Hero Splendor History | The National Motorcycle of India

There was a time in the Indian automotive industry when the bikes were still for the ones who could spend a load of money. People used to prefer scooters for commuting. And then came the Hero Honda with its Splendor and the scenario was changed. People were given the option to leave the bulky scooters at home and enjoy the bike ride. And till this date, Hero Splendor is a motorcycle that a middle-class man can easily buy. Let’s take a look at the history of the bike that is said to have made it a dream come true for many bike lovers.

The Splendor First Model changed the Indian two-wheeler market by making bikes affordable for everyone. The Splendor launch date marked a turning point for middle-class commuters in India. Understanding the Splendor’s first model year helps us see how this bike became so popular.

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1994 – India gets the Hero Honda Splendor

We all remember that earlier, Hero Motocorp was in collaboration with the Japanese automaker Honda. Under this collaboration came in the Splendor. It was not the first bike from the manufacturer though. It was a successor to the Hero Honda CD100. The Splendor used the same engine as that of CD100 and not much was changed in the design aspect too. But this bike made the Indian customers switch from scooters to bikes. The low ownership cost and the high fuel efficiency are the reasons that this bike took off so well.

The Splendor First Model became famous for its fuel efficiency, low cost, and long engine life. Because of the early Splendor launch date, it gained trust among Indian families very quickly.

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Talking about the engine, it was powered by a 97.2cc air-cooled 4-stroke engine which was capable of producing a decent 7.44hp of power and a peak torque of 7.95Nm. It was capable of returning a fuel economy of more than 50kmpl. Actually, at that time, people used to say that it can go for weeks after a single refuelling of the tank. This model ran as it is for around 10 years and the successful stint is still known to be one of the best in the motorcycle world.

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2004 – Hero Honda Splendor Plus

After 10 years of its launch, the Splendor was given an upgrade. It was known as Splendor Plus and came with a tagline, ‘Lage Aisa Family Jaisa’ (Which means it feels as if Splendor Plus is a part of the family). The new Splendor Plus featured a multi-reflector headlight, a new tail-light and was enhanced with some new graphics. The spoke wheels were also replaced. Now it had alloys for this purpose.

2005 – Super Splendor

A new more powerful Splendor was launched in 2005. It was a 125cc Advanced Swirl Flow Induction System (ASFS) engine which was capable of churning 9hp of power. This new swirl tech was responsible for the increased fuel efficiency of an already very fuel-efficient motorcycle.

And the engine was not the only upgrade the bike received. The Super Splendor was lightweight and was equipped with a digital speedometer, alloy wheels, disc brakes at the front, graphic enhancement and more chrome to the engine and exhaust.

2011 – Hero Honda Splendor Pro

The was going to be the last Splendor under the collaboration of Hero and Honda. The joint venture was already called off in 2010, but Honda under the agreement had to support Hero until 2014 technologically. This is when the Splendor Pro was launched. There were no changes under the hood, just kidding, under the petrol tank in this case!

But one of the USPs of this bike was the self-start. With all the major competitors equipping their offerings with the self-start, Hero also had to enhance their Splendor series in order to stay on the track. There were a few graphic additions and alloy wheels. Hero Honda Splendor Pro is known to be one of the most stable 100cc bikes of its time.

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2014 – Hero is on its own!

The 25 years old JV was dissolved. The technical support was ended. What was Hero going to do? It was going to Improvise, Adapt and Overcome.

The Splendor was upgraded. And the all-new Hero Splendor came with revolutionary i-Smart technology. This tech made it possible for the Splendor to reach a fuel economy of over 100kmph! Yes, that’s true. The tech was that whenever the engine becomes idle, it will switch off and start again as soon as the clutch was pressed. And that’s how you shut the mouth of people who said, ‘Hero won’t survive without Honda’. It was powered by the air-cooled 97.2cc engine capable of churning out 7.2hp of power and over 8Nm of torque.

But that was not all! The Splendor completed 20 years in 2014. So Hero decided to launch a cafe racer version of the Splendor Pro. It was powered by the 97.2cc engine capable of producing 8hp of power. The Pro Classic featured a compact handlebar, retro-style rearview mirrors, spoke wheels, chrome all around and a retro tail light section. It was also equipped with a cafe racer seating arrangement.

BS6 Hero Splendor Plus

Hero Motocorp has been prominently making sure to upgrade their bikes with time. And Splendor being a legacy, it was supposed to get the BS6 upgrade too. And it got one. The BS6-compliant Hero Splendor Plus comes with Hero’s advanced PFi xSens Engine technology and a tagline, ‘Bharosa Hai, Samjhauta Nahi’. The power of the 97.2cc air-cooled engine has increased from 7.2hp to 7.9hp. The torque generated is almost the same.

Hero Splendor might not be a powerful bike, but it was never meant to be one. It was meant to give the best fuel efficiency and it really kept that alive. It is still one of the most sold 100cc bikes and one of the very few successful ones. What are your views on the national motorcycle of India? Let us know in the comments section below.

From the Splendor launch date in 1994 to today, the bike has remained a household name.
The Splendor’s first model year laid the foundation for one of India’s most successful motorcycles.

FAQs

1. When was Hero Splendor launched?

The Hero Splendor came to market in 1994. At the time, Indian roads were packed with two-strokes, thirsty machines that gave power but punished wallets. The Splendor, built with Honda’s 97cc four-stroke engine, flipped the script. It ran lean, sipped fuel, and still carried two riders through dust, rain, and market lanes. The launch didn’t just add another commuter bike, it set a template. By the end of the 1990s, the Splendor wasn’t just selling—it was outselling everything else on two wheels.

2. What is the history of Hero Bikes?

Hero’s roots are deep in Ludhiana, 1956, with cycle parts and steel tubes. From there, the Munjal family grew it into Hero Cycles, once the largest bicycle maker in the world. The leap to motorcycles came in 1984 with a joint venture with Honda. Hero Honda CD100 changed the game—4-stroke reliability, unmatched mileage. For 26 years, Hero Honda stood as the default choice for Indian buyers. When Honda walked away in 2010, people expected cracks. Instead, Hero dropped “Honda” from its name, doubled down on R&D, and expanded abroad. Today, Hero MotoCorp stands on its own. The story is a straight line of scale: cycle shop, factory, partnership, split, global.

3. Is Hero a Japanese company?

No. Hero is Indian. The company was founded by the Munjal family in Punjab and is still run from Delhi. Japan’s Honda was a partner for 26 years, but that tie ended more than a decade ago. Since then, every Splendor, Passion, or Xpulse has been designed, built, and sold under an Indian flag.

4. Which bike is no. 1 in Hero?

Splendor holds that crown. Month after month, year after year, it leads sales charts. The reason is simple: reliability that borders on boring, mileage that keeps daily costs in check, and mechanics in every corner who know the engine inside out. It’s the bike that stitched Hero’s name into Indian towns and highways.

5. Who is the owner of Hero?

The company belongs to the Munjal family. Brijmohan Lall Munjal started it in the 1950s, steering it from bicycle parts to motorcycles. After him, the mantle passed to his son Pawan Munjal, who today chairs Hero MotoCorp. Ownership has stayed within the family, which explains the steady hand. No foreign buyouts, no outside control—just a business that grew with the same house name leading it across decades.

6. What was the first model of the Splendor bike?

The first model of the Splendor bike was Hero Honda Splendor, launched in 1994 in India. It was made to be a simple, reliable, and fuel-efficient bike for daily use. The bike became popular because of its low maintenance, good mileage, and smooth engine. Over time, Splendor became one of the most trusted and best-selling bikes in India.

7. What is the spec of Hero Splendor 2010?

The Hero Splendor 2010 came with a 97.2 cc air-cooled engine. It produced around 7.2 bhp power and 8 Nm torque. The bike had a 4-speed gearbox, drum brakes, and a simple suspension setup. It was lightweight, easy to ride, and mainly designed for city commuting and daily travel.

8. What is the mileage of Splendor 2003?

The mileage of the Hero Honda Splendor 2003 was around 65 to 70 km per litre in normal riding conditions. Because of its small engine and light weight, it was very fuel efficient. This high mileage made it a favorite bike for office workers and students who wanted low fuel cost and dependable performance.

9. What was the price of Splendor in 2013?

In 2013, the price of the Hero Splendor was around ₹45,000 to ₹50,000 (ex-showroom), depending on the model and city. At that time, it was considered affordable and value for money. Its good mileage, simple design, and trusted engine made it a popular choice among Indian buyers.