical changes to power or torque; and there are no new features on this fully faired motorcycle, either.
The new updated BSIV Karizma ZMR will be offered in two cosmetic options: one standard and one a dual-tone variant. The BS IV compliant Hero Karizma ZMR is priced at Rs. 1.08 lakh for the standard model and Rs. 1.10 lakh for the dual-tone model. Both prices are ex-showroom Delhi.
Bookings of the new Karizma ZMR have been thrown open at several dealerships, even though the model is yet to reach the dealers for display. After its comprehensive revision in 2014, the former flagship offering from Hero MotoCorp was pulled off the shelves last year following reduced sales after failing to receive a BS-IV update.
The Hero Honda Karizma, built via a collaboration between Hero and Japanese bike-maker Honda, was the go-to touring quarter-litre motorcycle and enjoyed a cult following among enthusiasts.
The bike delivered a punchy performance on the street and fared well on the highway. However, the Karizma model that was introduced in 2014 with updated design elements, in collaboration with Hero’s then technical partner Erik Buell Racing (EBR), wasn’t well received. The ZMR’s oddball styling and the growing competition in 200cc bike market led to declining sales.
Apart from the mandatory BS-IV compliant engine for the 2018 model year, the new Hero Karizma ZMR does not get any cosmetic changes. The bike is powered by the same 223cc single-cylinder, oil-cooled engine with fuel injection, and is tuned to produce 20bhp at 8,000rpm and 19.7Nm of peak torque at 6,500rpm.
The let-down, though, is that while the bike gets disc brakes at both ends, there’s still no ABS on offer. The newly launched Xtreme 200R, on the other hand, offers single channel ABS at the front. Keeping in mind its full fairing, the new Karizma ZMR competes with the likes of the Bajaj Pulsar RS 200 and the Yamaha Fazer 25, both of which boast better power figures and more features, at slightly bumped up prices.
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