If for nothing else, Hero Honda has to be given full marks for pulling off a great job in the styling department. Hero Honda have always been masters at scaling down to size, and with the Ambition, they have done their reputation no harm. The Ambition sports one of the best looking tank units on any Indian bike, a perfectly scaled down replica of the Honda CB400 and sporting the best and most usable knee recesses in the country. And it's not just the tank but also the side panels and tail piece that blend in with the sporty look. Neat touches include the silver finish rear-sets and the dummy air scoop incorporated in the side panels. The taillamp is the best looking unit in the country sporting a multiple LED effect, though at the front we feel that a faired headlamp would blend in better with the sporty design theme. Incidentally the headlamp is operated directly from the battery and offers a superb flicker free beam.

On the whole the Ambition comes across as a very well designed motorcycle. The silver grey engine finish, the matte black exhaust pipe with the chromed end piece all blends very well and I particularly love the yellow paint scheme. May not be to everybody's taste but sure as hell grabs attention.

The only jarring aspect of the styling is the so-called 'regal crest' (that adds a touch of royalty to the styling according to the press blurb!) over the headlamp. In reality it's nothing more than a part painted speedo housing which doesn't jell with the sporty looks of the bike. The riding position, which is very commuter-oriented, much like the upright riding position of the TVS Fiero, too fails to jell with the sporty look.

Build quality has always been top notch with all Hero Honda bikes and the Ambition continues in the same vein. Switchgear is from the top drawer though we miss a day-flasher. More importantly the absence of a tachometer is lamentable, the over-size fuel gauge occupying the space where the tacho should have been.