All of you have finalised on getting a Hero bike, for they're reliable and fuel-efficient but there's another issue. You want the new, sporty-looking Hero Xtreme 125R, because it'll make you stand out among your college friends. Your parents, meanwhile, are urging you to get the trust, reliable Glamour 125. It has been around for a while and the Hero Glamour X 125 sounds like a feature-packed, value-for-money proposition.

Should you really give up on the Xtreme's striking appearance for the Glamour X's safety? That's exactly what we'll tell you in this comparison story here:

Price & Variants

• Being the simpler bike of the two, the Glamour X 125 costs less than the Xtreme 125R. While the Rs 5,000 odd gap isn't massive, it could very well make up for 5-6 months of fuel.

• But that's the drum brake variant of the Glamour X 125. If you want a disc brake, which we think you should, it costs a bit more than the Xtreme 125R's ABS trim. We just wish that the Glamour X 125 had at least single-channel ABS as an option.

• The Xtreme 125R might come across as a slightly more expensive bike but it has dual-channel ABS as an option. Given how unpredictable our roads have become, it makes a difference knowing you have the extra safety net. So if you can stretch your budget a bit, you should go for the Xtreme 125R with dual-channel ABS.

Dimensions & Design

• Judging the bikes' dimensions from just the spec sheet would be a bit difficult, since one bike is longer, the other is wider, and then one's taller, etc. But leave the spec sheet aside and the truth is that none of the two will intimidate you.

• The Glamour X 125 is the slightly taller, bigger bike of the two, while the Xtreme 125R might look a bit tighter and more compact from afar. But on the whole, they're both bikes with accessible seat heights and low kerb weights.

• In terms of its design, the Glamour X 125 might be simple but it's still a good-looking bike. Its design hasn't been radically changed over the years but it still has enough to make it look better than just a basic commuter. With its all-LED lighting, the Glamour X looks quite stylish and premium enough, for its price tag.

• The Xtreme 125R is on the opposite end of the spectrum. Hero went all out in its design and hence the sharp cuts and creases, big tank extensions and the hyper-aggressive headlight. Some would call it attractive and some might even call it overdone, but there's no denying that it's striking and every time we see one on the road, it makes us turn our heads.

• That said, the Xtreme 125R is offered in several colour options, check out our colours explainer to get a detailed explanation on the shades.

Features & Safety

• We know what you're thinking. Cruise control, on a 125cc bike! It's an overkill for sure, but at this point it's more about the bragging rights than if it's actually needed. Until recently, cruise control was something that was reserved only for more expensive tourers, so it's quite interesting that even 125cc bikes have it now. And it's the same with riding modes as well: do you need them? No. Do they give you bragging rights? They sure do.

• The Xtreme 125R's sportiness is visible here too; first in the dual-channel ABS and then in the fact that it has a monoshock at the rear, while the Glamour X still has twin shock absorbers.

• To sum things up, both bikes have tons of features, pretty much everything that you could think of for a 125cc bike and none will leave you wanting for more.

Engines

• On paper both the Xtreme 125R and the Glamour X 125 have the same engine, but they're actually tuned differently and it does make quite a difference in the riding experience. The Glamour X is a sweet little commuter and that's exactly how the engine is tuned. It enjoys being ridden at a gentle pace and is quite smooth when you do so. It'll also return excellent fuel economy when ridden at a sedate, commuting pace without much hurry.

• Get on the Xtreme 125R and you'll immediately notice a difference. It has a lot more grunt and feels like the sportier of the two right off the bat. In fact, in this class, the Xtreme 125R feels like the happiest of the lot when sitting at high cruising speeds.

• The Xtreme 125R is also the better handling of the two, thanks to its smaller 17-inch wheels (against the Glamour's 18-inch units). That said, despite its sportiness, the Xtreme 125R is still an incredibly fuel efficient bike and its mileage numbers left us very, very impressed.

Verdict

The Hero Xtreme 125R comes out as the more versatile bike of the two. It is more exciting, looks more modern, has a lot of features and most importantly, still doesn't compromise on fuel efficiency. That means it offers a lot more bike for the extra money it asks, over the Glamour X 125. It'll also keep you entertained for longer than the Glamour X 125, which is another important thing to consider when thinking about getting your first bike. That said, the Glamour X 125 obviously isn't a bad bike in itself. If the Xtreme's looks are a bit too radical for you, the Glamour X 125's simplicity will attract you.

Hero Xtreme 125R vs Rivals

Raider 125 - The Xtreme 125R is slightly better at high speeds but on the whole, the Raider 125 is smoother, has better city performance and is still very fuel efficient

Hornet 125 - The Hornet 125 looks radical too but the engine might not feel as exciting as the Xtreme 125R's. If you want that extra bit of excitement, get the Xtreme

Bajaj Pulsar NS125 - If you want the more modern, feature-loaded bike, get the Xtreme, for the NS125 will feel dated