Indian manufacturer Hero announced five new models today, including a new 250 cc sportbike and a turbodiesel scooter.
A few years ago, this might not have been interesting news, but thanks to a buy-in to Erik Buell Racing, two-wheelers from Indian manufacturer Hero are supposed to be hitting the Canadian market soon. Â
With machines like this 250, it seems the company is gearing up for the North American market. Previously, the company’s machines were mostly in the 100-150 cc range, but this new bike will come in as their flagship model. For North American buyers, that might sound like a bit of a gag, but in India, a 250 is still considered to be a serious bike.
The title shot is by Nitin Gupta and was featured on the Motoroids website; go there to see more photos of the bike.
The HX250R (as it’s officially known, at least for now) is built around a fuel-injected, liquid-cooled single-cylinder 249 cc motor, mated to a six-speed transmission. There’s a single 300 mm brake disc in front (with three-piston caliper) and a 220 mm disc in back, and there’s optional ABS.
The machine shuns USD forks, going for old-school telescopic forks with 37 mm tubes. The rear shock has five adjustments for preload. The bike weighs 139 kg wet – lighter than a Honda CBR250 (the Hero is supposedly more powerful, too).Â
Front tire size is 110/80 R-17, and the rear tire is a 140/70 R-17 unit. The HX250R has a 1370 mm wheelbase, and an underseat exhaust.
It’s very interesting to read the machine was designed with help and input from Erik Buell Racing; it would be very surprising if the machine didn’t make it to North America. However, when we contacted an EBR official, he couldn’t comment on whether the machine would show up here.Â
But wait, there’s more! Hero unveiled four other machines as well, including an updated scooter and motorcycle, a hybrid scooter, and a turbodiesel scooter concept.
Details are sketchy on the diesel scooter, but it will be interesting to see if it makes it to market. Diesel two-wheelers are few and far between; for years, the only one on North America’s radar was the Hayes Diversified-modified Kawasaki KLR650. The fuel savings gained from a Hayes Diversified bike were offset by a very high sticker price; if Hero can bring in a diesel scooter at a reasonable price, they may strike a niche market. Or they may result in a long line of disgruntled buyers who don’t like smelling of diesel when they step off their step-throughs.
[…] manufacturer working on several designs for them. The most famous of these was probably the HX250R, an entry-level 250 that was hyped with specs that far outstripped anything else in the […]
why the 200 -300cc bikes cost is almost all equal to four wheeler CAR cost?Only crazy sheeps may like bending forward posture while driving and may require for sporty racing but not comfortable for long journeys.why they donot fitting adjustable back support which gives relaxed and comfortability for driver to drive to long destinations.Why they donot making scooties with 200 -300cc engines?Scooty ceases backpain of driver since there is space for two legs for touching each other and give chaire posture to driver.It is time to chang bike style as per needs instead of making like sheep production .
What, no perimeter brake ???
How’d they manage to make it so much lighter? Actually, a better question is probably how Honda managed to make a 250cc single so heavy?
That second question is what a lot of people would like to know. The CRF250L was also panned when it arrived, as it’s considerably more porky than the rest of the 250 cc competition.
The HX250R will apparently produce 31 hp and weigh about 306 lbs wet. That is about 5 more hp than the CBR250R and about 60 lbs less!!! Impressive. This bike should even compete well with the upcoming CBR300R, producing about the same power – and once again – carrying much less weight.
It’s interesting, for sure. If it comes to North America at a decent price point, it could be a market disrupter – providing Buell has enough dealers to push it.
Diesel scooter. Diesel cause more problems on road services and it’s the most slippery substance for a two wheeler. Why.
Diesel can be considered a “universal fuel”. While we may not have a need for it here in the cities, in 3rd world countries, or even in rural Canadian areas, it would be a viable option as a fuel choice. Unlike gas, diesel can be stored literally, for years at a time, substituted if necessary with home heating oil or kerosene. Not that I would want to try to go far on that.
Add in the fact that diesel engines are made fairly robust because of high cylinder temps and forces on the mains, with good maintenance and quality lubes, you have the potential of having a bike to last a very, very long time.