Along with the new Super Splendor, Hero MotoCorp also launched the all new Hero Passion Pro and Passion XPro. The changes to the Passion Pro and Passion XPro are almost identical to the Super Splendor.
On the design front the Passion Pro and Passion XPro motorcycles feature a semi-digital instrumentation with digital fuel gauge, trip meter, Auto Headlamp On (AHO), and drum and disc options. Positioned above the Passion Pro, the XPro also comes fitted with a LED tail lamps and dual-tone mirrors. The Passion Pro will be available in five different colours, while the XPro will also be available with a sports red shade and dual tone colours.
Both these motorcycles will be powered by the same engine, which is a single-cylinder 110cc BSIV compliant motor that is good for 9.3bhp at 7,500rpm and 9Nm of torque at 5,500rpm. Hero claims that this engine makes 12 percent more power and torque than its predecessor. The engine seems very well refined and the initial pickup and acceleration of the bike is very decent for a 110cc unit. In fact, Hero claims a 0-60km/h time of 7.45 seconds for both motorcycles. While we weren’t able to confirm this, I can say that the engine does feel quite peppy. The engine refinement is also very nice and there are no vibrations.
The frame of the bike is based on the iSmart and it does feel a bit better than the 125cc Splendor. The bike felt more stable taking turns at high speeds, and the front end was not feather light without feedback. In fact, I quite liked the way the Passion Pro and XPro handled. Another plus is that I got to ride the disc brake version and the front disc brakes worked very well.
Once again the suspension setup is very good for an urban setting, and even when the roads are bad, the bike is very comfortable. There is a bit more leg room also in the Passion Pro, and tall riders will not find much difficulty. The overall ride quality is therefore enhanced and quite nice. What I didn’t like was the way the gear lever is designed. If you have big feet it takes some time getting the hang of it. Also the transmission could have been a bit smoother.
Once again though, Hero is offering a great package for a very nice motorcycle. Its compact, practical and fairly quick, but more importantly its very comfortable. We just need to wait for the price of the bike, and that will be announced next month when the Passion Pro and XPro are officially launched. (BY: Republic World)
