One of the more surprising models revealed by Hero MotoCorp at the recent Indian Auto Expo is the 620cc Hastur. Considering the 250cc HX 250R, which Hero also debuted, is a relatively large bike in the Indian market, the 620cc Hastur represents an ambitious model for Hero and displays a direct connection with EBR’s engineering efforts.
A liquid-cooled 620cc Parallel Twin powers the Hastur concept. At this time we can’t confirm bore and stroke figures, but Hero does state the Twin is an oversquare design. The company also cites power claims of 79 peak horsepower at 9600 rpm and 53 lb-ft of torque at 7750 rpm. Top speed claims are 149 mph, with 0-100 kmph (62 miles) acceleration in 3.8 seconds.
Interesting engine details include a counter-rotating crankshaft, a feature most recently showcased on the MV Agusta F3 with the backward-spinning crank neutralizing part of the gyroscopic effect of the bike’s wheel for lighter handling. The Hastur also sources Control Swirl Injection (CSI) in the cylinder head – a much-touted engine feature of the new 1190RX, which EBR debuted at the 2013 AIMExpo. A press statement from EBR about the new Hero models, including the Hastur, state they were “jointly developed,” and this CSI head is a clear stamp of EBR’s engineering imprint.
The Hastur sources a trellis steel-tubed frame and aluminum subframe, with the engine a stressed member of the chassis design. The striking yellow trellis frame design extends into the swingarm. The Hero prototype claims a curb weight of 352.7 pounds (160 kg).
The rest of the running gear is everything expected of a legitimate middleweight naked. A 43mm inverted fork and monoshock rear suspension are listed as adjustable – though it does not specify how. Four-pot radial-mount brakes pinch dual rotors up front, with a single-piston rear. Pirelli Diablo Rosso II tires are spooned onto cast aluminum wheels. There are some unexpected elements of the Hastur that almost get lost in the spec sheet, like a lithium-ion battery or the fancy TFT instrument display.
Style-wise, the Hastur is a dramatic change from existing Hero models. This is not the product of a company that’s content with parroting utilitarian offerings from its former JV partner, Honda. It sports an authentically modern streetfighter sensibility, with sharp, angular lines. This author isn’t quite sure what’s going on with the underbelly, but the Hastur is attention grabbing to be sure – the prime directive of any bike show model.
Hero literature designates the Hastur a prototype. As previously mentioned, it is too large and subsequently, too expensive, to be a top seller in Hero’s domestic market. A point which Hero’s CEO, Pawan Munjal, seemed to concede when asked about the future of large-displacement sportbikes in India during a streaming Google Hangout during the Auto Expo.
In this regard, even if a low-volume seller, the Hastur platform could enhance Hero’s image as a developer of performance-based designs. An image Hero also promoted at its Auto Expo booth by displaying the EBR 1190RX and RS too. And while India will not be a huge market for large-displacement rides in the near term, the Hastur is an obvious candidate for international markets, including Europe and North America. The Hastur, or whatever model name it is eventually branded as, figures to be an important model as Hero moves forward with its plans for global e
