Ever since Hero MotoCorp announced its partnership with Harley Davidson, it gave many motophiles hope that the country’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer can also build premium motorcycles. The first product from this Indo-American joint venture, i.e., Harley Davidson X440, could only garner mixed reviews.
However, the second model based on this platform is a very different story. For starters, it dons a ‘Hero’ badge and sits on top of the company’s lineup. Secondly, it dons a fancy name which most of our readers will associate with a recent prominent movie title. While it actually stands for ‘unorthodox’, we have to dig in really deep to find out if the name truly justifies the bike’s character.
Hero Mavrick 440 review: Design & Quality
There is nothing refreshing about the Mavrick’s design and yet it is able to create its unique identity. Though it shares its DNA with the X440, the looks of Mavrick are undeniably dissimilar, which is a good thing from Hero. In fact, in my opinion, it looks even better than its American cousin. Nevertheless, design is a subjective matter and best left to the taste of the readers.
That said, this sense is justified when you take a complete look at the bike and find how proportionate the design feels. Given that this is Hero’s top of the line flagship, the company has played it smart by not going overboard. It gets a muscular fuel tank and round headlamp that amplify its neo-retro appeal while the extended tank shroud and multi-layered side panel gives it a sporty edge.
The H-shaped LED treatment has become a common theme for all recent Hero motorcycles. Thankfully Hero hasn’t carried forward the same exhaust canister as the X440 which didn’t gel with the bike at all. Not just to the eye, this muffler is also pleasing to the ears as well.Â
Watch video: Hero Mavrick 440 first ride review
Hero has made huge strides when it comes to quality considering it has been a brand that primarily focuses in the mass market until recently. In this case, the Mavrick dons an all-metal body with its fuel tank, fenders and side panels. Even the plastics used are of high quality with no inconsistent panel gaps. All touchpoints including handlebar grips, seats, and paint quality give a solid feel. However, the mirrors could have been slightly larger since their visibility is limited due to their size.
Hero Mavrick 440 review: Features
On paper, Hero Mavrick is a fairly well-equipped bike with LED headlights, taillights, and turn indicators along with a USB charging port and a fully-digital LCD instrument panel that packs features such as smartphone integration via Bluetooth, turn-by-turn navigation, and over 35 connected functionalities like geo fencing, vehicle diagnosis, location sharing, etc. However, we were unable to test most of these features on our test bike.
Hero says that the instrument console on the pre-production test units didn’t comply with the brochure but the final production-spec model will comprise all the features mentioned above.
Hero Mavrick 440 review: Ergonomics
Another ace in its hole is its riding ergos which is spot on. Like an ideal roadster, the Mavrick gets centre-set footpegs, with a tall and wide handlebar. This results in a tall, upright riding posture with a neutral rider’s triangle which is very comfortable for long journeys. The wide handlebar provides a lot of leverage and an open-chested stance which leads to great visibility.
However, during my 300km test ride, I faced tremendous amounts of wind blasts. Therefore, a proper windscreen is a must if one plans to use the Mavrick as a touring machine on a regular basis. Further, a seat height of 803mm makes it suitable for most riders above average height.
Speaking of the seat, the single-piece saddle is one of the only few underwhelming attributes of Hero Mavrick. It is on the softer side, so the butt sinks in after an hour’s ride and it becomes an unpleasant experience thereafter. Good thing though, the seat has plenty of real estate for the rider to move and alter his/her position from time to time.
Hero Mavrick 440 review: Ride & Handling
Our first ride took place on long stretches of tarmacs in Kutch, therefore, analysing too deep into its hardware will be unfair at this point. Nevertheless, the suspension absorbed almost everything that came its way including small potholes, speed breakers, and undulations. The Mavrick borrows the exact same setup as the X440 comprising 43mm telescopic front forks and twin rear shock absorbers, which is sprung slightly on the stiffer side.
As a result, it shows great agility on paved tarmac and should inspire confidence even to novice riders. On the flipside, overhauling the deep potholes at high speeds will send jitters to one’s back. Since we encountered plenty of long straights in Kutch, the stability of the bike is genuinely good without compromising on its agility.
Despite weighing 187 kilos kerb, the Mavrick is extremely flickable around corners courtesy of the 17-inch front and rear wheels, although I wished there was some more grip on offer from the tyres. The bike also performed decently well at slow speeds on the salt flats of Rann of Kutch which left us impressed.
Hero Mavrick 440 review: Braking
While braking is not the strongest quality of the Hero Mavrick, it isn’t bad either. The 320mm front and 240mm rear disc brakes setup is progressive in nature, although a little more bite at the lever and pedal would have been welcome. Also, I feel a larger rear disc could have solved the issue to a great extent.
Hero Mavrick 440 review: Engine performance
Coming to the heart of the matter, the Hero Mavrick is powered by the same 440cc engine as the X440. It produces the same 27 horses but peak torque has dropped by 2Nm to 36Nm. Now this is a simple, air/oil-cooled 2V motor without any serious complications. Hero claims 90% of the peak torque is available within the 2000 rpm mark which gives this motor a very refined and tractable nature.
Tottering along at 30 kmph in the 4th gear is a breeze. Even vibrations are well contained till 110 kmph, post which mild buzz creeps in at the foot pegs and handlebar. Speeds of 135 kmph can be achieved quickly, post this acceleration is a drag. Further, the engine produced a noticeable amount of heat on being revved out hard, which isn’t unbearable but definitely annoying in the long run.
Gearing is another positive aspect of this new Hero. The gear ratios are on the taller side, lending the engine a frugal nature. But the torque is wide spread which helps the bike accelerate swiftly. The sixth gear, though, is very tall and should be best left for cruising. What also enhances the experience is the slip and assist clutch, making gear shifts buttery smooth.
Hero Mavrick 440 review: Verdict
The Mavrick 440 is another true attempt by Hero MotoCorp to offer a premium product and it succeeds in many ways. While it may not be a perfect bike, it gets most of the things right, in fact it exceeds expectations in some areas. Hero has knocked it out of the park as far as pricing is concerned. With prices starting at Rs 1.99 lakh (ex-showroom), Hero clearly has a winner in its hands.
The big question, however, remains the availability since this bike will be sold exclusively through Hero’s new Premia showrooms. The company says it’s in process of expanding the Premia footprint and aims to have 300 such showrooms across the country by June this year. If this gets sorted, and Hero keeps up with the deliveries on time, there is no reason the Mavrick won’t sell like hot cakes.
