Hero launches first-ever flex-fuel bikes in India at Rs. 72,000

Hero has officially launched its first flex-fuel motorcycles in India, and this is a bigger deal than it may seem at first glance. The company has achieved an 85 percent ethanol compatibility milestone by updating two of its most popular commuter bikes, the Splendor Plus and HF Deluxe. With this move, Hero has become the first two-wheeler manufacturer in the country to reach this mark. Read on as we take a closer look at everything the new Hero Splendor Plus and HF Deluxe Flex Fuel models bring to the table. Meanwhile, make sure to join the 91Wheels WhatsApp Channel to never miss out on automotive updates.

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Engine and Design

Hero has not made any major changes to the design of these motorcycles. At first glance, both bikes look almost identical to the standard versions. However, there are a few subtle updates, including new graphics and flex-fuel branding, along with a revised digital-analogue instrument cluster.

The bigger changes are underneath the bodywork. Hero says it has modified 36 components to make the motorcycles compatible with higher ethanol blends. The company has also managed to improve the power and torque figures with the updated engine setup, making these bikes more capable while remaining familiar to existing customers.

Why Flex Fuel?

With pollution levels continuing to rise in many cities, the government has been promoting the use of ethanol-blended fuels as a cleaner alternative to conventional petrol. India achieved nationwide E10 fuel availability in 2022 and began rolling out E20 fuel in 2023. The country successfully reached its E20 blending target in 2025.

The next step is the introduction of higher ethanol blends such as E85 and E100. To prepare for this transition, vehicle manufacturers are now being encouraged to develop products that can run on a much wider range of ethanol-blended fuels.

What does this mean for a buyer?

For buyers, this means greater peace of mind in the years ahead. The new Splendor Plus and HF Deluxe Flex Fuel models can run on ethanol blends ranging from E10 to E85, making them ready for future fuel regulations.

This is important because vehicles designed for lower ethanol blends may face performance, efficiency, or durability issues when used with fuels containing higher ethanol content. As fuel norms continue to evolve, owners of flex-fuel motorcycles will not have to worry about compatibility issues or upgrading to a newer vehicle. In simple terms, these bikes are built to handle the future of fuel in India.

The Price

The Hero Splendor Plus Flex Fuel is priced at Rs. 82,810 (ex-showroom), while the HF Deluxe Flex Fuel carries a price tag of Rs. 72,792 (ex-showroom).

The premium over the standard models is not very high, especially considering the additional engineering required to support higher ethanol blends. For reference, the regular Splendor Plus is priced at Rs. 77,500, while the HF Deluxe starts at Rs. 59,477 (both ex-showroom).

Hero has confirmed that both motorcycles will start reaching dealerships from July 26. If you are planning to buy a new commuter motorcycle in the coming months, it may be worth waiting for these new flex-fuel versions.

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Model	Flex Fuel Price (Ex-showroom)	Standard Model Price (Ex-showroom)	Difference
Hero Splendor Plus Flex Fuel	Rs. 82,810	Rs. 77,500	Rs. 5,310
Hero HF Deluxe Flex Fuel	Rs. 72,792	Rs. 59,477	Rs. 13,315