The Mahindra Mojo has to be among the most highly anticipated new launches of 2015 and it was a rather long wait for many motorcyclists. The Mahindra Mojo was first showcased in 2010 with huge fanfare and was unveiled by Bollywood star Aamir Khan. It was kind of a revolutionary motorcycle in 2010 as Indian buyers hadn’t been exposed to such a combination of powerful motor and top notch cycle parts. But Mahindra wasn’t able to capitalise on the initial hype and it took them five years in developing the motorcycle (it was last showcased at the 2014 Auto Expo) before launching it. Much water has flowed under the bridge since then and even the Mahindra Mojo has undergone cosmetic and mechanical updates before hitting production. Also, in these five years many new sub-300cc motorcycles have entered the Indian two-wheeler market to make the task on its hand even more difficult. Have Mahindra Two Wheeler missed the bus in spending five years in developing the Mojo or was the wait worth it? Well, we get you the answer..
Looks that matter?
Styling is a personal preference, some people like a particular design while others loath it. On an individual note I am not a huge fan of the styling of the Mahindra Mojo and if I was asked to define the design in one word, it would be quirky. The bug-eyed twin headlamp is reminiscent of the Triumph Street Triple and above it sits the LED DRL’s. The windscreen along with the entire headlamp casing has been redesigned and although it’s a huge improvement with respect to the one seen on the concept bike, it still doesn’t flow well with the overall design.
The alloy wheels, sculpted fuel tank, belly pan and the radiator shrouds endow the Mojo with a muscular appeal. The petite tail section is simple and uncluttered. Another interesting design detail is the employment of gold colour on the beefy USD forks, swing arm and ribs (twin pipes running below the fuel tank) do a good job in balancing the design to a certain extent. In flesh, the large dimensions of the Mahindra Mojo endow it with visual mass and it did turn many heads wherever we went. The chunky exhaust muffler is a bit old school in its form but it flows well with the overall design. However, I still would have preferred a single unit as it’s a single-cylinder offering and it would have reduced the overall kerb weight. The Mahindra Mojo employs a semi-digital instrument console with a plethora of details on tap. But on the go, the size of digital display felt a bit small and one needs time getting used to it. Switch gear quality along with fit and finish is very impressive and Mahindra engineers should be commended for their effort.
[“source-zigwheels”]