The 110cc scooter segment in India is not known for paying much attention to style. Most manufacturers concentrate on the likes of the general population rather than the GenZ crowd, as quite frankly that’s where most of the market lies.
So, what happens when the nation’s largest manufacturer of two-wheelers, Hero Motocorp, decides to target the latest generation of riders and looks to take on the reigning king of the sporty 110cc scooters – the Honda Dio? The answer to that question, as revealed a few days ago is the Hero Xoom.
So has the new Hero Xoom gone big enough to sway GenZ riders away from the Honda Dio? We rode the all-new Hero Xoom in Delhi to find out the answer to that very question…
Hero Xoom Design & Features – A Definite Identity
Hero has gone all out with the styling of the all-new Xoom scooter to make it more appealing to its target audience – the GenZ crowd headed to college. The Hero Xoom is a sporty and rather stylish scooter that checks all the boxes in the styling department.
When viewed from the front, the Xoom’s dual-tone front apron design (unless you choose the black paint scheme) looks rather sporty. The heavily stylised headlight setup is found on the lower section of the front apron. There are two triangular edges that jut out on either side of the headlight and add to the Xoom’s sharp look.
Speaking of the headlights, the Hero Xoom sports a projector headlamps setup underneath which sit the rather snazzy position lamps. The Hero Xoom’s position lamp is shaped in the form of a very stylised H which blends in well with the sporty design of the scooter. The front blinkers can be found on the handlebars of the new Xoom.
However, what makes the Xoom stand out from the other 110cc scooters that traverse our roads today are the cornering lights. Placed on the edges of the greyed-out fenders that extend down to the floorboard, these lights illuminate when you turn into a corner which is especially helpful at night and in low-visibility situations.
When viewed from the sides, the big design highlight of the new Xoom is the diamond-cut 12-inch alloy wheels fitted to the ZX variant of the scooter (the one we rode). The ZX variant also comes equipped with a disc brake at the front.
Other highlights include the chunky exhaust and the flared-out sections at the rear that make the scooter look a bit wider than it really is. The single-piece grab handle extends quite a way forwards on each side.
At the rear, the taillight features the same H-shaped design as the front position light while the indicators are mounted slightly below. The wider rear tyre (fitted to the VX & ZX variants) adds to the sporty looks of the Xoom.
Seated on the wide seat, you’re eyes are immediately drawn to the fully digital display that gives you all the highlights like speed, real-time mileage, time and a fuel gauge. The display also connects with your phone using Bluetooth and will alert the rider if he/she receives any phone call with its Caller ID functionality. The display also alerts riders about missed calls, incoming messages and the battery level of their phones. The VX variant misses out on Bluetooth while the base LX model features a semi-digital setup.
Look down and you’ll see storage space on the front apron along with a USB port to charge your phone (optional extra for the base LX model). More storage can be found under the seat which is illuminated (except for the base LX model).
The Hero Xoom is offered up in a choice of five colour options – Black, Pearl Silver White, Polestar Blue, matt Abrax Orange and Sports Red.
Hero Xoom Specs & Dimensions – More Than Just A New Face
The Hero Xoom is powered by a new air-cooled 110.9cc fuel-injected, single-cylinder, petrol engine that pushes out 8.05bhp at 7,250rpm and 8.70Nm of peak torque at 5,750rpm.
The Xoom’s engine also features Hero’s patented i3S start-stop tech that the firm states helps with efficiency figures. The engine is paired with a CVT automatic gearbox.
The Hero Xoom has been fitted with a telescopic fork at the front and a monoshock at the rear to help the scooter deal with the rough stuff. Braking duties are handled by a 190mm disc at the front (130mm drum for the LX & VX) and a 130mm drum at the rear. The Xoom rides on alloy wheels shod with MRF Nylogrip tyres. The front tyre is a 90/90 section unit while the rear is a wider 100-80 section tyre(the base LX sports a 90/90 rear).
The new Hero Xoom is 1,881mm long, 731mm wide, and 1,118mm tall. The wheelbase of the new scooter is 1,300mm long and it offers 155m of ground clearance. The Xoom’s seat sits 770mm above the ground and the scooter sports a 5.2-litre fuel tank.
Hero Xoom Riding Impressions – Best Of Both Worlds
The Hero’s Xoom’s engine is quite the little performer. Till around 30km/h the engine’s delivery feels quite linear but it seems to surge after it crosses that speed mark and continues to push high into the 80s. The single-cylinder powerplant does growl a little bit which should keep those riding it more than entertained on the go.
The Xoom’s suspension setup with the telescopic fork at the front and the monoshock at the rear deals with the bumps and ruts with ease. The suspension setup along with new MRF Nylogrip tyres give you more than enough confidence to push the Xoom into turns where it quite easily holds its line.
Getting the Xoom to stop quickly isn’t a big issue with the front disc brake (clamped down by a single-piston Bybre calliper) and the cast drum at the rear providing more than enough bite to stop the scooter in its tracks. Hero’s Integrated Braking System(IBS) also ensures that you don’t slip when applying the brakes in less-than-ideal conditions.
The seating setup on the Xoom varies depending on the variant chosen. On the Xoom ZX we were riding, we found the rider’s seat to be quite nicely cushioned which made riding around Delhi’s roads to be quite a comfortable experience.
Final Thoughts About The Hero Xoom – Xooming To Victory
The Hero Xoom is a well-made scooter that sticks to its guns. With its sharp styling and the growly 110cc powerplant along with the rather nice suspension setup, the Hero Xoom offers the latest generation of riders a rather nice offering to start their new journey on the road.
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Keyword: Hero Xoom First Ride Review - Xooming To A GenZ Win