New Hero Karizma ZMR review, road test

Redesigned, retuned and re-spawned, is Hero's sporty new Karizma able enough to take on its fast and furious segment?

Published on Oct 29, 2014 05:30:00 PM

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The new Karizma ZMR derives many of its design elements from the EBR 1190RX. It now has radically reworked design elements and body panels that have helped shave 2kg. Viewed head-on, the long and curvy front-fairing continues to use DC-powered headlights that are now vertically stacked, with an LED strip sitting besides clear lens indicators.

We found that the large tinted visor on the ZMR protects riders from wind blast well, especially when crouching under it to improve aerodynamics for better performance. The bike fairing flows neatly downward to cover the engine bay. It continues to use attractive blue backlit digital instruments, displaying a speedometer, odometer, tachometer, fuel-gauge, dual trip meters, a clock, real time mileage indicator and also reminding one to put on a helmet.

The ZMR now comes with neat, short clip-on handlebars, clad with familiar switchgear, as well as a nice set of grips and control levers. Dual horns are a useful feature, and sound out loudly when called upon. The ZMR uses a familiar, slim fuel-tank, while the riding saddle is now a split unit, nicely textured with good attention-to-detail showing through. Both side panels extend from the rider’s thigh region up to the bike’s tailpiece, where you see a unique, horizontal-set tail-light with indicators attached to it.

The lower bits of the ZMR sport a contrasting dark shade, which extends to the motorcycle’s alloy wheels and its mudguard. Suspension and the engine cases get the same light gold, faux magnesium alloy treatment as before. The new ZMR is well built, with good overall finish and paint lustre.