Introduction
The Hero Xoom 125 finds itself in the midst of a big war! The war for the wallets of the young, aspiration-seeking, deadline-beating individuals who are seeking a sporty 125cc scooter. Hero is quite late to the market, though. Is that a bad thing? Not really, considering what the Xoom 125 has shaped up to be.
The Visuals
The design of the Xoom 125 is one of its strong suites and straight off the bat, I’d say this is the best-looking 125cc scooter in the market. Hero has certainly turned a new leaf with the styling of the scooter, considering what they’ve come up with in the past. The Xoom 125 is a harmonious blend of creases and shapes that are proportionate and complementary to one another.
The sharp-looking LED projector headlights blend with the angular front apron, while the handlebar cowl with the neatly integrated, segment-first sequential turn indicators is well executed. The creases on the side panels catch your attention when viewing the profile.
Even the tail section is unique with split LED tail lights that appear to float due to the blacked-out portions. Adding to the stance of the scooter are the long wheelbase and 14-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels fitted with chunky tyres, including a 120-section one at the rear.
The scooter’s dual-tone colours add to its visual appeal, with my favourites being the Red on this test bike and the Yellow option. On the whole, the Xoom 125’s design injects a breath of fresh air into the segment, and if it isn’t apparent already, I quite like it.
The quality levels are almost on par with the competition, whether it is paint quality or the way everything has been screwed together.
The Package
Hero is offering the Xoom 125 in two variants: VX and ZX. The Xoom 125 ZX shown here is the top variant and includes sequential turn indicators, front disc brake, front storage with USB charger, boot lamp, and turn-by-turn navigation.
The VX variant gets drum brakes and cast alloy wheels, but lacks the above-mentioned additional features. Also, the all-digital display is packed with information, however, it is small and a bit dated.
The powertrain features a 124.6cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine producing 9.8bhp at 7,250rpm and 10.4Nm at 6,000rpm, paired with a CVT. Hero has equipped the scooter with the i3S system or stop-start system in layman’s language.
It, basically, cuts off the engine when idling for a few seconds, such as at traffic lights. To restart the scooter, one simply needs to apply the brake and twist the throttle. I found the system to work consistently but as is the case with most stop-start systems, I preferred to keep it off.
Under the bodywork, there’s a steel frame, with a telescopic fork at one end and a monoshock at the other. As a package, the scooter is quite good, but the real test is in the way it performs. And here’s where the scooter was pretty impressive in the way it checks most boxes.
The Ride
Once seated on the wide and long rider’s perch, the ergonomics feel relaxed. The handlebar is set low but it didn’t feel like a stretch. This design, along with the small windscreen, provides good visibility ahead. Even the floorboard had ample room for my size 10 boots, despite the wide and deep storage cavity behind the front apron.
What immediately becomes apparent once you begin riding the Xoom 125 is the refinement of the engine. Whether it is pootling around town and making your way through traffic or holding a fast clip on the highway, there’s barely any buzz in the floorboard or handlebar.
The scooter’s gearing ensures that you get off the line quite quickly. The speedo climbs to 60-70kmph rapidly, which is usually the pace for a majority of scooter riders in the city. Even if you twist the throttle a little more and take it up to 80kmph, the scooter doesn’t feel strained. It’s only past 90kmph that you notice the engine’s performance beginning to taper. We recorded a top speed of around 95-98kmph on this test cycle, which is quick enough for a 125cc scooter.
As for the ride quality, it does feel firm at low speeds, which is acceptable considering the “sporty” application of the scooter. However, going quicker over the same bumps at higher speeds helps the suspension iron them out more effectively. I’ve also to add that we hit a few potholes, and the suspension didn’t bottom out. Notably, that’s a sign of well-optimised suspension tuning.
However, the trade-off for the firm suspension is excellent handling, and this scooter stays planted, predictable, and poised around corners. As for the brakes, they are effective, though more bite and feedback from the front brake would have been nicer.
Should You Buy It?
The Hero Xoom 125 might be fashionably late to the 125cc scooter party, but it has come prepared. From the attractive design to the engine’s performance and the ride as well as handling, it checks all the boxes. The cherry on top is the price tag, which at Rs. 92,900 for the ZX variant, undercuts competition like the TVS Ntorq Race XP by Rs 4,000.
What Hero should concurrently work on is improving the sales and aftersales to offer a holistic experience of a modern-day scooter. On the whole, the Xoom 125 should spearhead a new chapter for Hero in the Indian scooter space.
Images by Kaustubh Gandhi
Gallery
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Hero Xoom 125 Front Disc Brake
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