While Bajaj is firm on its decision to maintain a safe distance from the automatic scooter segment to focus on the larger motorcycle segment, Hero Motocorp is getting ready to augment its scooter portfolio with two new offerings in the 125 cc space.
Showcased at the Auto Expo 2018, the new offerings will lock horns with other premium 125 scooters like the Honda Activa, Suzuki Access, Aprilia SR 125, Honda Grazia, Vespa LX 125, etc.
The Hero Duet 125 has now been renamed as Destini 125 while the Maestro 125 retains its branding. The Destini 125 will be positioned as a flagship product while the Maestro 125 will be aimed at price conscious customers. We have exclusive spy shots of the Destini as we wait for the official launch.
Save for the new nameplate, the Destini 125 is identical to the scooter which was displayed at the Expo. Compared to the 100 cc version of the Duet, the Destini 125 sports a redesigned front apron with bigger turn lights, black finished wheels, a new silencer canister, a bulkier engine cover with larger taillight cluster and a different grab rail. Equipment wise, the Hero Destini 125 offers analog-digital instrument console, LED taillamp, boot light, mobile charging port, and i3S idle start/stop technology.
Designed and engineered at Hero Motocorp’s Center for Innovation and Technology (CIT), both Destini 125 and Maestro 125 are powered by a 124.6 cc air-cooled engine which is coupled to a CVT gearbox. The motor develops 8.7 bhp and 10.2 Nm of torque. The performance should be noticeably better than the duo’s 100 cc counterparts.
The Hero Destini 125 will be offered in four color schemes namely Noble Red, Chestnut Bronze, Panther Black, and Pearl Silver White. The scooter employs drum brakes at either end, supported by Combi-braking system. Suspension system comprises telescopic front fork and a one-sided shock absorber at the rear. The tubeless tyres measure 90/100-10 (both front and rear).
Hero’s scooter onslaught comes when the scooter segment registered a slower growth than motorcycles for the first four months of this financial year after an impressive high-growth run of several months together.
