Overview
Performance And Engine
The Splendor Plus Flex has a 97.2cc air-cooled, 4-stroke, single-cylinder OHC engine. When running on E85 fuel, it produces about 8.57 PS at 8,000 rpm and 8.3 Nm of torque at 6,000 rpm. It can use E20 to E85 fuel blends and includes updated parts for flex-fuel use. The bike is tuned for smooth and steady city rides, not for fast acceleration or sporty handling. The flex-fuel system gives it a slight performance boost over the regular version when using higher ethanol blends, making it more adaptable to India’s changing fuel options.
The bike comes with a 4-speed gearbox, which is typical for commuter motorcycles in India. This setup helps the engine stay calm in traffic and makes daily riding straightforward, instead of focusing on sporty performance. Indian riders will find the four-speed design familiar and easy to use, especially in city traffic and on short trips where constant shifting isn’t ideal. This matches the bike’s goal of being a low-stress commuter, perfect for anyone who wants a motorcycle that’s simple to use every day.
Hero doesn’t focus on top speed for the Splendor Plus Flex because it’s made for commuting, not racing. In India, the bike’s practical top speed is in the high 80s km/h under normal conditions. This makes it a good fit for city roads, suburban areas, and short highway trips, but not for those who want to ride fast. For daily travel with steady performance and low fuel use, its top speed is more than enough for its class.
Mileage And Fuel Efficiency
Hero points out that the Splendor Plus Flex is efficient and can use different fuels. The ARAI mileage is about 62 kmpl, whether you use petrol or flex-fuel. This matches the bike’s role as a commuter, where saving money on fuel is more important than high performance. The main advantage is that buyers get a bike that works with E20 to E85 blends and still offers good mileage. For Indian buyers, it’s a practical way to keep fuel costs down and be ready for more ethanol use in the future.
In real-world conditions, mileage in India is usually a bit less than the official number, but around 62 kmpl is a realistic everyday estimate for this bike. Since mileage depends on traffic, load, road conditions, and fuel blend, Indian riders can expect some variation. For daily commuting, the Splendor Plus Flex is a good option for those who want steady running costs and the ability to use ethanol-blended fuel. It’s a smart choice for Indian commuters who want a bike that saves money now and is ready for future fuel changes.
Features And Technology
The Hero Splendor Plus Flex is Hero’s commuter bike for India that can run on E20 to E85 fuel blends, while keeping the practical and easy-to-use Splendor design. It adds useful updates for commuters, such as a semi-digital console, USB charging, i3S idle-stop-start, and parts made for flex-fuel. These features make it a more future-ready option for riders who want daily convenience and lower emissions.
- Flex-fuel compatibility: The Hero Splendor Plus Flex is designed to run on ethanol-blended fuels from E20 to E85, which makes it one of the most future-ready commuter bikes in India.
- Reworked fuel system: To support higher ethanol blends, Hero has added a new fuel pump, a secondary fuel filter, revised ECU calibration, and updated fuel-system components for better durability and cleaner fuel delivery.
- Semi-digital instrument cluster: The bike gets a twin-pod semi-digital console, with an analogue speedometer and a digital inset for fuel-level readouts, giving it a more modern look than the standard Splendor Plus.
- i3S idle stop-start technology: Hero’s idle stop-start system is included to reduce fuel wastage during traffic halts, which is especially useful for Indian city commuting.
- USB charging port: The Splendor Plus Flex includes a USB charging port, adding a practical everyday convenience for riders who use phones for navigation or long commutes.
- Side-stand engine cut-off: This safety feature helps prevent the bike from being ridden off with the side stand down, which is a useful commuter-oriented addition.
- Tubeless tyres: The motorcycle continues with tubeless tyres, which are easier to manage in the event of a puncture and suit daily use in Indian conditions.
- Integrated Braking System: The bike uses IBS, supporting predictable braking behaviour for city traffic and everyday rider confidence.
- Updated graphics and finish: Hero gives the Flex Fuel model a black-and-lime-yellow themed look with new graphics and “Flex Fuel” branding to distinguish it from the standard Splendor Plus.
- Improved output on E85: The flex-fuel version produces about 8.56 PS and 8.3 Nm, which is a small step up over the regular version and helps the bike feel a bit more capable with ethanol blends.
Build Quality
The Hero Splendor Plus Flex is built with the same tough, everyday-first approach that has always defined the Splendor in India. Hero hasn’t made it flashy or premium; instead, the bike stays simple, compact, and focused on its purpose, while adding the flex-fuel hardware needed for E20 to E85 blends. These changes are not just about fuel compatibility but also about long-term durability, with updated fuel parts and ethanol-resistant components made to handle India’s varied riding conditions.
What stands out most is that the bike still looks and feels like the familiar Splendor, which is what many Indian buyers want in this category. The build is made for tough daily use, short city rides, heat, traffic, and frequent stop-and-go riding, so the focus is on reliability, not luxury. At the same time, the flex-fuel version feels more advanced under the surface, so it should give riders more confidence than just a cosmetic update.
Handling
Handling is a big reason why the Splendor Plus Flex works well in India. The Splendor platform is known for being light, balanced, and predictable, and riders often say it’s easy to manage in traffic without feeling nervous or too heavy. This type of handling is especially helpful in Indian cities, where quick lane changes, tight U-turns, crowded junctions, and low-speed balance are needed every day.
The Flex Fuel version keeps that easygoing feel, making it a good choice for both new riders and experienced commuters who want a bike that’s calm and easy to handle. It’s not meant to be sharp or sporty, which is actually a benefit for this segment since most buyers want stress-free control, not excitement. In daily use, it should be easy to move through traffic, park in tight spots, and ride for long periods without much effort.
Comfort
Comfort is another area where the Splendor Plus Flex meets the needs of Indian commuters. The Splendor line is known for its upright riding position, relaxed ergonomics, and a seat that works well for daily travel. Owners often say it stays comfortable for city rides and even medium-length trips. This gives the Flex Fuel model a strong base, since the comfort formula is already proven in India.
The ride quality also matches the bike’s purpose, which is to reduce fatigue rather than provide luxury touring comfort. For office use, errands, and family commuting, this is usually more important than having fancy suspension. The result is a motorcycle that should feel easy on the rider’s back, calm at low speeds, and comfortable enough for daily use on different Indian roads.
Styling
The Hero Splendor Plus Flex keeps the same clean commuter look that has made the Splendor name so familiar in India, but Hero gives it a more unique style with bold new graphics and a black-and-lime-yellow theme. This update is subtle enough to keep the bike’s practical look, but noticeable enough to set the Flex Fuel version apart from the regular Splendor Plus. This matters in the Indian commuter market, where buyers often want something familiar but still want their bike to look modern. The bike doesn’t try to look sporty or premium; instead, it shows a straightforward, everyday-use image that suits office riders, families, and anyone who wants a dependable motorcycle with a fresh touch.
Hero also uses the styling to highlight the bike’s new fuel identity instead of hiding it. The “Flex Fuel” branding, new graphics, and lime-yellow accents all help the bike stand out from the standard Splendor Plus while still keeping its commuter roots. In a segment where visual changes can seem like a gimmick, this update feels more meaningful because it matches the bike’s new ethanol-ready character. The result is a motorcycle that looks familiar enough to trust, but different enough to make the Flex Fuel version feel like a real new chapter for the Splendor family in India.
Color Options And Variants
In India, the Splendor Plus Flex is currently offered in a single colour option:
- Black with Lime Yellow
This limited colour choice makes the bike easy to spot and highlights its special role as a flex-fuel model, not just another Splendor version. The black base gives it a classic commuter look, while the lime-yellow highlights add the contrast needed to make the bike look newer and more modern. For buyers who like simple but modern styling, it’s a practical choice with enough personality to stand out in traffic.
This single-colour strategy also helps Hero keep the model simple and easy for Indian buyers to understand. Instead of offering many colour options, the company has chosen to make the flex-fuel version look the same everywhere, which suits a bike meant for mass commuting and future fuel use. The colour isn’t just for looks; it’s part of the bike’s identity, connecting the design to the new flex-fuel theme. In practice, buyers get one clear, strong look instead of having to choose from many shades.
The Hero Splendor Plus Flex comes in just one variant in India. This keeps things simple and avoids the confusion that can come with multiple trims, especially in the commuter segment where buyers want a quick and easy choice. Since the flex-fuel version already has the main changes needed for E20 to E85 compatibility, Hero has chosen a single-spec approach instead of offering separate base and premium versions. This makes it easier to see the model as a clear, purpose-built upgrade to the standard Splendor Plus.
This one-variant strategy also matches how many Indian commuters shop. Buyers in this group usually want clear information on price, color, and whether the bike fits their daily needs, instead of comparing lots of equipment differences. By offering the Splendor Plus Flex in one variant, Hero keeps the buying process simple and focuses on the bike’s unique fuel technology and new styling. That simplicity is a strength, making the flex-fuel version feel like a neat, easy-to-understand package instead of a complicated lineup.
Value For Money And Pricing
The Hero Splendor Plus Flex is sold in India as a premium version of the regular Splendor Plus, with an official ex-showroom price of ₹ 0 in Delhi. This makes it more expensive than the standard petrol Splendor Plus, so buyers pay extra for flex-fuel compatibility and updated features. The on-road price is about ₹95,446 in Delhi and nearly ₹99,748 in some other cities after adding registration, insurance, and other charges. For many commuters, it’s important to look at the total cost to get the bike on the road, not just the showroom price.
The price difference isn’t huge, but it matters in the commuter segment where every few thousand rupees can affect the decision. Hero’s approach makes sense because the Flex Fuel version is for early adopters who want future-ready fuel compatibility, not just the cheapest Splendor. Introductory discounts may lower the cost for a while, making the deal better if the buyer is in a covered market. Even so, the bike is still focused on value, not just being the cheapest option.
The Splendor Plus Flex is good value for money in India if the buyer wants flex-fuel capability and plans to use it for a long time. Compared to the standard Splendor Plus, the extra cost gets you E20 to E85 compatibility, a small power boost, a revised fuel system, and a new digi-analogue cluster, so the premium isn’t just for looks. This makes it a smarter buy for riders who plan to keep the bike for years and want to benefit as ethanol becomes more available. In that case, the extra price feels more like a future-proofing cost than just an upgrade fee.
The value is best for riders in cities or regions where ethanol blends are available and likely to become more common. If a buyer can regularly get E85 or other blends at a good price, the fuel savings may help balance out the higher purchase cost over time. If not, the extra cost is harder to justify, especially since the standard Splendor Plus is still a capable and cheaper commuter. So, the Flex Fuel version is best seen as a long-term value choice, not a short-term way to save money.
In India, the Splendor Plus Flex mainly competes with the regular Hero Splendor Plus, the Hero HF Deluxe, and other budget commuter bikes in this price range. The regular Splendor Plus is the closest rival because it’s familiar and cheaper, making it the main choice for buyers who don’t need flex-fuel technology. Within Hero’s lineup, the HF Deluxe is another key option because it targets the same low-cost commuter group and is even more affordable. This internal competition matters because many Indian buyers will decide between saving money now or paying more for the new fuel-ready version.
Beyond Hero, the bike is also part of the wider 100cc commuter segment, where practicality, mileage, and ownership cost are the main factors. Buyers comparing it to other commuter models usually look at price, fuel economy, and easy maintenance, not performance or premium features. What sets the Splendor Plus Flex apart is that it’s one of the first bikes in this category built for ethanol compatibility, so it appeals to buyers who are thinking about the future. This gives it a unique place even in a crowded commuter market.
