The Glamour is powered by the same ‘Quantum Core’ engine as on the Super Splendor. Quantum Core can be translated as smart marketing spiel for a powerplant pretty much in standard configuration.
The Specifications read air-cooled, four-stroke and single-cylinder as is common to almost all Indian bikes. While the kick lever on this bike feels pretty heavy and could do with improvement in its design, the 124.7cc Glamour can be had with a self-starter. A discernible change to the near-horizontal long-stroke engine is the block, which is now made in aluminium-alloy. Twin-valves are deployed while the Glamour benefits from the use of roller bearings on its rocker arms. It’s a motor that manages a meagre 9bhp at 7000rpm, although torque peaks at a far more healthy for its segment 1.05kgm developed at 4000rpm.
The carburettor slide is conventionally cable-lifted and the Glamour lags behind some bikes in its class by not adopting a Constant Velocity (CV) unit. The crankcase breather tube routes back into the air-filter box and fresh air is injected into the exhaust port area to help the bike meet the country’s stringent emission norms.
The Glamour’s light-feeling cable-operated clutch which exudes a positive feel is perfect. Gearshift quality, though not a matter of concern, could surely improve. The four-speed ‘box shifts in an all-up pattern via a heel-and-toe-operated lever. The bike emits a distinctive and pleasant exhaust note, the knock-free motor beating smoothly and like all Hero Honda products feeling reliable enough to purr away all day without trouble. The fly in the ointment though is that this engine lacks significant punch with Performance prominently tardy when compared to any other modern 125cc capacity bike. The quickest we could hustle the Glamour from rest to 60kph was a lethargic 7.37 seconds, a pace which will leave the enthusiast more than a little longfaced.