Erik Buell Racing Announces Partnership with Hero MotoCorp

Erik Buell Racing, already the North American distributor for India’s Hero MotoCorp, has officially announced collaboration with the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer by volume. Hero MotorCorp recently launched several new models at the Delhi Auto Expo which were designed in joint partnership between Hero and EBR engineers. Although several Hero models were displayed at the Delhi Auto Expo, EBR has released only one official photo so far, that of the new Hastur unveiling by Hero MotoCorp’s Managing Director and CEO Pawan Munjal. Admittedly, we’re intrigued by the Hastur’s aggressive appearance and streetfighter profile. Power comes from a liquid-cooled 620cc parallel twin engine producing a factory-rated 80 hp at 9,600 rpm. Hero claims that the Hastur will reach a top speed of 149.1 mph while delivering a 0-60 mph time of 3.8 seconds. Other features listed include an  USD fork, monoshock rear suspension, dual front disc brakes, bar-end mirrors and a TFT speedometer.

The Hero website gives no mention of their new naked bike or other concepts and models that were displayed at the Delhi Auto Expo, but this Hero Hastur promo video gives us a closer look.

From Erik Buell Racing:

Delhi, India – With a series of remarkable new launches, from youth-oriented 100cc motorbikes to a 620cc middleweight streetfighter and futuristic concepts, Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer by volume, made a strong impact at this year’s Delhi Auto Expo. Auto Expo 2014 – the Motor Show was held at the Expo Mart in Greater Noida, about 40 km (24 mi.) north of the Indian capital of Delhi.

With all the Indian and multinational manufacturers putting up massive displays at the biggest automotive show of the Indian subcontinent, the Auto Expo was expected to draw well over a million visitors by the time it ended on February 11.

The collaboration between Hero and Erik Buell Racing (EBR) stood out loud and clear at the Hero pavilion with the EBR 1190RS and the brand new 1190RX sport bikes being displayed on marquee pedestals. A slew of products developed jointly by the engineers of Hero and EBR generated massive interest from media and drew huge crowds to the Hero pavilion. The presence of Team Hero racers Geoff May and Aaron Yates added to the excitement. 

Hero MotoCorp’s Managing Director and CEO Pawan Munjal addressed the media through a series of press conferences, starting from January 29, profoundly setting the tone to make it Hero’s show at the Expo. Munjal summed up the Hero vision when he said, “Being the global leader in two-wheelers, we have been challenging the routine and the conventional. Our new motto is to drive change through path-breaking innovations. With our finger on the pulse of the youth, we are therefore developing products that will cater to customers around the world, both in the near- and long- term. We have now successfully developed an ecosystem of technology research and development that is designed to think beyond the obvious and deliver future-ready mobility solutions.”

In addition to the Hastur, other new products jointly developed by EBR and Hero which were displayed at Auto Expo 2014 included a 250cc sportbike called the HX250R, a diesel concept bike called RNT, a pre-production version of India's first electric-serial-hybrid scooter called the Leap, the all-electric Hero "ion", the electric Hero SimplEcity with removable battery pack, Hero's flagship 100cc Splendor Pro Classic and the Hero Passion Pro TR with off-pavement ride capabilities.