Hero Motocorp is the number one 2-wheeler brand in India and is known for providing quality bikes at an affordable price tag. Their bikes are also known to be quite reliable and that’s why people especially buy their bikes, especially commuters because of their reliability and low maintenance. People have been riding their Hero Honda Splendor since the 90s without any hiccups. However, with complaints regarding their reliability being raised all around social media, the question remains: Are they really reliable anymore?
Hero Motorcycles: Are they really reliable anymore?
In the past, Hero Motocorp was the Maruti Suzuki of two-wheelers in India thanks to their affordable price tag and great reliability. However, netizens have reported several issues related to their engine or build quality, especially the newer models. The Splendor which was one of the most fuel-efficient bikes in India now only delivers about 79 kmpl, which is good but when other commuters like Bajaj Platina are giving out more for a lesser price why would people not go for it? In terms of reliability too, BS6 Splendors have been reported to have issues. In fact, there has been a reliability crisis in almost all of their models during the BS6 transition.
Hero motorcycle engines are pretty good actually, but they don’t offer that range other brands do. What I mean to say is even after launching several sporty and adventure bikes, the brand seems to still be stuck with its commuter brand mindset. The engines need to be serviced on time and should not be pushed in any way or problems are bound to occur. Also, bikes like the Xtreme 125R have been reported to have panel gaps and cheap quality switches used, raising doubts about how long the bike will survive.
Because of their recent reliability issues, their resale value has also taken a hit, which was previously a strong point for Hero. Except for Splendor, almost all the models are sold with heavy price cuts in the used market and even then people think twice before buying a used Hero bike because of their poor reliability.
This article might make it sound like Hero bikes are the worst, but that’s not the case. Read it carefully. Hero bikes might not be as reliable as they were 10-20 years ago, but they still provide some of the most reliable bikes out there. RE is known to have weak electricals, Honda has noise issues, and Bajaj bikes have engine and chain issues, so no brand is perfect. Hero might not be the most reliable but it’s definitely not the worst and has been putting in work to improve it.
