Hero Hastur first look review

Hero has pulled a rabbit out of its hat to unveil a 600cc street-naked concept bike, the Hastur. The Hastur carries the impact of an aggressive motorcycle, its street-fighter look completed thanks to minimalistic bodywork. The front headlight comprises two projector lamps, and gives a predatory impression. The motorcycle’s instruments are set on the tank. Bar end mirrors sit mounted on either side of the relatively flat handlebars, with alloy finished, reach adjustable clutch and brake levers.

A meaty tank casing makes up most of the Hastur’s bodywork, blending nicely under the rider seat. Black casing below the tank covers all the bike's electricals, adding to its masculine image. Sharp shrouds near the cylinder head bay house a set of clear lens LED indicators. Both rider and pillion seats are finished in velvet, with decorative yellow stitching for the front seat. Rear-set footrests, along with an aggressive seating position, provide the Hastur a sporty stance, with a slight lean forward into the handlebars.

The exhaust system fits in well, with a shroud covering both exhaust pipes, which sit positioned low in the interest of better mass centralisation. An LED tail-lamp finds place on the Hastur. Hero’s Hastur concept bike is powered by a four-stroke, 620cc, parallel-twin, liquid-cooled and fuel-injected engine that generates 78bhp at 9600rpm. A six-speed gearbox transfers power to the rear wheel, via an exposed drive chain. The concept bike also features a trellis frame, and trellis swingarm Hero is calling a 'geodesic tubular chassis'. Inverted front forks and a monoshock are provided at rear. Ten-spoke alloy wheels (front, 120/70 x 17 and rear, 180/50 x 17) carry Pirelli tyres. Braking is via dual discs up front, and a single rear disc system.

Hero Hastur is only a concept model, with production remaining a question mark for now, but given the positive feedback Hero has received for the big bike at the recently concluded Expo, there’s a chance the industry leading company does decide to invest more deeply in similar, more exciting segments of the two-wheeler market.

KARAN NARSU