Hero HF Deluxe

Hero HF Deluxe, previously known as CD-Deluxe, was introduced as the successor to Hero’s flame burner, CD100. It was given the task of carrying forward the legacy of CD100 to the next level, which was losing its shine and ageing in the face of modern competition like Platina, StarCity and its own sibling, Splendor. So, gone was the conservative rectangular styling of CD100 and in came a bit edgy styling, which although was billed as a “built to cost” product, but never felt so. Being the second most economical Hero, it carries the styling of its junior, HF-Dawn, to a notch higher. With the urban middle-class commuter kept in mind, the design was given a modern touch with the introduction of some interesting bits like the bikini fairing around the halogen headlamp, sharp tank design with good knee recesses, alloy grab rail at rear for the pillion rider, and some contemporary graphics on the body panels. One can easily notice the chrome shield on its silencer too, which is missing on the HF-Dawn. Though the fuel lid is still not hinged on the tank, as expected. All in all, it is nothing but a disguised HF-Dawn, which was given some new clothing to attend a Saturday Night Party. The instrument cluster too is a stepped up version of that of the HF-Dawn, which possess an analogue speedometer, odometer and basic tell-tale lights, along with the addition of fuel gauge and some garish graphics on the meter panels. The addition of the now industry standards like greyish alloy wheels and electric starter give HF-Deluxe the much needed bells and whistles, which an urban rider looks in for. On the practical front, this machine has a lot of storage spaces which include a utility box, side panel, under seat storage space and a bag hook at rear. These additional changes over HF-Dawn make it much more desirable and a better buy over the latter. The build quality is typically Hero, robust and made to last, which is appreciable considering the basicness of segment.

Hero commuters have always been famous for their fabulous engines and HF-Deluxe is not an exception. As found in HF-dawn, the Hero HF Deluxe sports a Honda sourced kick/self-started 97.2 cc air-cooled, single cylinder, carburetted four-stroke mill, which is healthy enough to generate 8.25 bhp of power at 8,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 8.05Nm at 5,000 rpm. The slight alteration in this engine over HF-Dawn is quite noticeable, with a quicker arrival of power and torque for better bottom end grunt. The mid range performance of this bike is commendable too, with a good amount of refinement even at high rpms. Though not a necessary parameter for this machine, the 0-60 kmph run is achieved in a slow, but respectable 10 seconds, considering its competitors are also in the same league. The engine is mated to a 4 speed constant mesh gearbox , with the Hero’s standard all shift-up pattern. The gearbox too provides adequate smooth shifting in traffic situations, making it less tedious for the rider. The engine maxes out at the top speed of 90 kmph, making it a commendable city ride.

Hero HF Deluxe Mileage

Talking about the fuel-efficiency, this is the arena where this puny Hero scores massively. The HF-Deluxe performs this job with brilliance, managing to return 65 kmpl in city and 74 kmpl in highway, giving an overall efficiency of a high 68 kmpl. 

Ride comfort is the second most important priority asked for in this segment, and Hero knows this well too. With providing a larger surface area of the seat, Hero has ensured comfortable seating position with good cushioning for two full sized adults for both city traffic and highway jaunts. The chassis of Hero HF Deluxe is of tubular double cradle type, which makes the bike light-weight at just 112 kilos. The segment default upright seating posture with a raised handlebar, forward set foot-pegs and efficiently sized knee recesses on the fuel tank puts the rider in his comfort zone and aids in good direction changes. The suspension, though a basic setup of telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers at front and 2 step adjustable hydraulic coil springs at rear, provide adequate firmness to the overall ride. The actual functionality of rear shock absorbers is that it can be adjusted according to the need of the rider so as to provide a comfort free ride along with the option of setting up a stiffer suspension while carrying heavy loads on the bike. This, adding to the high ground clearance of 165 mm and a wheelbase of 1235 mm, ensures you to glide over potholes with ease.

Being one of the most affordable commuters of all times, the machine is equipped with no such feature at ensures safety. However, the motorcycle is highly reliable and its performance is very much satisfactory. It offers a fine mileage that can be beneficial for long and tiring rides. The braking efficiency is good in accordance with the 100cc engine.