Hero Honda launched a slight upgrade to the Karizma R a few months back. The changes were not revolutionary and were very subtle but welcome nonetheless. The 2011 Karizma R features maintenance free battery, new instrument colours, silver coloured R stickers, clear lens indicators, side reflectors, and re-designed engine cowl. The company has given the new Hero Honda Karizma R all black treatment along with offering new body colours such as Spotlight White, Darling Yellow, Sport Red, Power Black and Force Silver. The 2011 Karizma R does not have any sort of mechanical changes but the bike now boasts of ASFS (Advanced Swirl Flow System)technology. The 2011 Hero Honda Karizma R is priced at Rs. 88,942/- for the black cast version and Rs. 89,742/- for the red cast version (all prices on-road, Mumbai).

Karizma 250R will be based on this Lamborghini Concept

Hero Honda will launch all new Karizma in 2011, which will have an all new design ground up. The world’s largest automaker plans to get aggressive in the 250cc segment, which has started to see alot of action of late. The new Karizma will have an all new chassis, a more uniform and sporty design and will be powered by Honda’s 250cc motor producing 27hp of power and 22Nm of torque. The Hero Honda Karizma 250R is being tuned for more high end power than low end grunt and will be priced below Rs. 1.2 lakhs (ex-showroom). The company will adapt its umbrella branding strategy and has signed up international brand consultancy firm Wolff Olins for the same. The Karizma 250R will also be exported to other countries as the company looks to form a strong base in other markets post its split with Honda.

The all new Karizma will also feature a segment first. The company is testing a new technology known as HERS (Hero Energy Regenerative System), which will charge an electric motor on braking. A user will get a power boost of upto 10 seconds by pushing the HERS button located besides the horn, helping the bike become a riders delight in terms of performance and outright acceleration. Post the launch of the Karizma 250R, Hero Honda will discontinue the Karizma R, whose availability has already been reduced. The company has also realised the importance of further building the Karizma brand to take on the Kawasaki Ninja and Honda CBR250R and has thus started heavily promoting the Karizma ZMR during the world cup. At approximately Rs. 25,000/- premium over the Karizma ZMR (which retails at Rs. 91,000 ex-showroom), Hero Honda indeed has a winner in the Karizma 250R.

“We still have 7 more engines to be procured from Honda Japan, as per our technical contract which runs till 2014. One of them is the 250cc engine which was recently launched in the CBR250R. We will be using the 250cc motor in the upcoming all new Karizma, which will take the market by storm, owing to its high power, value for money and new design, sharing nothing with the current Karizma R and ZMR. We are also testing a new power boost technology on the bike and are very excited to commercially launch it,” a person from Hero Honda’s powertrain department has revealed to Motorbeam on the request of anonymity. “Ranbir Kapoor will be the brand ambassador for the upcoming Karizma 250, which will be the first vehicle we will promote without the Hero Honda brand name,” he added.

2011 Hero Honda Karizma 250R Details : -

• Launch – October 2011
• Price – Rs. 1,28,000/- (on-road, New Delhi) estimated
• Power – 27hp @ 11,000Rpm, 22Nm @ 6000Rpm
• Mileage – 30kmpl
• Tank Capacity – 14 liters
• Brakes – 300mm petal discs (front), 250 discs (rear), ABS
• Suspension – Mono Shocks, iGRS
• Tyres – 110 section (Front), 140 section (Rear)
• Features – Digital Instrumentation (Analog Tachometer), Built in GPS, Dual projector headlights,
• Performance – 0 – 100kmph in 6 seconds, 4.5 seconds with HERS enabled, top speed of 180kmph

Update - We have added an exclusive audio transcript with Hero Honda, listen to the Karizma 250R Interview

The Cricket World Cup presents a good opportunity for auto companies to create buzz around the product. Taking advantage of the same, Hero Honda has gone ahead and launched a game called Kricket Ka Karizma. The game can be played online as well as on SMS and the person who proves his might at the Karizma ZMR cricket championship will get a chance to run the victory lap at ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 final match. So head over here and become above all.

Some one has installed a K&N high flow air intake filter on his Hero Honda Karizma ZMR. With the filter, the ZMR owner feels the bike has better acceleration after 3500Rpm and easily does 90kmph. The noise of the filter makes the ZMR sound sweet. How do you like the sound of the K&N filter on the Karizma ZMR?

Hero Honda has launched the new 2011 version of the Karizma R. The new 2011 Karizma R gets new colours on the instrumentation, clear lens indicators, new graphics (silver stickers), side reflectors, redesigned engine cowl, maintenance free battery, all black treatment and new colours. There is no mechanical change but Hero Honda is advertising ASFS technology in the engine, which is Advanced Swirl Flow System. The Karizma R is now available in Force Silver (looks very good), Spotlight White, Sport Red, Darling Yellow and Power Black.

Hero Honda will launch a new version of the Karizma soon. The 2011 Karizma will now feature new colours, white indicators, yellow painted speedometer with Karizma written on it, modified handle bar (no clipons!), lowered handle bar, new engine cowl, Hero Honda badge on handle bar, all black theme (black chain cover and saree guard) tubeless tyres, maintenance free battery, and new graphics. Interestingly some of the features have been borrowed from the Karizma ZMR and the new Karizma no longer boasts of R anywhere on it. The new Karizma is expected to be launched in the first week of January.

Recently we posted about how the Hero Honda ZMR is having a waiting period of six months and the company is not really bothered. We tried to find out more what the issue was and have got news that there is some issue with white colour in the ZMR. Apparently the white colour on the Karizma ZMR does not last that well so the company has stopped production of white ZMRs from May itself. Thus if you go to a dealer to get a ZMR in white, he will straight away tell you to wait for six months!