Predator on the prowl!

Unconventional and still quirky looking as ever, the Mojo gets me thinking of the Predator (from the Arnold Schwarzenegger classic) with hints of Yamaha's (bug-eyed) 125cc Fazer and Triumph's Street Triple to stir things up.

Tanmay Pangam takes the Mojo for a spin...

Back when the first set of snaps came through on the Mojo, people were instantly divided over the way the bike looked. Some loved it, others, didn't. The good thing was that there were no half measures; people had something to say about the Mojo (which means that they did get emotional over it).

In the five years that passed since we laid eyes on the bike, we've gathered our fair share of spy-shots, test-mules and all the other details that we could get our hands on. Manufacturers, both old and new have launched their own products since then, with each one carving out a niche for themselves. One voice says that Mahindra Two Wheelers lost an opportunity there, failing to capitalise on the first mover advantage. The empty playing field back then would have had customers literally making a beeline to showrooms. But then, another voice says that maybe the agonising delay might just work in the Mojo's favour. The market is that much prepared for the product today.

Riders are better equipped, the infrastructure has come a long way and it could very well be that Mahindra ends up laughing all the way to the bank.

Sizing up the Mojo

But all the voices inside the head go quiet when you first walk up to a vehicle. The Mojo is no different and as I come up to it, the styling hits me in the face.

Unconventional and still quirky looking as ever, the Mojo gets me thinking of the Predator (from the Arnold Schwarzenegger classic) with hints of Yamah's (bug-eyed) 125cc Fazer and Triumph's Street Triple to stir things up.

The LED DRL's sitting atop the twin-headlamps are totally two-faced, looking like dainty eye-lashes (or eye-brows, as you prefer) when switched off and giving the front end, an angry, sinister look when switched on.

There's a small fairing behind which sits the analogue-digital meters and some eye-candy illumination which lights up at the rev-mark where you shift gears. The Mahindra Mojo goes all aggro with its in-your-face, Red switchgear and it sports some of the beefiest Upside Down Forks (USD's) in the segment.

Finished in a beautiful gold shade, they go extremely well with the black colour scheme. Overall, the styling works and is going to be a talking point for buyers and onlookers alike.

You know Mahindra were thinking long rides when you glance at that butch-looking tank. The 21-litre fuel tank is perfect for those weekend sojourns and wears a sharp, sculpted look, with the Mojo logo sitting proudly across the flanks.

At the bottom, where the seat meets the tank, is where the Mahindra logo sits. The steel trellis frame as well as the rear swing-arm, both follow the gold finish scheme.

The side panels, underbelly and radiator shroud are all sculpted with a lot of finesse, with the former finished in beautiful metal.

Moving on to the rear, the Mojo goes all minimalist. There's a tiny, little LED tail-lamp which meets the seat as it comes to a tapered end. Aiding the show is a short fender and a wide rear tire (more on it later) and if you look closely, it does feel like the Mojo is going tongue out at other bikes following it. But it is those twin silencers that add a healthy dose of oomph to the styling and are going to be a talking point at ride meets.

From the Saddle

Right then, enough of admiration from afar, time to climb aboard.

Sitting firmly astride the Mojo, you notice the relaxed nature of the riding position. From the single piece handle-bar, to the comfy seat and the seat-to-foot-peg ratio, you can't help but notice that Mahindra had the mile-munchers in mind when they drew up the Mojo. It also has just the right essence of sportiness, and overall feels just right.

On the whole, the overall quality along with fit and finish is very impressive and Mahindra engineers should be commended for their effort.

Thumb the starter and the instrumentation comes alive, with the dial-hand doing a clean sweep. The single cylinder, liquid cooled, 295cc motor is an all-new affair and is cradled beautifully in the Mojo's frame. Mahindra have also pulled a Jawa/Yezdi on the Mojo with the single cylinder/twin-exhaust move -- although the idea is executed in a wholly new way. While the additional silencer does add to the overall weight, the benefits in terms of the exhaust note and the looks from the rear, more than make up for it. It will very well grow on you over time and as long as you don't expect it to be all snarly, you'll do just fine.

So how's she to ride?

Well, the 27 bhp, 295cc heart is the star here. It isn't an outright drag-strip monster, a-la the KTM's but is perfect for its touring brief. The torquey engine characteristics (30 Nm on tap here) make for a powerful, yet relaxed feel, without the associated stress of manic power delivery. The six-speed gearbox, with its well-spaced out ratios and positive shifts are most reassuring and puttering around town in high gear results in minimal stutter.

Mojo - Exposed Chain and Sweet Looking Silencer

With the road conditions varying from smooth, sweeping tarmac to broken patches that would have you scurrying to drop anchor are dismissed with aplomb on the Mojo. The 1465mm long wheelbase, together with the relaxed motor and the riding position egg you on to take the scenic view.

An able chassis and those delectable Pirelli's ensure that you stay right side up no matter what you try. By its very nature, the Mojo prefers long sweeping corners instead of tight switchbacks. Not that it won't take on the latter, but the whole set up is such that you'll be happier appreciating the beauty around you even as you plug along at ton up speeds consistently.

So if you are the type that prefers a snarling exhaust, wrung throttles and maxed out engine revs, then sorry, this simply isn't your kind of Mojo.

It was a hot day, with the sun bearing down on us relentlessly; but the Mojo didn't show any signs of it. She ran true sans hiccups whether along the high speed highways or when scything through the heavy evening traffic as we returned to the city, rather reluctantly if I add. Whatever magic Mahindra has woven into the heat management on the Mojo, it works. One did feel the heat slowly cooking our ankles when crawling through gridlock on the final stretch, but it'd be the same (if not more) on any other bike.

The Jijuan sourced 320mm disc up front is a Spanish affair and a result of their tie-up with Mahindra Racing. A 240mm setup does duty at the rear. There's enough stopping power on tap and Mahindra have engineered a progressive feel into the brakes that is quietly reassuring. One thing that's missing here and there's frankly little excuse for this is ABS. This crucial bit of safety kit should have been on offer since day one, and Mahindra have missed a step here. The great thing is that an ABS-equipped Mojo is well on the cards and should be available shortly.

Verdict

The Mojo is proof of Mahindra Two Wheeler coming into its own as an all-round motorcycle brand. The engineers have done a fantastic job with the overall fit-and-finish levels and the quality exuding from every nook and cranny of the motorcycle. The engine performs to a T given the brief and together with the balanced on-road characteristics, it does make for one compelling package.

The more time I spent with her, the more I noticed the keen attention to detail that Mahindra have lavished on the Mojo. From the steel-braided hoses to help with the braking to the subtle indent on the rear fender that's just right to plonk in the suction-cup mount for your favourite action-camera. You can even mount the same on the speedometer for that matter. The well-cushioned seat that offers optimal support to the back as you crunch in the miles.

Then there's the Pirelli Diablo Rosso IIs and their phenomenal grip levels on dry tarmac which ensured that we could have a hoot up and down the ghats and so on.

The build quality too impressed with its tightly controlled panel gaps, the lack of squeaks or rattles even as some of us went through a nasty pothole or two that would have other bikes yelping in pain. The Mojo does have a lot going in its favour, a willing companion who'll keep up with the daily grind while merrily come along like a loyal companion as you go exploring the country-side on those extended weekends.

Final take

Priced at Rs 1.73 lakh (on-road, Delhi), Mahindra's pricing is too high for this bike. The bike is too expensive and it doesn't even get ABS. This being the introductory price our worry is that this bike might lose out its chance to sell. At the moment M2W cannot charge a premium for this bike as the KTM range has built a brand name and are more affordable and safer too.

 

 

 

 

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