Hero MotoCorp has discontinued the entry-level XMR variant of its flagship motorcycle, the Karizma, from the company website. This makes the entry point to the Karizma portfolio higher now and comes with the premium ‘Top’ variant as the new base. The move was made only a few months after Hero had reworked the model with better equipment to cater to market feedback.
As a forlorn, bygone model it came with telescopic front forks and a smart phone-linked LCD console. Post that, the Karizma XMR is offered only in the ‘Top’ and ‘Combat Edition’ trims. Both of these variants are also available in higher-spec versions that upgrade to upside-down (USD) front forks and a 4.2-inch TFT digital instrument cluster with Bluetooth connectivity for turn-by-turn navigation.
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Additionally, with this update, the price of the Karizma has been hiked by a large margin for potential buyers. The previous base model was available at an approx price ₹1.81 lakh (ex-showroom) making it an attractive proposition. The Karizma XMR range now starts at ₹1.99 lakh for the Top variant, while the Combat Edition is priced slightly higher at ₹2.01 lakh (ex-showroom).
When the Karizma XMR was reintroduced in 2023, it came in for a lot of flak for sticking with conventional telescopic forks even when competition (the Yamaha R15 at least) expected USD units as standard. Hero corrected this by introducing updated versions in April 2025 with that better suspension and a TFT display, initially selling the old spec as a base model before finally removing it from sale now.
Mechanically, the motorcycle remains unchanged. It gets the same 210cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that puts out 25.15 BHP and 20.4 Nm of torque, mated to a 6-speed transmission with a slipper clutch. The upgrades are obviously welcome, although killing the cheaper base model could be a blow for cost-conscious buyers.