Hero Motocorp re-launches low cost HF Dawn commuter motorcycle in India

Hero MotoCorp has just re-launched the HF Dawn low cost commuter motorcycle in India. The bike will initially be available only in Odisha, and will be launched in a phased manner in other states of the country. The HF Dawn is powered by a 97.2cc four stroke engine, based on Soichiro Honda’s engine design for the Honda Cub. This engine, which is now built by Hero MotoCorp, after securing rights to build and sell it, produces a peak power of 8.25 Bhp at 8,000 rpm and a peak torque of 8.05 Nm at 5,000 rpm. It is priced at Rs. 37,400, ex-showroom Odisha.

The HF Dawn has been styled tastefully, with a red and black paint scheme. While the fuel tank, front mudhuard and side box are finished in red, other parts such as wheel rims, the engine and the suspension are painted black. This gives the bike a classy look, something that’s not seen on most commuter motorcycles, which generally look garish due to excessive use of graphics and multiple colours. The Dawn weighs a light 105 Kgs, and gets a four speed manual gearbox. The front brake is handled by a 130 mm drum while the rear brake is a 110 mm drum.

The bike features clear lens headlamp, tail lamp and turn indicators. The bike uses a dual cradle frame borrowed from the Hero Splendor. This frame is a tried and tested unit, offering good handling and strength for years of trouble free service. The bike measure 1,965 mm in length, 720 mm in width, 1,045 mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 1,235 mm. The front suspension consists of telescopic forks while the rear suspension consists of twin shock absorbers. This suspension layout is a standard layout on most commuter motorcycles in India.

The Hero HF Dawn traces its ancestry to the Hero Honda CD100, a legendary commuter motorcycle that was a mileage champ and a four stroke outlier, at a time when the Indian market was ruled by two strokes. The latest bike has no competition at the price at which it has been launched.