Hero HF Dawn Kick Start

HF Dawn is the new name of Hero’s cheapest bike, CD Dawn. This bike is not pretty much famous in urban India and to do so, Hero has made some changes in this bike. Entry level segment of bikes is Hero’s forte and with this bike, they want to strengthen their position.

Design and Style

The design of this bike is almost two decades old and there is nothing much stylish in this bike. Its spoke rims, rear grab rail and exhaust shield indicates at the heavy usage of chrome on this bike. It has naked round shaped headlight with no cowl and visor. Orange coloured indicators and rear view mirrors are also familiar. Get to the side of this bike and you will notice what Hero is famous for; playing with stickers. There are new graphics and stickers on this bike featuring its new identity. Apart from this, there is nothing new on this bike which can grab your attention. Rear mudguard and its seat remain intact. Saree guard at the back is now a standard part of this bike. If you look really closely then you can notice a cut on its fuel tank. If you compare it with its rivals like Bajaj Platina, it seems to be a thing of past in terms of style and design. It’s very basic in terms of appearance and you can say it just qualifies to fit in the definition of a bike.

Instrument Console

New Hero HF Dawn gets new instrument console but unfortunately it still lacks a much needed fuel gauge. It features twin pods in its instrument console with blue rings inside. One of them has an analogue speedometer and trip meter while the second one has indicators and its name in it.

Engine and Gearbox

This bike is powered by the same 97.2cc engine. Although, Hero has slightly tweaked the engine but its specifications are the same. This one cylinder, 4-stroke, air-cooled engine generates a maximum power output of 7.8 bhp at 7500 rpm while its utmost torque of 8.04 Nm can be achieved at 4500 rpm. This bike is equipped with a four-speed manual gearbox with all four gears up-shift pattern.

Acceleration and Performance

Entry level bikes are never known for their performance. They are not built to perform, so is this. Its initial gear ratios are kept short in order to get the maximum out of this engine at high speeds. The bike picks up well in city traffic and moves quickly. Gear transition is delightful and it feels way better than its rivals. This small engine is well tuned and feels fit for city usage. The bike may not be on the faster side but its engine refinement and power delivery is better than others. Its throttle response is also disappointing and Bajaj’s Platina feels much faster than this bike in city. You can notice its high quality of refinement, once you take it on long runs. The engine is very less noisy and harshness level is also very low. It will take you around 9-10 seconds to reach 0-60km/hr and after that you can take this bike to a top speed of 90km/hr. However after the speed of 80km/hr, there are signs of vibrations which restrict you from cruising.

Mileage

Thanks to its lightweight (109kgs) and taller gear ratios, this bike manages to give a high fuel efficiency of around 65-70km/ltr in city traffic. These figures tend to increase by 7-10km/ltr on long runs.

Comfort While Driving

Hero HF Dawn is certainly very comfortable. The bike offers nice riding posture which is also comfortable on long rides. Handlebar is placed upwards which allows you to get a perfect palm grip on it. Foot pegs are placed like other commuter bikes and you get a nice hold of this bike with your knees sticking around its fuel tank.

Storage Space and Safety Features

Hero HF Dawn has a utility box and side panel for storage. Moreover the bike has under seat storage space and a bag hook at the back. It has a powerful headlight for better visibility at night.

Suspension and Brakes

HF Dawn features telescopic forks at its front with 2 step adjustable hydraulic shock absorbers at the back. This suspension system easily carries the weight of this bike and offers you a comfortable ride. To stop this light vehicle effectively, Hero has equipped this bike with a drum brake of 130mm at its front while at the back it has a drum brake of 110mm.

Ride and Handling

It’s a very light vehicle and can easily be used around city. It takes most of the bumps easily but it doesn't feel as comfortable as Platina and its rear suspension specially disappoints you. This bike lacks stability at high speeds and it finds it hard to stay grounded after 70km/hr. It easily goes passes most of the nasty potholes and obstructions on our Indian roads with a high ground clearance of 165mm. As soon as you hit the corners, you lose all your confidence as its short wheelbase (1235mm) and skinny tyres makes it really unstable around corners.

Tyre Size and Variants

R18 sizes of tyres are doing duty on this bike. HF Dawn is available in two variants with five shades to choose from.

Verdict

Hero HF Dawn is priced at INR 36.3K (ex-showroom, Delhi (approx., may vary)). At this price, you can say it’s the cheapest bike available which belongs to the most trusted two wheeler brand in India. Yes, it has a refined and fuel efficient engine but it is not enough for this bike to prove its worthiness. It has many flaws which includes its old school designing, less powerful engine and unavailability of many basic features like fuel gauge. It’s certainly not a value for money bike and especially when you can get a more powerful and stylish bike like Platina at the same price then there is no point of spending money on this bike.

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