Hero Karizma R V1 was once a tough player in the Indian sportbike segment. The toughest competitor for Bajaj Pulsar 220F, Karizma lost its charm a few years back with the introduction of version 2.0 for the motorcycle. As Hero Karizma ZMR has been relaunched in India for INR 1.08 lakh, fans are now expecting the R model’s arrival in India.
The design of the new Karizma is inspired by Hero’s performance partner of the old time, EBR. The number of likes went down and soon started converting into dislikes for the Karizma name.
Many fans regret the day when the second version came up and thought it would have been better if they would have grabbed the first version in a hurry. The ZMR version 1.0 and 2.0 was not as famous as the R version due to its high price and bulky design, thereby forcing fans into the dreams of a relaunch for the Karizma R version 1.0.
5 Reasons Why Hero Should Have Launched Karizma R V1 Instead of ZMR V2
1) The revival of old brands is back in fashion. Yamaha’s R15S is a great example where the brand was influenced by the feedback of fans and relaunched the much needed motorcycle with new technology on board.
The result is crystal clear with Yamaha’s R15 sale is back on the track with people considering the R15S equally. So, Hero must consider the relaunch of Karizma V1.0 to get the sales back on track in the premium bike segment.
2) Hero MotoCorp now has a dull image for selling only 100 and 125 cc bikes in India. The reason is due to the least number of products from the 150cc and 220cc category being considered by the fans.
Karizma R was a 220 cc motorcycle and its mileage matched to the one’s from 150cc category, making it a favorite among tourers and big bike lovers. It can remove the badge of being a commuter-focused manufacturer and help to make a better image for upcoming products like xPulse 200.
3) Hero MotoCorp can even make if perfect than ever with the new instrument console from the ZMR version 2.0 and surprise the fans with the added goodies into it. The move will make it an upmarket product while its design can still stand against many of the current date designs from other manufacturers.
4) The 223 cc engine was a stress-free, performance, as well as mileage, focused motor producing 17 BHP and 18.35 Nm of torque. The figures can be tweaked further by using the version 2.0’s motor which is good for 19.2 BHP and 19.35 Nm of torque. The engine swap will bring more confidence into the fans as many are even happy with a decade old Hero Honda Karizma till date.
5) The 0-60 kph time of 3.8 seconds and it’s 150 kg of curb weight makes it the best one from its segment. The fuel tank was 15 liters while getting 40 kmpl on the highway was an easy task, bringing the total range to 600 kilometers on a 220cc bike.
It was priced at INR 81,600 when it was discontinued while the current age Pulsar 220F can be bought for around INR 1.05 lakh on-road price tag. The bracket allows Hero to price it in a better way and bring the chunk of sales back into its stable that were lost to Bajaj in the last 8 years.