Someone apparently leaked this video yesterday, showing the launch of the upcoming 2014 Hero "Karizma" 250, which has received a lot of work from EBR, including the engine:
The video is pretty lousy quality, but one thing I did note is the headlight arrangement in the fairing looks very much like the EBR 1190RS. It's not a bad-looking bike.
More pics showed up over the weekend. The taillight also resembles the 1190 unit, if it's not the same unit-
Karizma:
1190RX:
I've been thinking- this might be a major way EBR can bring costs down; by having their partner manufacture a lot of these items they were buying from outside suppliers previously.
not bad for a 250, i like the fact in the arcticle that mentions that is fuel injection and from EBR assitance. thats great. its funny how guys like myself who would have never looked at a HERO bike are actually paying attention becuase of EBR
Apparently Hero hasn't released any details on the engine yet; there's debate in the Indian press over whether it's a warmed-over version of the original Honda-designed engine or an all-new engine designed by EBR. THAT would be interesting.
There seem to be a lot of bad comments about the bike on Indian motorcycle websites. The only technical complaint I've seen is the dual rear shocks; apparently even in India most bikes have gone to mono-shock rear suspension. I don't get the complaints about the styling though; it's a decent-looking bike.
You can't fit 12 kids on the back of that - have you seen the films of indian scooter folk - 3 people at a time and more - lucky to fit two on that. EZ
Interesting- yesterday I noticed a story on an Indian website where they had picked up the fact that the front end and rear end of the re-styled Karizma look a lot like an EBR 1190RS.
I pointed that out here and in the comments on one Indian motorcycle blog. Maybe they finally picked up on it?
This one implies EBR had minimal if any input on this bike, and that the engine EBR has been working on will appear in an all-new motorcycle to be debuted next year. That seems plausible- I figure anything EBR is heavily involved with will be OBVIOUSLY different from anything Hero's done up to this point.
I may be crazy, but I prefer the styling of the Karizma:
to, for example the Ninja 300:
To me, the Ninja is trying too hard to be something it's not. These aren't superbikes, they're small, simple, inexpensive commuter bikes.
As such, the Karizma offers a reasonable, upright seating position, a fairing that offers some real wind protection, wheels that can handle some roads that aren't perfectly paved and it looks like they intend to offer a luggage option.
On the weekends and at the track, sure, I'll take the Ninja . . . but in those situations I'd rather have a Triumph than either.
For something to get back and forth to work every day, I'd rather have something like the Karizma
i've always wondered about the styling of japanese sportbikes. the windscreens are always so low they don't seem like they're of any real use. sure it looks cooler that way, but if you're going for looks, buy an XB9SX.
that honestly is a good looking fairing. i love clean, simple lines, they're easy to look at. the japanese motorcycle industry is guilty of trying to make their bikes look overly complicated.
Its funny what you can tell about people by what they wear. I bet they watch every penny they spend. This guy looks so down to earth, not like type British CEOs who worry more about their appearance then what they actually accomplish with their companies.
I've spoken to him at Daytona Very nice man He and Erik love motorcycles and it shows. He has the attitude of a guy that has worked hard to get where he is.
I was told the engine is the Honda engine, not the one EBR helped design. When I asked about THAT one, all I got was a smile and "soon".
One of the EBR guys told an enquiring person that the "new" 250 has quite a bit of power.
The "small" bike market is really coming alive. Honda has a new 300 coming out, Triumph has a 250 in the works. I'd rock a 350 Duke if Katoom sold them here.