Are motorcycles mere machines? Are they just a product of countless lifeless parts coming together in unison? If that were the case, people like you and me would be called machineheads, not petrolheads. Two decades back, every petrolhead in the country, irrespective of their age, stature or sex for that matter, wanted one particular motorcycle in their garage. The Hero Karizma. It was a stuff of dreams which was turned into a beautiful reality. A few years down the line, this dream slowly turned into a living, rolling nightmare with the next iterations of the Karizma. Hero has now woken up from a deep slumber, to make that dream a reality again in the form of Karizma XMR. Does it have what it takes to evoke the same emotions, the same ambitions and not to forget, rekindle the same dreams a potential motorcyclist saw back in the day?
SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT
Catharsis. That is what the Karizma XMR is to Hero Motocorp because forget about winning a beauty pageant, the last few generations of the Karizma weren't even eligible of entering one. Hero's stint with Eric Buell Racing and its reflection on Hero's own design philosophy wasn't exactly a home run. That changes with the Karizma XMR because say what you may, this motorcycle has a very likeable stance. We have always been crazy for fully-faired motorcycles and this is one of the good looking ones. Apart from a few design elements like the Xoom-inspired headlamp setup, the rest of the bodywork including cuts and creases look very proportionate. Personally, I like the way it looks from a distance, if viewed head on because the XMR actually looks like a mini CBR1000RR-R and only a schmuck would take it in a bad way.
This story is from the September 2023 edition of BBC TopGear India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 2023 edition of BBC TopGear India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Mi5 SILENT, POSH AND LETHAL!
With its reimagined design language, BMW has done what it does best-divided opinion with the kind of fervour usually reserved for debates about pineapple on pizza.
A VIRAL ESCAPE
The last time I visited Hampi in Karnataka was back in 2021, just as the world began to shake off the COVID-19 travel bans.
FROM UNDERDOG TO CHAMPION
Thierry Neuville's Journey to WRC Glory
Max Verstappen: FOUR-TIME CHAMP UNDER THE VEGAS LIGHTS
From dominance to resilience, Verstappen cements his legacy while Mercedes shines in Sin
VOLKSWAGEN VIRTUS GT PLUS SPORT: SEXY+SPORT
Volkswagen has a knack for keeping their loyal and enthusiastic customers grinning from ear to ear. The German manufacturer has almost become synonymous with build quality, safety and performance.
BE GE AND XEV 9E Sexy and Ballsy!
Starting a review can be quite a challenge, especially when it's hard to pinpoint the flaws!
CAPTURING THE ESSENCE
Chilly, cold mornings and Mumbai is a rare combination that we seldom see in this part of our beautiful country.
BATTLE OF TWO GOLIATHS
When Luxury Meets Performance, Who Takes the Crown?
THE E-MPV THAT DARES TO DREAM BIG
The MPV market, dominated for aeons by Toyota's Innova, has always felt like a rather predictable place. It's the type of vehicle you buy not out of passion but practicality-like a pair of orthopaedic shoes.
IMPRACTICAL YET IRRESISTIBLE
Exactly ten years ago, I took my first international trip. It was to Bahrain, a country of endless desert and skyscrapers, where my aunt and uncle lived. Among their friends and neighbours, one particular gentleman, upon learning I was a budding petrolhead, took an entire day off work to take me around the city’s showrooms to see some “normal” Middle East traffic.
