Hero MotoCorp Maestro

Hero MotoCorp Maestro OverView

It has been about a year and a half since Hero and Honda ended their glorious partnership that had given India the most splendid line-up of bikes that it has today – the Hero Honda motorcycles. But now, that the Indian partner, or rather the Indian ex-partner, is desperate about making a new and better position for itself in the Indian two-wheeler market, it is trying all it can to introduce some really attractive products. And what better field would there be for Hero at the moment than a segment that is itself under a major transition these days?

Hero MotoCorp Maestro Designing

Built over a High Rigidity Underbone Chassis, the Maestro is very rich in features to attract and allure riders who are looking for a gear-less, spacious and comfy ride. One look at the scooter will tell you it is meant for a man to ride. A large size with a wheelbase of 1240mm, a wide and well-cushioned seat and a flat and broad foot-board can accommodate even a tall guy quite easily. But, at the same time, its high ground clearance of 155mm together with its relatively bulky stance makes it a slightly difficult ride for females. This may or may not act as a minus point for Hero. But one thing that is guaranteed to be a plus point for them is the extremely clever supply of storage areas in Maestro. Besides the standard option of an under-the-seat storage space which is spacious enough to hold a full-size helmet along with a couple of other small articles, a front side storage box that can come in very handy in storing a lot of household objects comes as an optional accessory and can be installed on demand. 

Hero MotoCorp Maestro Engine And Performance

Launched in direct competition with the Honda Activa, Hero MotoCorp Maestro gets powered by an identical twin of Activa's power-mill. With no differences at all, the same air-cooled, 4-stroke, single-cylinder OHC petrol engine drives this new Hero scooter. Displacement of 109cc and paired to a dry and automatic centrifugal clutch with variomatic drive along with a CDI ignition system, this engine churns out a peak 8.09bhp at 7500rpm for a maximum torque output of 9.10Nm at 5500rpm. With all this brilliant Japanese technology working in harmony, the Maestro is claimed to have a uniform power supply all through the drive, making accelerating a smooth affair and improving the throttle response manifold. Coming to suspension, the front gets a Bottom Link suspension while the rear gets a Unit Swing system both with spring loaded hydraulic dampers for cushioning. 

Hero MotoCorp Maestro Braking And Handling

For the first time, the Combined Braking system of Honda scooters has been seen on a non-Honda product. This technology allows the rider to apply both the front and rear brakes together by pressing the left brake lever while the right one is solely for the front brake. While this speaks for a fabulous braking mechanism on paper, it has been observed to be not so amazing in practicality. To make up this system, the front as well as the rear wheel is fitted with a 130mm Drum brakes of Internal Expanding Shoe type and to assist them, a set of 90/100 x 10 inch tyres surround the wheels.

Hero MotoCorp Maestro Safety Features

A Combined Braking mechanism that allows the application of both front and rear brakes together is a potential safety system in itself that takes a shorter distance to stop the vehicle. Drum brakes in the front and rear complement that system while the suspension unit works to provide a fairly comfortable ride though with slight bumps. A new safety feature that has come up with Hero MotoCorp Maestro is that of a key-less ignition lock which allows a person to lock the ignition cover without needing a key but does not allow them to open it without a key providing protection against tampering.

Hero MotoCorp Maestro Pros

Good mileage, amazing looks, ample space and comfort for the riders and voluminous storage areas

Hero MotoCorp Maestro Cons

Huge scope of improvement in braking, handling and suspension, Plastic quality isn't upto the mark