Mahindra Mojo: Test drive review

We take Mahindra’s first premium motorcycle, the Mojo, for a 600-plus kilometre spin.

Priyadarshan Bawikar

It was a little over five years ago that Mahindra released official pictures of their first premium motorcycle, the Mojo. Since then however, the bike has been stuck in a development limbo and it wasn’t until Auto Expo 2014 that we got to see the bike in its final production form. But that itself was some 20 months ago. Now it’s nearly the end of 2015 and Mahindra is ready to put the Mojo out on sale in the Indian market. So does the Mojo deliver that much-promised premium experience or has Mahindra lost some of its mojo during the bike’s long development cycle?

Even though Mahindra might be the company’s first ever premium bike, nowhere does it show a lack of high-end components. On the suspension front, it sports beefy upside down forks up at front and a pre-load adjustable monoshock at the rear. Powering the bike is a 295cc liquid-cooled single cylinder motor that makes 27 PS of power and 30 newton metres of torque. It sports the best in class brakes as well – a massive 320mm petal disc at the front and a 240mm disc at the back with 2-piston calipers. There still are some traces of the Malaguti MR250 which was the original basis for the Mojo, especially its exposed twin-tubular frame and parts of the tail section. But most of the other mechanical components were significantly reworked by Mahindra. But the best part is that Mahindra has managed to deliver absolutely top-notch build quality on all the parts.

Speaking about the Mojo’s design, the word that comes to mind is quirky. Now don’t get me wrong, there are some interesting looking things on the bike. I personally like the golden colour on the swing-arm, the twin-tubular frame and the front forks. Also, this massive, muscular tank does look good and I love that instrument cluster which is very compact and very modern. But for me, what sticks out like a sore thumb is that front fairing. It’s a little too big for a bike of this size and even the design reminds me of Nite Owl’s ship from the movie Watchmen. That being said, the bike does look a lot better in real life than it does in picture and the design does grow on you over time. But let’s face it, it’s not going to be winning any beauty contests.

Out on the road, the Mojo surprised us all with its ultra-refined engine. In sixth gear, the motor really hits a sweet spot at about 100-110km/h, and it can stay at this speed all day. But what totally blew us away was the ride quality. The suspension has an ability to make a series of speed breakers feel like mere rumble strips. It eats up the largest bumps and potholes without batting an eyelid and almost rides like a large adventure bike. Even if you show it corners, the chassis copes fairly well, but it’s the brilliant Pirelli Diablo Rosso II tyres that really give it supreme confidence in the twisties. It’s only when you encounter mid-corner bumps that the raked out front feels a bit disconnected from the rest of the bike. But the Pirellis compensate for this to a large extent. Braking is good too, with those large front and rear discs delivering good bite and stopping power. However, feel at the lever leaves a little to be desired. And unfortunately ABS isn’t available at the moment, but Mahindra says that an ABS-equipped version will be available soon.

Now the Mojo’s engine does deserve some special mention. Granted that this 295cc motor doesn’t make class-leading power figures, it’s the way it delivers that power that makes all the difference.

It’s absolutely linear and it delivers its grunt at any speed and any rpm. And then, there are the refinement levels. This has to be one of the smoothest single cylinder motors in this class of bike in India. And it’s vibe-free even up to its redline of 9,000rpm. It’s easy to fall in love with the Mojo just for that motor.

The Mojo offers a very soft and comfortable seat and with its tall wide handlebars and forward set footpegs, the riding posture is quite neutral. With a kerb weight of 165 kilos dry, it is a bit on the heavier side and can’t really be described as a corner carver’s delight. Overall, it’s very well suited for long distance touring, although slightly more rear set footpegs and a slightly stiffer seat would’ve been more welcome. But its greatest strength for touring is its massive 21-litre fuel tank. Combine that with a mileage of approximately 30kmpl, and you’re looking at a range of over 600km between refuelling stops. The Mojo is certainly one of the best all-rounders in this segment and all our apprehensions about it were shed off as we spent more time in the saddle. It really should appeal to a wide variety of motorcycle riders.

Now there’s no doubt that the Mojo stands strong on its own merits. But whether it’ll be able to make a splash in the Indian market really depends on what buyers make of the pricing that Mahindra has settled on. When they had shown off the bike 5 years back, they had announced a price of Rs 1.3 lakh ex-showroom. Of course, in today’s day and age, that sort of pricing isn’t really feasible for a bike like this, but I think Mahindra has done a pretty good job with its recently announced introductory pricing of Rs 1.58 lakh. It might seem a little high considering most potential buyers would feel like they’re taking a gamble on a yet-unestablished company in this segment. However, I believe those looking for a bike that can give them a relaxed and refined touring experience should go ahead and take that gamble. In any case, let’s wait and watch.

Fast Facts

Mahindra Mojo

Engine: 295cc, single-cyl, liquid cooled

Max Power: 27PS @ 8,000rpm

Max Torque: 30Nm @ 5,500rpm

Gearbox: 6-speed

Wheelbase: 1465mm

Ground Clearance: 173.5mm

Kerb Wight: 165kg

Fuel Tank: 21-litres

Price: Rs 1.58 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)