To find that out we have compared both the bikes:

Price & Variants

• The standard HF Deluxe has a massive advantage here, for the base all black HF Deluxe has a more than Rs 13,000 advantage over the Flex Fuel bike. That's a lot of money for any bike in the 100cc commuter segment.

• Even if you go for the more tech-loaded variants of the HF Deluxe, they still cost less than the Flex Fuel bike. In fact, the HF Deluxe's top variant still costs less than the Flex Fuel trim.

• All in all, the E20-compatible HF Deluxe is the bike that wins this round quite comprehensively.

Dimensions & Design

• Given that the bikes are basically built on the same platform, it's no surprise that they have pretty much the exact same dimensions. Their lengths, widths, heights, wheelbases and more, it's all the exact same.

• In itself, the HF Deluxe is an accessible bike that is easy to ride and pretty much everyone in the family can just get on with it. The ground clearance is ample to clear all the undulations our roads have on offer and the suspension feels quite pliant and comfortable.

• The 18-inch wheels give the HF Deluxe a bit more stability than other commuter bikes in the segment.

• The HF Deluxe's overall design language is what we've seen on almost all Hero commuter bikes. It's simple and will blend into the sea of commuters quite easily.

Features & Safety

• With its Rs 59,477 ex-showroom price, for the base variant, the standard HF Deluxe promises affordability over fancy features. An updated digital console on the higher variants is nice and so is the i3S technology, while the tubeless tyres are just the icing on the cake.

• The flex fuel bike is pretty much on par with the standard one in terms of features and we think that's a bit of a let down. It's already a significantly more expensive bike than the standard bike and, had Hero given it Bluetooth connectivity and a bit more features (even at the expense of a little price hike), it would've definitely increased the feel-good factor and premium appeal of the bike.

Engines

• The HF Deluxe flex fuel makes more power and torque than the standard bike but it's nothing significant so you shouldn't think about it too much. Its engine is still tuned for more grunt of the line and that's exactly what it does the best.

• Apart from that, it's still a reasonably smooth bike. While it's not butter smooth, the vibrations at low speeds are not at all bothersome. It's only when you cross say 55-60kmph, is when the vibrations really start kicking in.

• While Hero claims that the bike will return a mileage of about 70kmpl, we've frequently seen the mileage breach that figure and you could even get close to 100kmpl if you ride it in an extremely sedate and gentle manner.

Verdict

The standard HF Deluxe is the more value for money of the two and there's no doubt about it. It offers pretty much the same things at a significantly lower price and that makes it the automatic recommendation of the two. That said, what the flex fuel variant will do is give you peace of mind. When the E85 fuel is delivered all across India, the HF Deluxe flex fuel will already be compatible with that, while the ones with the E20-compatible bikes will be scurrying about.

So if you're ready to bet on the E85 bit, we think the HF Deluxe flex fuel could be worth the extra money you pay for it. But if you're a bit unsure about the whole flex fuel situation, we'd recommend waiting for a bit. Once the dust settles and you've more idea on how the situation will pan out, that's when you can make your final decision.

Rivals:

Hero HF Deluxe Flex Fuel vs Hero Splendor Plus Flex Fuel: The HF Deluxe's lower price makes it the more value for money purchase of the 2.

Hero HF Deluxe Flex Fuel vs TVS Sport: TVS has designed the Sport to look better at a lower price, making it our pick of the two bikes.

Hero HF Deluxe Flex Fuel vs TVS Radeon: The Radeon is fuel efficient, simple to ride, spacious, comfortable and costs less, which wins it this battle against the HF Deluxe flex fuel.

Hero HF Deluxe Flex Fuel vs Bajaj Platina 100: Think you can bet on E85-compatible bikes? Then get the HF Deluxe. If not, we'd advise you to get the Platina 100.

Hero HF Deluxe Flex Fuel vs Honda Shine 100: The HF Deluxe's more highway-friendly engine and more stability on bad roads and highways make it the more all-round bike of the two.

Hero HF Deluxe Flex Fuel SPOO: If you feel like the HF Deluxe flex fuel is too expensive, you can think about buying these 5 two-wheelers instead.