Hero Ignitor Review
Hero Ignitor - Copy n Paste
Saturday, November 17, 2012Overview of Hero Ignitor
The much populated 125cc segment of bikes in India gets a new entry from the largest two wheeler manufacturer in India, Hero. Ignitor is the name given to this bike which was first showcased at Delhi Auto Expo 2012. Apart from its name, nothing much is new in this bike as it’s a restyled version of Honda Stunner which will be sold under the name of Hero.
Main Features of Hero Ignitor
- New Generation 125 cc ATFT engine
- Striking trapezoidal headlight
- Digital-Analogue Combo Meter Console
- Stylish Split Seat
- Dazzling Tail Light
- Dual Tone Rear View Mirrors
- Classy Front Cowl
- Adjustable Rear Shockers
- Body-coloured Rear Grip
Hero Ignitor Exterior
The basic design, appearance and dimensions of both bikes are similar and that’s why Ignitor can easily be mistaken as Stunner. Still, Hero has made few changes to differentiate its bike from Honda Stunner which includes a new front cowl. The black coloured visor and headlight is a part of new designing scheme of Hero which can be seen on their other new bikes also. Dual coloured rear view mirrors also look premium and different than those used in Stunner. The bike features its name and sporty decals on its semi fairing and side panels. Split seats and macho fuel tank are straight away lifted from Stunner. To make it look sportier, Hero has removed the saree guard from it and it’s not a standard part of the bike. Ignitor sports black coloured alloy wheels and carbon finishing on its silencer and engine which goes well with all colour schemes. Rear section features body coloured grab rail, small tail light and long and slim mudguard similar to that of Stunner.
Instrument Console of Hero Ignitor
Hero Ignitor feels better than Stunner in this department as Hero has blessed this bike with a digital-analogue combo meter console which is absent in Stunner. The overall appearance of the instrument console is very futuristic. It features a digital speedometer, odometer and trip meter on the right side of its round shaped analogue tachometer. The instrument console is very easily readable. The bike also has an analogue fuel gauge on the left side of tachometer which has other indicators on the top of it.
Engine and Gearbox
Hero has slightly altered the 125cc engine of Honda for its Ignitor which is also powering Stunner. This 4-stroke,air cooled, OHC engine churns out a power output of 11 bhp at 8000 rpm with utmost torque production of 11 Nm achievable at 5000 rpm. The bike is equipped with a five speed manual transmission with one gear down and four gears up-shift pattern.
- 124.7 cc, Air cooled, 4 stroke single cylinder OHC
- 11 bhp at 8000 rpm
- 11 Nm at 5000 rpm
Acceleration and Performance
Hero Ignitor is perfectly matched with the refined 125cc engine of Honda and even feels better than Stunner. The bike is on the quicker side and that’s quite noticeable when you drive it in city traffic. The early availability of torque in this bike makes the difference. Gear ratios are also very short and crispy which is very helpful in city traffic. Ignitor does 0-60km/hour within 7 seconds which is slightly faster than Stunner. It’s a very refined engine and only vibrates when rev really hard. The power delivery is very linear and the gear transition is also very smooth. The bike is certainly better than Stunner and many other competitors but it can’t beat the recently launched Discover 125ST which feels much powerful than this bike especially at high rpms. Ignitor has less power to weight ratio than Discover 125ST and that’s quite evident in its performance. Ignitor can give a tough fight to it in city traffic but on long runs, Ignitor suffocates for power and lags behind than Discover. It’s very hard to get three digit figures on Ignitor’s speedometer as it turns very noisy after 7000rpm.
Hero Ignitor Mileage
Hero products are famous for their low fuel consumption and Ignitor is no different. The bike can give you a fuel efficiency of around 45-55km/ltr in city conditions while on highways; one can expect anything around 55-60km/ltr.
Comfort while Driving Hero Ignitor
The seat of Hero Ignitor is very comfortable. One can easily reach the wide handlebar and can hold it without much movement for a long time. Foot pegs are placed much behind than the normal commuter bikes to give you a sporty feeling. It’s certainly not as comfortable as regular commuter bikes but can still impress you. The palm grip is solid and firm and one can easily reach the buttons on the handle.
Safety Features and Storage Space
Hero Ignitor comes with side guards at its front which avoids direct injury at the time of collision. The bike also has under seat storage space.
Hero Ignitor Suspension and Braking
Hero Ignitor shares its suspension system with Stunner. It features telescopic forks at it front with hydraulic shock absorbers at its back. The bike gives you optimum comfort but can’t match the quality of Nitrox suspension offered by Bajaj. Many potholes and bumps can be felt on this bike. However, the braking system of Ignitor is better than Discover. The top variant of Ignitor features a sporty disc brake of 240mm at its front with drum brake of 130mm at its back.
Ride and Handling
There is no difference in the ride and handling of Ignitor and Stunner. From riding position to feel around corners, everything is the same. The bike has same tyres and with a wheelbase of 1270mm, it feels very stable and grounded. Ignitor has an advantage over others like Discover with its high ground clearance of 175mm which improves its ride quality and enables it cross most of the obstructions with ease. The bike feels very light around corners and is perfect for daily usage as it steers easily in city traffic.
Price of Hero Ignitor
Hero Ignitor is priced at Rs. 58,700 for the drum variant and Rs. 60,700 for the disc variant. These prices are ex-showroom Mumbai. The on-road prices of Hero Ignitor in Mumbai are Rs. 66,200 and Rs. 68,400 for the drum version and disc version respectively.
Shades Available in Hero Ignitor
Hero Ignitor is available in four shades:
- Pearl White
- Sports Red
- Vibrant Blue
- Panther Black Metallic
Verdict
Hero Ignitor has been priced very competitively. The base variant will cost you INR 55.9K (ex-showroom, Delhi) while you will have to spend 2K more if you opt for a front disk brake. The bike has everything from style to fuel economy which makes it a complete value for money bike. Moreover, it’s a product from Hero which has credibility in the market. Yes, it lacks its own identity due to high resemblance to Stunner but to compensate, the bike will have high resale value and low maintenance.