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Business News/ News / Business Of Life/  Mahindra Centuro: Smart but basic
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Mahindra Centuro: Smart but basic

The Mahindra Centuro relies more on the features offered than the strength of its abilities

The Centuro’s 106.7cc engine is on the noisier sidePremium
The Centuro’s 106.7cc engine is on the noisier side

OTHERS :

photoMahindra 2 Wheelers has been trying hard to establish a footing in the Indian commuter motorcycle space and although the Stallio’s performance was disastrous, the company is going steady with its efforts. It reworked the Stallio and launched it as the Pantero earlier this year. Now it is reaching into the premium commuter segment with the recent launch of the Centuro.

With Honda’s Dream Yuga, Hero’s Passion and Bajaj’s Discover 100T already entrenched, Mahindra has its work cut out competing against these offerings. It is evident that the bikemaker has tried hard to distinguish the Centuro from its rivals in the segment. It has some smart bits like the angular headlight cluster that features LED pilot lamps. We also liked the shapely 12.7-litre fuel tank that gets a smart hinged alloy fuel-filler and also offers decent support to a rider’s thighs. The simply styled LED brake lamp is also in keeping with modern trends. However, the twin gold pipes under the fuel tank look gaudy and out of sync with the rest of the bike. Overdone graphics adorn the side panels, then there’s a poorly finished belly pan and a mile-long
exhaust, all of which don’t help the Centuro on this front.

What does go in the Centuro’s favour is the features offered with the bike. The instruments bay comes dominated by a large tachometer, reading up to 12,000 rpm. Just below resides a digital display speedometer, odometer, trip and clock. Also included are a service indicator and handy distance-to-empty readout. Riders can also tailor their drive to stretch each litre of petrol by following the “economy" indicator that lights up when the bike is kept between 30-50 kmph.

An interesting feature is the unique multifunction flip-to-open key which comes with 96-bit encryption, making it impossible to start the bike with a duplicate key that wasn’t provided by the company. Owners can also flash the bike’s lights at the touch of a button on the keyring, to easily locate the Centuro in a crowded parking lot.

Another interesting feature is the follow-me lamps—this keeps the lights on for a couple of seconds even after you switch off the ignition. So if you’ve parked in the dark, it’s easier to see where you’re going once you get off the bike. Other nice touches include comfortable palm grips, large mirrors and well-finished switches with a pass-light flasher.

Mechanically, the Centuro is almost identical to the Pantero, using the same single-cylinder, four-stroke, air-cooled 106.7cc engine. This engine was updated earlier this year with roller bearings for its rocker arms and improved lubrication. Peak power is 8.4 bhp at 7,500 rpm and max torque 0.87 kgm at 5,500 rpm.

Performance from the small-capacity engine is expectedly timid, but power in the mid-range feels adequate. However, the Centuro engine is on the noisier side and overall refinement is still not as good as Japanese rivals. The shifts on the four-speed, all-up gearbox though are largely smooth, while the clutch is light and comfortable to use in crawling traffic.

The Centuro deploys a twin downtube frame with suspension comprising front telescopic forks and adjustable rear shocks. Sadly, there’s an old-school tubular swing-arm in an age when sturdier box-section swing-arms are the norm. So, this isn’t a bike you’d like to take fast around bends.

Another cause for concern is braking. The pair of 130mm drums lack feel and power, and you often find yourself relying on the safety net provided by grippy MRF tyres. Mahindra has confirmed that a front disc brake variant of the Centuro will shortly be available. That said, what is already offered is a nice and upright seating position.

The Centuro is priced at 45,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi). It comes across as a motorcycle that relies more on the features offered than the strength of its abilities to win buyers. However, this strategy seems to have worked in Mahindra’s favour and within three weeks of launch on 1 July, the bike had already garnered 10,000 bookings. It remains to be seen though whether this hype lasts and the numbers do finally signify an improvement in the company’s fortunes in the two-wheeler market here.

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Published: 06 Aug 2013, 06:47 PM IST
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