Hero Karizma XMR Long Term Review, January 2024 Report

Having spent a good amount of time navigating the city with the Karizma, I was eager to subject it to the ultimate test of riding it on open roads. With the winter holidays approaching, I thought that it was the perfect opportunity to assess the Karizma’s performance on the highway. My destination wasn’t too distant – a 75km ride home from where I stay in Noida, with a variety of highways, some crowded and some not so much, along the way, proving an ideal mix for my indented purpose with the Karizma.

What immediately stood out about the Karizma is that its engine is built for munching miles on the highway. Around the 110 – 115 km/h mark, you hit the sweet spot, where the vibrations settle down and the liquid-cooled engine seems quite happy to thrum along. And, you still have enough grunt left for overtaking other vehicles on the road. In act, the transmission is one step better as it slots into position with a twitch of your foot. Not just that, the gearing is quite good as well as you are never left hunting for power, nor are you always on the boil. Now, I wouldn’t recommend a higher cruising speed, for the Karizma not only begins to lose some of its grunt after that but also becomes a bit unsettling in terms of braking performance.

Mind you, I am not saying the brakes are not good – in fact, they offer good bite in most conditions. The ABS calibration, however, isn’t perfect. While riding over a lightly bumpy surface at triple-digit speeds, I noticed some instances when the mere thought of engaging the brakes was enough to trigger the Karizma’s ABS, leaving me momentarily without brakes when I needed them the most. This can be a cause of concern for novice riders. That said, I love how the Karizma can just sit at those speeds all day long and yet remain stable. It’s also quite adept at quick direction changes at high speeds. The only remaining question is if this engine tends to run hot in the summer, but to find that out, we will have to wait for a few months.

As my time with the Karizma comes to a close, I couldn’t help but wonder if it evokes the nostalgia of the OG Karizma. Perhaps not, but in terms of cutting it in the real world, the Karizma XMR undeniably does an admirable job.

Also Read: Hero Karizma XMR Long Term Review, December 2023 Report

Also Read: Hero Karizma XMR Long Term Review, November 2023 Report