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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While Hero has raised compression on the Karizma ZMR from 9.0 to 9.6:1, its fuel-injected engine remains largely similar, a 223cc, four-stroke, air-cooled powerplant, with an oil-cooler in place to help keep cool. It now produces a healthy 20bhp at 8,000rpm, while peak torque of 2.01kgm is produced at 6,500rpm.

The ZMR retains a time-tested five-speed gearbox, shifting in the one-down, four-up pattern.

The ZMR does make for a more eager bike now, and its engine responds with a peppier feel. The bike feels at home cruising at speeds of about 100kph, and can happily pull away from rest with strong acceleration when called for. Opening up the bike during our performance tests, we achieved zippy acceleration to 60kph starting from a standstill, the Hero flagship taking 4.48seconds to pass this hurdle, thereafter achieving 100kph in 12.39secs.

Our tests found that top speed remains identical to the older bike, a true 129kph. Disappointingly, the new engine puts out disproportionately high vibes when pulled to high rpm, causing more than acceptable discomfort to the rider’s palms.

When seen in light of its predecessors, the ZMR doesn’t disappoint, however, the Indian sportsbike market has come a long way, with really potent new machines available, notably the KTM 200 Duke and Bajaj Pulsar 200NS, which the ZMR fails to match on performance.