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This Ridiculously Affordable, High Gas Mileage Motorcycle Could Be a Concrete Jungle Gem

The engine may be small, but given this futuristic bike’s tech features and unreal fuel efficiency, who cares?

Rear view of a black motorcycle or scooter featuring a distinctive red Y-shaped tail light and a sturdy rear grab handle, set against a blue background.Hero MotoCorp

By Steve Mazzucchi

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Among the many indelible memories I have from an epic motorcycle ride through the Himalayas two summers ago, one is realizing how big a certain bike brand I never even knew existed is over there.

I’m talking about Hero, which, along with Royal Enfield, is positively ubiquitous over there, especially in bustling metropolises like Delhi (population: 34.7 million) where by far the smartest forms of transportation are quick and nimble, not large and lumbering.

Black and red commuter motorcycle with sporty decals, featuring a front disc brake, rear suspension springs, and a sleek aerodynamic design, parked on an asphalt road with a city skyline and mountains in the background.
By my calculations, removing that little Glamour X nameplate from the visor will make the bike 3 percent more aerodynamic — and 97 percent less dorky.
Hero MotoCorp

That just happens to be Hero’s specialty. Based, conveniently enough, in Delhi, the scooter and moto brand holds a market share of about 30% in the Indian two-wheeler industry.

Hero has proven so adept at this business, it actually produces sweet little Harley-Davidson motorcycles like the X440 that you can (sadly) only get over there. 

But that’s not all. Leaning even harder into hyper-efficient two-wheeled transportation, the brand’s latest release is a small-displacement bike with a huge upside. Dubbed “India’s most futuristic 125cc,” the Glamour X just might make you rethink what’s really important in an urban motorcycle.

Petrol-sippin’ daddy

As you’ll have already surmised from that tagline, the Glamour X isn’t exactly gonna knock your socks off with its power and speed. (No bike this size is, really.)

Operated via a five-speed gearbox, the air-cooled 124.7cc single makes 10.7 horsepower and 10.6 pound-feet of torque.

Close-up of a motorcycle engine and surrounding components, including the foot pedal, gear shift lever, exhaust pipe, and part of the rear wheel. The engine casing is silver with a black logo, and there is a red spark plug cap visible on the black engine block. The frame and other parts around the engine are mostly black with some blue accents. The motorcycle is parked on a stone-paved surface.
No, the Glamour X is not a kickstart bike; that’s a handy backup feature for reviving the battery when it’s low (like a built-in jumpstart capability, if I understand correctly).
Hero MotoCorp

Not only would those numbers leave you sorely wanting on the highway, they might actually get you blown right off it.

However, that’s plenty of oomph to nip and tuck your way through city gridlock and probably tackle some light twisties beyond the city limits, too.

And let’s consider a metric much more critical to urban commuting. Weighing just under 280 pounds (for the higher-end disc-brake version) and making use of Hero’s i3S idle stop-start system, the Glamour X boasts a claimed … wait for it … 148 miles per gallon.

Close-up of a black motorcycle fuel tank with red, white, and blue angular graphics. The tank features the "Glamour X" logo in silver and red. The handlebar grips and control switches are visible above the tank. The text "Sprint - 22T" is printed on the side panel below the tank.
The tank only holds a bit over 2.6 gallons, but don’t worry, it does not have to be filled very often.
Hero MotoCorp

Considering the national average gas price right now is $3.21, that figure is enough to leave electric motos shaking in their … tires?

And here’s one more crazy number. Over in India, the disc-brake Glamour X retails for ₹ 99,999, equivalent to $1,142.10. Can we get this bike here now, please?? Even at twice that price it feels like a steal.

Low price, high tech

Consider the Glamour X costs less than an iPhone 16 Pro Max, you’re probably thinking it doesn’t pack too many bells and whistles. 

But consider the bike’s aforementioned tagline (and another from Hero’s Facebook page: “Future Is a 8 Letter Word”), and you will be less surprised by the following.

Motorcycle dashboard and handlebars with a digital display showing speed and other information, black fuel tank with red and white accents, and rearview mirrors on both sides. The brand "Hero" is visible on the handlebar clamp.
The multicolor digital dash is a pretty surprising feature for a bike at such an insanely low price.
Hero MotoCorp

The Glamour X boasts a 4.2-inch, multicolor digital dash, Bluetooth connectivity with turn-by-turn navigation, cruise control, ride-by-wire throttle and three ride modes.

It also has an LED headlight, taillight and indicators, integrated storage under the seat (with room for a couple of phones plus airpods).

Rear view of a black motorcycle featuring a distinctive red X-shaped tail light, black grab handles, and handlebars with control switches against a blue background.
Stomp on the brakes and the hazard lights flash, which should help prevent a right rear ending.
Hero MotoCorp

It also has a couple pretty unique features: First, “panic brake alert,” which helpfully flashes the hazard lights if you stomp on the brakes. Second, “kickstart in low battery,” which from what I can tell enables you to use a smart solenoid valve to kickstart the bike in a pinch.

An approachable 31.1 inch seat height still affords 6.7 inches of ground clearance,  while telescopic front suspension and hydraulic rear shocks with 2.9 inches of travel are perfect for surviving your friendly neighborhood potholes.

A person wearing a black riding suit, black gloves, and a red and black helmet is riding a blue Hero motorcycle on a road with green foliage in the background. The motorcycle has yellow and white accents and features a chrome exhaust pipe.
Despite a somehwat aggressive silhouette, the Glamour X supports a relaxed upright riding position.
Hero MotoCorp

While, ironically, the Glamour X probably won’t win any beauty contests, it’s not terrible-looking, especially not in the understated “matt metallic silver” and “metallic nexus blue” colorways, two of five different paint schemes).

And heck, if you’re regularly parking this thing on city streets, you don’t want it to look too good anyway, right?

Availability and pricing

The Hero Glamour X is available in India now for roughly $1,142.10. I know of no plans to bring it to the US.

However, considering Hero’s partnership with Harley-Davidson, which has announced a smaller-than-usual sub-$6,000 bike coming next year, anything is possible, right?

About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.

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