Modern Buddy

The Hero RNT has a 150cc diesel engine, optional generator, optional 2WD with an electric hub motor on the front wheel, optional detachable headlight (to function as work light) and tons of strap-down space. It's got 'concept' attached to it, but it looks like this company's trying to make a name for itself in India.



I'm sure it's not everyone's cup of tea, but I love seeing brave shots at functional design like this. I hope they make it.

ps: do the scooter historians in here have any interesting tidbits about diesel engines being used in scoots?

read up on these a while back. Sounds pretty cool!

Swap out those street treads for duel sports or knobbies then you have something.

150cc would be one sweet machine!

Quo Vadimus wrote: it looks like this company's trying to make a name for itself in India.

You know HERO is bigger than every company in the entire world's US sales combined, right? Billions and billions of dollars, and millions and millions of customers. Sure hope they can 'make a name for themselves' for Americans' satisfaction.

This machine will never touch US soil even if it is a 'success' by our myopic standards. I wonder if it will come in pink.

To stay with the general theme of the thread, that HERO has so many mount points all I'm seeing is rocket launcher's and automatic weapons every where, plus a few well placed sharp bladed weapons for when things get tight. Yes this would be a good zombie killing machine.

pattio wrote:
You know HERO is bigger than every company in the entire world's US sales combined, right? Billions and billions of dollars, and millions and millions of customers. Sure hope they can 'make a name for themselves' for Americans' satisfaction.

This machine will never touch US soil even if it is a 'success' by our myopic standards. I wonder if it will come in pink.

Nope, never heard of 'em. I guess I misinterpreted their press release. The superlative language put me more in the 'new player on the field' mindset than the 'all new innovation from an established brand!' mindset.

We got a China scooter dealer around here that sells a clone of that Hero but with 12" wheels. Thought it was kinda cool but have learned my lesson (the hard way) with China scoots from no name vendors. Hero is from India. Been around FOREVER. Have a few HERO branded PUCH clone mopeds runnin round (HERO bought the PUCH company back in the day) that are pretty decent quality. Diesel engine-now thats something to look into. Compact diesel motors are proven in almost every industrial use, so why not a scoot/bike?

As usual, I'm the last one to hear about anything. I just saw this thing on Gizmag this morning. Yes, this would be pretty cool, although some more top end would make the work commute a lot quicker.

I kinda doubt we will be lucky enough to see these.

The mileage potential of a diesel scooter makes me all warm inside

Apprently Hero owns a 49% share of Buell Motorcycles now and they're talking about bring this to the US through Buell Dealerships!?

http://gas2.org/2014/02/15/diesel-motor ... -us-buell/

I'd get one if the price was right!

The Count

I want one for no real reason at all!

it's just too cool of an idea!

It's like an updated version of the Honda Trail 90s and such. It would be nice to see that category return to the market.

It is being discussed as a diesel motorcycle in the Buell article. Which is it,
scooter or motorcycle?? Looks like a scooter to me.

Got another link from the Milwaukee Business Journal

http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/ne ... -hero.html

Oh and Gizmag published a more in depth article on the scooter itself!

http://www.gizmag.com/hero-motocorp-tur ... cle/30768/

OK, thanks. It seems that some of the coverage was using scooter and motorcycle interchangeably. With Buell bringing in the Hero line of motorcycles and the diesel 'work horse' scooter the MC and present
scooter lines being imported and made in our country had best not be
resting on their laurels. The diesel scooter will be a strong seller here,
replacing the TGB Delivery 150cc scooter no longer being distributed here.
Buell has a good reputation and can deliver the goods. Should be interesting to see what piece of the market they can get.

The in-depth article only makes me want it more!

I don't know what I would do with it, but that's not relevant...

I agree that it looks good but I would want to know how much it costs being the bargain hunter that I am!!!

skully93 wrote:
I don't know what I would do with it, but that's not relevant...

Yes, this.

Seems like it'd make a great camping scoot, though. You could hook up your satellite tv to the generator and use the work light to make sure you don't step on any snakes...

For me, and with all the dirt roads around here, it would fit in pretty well.

Here's a short incomplete history of perfect Zombie Apocalypse Scooters:

The Honda CT90 and later CT110 - It carries a spare gas tank - FROM THE FACTORY!!! has a luggage rack you can bolt ANYTHING to, has an 8 Speed hi-low range transmission that can rip a stump out of the gound in low range. There was a rifle scabbard that was a DEALER OPTION!!! My CT110 will tick along happily at a Armageddon-friendly 50mph all day long.

The Honda Motra - Granted it's only a 50cc, but you can put any of the horizontal motors in it....once you've seen one, you'll know they didn't work too hard designing the Big Ruckus.

Wish they still made them!!

I don't know how I missed hearing about the Motra. It's almost like somebody outgrew his Mini-Trail and welded up a new chassis for an adult.

honda cross cub is pretty comparable to the ct bikes