In the narrow lanes of India’s bustling cities and across its expansive rural landscapes, one motorcycle silhouette has remained a constant companion to millions for over three decades. The Hero Splendor, with its understated design and bulletproof reliability, has earned its place as not just a mode of transportation but a genuine cultural icon that has enabled mobility and economic progress for generations of Indians. Now, as we approach 2025, Hero MotoCorp has unveiled the latest iteration of this beloved commuter, balancing meaningful modernization with the core values that made the Splendor a household name.
Evolution Without Revolution
The 2025 Splendor Plus represents what Hero’s design team describes as “considered progression”—changes that enhance the ownership experience without alienating the motorcycle’s loyal customer base. At first glance, the new model maintains the familiar proportions and silhouette that have defined the Splendor family. Look closer, however, and the refinements become apparent.
“We approached this update with tremendous respect for what the Splendor means to our customers,” explains Rajat Bhargava, Head of Commuter Segment at Hero MotoCorp. “Our research showed that riders deeply value the motorcycle’s recognition factor—it’s a symbol of reliability and sensible choice. So we focused on enhancing rather than reinventing.”
The front headlamp, while maintaining its characteristic shape, now incorporates LED lighting as standard—a first for the base Splendor Plus model. This upgrade not only improves nighttime visibility significantly but also reduces power draw on the electrical system, contributing to better fuel efficiency. The taillight and indicators have likewise been upgraded to LEDs, with a slightly revised layout that creates a more contemporary appearance while remaining unmistakably Splendor.
The fuel tank retains its classic contours but features subtle resculpting that provides slightly better ergonomics for the rider’s knees. New graphics packages offer a refreshed aesthetic while avoiding anything too flashy or trend-driven—exactly what the Splendor’s pragmatic customer base prefers. The side panels and rear cowl have been modestly updated with more contemporary lines, but the overall silhouette remains reassuringly familiar.
Perhaps the most noticeable visual change comes in the form of newly designed 18-inch alloy wheels, now standard across the range—a significant upgrade from the wire-spoke wheels that were still common on base variants of previous generations. These not only provide a more premium appearance but also enable tubeless tires across the range, addressing one of the most frequent customer requests.
Engineering Refinement: The Heart of Improvement
Under the familiar exterior, Hero’s engineers have implemented more substantial changes. The 97.2cc single-cylinder engine—the soul of the Splendor experience—has undergone careful refinement. While displacement remains unchanged, internal modifications including a revised combustion chamber design, improved piston coating, and reduced friction components deliver a modest but meaningful bump in output: 8.2 horsepower and 8.05 Nm of torque, increases of 7% and 5% respectively over the outgoing model.
More significant than the power increase is the refinement in how that power is delivered. The 2025 model features a revised intake system with a larger airbox and reshaped intake runners, contributing to a torque curve that’s flatter and more accessible in everyday riding scenarios.
Vinod Sahni, a veteran test rider who has worked with Hero for over twenty years, notes the difference immediately: “The previous generation was already quite smooth, but this new engine has less vibration at common cruising speeds between 40-60 kilometers per hour. For someone who rides 30-40 kilometers daily, this translates to noticeably less fatigue.”
The four-speed gearbox has also received attention, with improved shift detents and a slightly redesigned shift drum that provides more positive gear engagement. The clutch features a revised pressure plate design that reduces lever effort by approximately 15%—a seemingly small change that makes a significant difference in the stop-and-go traffic conditions where many Splendors spend their working lives.
Efficiency: Setting New Benchmarks
If reliability is the Splendor’s first virtue, fuel efficiency is undoubtedly its second. Here, too, Hero has pushed the boundaries with the 2025 model. The company claims a certified fuel economy figure of 80 kilometers per liter under standardized test conditions, with real-world expectations of 70-75 kilometers per liter in mixed riding—figures that set new benchmarks in the segment.
This efficiency comes through a combination of factors: the aforementioned engine refinements, reduced drivetrain losses in the transmission, lower-friction bearings throughout the engine, and a new “Eco” riding mode that modifies the ignition timing to prioritize fuel economy over outright performance.
Adding to these traditional approaches is a mild hybrid system on the top-spec Splendor Plus iSmart variant. While not providing electric-only propulsion, this system incorporates a small integrated starter-generator that offers short bursts of torque assistance during acceleration from a stop—typically when fuel consumption would be highest. The system recovers energy during deceleration, storing it in a small lithium-ion battery concealed beneath the side panel.
“The hybrid system adds only 1.8 kilograms to the motorcycle’s weight but improves fuel efficiency by approximately 7% in city conditions,” explains powertrain engineer Ananya Patel. “More importantly, it smooths out the power delivery when moving away from a stop, which is when small engines typically feel most stressed.”
Chassis and Comfort: Small Changes, Big Impact
While maintaining the same basic diamond-frame architecture that has proven so durable over decades of service, Hero has implemented targeted improvements to enhance the Splendor’s ride quality and handling. The front fork features revised damping characteristics and slightly increased travel (now 130mm, up from 120mm), providing better absorption of the often-challenging road surfaces that make up much of India’s infrastructure.
The twin rear shock absorbers, a Splendor signature, have likewise been upgraded with improved valving and a new progressive-rate spring design that better accommodates varying passenger and cargo loads. The result is a motorcycle that feels more planted and composed, particularly when navigating the potholed urban streets where many Splendors operate daily.
Seat comfort, a critical factor for a utilitarian motorcycle, has been meaningfully improved with a redesigned shape and denser foam that resists compression over long periods of use. The rider’s portion of the seat is now slightly wider at the rear, providing better support for longer journeys, while the passenger section features a more secure contour and improved padding.
The handlebar-seat-footpeg triangle—the core of a motorcycle’s ergonomics—remains largely unchanged, preserving the upright, comfortable riding position that suits the Splendor’s urban commuting mission. However, the footpegs now feature improved rubber isolation to further reduce vibration transmission to the rider.
Technology Integration: Practical Innovation
While the Splendor has never been about cutting-edge technology for its own sake, the 2025 model introduces several thoughtful features that enhance functionality without unnecessary complexity. The instrument cluster, while maintaining an analog speedometer for clarity and familiarity, now incorporates a small LCD display providing fuel level, trip information, and service reminders.
On the iSmart variant, this display expands to include Bluetooth connectivity that pairs with a smartphone application, enabling call and message notifications via a simple icon system. The app also tracks ride statistics, fuel economy history, and maintenance schedules—practical applications of technology that add genuine value for the owner.
Charging ports have become essential in today’s connected world, and the new Splendor acknowledges this with a USB-C port discreetly integrated into the headlamp nacelle, providing power for navigation devices or smartphone charging during commutes.
Perhaps most interestingly, Hero has introduced a basic keyless system on higher trim levels. Rather than a conventional key, the motorcycle uses a small radio-frequency key fob that enables starting when within proximity of the bike. This system integrates with an immobilizer function that significantly improves security—a thoughtful addition for a motorcycle that is often parked in public spaces throughout the working day.
Market Position: Defending the Crown
Despite rising competition from both established rivals and newer entrants to the commuter segment, Hero MotoCorp has maintained the Splendor’s value proposition through careful pricing strategy. The 2025 model starts at ₹75,400 (ex-showroom) for the standard variant, representing an increase of approximately 5% over the outgoing model—a figure Hero argues is more than justified by the additional standard equipment and quality improvements.
The top-spec iSmart variant, with its mild hybrid system and complete technology package, is priced at ₹85,900—positioning it as a premium option while remaining accessible to its target demographic of value-conscious commuters, small business owners, and rural users.
“The Splendor customer is highly discerning when it comes to value,” notes marketing director Ravi Prakash. “They calculate cost of ownership meticulously—purchase price, but also fuel efficiency, maintenance costs, and resale value. Our challenge was to improve the motorcycle meaningfully while maintaining the exceptional total ownership equation that has made the Splendor successful for so long.”
Hero projects monthly sales of approximately 250,000 units for the Splendor family, numbers that would maintain its position as not just India’s but the world’s highest-selling motorcycle model. With production facilities in Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Gujarat all contributing to Splendor production, Hero is well-positioned to meet this demand while also supporting growing export markets across South Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Hero Splendor Plus 2025 Respecting a Legacy While Embracing Progress
The 2025 Hero Splendor Plus embodies a philosophy that has become increasingly rare in today’s consumer products landscape: thoughtful evolution rather than forced revolution. In an industry often obsessed with dramatic redesigns and technological showcases, Hero has instead focused on addressing actual customer needs while respecting the core attributes that made the Splendor an institution on Indian roads.
The improvements—better lighting, refined engine performance, enhanced comfort, improved efficiency, and thoughtfully integrated technology—all serve the motorcycle’s central mission as a dependable, economical tool for everyday mobility. Nothing has been changed for the sake of change; every modification serves a purpose.
For the millions of riders who depend on their motorcycles not just for commuting but as essential business tools and family transportation, this approach delivers exactly what’s needed: a better Splendor that remains, unmistakably, a Splendor.