There have been lots
of 125cc entrants in the Indian market over the last few years and some of them
are so good, they end up in top-10 best-selling scooters list in our market. In
2019, almost half of the total scooter sales were 125cc models, which clearly
shows how the market is slowly transforming, upping the game even with
performance. Hero was a little late to the party with the Destini 125, but the
Maestro Edge was very quick in catching up, that too, with a 125cc engine. With
the Destini, Hero aimed at families, but with the Maestro Edge, the brand has
its sights set at a younger audience.
A new edge?
Design-wise, the Hero Maestro Edge
looks the same; nothing new that we could possibly make mention of. However, a
keen eye will notice that the side panels, front cowl and tail lamp include
some mild differences. We're disappointed that not much has been done to change
the look of the new Hero Maestro Edge.
Also, this being the first fuel-injected scooter from Hero Bikes, the brand
should've ensured it came with a new appeal. We particularly think the front
apron should've been reworked entirely. However, the model hasn't started
showing its age yet because of all the sharp lines and edgy panels and of
course, the large tail lamps and its sporty stance. Hero Bikes have also offered the scooter in a dual-tone colour
theme; the white one gets brown inner panels while the black gets a red
treatment. Unfortunately, you can't have the fuel-injected model in a
single-tone shade.
Features
In terms of equipment, the Maestro gets a triangular DRL that is seen beneath
the number plate holder, a semi-digital instrument cluster, a USB-charging
port, an external fuel-filler cap and an underseat lamp. The Maestro 125 also
features an exhaust that looks different from the one you've seen on regular
model. The switchgear has a nice upmarket feel to it, but what put us off was
the fact that the fuel-injected model doesn't feature the i3S start-stop tech
on the carburetted model.
Let's ride
The chassis on the Hero Maestro Edge 125 is the same as the one on the
Maestro 110, meaning handling remains nimble. But the 10-inch wheel at the back
results in average stability, especially at high speeds. The Maestro changes
directions without any fuss and the MRF rubber seems to do a decent job as
well. However, at 110kgs, the Maestro is not the lightest in its class, but
neither is it heavy. Again, we found that the fuel tank on the fuel-injected
model is smaller than the one on the carburetted model; this was perhaps done
to ensure there's more space for the added components on the fuel-injected
model. Up-front, the Maestro features a telescopic fork and a 12-inch wheel.
Ride quality isn't bad; it feels firm but doesn't unsettle the rider unless
there's an awful ribbon of tarmac ahead. Braking is acceptable but a little
more bite from the disc would've been appreciated.
125 cee-cees
Performance matters a lot to buyers in search of a scooter in this category.
With the added power and fuel-injection, customers should be happy. The
fuel-injected model develops 9bhp and 10.2Nm of torque. It doesn't feel all
that quick, but it picks up pace after 30kph and can reach a top speed of
90kph. The engine is evidently refined because of the fuel-injection and
vibrations aren't much. Also, grab the latest info on the new scooty, only at
autoX.
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