Hero Splendor iSmart: BS4 vs BS6

How much have upcoming emission norms affected Hero’s popular Splendor?

Hero has launched its first BS6-compliant motorcycle long before the April 1 2020 deadline. In order to meet the upcoming emission norms, the Splendor iSmart BS6 features a new 113.2cc engine which is Hero’s first fuel-injected motor to get i3S stop-start technology. So how different is this bike from its BS4 counterpart? You can read more about the launch here. 

Powerplant

While the BS4 Splendor uses a carburetted 109.15cc motor, the BS6 version is powered by a 113.2cc fuel-injected motor. Power output has gone down marginally from 9.5PS to 9PS but Hero has focused on usability, bumping up torque by 10% throughout the rev range. Peak torque is now 9.89Nm compared to the previous 9Nm, and Hero claims higher fuel efficiency as well.

Underpinnings

While most manufacturers would’ve stopped at the engine, Hero has gone ahead and updated the Splendor’s frame as well. The new bike now uses a diamond-type frame as opposed to the double-cradle unit seen on the BS4 bike. In the process, ground clearance has gone up by 15mm without raising seat height, and the wheelbase is longer by 36mm too. 

Front suspension travel is up by 15mm and this along with the increased ground clearance will further help the Splendor tackle our pothole-ridden streets. While the earlier Splendor has to make do with drum brakes at both ends, Hero has given the BS6 version a 240mm front disc for better stopping power.

Design

In the looks department, Hero has opted for the ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ approach, with the two bikes looking pretty much identical to each other. The most obvious visual difference is the graphics schemes and colours. The only other distinguishing factors are the slightly more vertically inclined engine and front brake disc seen on the BS6 motorcycle. The more observant among you can identify the BS4 bike by the chrome cap near the exhaust exit, which the BS6 version misses out on. The position of the rear reflector is also different on the two motorcycles.

Price

All the updates mentioned above are also accompanied by a brighter headlight on the Splendor iSmart BS6. With all this new hardware, it’s logical that the new bike will be more expensive than the old one. The Splendor iSmart BS6 is priced at Rs 64,900 while the BS4 version sells for Rs 57,430. This works out to a hike of Rs 7,470 which is fair considering the addition of fuel-injection, a front disc brake and an all-new frame.