News
Hero MotoCorp has planned a slew of product launches for the next 2-3 months. This includes major updates along with all-new models.
We've been told that the bike maker has lined-up at least five new products for the Indian market. These were recently showcased at the National Dealers Conclave held in Bangalore. The most anticipated of them all is the all-new Karizma XMR.
Hero is resurrecting the 'Karizma' brand with a new 210cc motorcycle. The new model is expected to draw inspiration from the original. Spy images have revealed a fully-faired bike with low-set handlebars and a short windscreen. It will feature an upside-down fork suspension at the front and a mono-shock at the rear.
The bike maker also plans to launch the Xtreme 160R. Test mules of this model have also been spotted. It is also expected to have upside-down forks for the first time.
In the commuter segment, we can expect the return of the Passion Plus. It could be powered by a frugal 100cc single-cylinder engine. Also on the cards, is the launch of the Hero Glamour.
Besides motorcycles, Hero MotoCorp is also planning to introduce a new 125cc scooter. The Xoom 125 will join its sister model, Xoom 110, which was launched in January this year. The latter is powered by a 110.9cc engine that makes 8.05 BHP and 8.70 Nm.
Thanks to the Team-BHP fan (he prefers to remain anonymous) who sent this information in. Heartfelt gratitude for sharing it with other enthusiasts via this Team-BHP share page!
News
We shared a few images of what appeared to be the upcoming 200-210cc bikes from Hero MotoCorp a couple of days ago. Now, a new video has surfaced online that gives us a better look at the next-gen Hero Karizma.
The video showcases a heavily camouflaged test mule. It's a fully-faired example with low-set handlebars offering a sporty riding position. The bike has a pointy front section with a short windscreen. Moving to the rear, the bike has a narrow tail section with a split seat and a short exhaust with a heat shield.
The Karizma test mule rides on alloy wheels with disc brakes at both ends. The bike might get upside-down fork suspension up front with a mono-shock at the rear.
Hero MotoCorp has filed a trademark for the 'Karizma XMR' nametag, which suggests that this could be the name given the upcoming model. It is also said that the bike could be powered by a new 210cc, liquid-cooled engine paired with a 6-speed gearbox.
Source: Motorbeam
News
An eagle-eyed reader recently spotted two heavily camouflaged prototype bikes on a highway. We suspect these could be the upcoming 200cc motorcycles from Hero MotoCorp.
The bike maker is reportedly planning to resurrect the Karizma. Leaked patent images suggest a replacement for the Xtreme 200R could also be on the cards.
The first test mule seen in these images is a naked bike, which is probably the Xtreme 200R replacement. It has beefy tank shrouds, a digital instrument console, an upswept exhaust and alloy wheels with disc brakes at both ends.
The test bike in the front has a narrower tail section with a smaller LED tail lamp. If it is indeed the new Karizma, it should have a fairing in the front which, unfortunately, isn't visible in these images.
Both bikes are rumoured to be powered by a 200-210cc engine. The naked model could compete with the Apache RTR 2004V, while the Karizma is touted to take on the likes of the Pulsar 250, Dominar 250 and Gixxer 250.
Thanks to Amogh for sending these images in. Heartfelt gratitude for sharing them with other enthusiasts via this Team-BHP share page!
News
Hero MotoCorp has filed a trademark application for the Karizma XMR 210 nametag. This comes following reports of the Karizma making a comeback with a new 210cc engine.
Reports suggest that the new Karizma will be based on an all-new chassis and could borrow styling cues from its predecessor. The original Karizma featured a semi-faired design, while its successor, the ZMR was a fully-faired model.
The upcoming model is expected to be powered by a 210cc, liquid-cooled engine, which could produce around 25 BHP and 30 Nm. The engine is likely to be paired with a 6-speed gearbox.
The Karizma XMR 210 will be positioned in the premium category and could rival the likes of the Pulsar 250, Dominar 250 and Gixxer 250.
News
BHPian sub.g84 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.
Hi folks,
My friend has been following this thread with keen interest and shares his heartfelt thanks to all of you for your valuable suggestions. As a result, he has sent his bike for restoration. The mechanics mentioned that it would take a few weeks to bring this ride back in shape. I shall keep updating this thread as and when I have new information. For now, here are some visual updates:
The bike before it was finally sent for restoration:
They managed to take out 3 litres of water as soon as it had reached the mechanics:
Work is in progress.
The tank has been drained. There was a lot of water in it:
The K&N filter is damaged beyond repair. Needs new filters:
The bike has been opened and continuous flushing of the engine is being done with oil to remove the moisture.
There is still water in the engine.
New updates since the start of this week:
1) Bike started.
2) Center stand replaced.
3) Relays replaced.
4) Tank, carb, and silencer drained and cleaned.
5) Rear sprocket rubber & brake shoes replaced.
6) K&N Filter replacement pending among several other action items
7) Loads of OEM parts:
8) Clutch plates have been changed and the bell will be reset
9) Seat is being refurbished
10) 2 cracks on the Carburettor diaphragm
11) 2 damaged spots were found on each side of the diaphragm piston as well that look like this:
2) Number plate was peeling off
So new number plates were made. The guy is super fast. He supposedly asked for permission from my friend for these new plates, and they were ready in 30 mins:
After a brief period of silence (owing to some of my travel plans and my friend being unwell), I now present to you the much-spoken of Karizma back in her full former glory
She is back in my friend’s comforting arms. Here is wishing her and my friend a long and renewed journey together till eternity.
Thank you all for your support and guidance towards getting this beauty restored.
Here is the cost breakup of the entire work done:
Total - ₹14,230
Sourcing most of the parts was relatively easy. I shall share more photos of the bike as and when I have them.
Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
News
BHPian efuture recently shared this with other enthusiasts.
Before starting, I'm putting up the latest picture of my bike. I washed it after a long time and it does look good with all plastic parts in place.
It's a 2015 Hero Karizma ZMR V2 with a fuel injector and digital instrument cluster with close to 40,000km on the ODO. I did not service the bike properly in the last 2-3 years other than regular engine oil replacement. Due to poor maintenance and age, the bike is in terrible mechanical condition and needs a major overhaul.
This is partly due to my DIY engine oil refilling back in 2019. I filled the engine oil to more than the max limit and rode the bike on the highway for more than 200km at 80+km in full throttle even after the bike refused to move at low speeds. I took the bike to Hero service center the next day and they flushed the excess oil, and cleaned the air filter. But all the problems started from there one by one.
I took the bike to multiple Hero service centers and local mechanics, but after spending close to 20k, nothing worked and the bike was getting worse after every service. Pickup and throttle response was getting worse after every km and fuel efficiency deteriorated to 25kmpl. I'm getting an eye-watering 220 to 250km range for every 1000 rupees refill even when the bike is ridden at speeds less than 60 kmph.
I do not find any good bike similar to ZMR V2 for less than 2 lakhs presently in the market. Also, 2 lakhs for a 2-wheeler doesn't sound good in my opinion. I'm in confusion about what to do with the bike - whether to completely restore it back to the pre-DIY era or replace it with something else.
A long list of issues is below. Looking forward to your valuable suggestions and service center reference in and around Chennai.
The strange thing is the bike starts well in the very first ignition and runs even though the ride is very shaky.
I am thinking of the following options:
Here's what BHPian TorqMaster had to say about the matter:
See if you can get a second-hand Karizma engine and plonk that in, should not cost too much money. Most of the issues you mentioned should be sorted barring the consumables like cables, suspension oil seals etc.
The hassle would be in getting the engine number updated in the RC book.
Here's what BHPian saitvsk23 had to say about the matter:
Hi there. The ZMR V2 engine is one of the most potent engines from the Hero stable since the JV had ended. Also, the V2 ZMR was developed with inspiration from the flagship model of the Buell 1190 line (Hero MotoCorp had bought EBR-Erik Buell Racing in hopes of expanding tech and resources). So as a result, the radical design was disapproved by Karizma purists, but radical compared to today's 250cc commuters which are priced at a perceived premium.
These are the plus points, according to me:
- Your bike is a unique one. Styling-wise, too. If you'll see, there's nothing like it on today's roads. It looks cosmetically well maintained, so that's a plus for me.
- It's an agreeable fact that since the JV had ended, quality had gone down in Hero models. Since then like every other company does, Hero has kept improving their part quality, so getting new ones installed PROPERLY shouldn't be a problem. Since the basic engine architecture isn't a hard departure from the OG Karizma, workmanship too shouldn't be a problem. For this, I'd advise you to find a reputed FNG who has some experience working on this engine. There is a similar thread in the motorcycle section. You can make out the costs from this situation.
This post might be detailed, but here's what I think the problems come from. I'll be listing them in order.
- Heavy Vibration from the engine - the engine is feeling stressed. Maybe the resistance is from the inside. All the improper lubrication might have caused major abrasion on critical working parts such as the cylinder block, crankshaft, etc.
- Very high engine noise - once again there is resistance against the working of the engine internals. Please take a thorough look at the internals, and replace them thoroughly.
- Rattling noise from silencer/engine at speeds above 50kmph - Vibrations from the engine are passed on to the silencer mount point, which causes this. Improper connection at the cylinder head also has a part in this free movement.
- Poor acceleration during start and all speeds, literally have to shift down in some cases to pick up speed and acceleration on highways. Strange for a 20bhp, 20Nm bike - once again, the internal resistance rears its ugly head.
- Engine oil leak - a particular level of working pressure inside the engine has to be achieved for all the fluids to flow naturally. Improper engine oil levels might be the cause, causing the excess pressure to leak and bring the oil out with it. Faulty/failed/degraded gaskets might be the issue too. Pls get it checked.
- Top speed limited - Difficult and taking longer time to reach 3 figures - internal resistance is high, pls don't run the bike for longer periods at this stage. Get it checked asap.
- Very low mileage - <25kmpl - very hard to digest after owing an electric bike which is literally free to drive in Tamil Nadu - Same. Since internal resistance is high, the engine is taking in more fuel to produce the required power, as opposed to the efficiency figures it was originally designed for.
- Tight clutch - replaced clutch plates twice, no help - clutch springs need to be torqued to the spec. Pls get it checked.
- Hard gear shifts - hearing a hard thud sound for every shift - gears inside the gearbox are not aligned properly since this is a constant mesh gearbox. The gears are in continuous contact with each other for power transmission. Pls check the gear lever mechanism also. This also plays a crucial role in moving the gear rows.
- Stuck gears - need to release the clutch and re-engage after a short throttle to shift the gears most of the time - there might be an issue inside the gearbox with the dog clutches. These are present between each set of gears and help in selecting each speed. Pls get them checked.
- Engine not settling in idle - random RPM rise up to 1.8k RPM from 1k RPM - again, the ECU is trying to modulate the speed of the engine at a constant speed, but the internal resistance comes into play and the engine is working at random RPMs.
- Tight handlebar - hard to turn end-to-end in slow speed and in stationary - pls get the cone set bearings replaced. They are situated under the triple tree.
- Poor Throttle response - pls get the throttle body cleaned and pls get the injector cleaned too. See that the injector is cleaned carefully because these Keihin replacement units cost a bomb.
- Tight throttle cable - pls check the mechanism beside the right-hand switchgear. WD40 will help a lot.
- Hard front Suspension and noise from suspension during braking - the oil inside the front forks may have done its job, and a replacement is pending. Requires an overhaul along with fresh fork oil.
- Oil leak in left rear suspension - Hero uses GRS units which were first introduced on the Hunk. It's a proprietary technology, so chances of a rebuild are less. Buying a new one, or replacing the entire set with a similar gas-charged set from Endurance might be the solution.
- Zero spring action in rear swingarm - don't know if it is only from faulty suspension - faults point towards a bad suspension setup.
- Hard to move the bike in gear with the clutch fully engaged - a lot of rolling resistance - internal resistance.
- Grinding noise from front to rear when the vehicle is moved in neutral - something is wrong with the chain and it is not aligned straight as well - pending wheel bearing replacement.
- Front disc and brake pads - consumables, replace. Check for scouring marks on the disc. Replace if present.
- Rear disc and brake pads - consumables, replace. Check for scouring marks on the disc. Replace if present.
- Rear tubeless tyres to be replaced - pls stick to stock size.
- 75% of instrument display is blank in artificial light. Numbers and texts are visible during daylight - you can get the LCD unit revamped at a meter console repair shop. They exist, and you will find them.
- Lights need an upgrade - Phillips/Osram H4 bulbs will do the trick.
- Front left indicator and LED to be replaced - set. Indicators cannot be replaced separately. 750 rupees for one side -. Trust me, Hero spares are not cheap.
- Horn will act randomly sometimes - either switch issue in the switchgear or the wiring issue. Some horns use a relay to be activated. I don't know if the V2 ZMR uses a relay, but pls find the weak point and get it replaced.
- My 2 cents: keep the bike, get the work done, enjoy the bike for decades to come. Spending 2+L on something similar and getting disappointed is surely a waste of money and peace. Spend on the bike, keep it with you, hand it off below to a budding rider, and be happy.
Here's what BHPian Gypsian had to say about the matter:
Pouring excess oil into the engine will invite more air into the engine chamber. The air and oil mixture, along with the fast rotating crankshaft will produce a foam-like substance which degrades the lubricating capacity of the engine oil at a large scale. Consequently, due to the inefficient lubrication, the engine temperature will start to rise and the high temperatures might cause an engine lock, which is why your engine is resistive while you throttle.
I suggest a complete overhaul i.e. crank resetting, new cylinder kit and head valve re-setting at a proper lathe. If a proper mechanic handles the overhaul job, I'm certain it will be as good as new. Don't opt for reboring as no lathe guy will set perfect clearance. Do change the timing chain.
Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
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BHPian sub.g84 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.
Hello All,
My friend has a 15-year-old Hero Honda Karizma which he holds very dear to his heart. Ever since he had picked it up, he always dreamt of riding it to eternity. Now, on a Saturday evening, a catastrophe had struck and he found his beloved lady swimming in a basement full of water, all thanks to the Bangalore rains and poor drainage in the Yemlur area.
I do understand for a fact that in most cases vehicles that have been totally submerged in deep water usually are marked as a total loss since any repair attempts would rarely bring them back to their former glory.
However, there is a lot of sentiment attached to this Karizma and my friend is wondering if he should still make an attempt to salvage his beloved ride by sending it for repairs OR should he pick up a new motorcycle. He has his eyes fixated on the Continental 650 for a little while. What do you all suggest he should do in this case?
Now, I will let the pictures show the plight of the Karizma.
First sighting of the bike after it was submerged with only the ORVMs visible:
After 3 fire trucks and 8 pumps started business on Sunday morning this was how much was visible in the afternoon:
Finally, the bike has been retrieved:
Here's what BHPian boniver had to say about the matter:
Bikes are much much easier to fix than cars. Electricals are what get affected the most due to floods, and on a bike, you can get the entire wiring kit changed for not much money! Your friend should pick up the Continental 650 if he wants, but if he’s so attached to this bike, it deserves a second chance for sure.
Here's what BHPian Rajeevraj had to say about the matter:
Would suggest getting a repair estimate, especially considering it is a Hero Honda. I went through the same situation with my Hero Honda Splendor 15 years back. Fully submerged, I was out of the station and came back and saw it only after a few days. Called a local mechanic and he was able to get it back up and running in Rs. 2-3000. I personally continued to use it for 4-5 years. So definitely worth checking especially if he is attached to it.
Here's what BHPian vigsom had to say about the matter:
I'd strongly urge him to get it done up at a good FNG. This is what would be needed, and can easily be performed by DIY enthusiasts.
- Change of air filter
- Change of oil (first would be a flush and the oil would need one more change)
- Carb cleaning
- Removing the fuel in the tank, decanting the water out
- Drying the tank and refilling with fresh petrol
- Cleaning the chain cover, and other "boxes"
- Lubricating the chain, sprocket
- Service the brakes - change shoes
- Displace water in control switches and ignition switches using WD40
- Replace headlamp assembly
- Service the horns
- Change battery (if the old one can't be revived)
Here's what BHPian Mr.Boss had to say about the matter:
If he is willing to spend close to 40k on this bike, it can be bought back to glory. All that it needs is:
- Complete restoration of the frame (strip down painting) & fuel tank
- Complete new fastener kit
- All new electrical components and harness (including starter motor service or replacement)
- Engine flush, new bearings, oil seal kit
- New filter, carburettor service (or replace, depending on the condition)
- All-new control cables, drive chain, brake friction materials, seat foam & cover
Skipping any of these will save a few bucks today but make him regret it tomorrow. Mechanics will start loving the bike and the owner will hate it no sooner (Speaking this from the 2015 Chennai flood experience).
Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
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BHPian TaurusAl recently shared this with other enthusiasts.
Dear BHPians,
I have a Feb 2006 Hero Karizma which is in Goa currently and registered in Mumbai.
I have major issues to deal with:
Both are due to an oversight during the pandemic. The bike is in good condition and was recently serviced by a local mechanic.
I contacted the insurance company, and they say they won't renew the insurance because the registration of the bike has expired.
And to renew the registration, the bike has to be brought to Mumbai to get it passed at the RTO.
Now my question is, what are the ways to get the bike transported back to Mumbai with valid registration and insurance.
Your inputs will be of great help to decide a further course of action.
Here's what BHPian libranof1987 had to say on the matter:
Easiest (but costliest) would be to transport it to Mumbai by truck/tempo. Do check with an agent in Mumbai if they can assist in reg. renewal without physical verification.
Here's what BHPian neil.jericho had to say on the matter:
TaurusAl, you will basically have to:
- Find a local transporter (some guy with a truck/minivan) from Goa and not a courier company to transport your Karizma to Bombay. It might be a bit expensive but think of it as a one time expense due to unfortunate circumstances and move on. Use the help of some friends and family to identify someone with a minivan. I'm sure you will get the right person to transport it for you. This will ideally be the most difficult part but basically, just pay whatever is required to get it to Bombay.
- Take it to the RTO and get the fitness certificate for the next 5 years.
- Get the insurance and enjoy riding your bike.
If the costs are too high and it isn't worth following through on it, get your local mechanic in Goa to disassemble the bike for usable parts and financially, get what you can out of the bike. We have a parallel thread in the 2 wheeler section with a discussion on the same.
Here's what BHPian aargee had to say on the matter:
BHPian neil.jericho, if you may kindly permit me to change a little, it will be 99% of what you said with the below sequence...
- Transport Karizma to Bombay
- Take TP insurance at BPCL or Indian Oil (only selective outlets have them) & motorcycle HAS TO be shown for tracing the engine & frame number with a pencil on paper
- Take NOC (has to be done ONLY at Bombay, not GA)
- Visit RTO armed with TP & NOC and TP & NOC only
This is what I had to do for my Rx & finally obtain FC until 2026.
Here's what BHPian ebonho had to say on the matter:
You could ride the bike to Bombay. Least hassle.
If you are caught, pay the fine and move on.
No sense in making these red tape issues more complicated than they need to be.
Or get overly sanctimonious. You are not harming anyone or hurting anyone or killing anyone.
You are riding a perfectly functional machine that has been made defunct by new legislation.
As long as you have a valid license, I don't see anything sacrilegious about riding a perfectly good bike safely on our roads. One which you own and have not stolen.
Cheers, Doc.
Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.