The Maestro Edge and Duet scooters, Hero’s first completely in-house developed models, are pleasantly styled, and well proportioned. The Edge is a sportier variant of the existing Maestro, and makes a sharper, more masculine looking scooter, while the Duet is a more conservative Hero, with relatively rounder, softer lines. Both look contemporary, and come with modern touches including LED tail lights. The Maestro Edge looks muscular and stylish seen from ahead, with a nicely sculpted, sporty looking front mudguard. The Duet meanwhile comes with a more shapely, really distinctive rear. Just above their tail-lights, both scooters provide rear fuel-filler pods, opened with a twist of their ignition-keys, allowing for filling-up without getting off at petrol pumps.
Likewise, the Maestro Edge and Duet under-seat bays are unlocked via the ignition. Both new Hero scooters feel up-market, and are feature packed. The instruments bays are easy to read, with smaller digital displays and prominently set speedometers. Fuel gauges are available on both the Maestro Edge and Duet. Palm grips and levers are top-quality and nice to the touch, with a rear brake lock clamp in place to anchor the scooters when stationary on cambered surfaces. Both, the Duet and Maestro Edge have good quality switchgear.
In addition to their under-seat bays, the Maestro Edge and Duet provide the option of adding lockable storage bins in front, although keep in mind fitting these does hamper leg space. Bag hooks are smartly placed around both Hero’s flat foot-wells. Under their seats, both scooters come with illuminated bays that pack in USB 3.0 ports, as can be used to charge cell phones.
The Maestro Edge provides smarter textured seat fabric, and an attractive silencer that’s rare on Indian scooters. Similarly, it holds an ‘edge’ with smarter alloy rims. Both new Hero scoots come with alloy pillion footrests. Little knobs located at the seat pivot region can be used to clamp your helmet in place when parked, only accessible after the seat opens. Both scooters share a new, four-stroke, air-cooled engine platform that’s in-house Hero developed. Button-started, it’s a 110.9cc, CVT transmission equipped powerplant that outputs 8.31bhp at 8,000rpm, with peak torque 0.85kgm, these figures echoing the industry standard. As expected, the Maestro Edge and Duet are carburettor-fed, and conveniently button started.
The Maestro Edge and Duet engines show Hero hasn’t lost out in any way on refinement, despite parting with Honda technology. Light action throttles deliver responsive acceleration with smooth, peppy enough acceleration available at the wrist and a vibe free nature. The CVT systems are well-tuned, with both the Maestro Edge and Duet effortlessly capable of cruising speeds in the region of 65kph. Hero claims top speeds of 85kph, which seem easily attainable.
The Maestro Edge and Duet are comfortable with upright riding positions on well-padded, nicely shaped seats. There’s telescopic front suspension on both, and 10 inch rims, the Maestro Edge deploying a 12-incher in front for easier manoeuvrability. The Maestro Edge and Duet going round corners confidently. Likewise, the suspension works well, offering good ride quality when passing over all surfaces, without excessive bounce or firmness. The Maestro Edge and Duet come with MRF tyres, these offering confidence inspiring grip. Hero’s also offering the added safety of combined braking with both scooters, and this worked well, intervening to automatically dial in some extra front brake force, when pressing only the rear brake lever. The brakes themselves are drums, front and rear, and work with reassuring feel at the levers.
Both nice looking, top-quality and practical scooters check all boxes, and come with the bonus of generous equipment for their class. While the Duet is some months from reaching dealerships, Hero MotoCorp will have the Maestro Edge on sale from October 13, in two variants, a more basic LX well priced at Rs 49,500 and the full spec VX for Rs 50,700 (both prices ex-showroom, Delhi).
Although we’d have liked to see the Maestro Edge roll the extra mile, to offer a more potent—perhaps 125cc engine—and perhaps a front disc brake as well to take on Honda’s Activa 125, it’s clear Hero MotoCorp means serious business and has hit a sweet-spot with their first, totally ‘make-in-India’ qualified scooters.
