Hero CBZ Xtreme review

Engine and Performance

The 149.2cc engine on the CBZ Extreme is one with a lot of low end torque making it apt for city use. Even in top gear it can steadily pull through cleanly without knocking, quite a handy feature for city riding. Gear changes were a bit hard but we expect that to be sorted by first service. This CBZ engine is not exactly a typical Honda engine in terms of vibes  and all the low end short gearing has come at the price of a stressed engine at higher RPM’s. The engine pulls all the way till a 9.5k RPM cut off. We hit a top speed of 105 kmph in a nice open stretch but clearly this bike is meant for the everyday battle in traffic where it is at its best.

Look and Feel and Build Quality

The CBZ extreme overall has a big tall stance to it and with all the additions and updates over the years to keep it ‘in’ with the times making it jam packed when it comes to the looks department. You either like it or you do not, there is no being okay with it, and we pretty much had a 50/50 distribution on likes and otherwise amongst the review team. We all unanimously agree with one thing though, the build quality and finish on the bike is really good.

The riding stance is a tall relaxed feeling one and the seats offer good comfort and grip. The disc version is the one to go for, it does its braking duties just fine and looks much better too, any day better than relying on the drums for braking. The tank fins, the split seats, the 5 double spoke alloys and the all black treatment add up to a smart looking commuter bike.

Handling and Braking

The CBZ Extreme has a well sorted out and balanced chassis, the suspensions are very soft at the front and a bit on the stiffer side at the rear, the rear shocks are adjustable though and you can move it to a softer setting for a better ride. The extra soft front suspension does take its toll on the handling when you are in the mood for some spirited riding, but then from a daily use point of view one would probably never reach its limits. The braking department is handled by disc brakes at both ends and both do a very good job with excellent feedback. We were particularly impressed with how the rear disc performed during our review and put it’s performance up there with the best in the market. The stock MRF tyres compliment the braking setup very well with good grip on tarmac and pretty good control on gravel.

Accessories and Key features

Like we mentioned earlier the CBZ Extreme is jam packed with a lot of things. Split seats, clip on handle bars, a safety flap for the main key lock, a cool blue backlit speedometer console, a helmet strap on lock and good bright headlight with a 35/35W setup. An engine kill switch is severely missed on this bike though. The front indicators are integrated with the headlight console and are of the clear lens type. The brake lights are of the LED type and are very good functionally and aesthetically, the rear indicators are again integrated with the brake light system and are of the clear lens type too. While the blue LCD display was very easy to read during the day, the black blue combo made it a bit difficult to read it quickly during night riding. The fuel and the RPM meter remain analogue and both needles do a self test during power on. The CBZ Extreme is available in 5 colour options Silver/Orange/Brown/Black and Red.

Value for Money

Strictly speaking from a commuter point of view, yes, there are lot of things that go for the CBZ Extreme. The bike comes with a lot of goodies that are pretty much upmarket and some that are new for the segment as well, it also has a good build quality that will stand the time. Being a Hero product you will never be far from a service centre either. The CBZ Extreme also returns a steady mileage of 50 kmpl in the city and 55kmpl on the highways. Making it a decent buy in the segment.

Final Verdict

So coming back to the question, does the CBZ Extreme still have the soul of the original? Sadly though the answer is not a yes, the bike is pretty much all new in feel and ride. Over the years the balance has shifted from it being an out right riding experience to a bike with pure commuter essentials. Although that necessarily is not a bad thing either, the new CBZ Extreme is a premium commuter bike that has all the ‘goodies’ expected by its targetted customers and is a bike that goes by doing its job very well, comfortably and will keep you a happy person on the long run.

Specifications Sheet

ENGINE

CHASSIS

Test Riders

Nijish

Avin

Sudeep

Manu