Hero Karizma ZMR back on sale; now priced at Rs 1.08 lakh

After a short hiatus, Hero MotoCorp's flagship motorcycle Karizma is back with no cosmetic changes at all. Is it a good move when rivals are better equipped?

launched in 2003, Karizma is the offspring of erstwhile Hero Honda and it was one of the early birds in over 200cc bike segment of the country. Even after Hero and Honda split, Karizma was the flagship motorcycle of Hero MotoCorp for a long time while the sales were not up to the mark after the revision in 2014.

With the countrywide implementation of BS-IV emission norms last year, Hero MotoCorp discontinued the Karizma range in India. Now after a hiatus of a year, the full-faired motorcycle is back on sale. Hero MotoCorp website has listed the back the Karizma ZMR and it has been priced at Rs 1.08 lakh single tone coloured model and Rs 1.10 lakh for the dual-tone versions, ex-showroom Delhi.

Interestingly, the re-launched Hero Karizma ZMR does not get any cosmetic changes. The motorcycle is powered by the same single-cylinder 223cc engine (now BS-IV compliant) tuned to develop 20bhp at 8,000rpm and 19.7Nm of torque at 6,500rpm, mated to a five-speed transmission. Hero MotoCorp claims a top speed of 129kmph on the Karizma ZMR.

Based on the tubular diamond frame, Karizma is employed with telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers at front and swing arm with five-step adjustable GRS system at the rear. The motorcycle is equipped with 276mm disc brake at front and 240mm disc brake at the rear. The company is not offering ABS with the Karizma ZMR. Considering its rivals Bajaj Pulsar RS200 and Suzuki Gixxer SF are equipped with ABS, the lack of safety feature is a deal breaker for the Karizma. Hero MotoCorp even offers ABS with the newly launched Xtreme 200R which is priced lesser than Karizma.

Hero Honda Karizma — Actor and Hero Honda Brand Ambassador Hrithik Roshan poses on a Hero Honda's 'All-Chrome' Karizma motorcycle, in New Delhi 08 June 2006.Prakash Singh/AFP/Getty Images

Next generation Karizma

The re-launch of Karizma comes at a time when the new generation of the model has been reported. A report in Bikewale claims Hero MotoCorp is working on the third generation of the Karizma. A team of designers and engineers are working towards reinventing the lost mojo of the Karizma brand. Unfortunately, new Karizma won't make it to the market soon as it has been earmarked for late 2019.