Mahindra PANTERO .. the new 110cc Commuter !

Mahindra , may it be the two wheelers or the four wheelers seems to like the wild an extra bit. They bring out a Cheetah in the SUV segment (XUV 500) and now a Panther in the commuter segment (PANTERO). The company claims that the all new PANTERO, resulting from the scrapped STALIO project is a bit more than a commuter.

A steadfast commuter bike that doesn't encourage power but instead empowers the average motorcyclist with higher savings and overall satisfaction, we find out if the Pantero is ready to take on the other 100cc motorcycles.The commuter market is in the process of evolution, and the recent launches of ‘premium commuters’ is testimony for that fact. The Indian commuter buyers seem to want as much out of a 110-125cc motorcycle as they can, it seems. Consider this scenario – college guy wants to buy a bike on a tight budget. He doesn’t need a 150-200cc bike either. That leaves 125cc and below (if you don’t consider Bajaj – they seem to have an entry for every 5cc after 100) :p. These bikes typically give good mileage, can deliver good low to mid range power for slow traffic, handle decently and are comfortable enough for potholed roads. But should it look and feel boring just because it has a 110cc or a 125cc motor? I don’t think so. The college guy is right to ask, “What else?” And companies like TVS, Mahindra & Mahindra and Bajaj are answering the “what else” with digital speedometers, flashy decals, LED pilot lamps, alloy wheels and a few more of their ‘unique’ features. One of the most recent motorcycles to be marketed as a premium commuter is Mahindra and Mahindra’s Pantero, which also has an almost simultaneously launched more feature laden sibling – Centuro . Now this isn’t Mahindra’s first launch in this segment. The Stallio was launched in 2010 and following alleged gearbox problems, Mahindra had to stop production.The risk factor that Mahindra has challenged is that the failure of Stalio will hold a negative image in the mind of the customers. It would surely take a quality product to change this perception. The answer from Mahindra is Pantero !

More than design and styling a prospective commuter buyer would really want to know about the Engine and Economy , So lets start with it first..

Engine & Performance

The new Pantero is poweredby a 110cc Mci-5 (Micro Chip Ignited 5-Curve) engine capable of producing 8.6PS of power at 7,500rpm. There is a confident feeling realising that the Pantero has a M&M engine.The  bike is cost friendly and registers 0-80km/h in 13.83 seconds.The Pantero can register a top speed of 92kmph, even though the bike is not fast but has got enough gas to dash through the city trafiic and get you on time. Pantero has good low end torque  but the excessive engine noise, high speed rattle and the languid self start feature proves there’s plenty of work remaining on the Mahindra Mci-5 technology.

Fuel economy is the real talking point of this bike. The bike is efficient enough to deliver a mileage of 64kmpl in cities and 70kmpl in highways.

Design & Ride Comfort

Personally I dont like the bike design , but being a 100 cc commuter, style is only one among those secondary factors.Well, it isn’t quite different. Not at least where the body is concerned. Most of the design elements, like the front cowl, the muscular lines along the body, have been carried forward from the Stallio. But on top of the basics, Mahindra Two Wheelers have laid down some good decals on the tank and rest of the body. The sticker work is just right, neither too flashy nor too frugal – enough to make the Pantero look ‘young’. The rest of the body has been almost entirely doused in matte black, from the 5-spoke alloy wheel, the protective rail, the engine, the muffler and the black plastic body panels. The heat guard on the silencer and the foot pedals are in chrome. The Pantero has a locker box on the right hand side of the bike, under the tank, unlike most other new entrants which have been going with an under-seat space for papers and a small first-aid kit. One thing that I like is the matte plastic tank protection laid down by default. Quite often, bags, belts and other paraphernalia scratch the part of the tank that meets the seat. 

First among the premium features on this bike is the digital speedometer, which is right out of the Rodeo RZ. The Pantero also comes with an analog speedometer option, which doesn’t look too bad either. The digital one sports a tachometer too, along with the usual speedo and odo. The headlamp is accompanied by white LED pilot lamps, another feature that is becoming common as a ‘premium’ feature. The tail lamp is an LED console.

If I highlight one thing that justifies the name of the bike is its stability .The bike is easy maneuverable through corners and through traffic. Riding comfort is its comfort zone. The suspensions aren’t really radical – coil-springed telescopes at the front and 5-step adjustable coils at the back. But with that setup, the shocks soak up bumps and potholes quite efficiently. The upright seating position, comfortable seat and the amply wide handlebars make up for a very comfortable commute. But Mahindra could have really improved the braking. The braking is a fear factor in Pantero. A little more efficiency in the 130mm front and back drum brakes would have made a difference.

A BUY OR NO BUY ?

A doubt that many would have on Pantero is that whether the bike is a face lift of Stalio? The answer is No. Then people might ask does this bike has the guts to take on Twister and Passion Pro. Hmmmm I would say Yes. The Twister is kind of a peppy bike where as Passion offers best braking in the class with very poor ride quality. So the Pantero with its excellent ride quality and a 70kmpl average mileage could just be the player that Mahindra could bang on. If quality service is maintained this could be the much awaited brake for Mahindra to peek into the growing two-wheeler segment in India.

The Pantero will be available in 4 variants, Self Start/Alloy Wheels/ Digital Console, Self Start/Alloy Wheels/Analogue Console, Kick Start/Alloy Wheels/Analogue Console and Kick Start/ Spoke/Analogue Console. There would be three colours available, black, silver and red, each with a varied choice of decal colours to go with.

The Pantero is priced at INR 44,690 ( ex-showroom price , Chennai).

Mahindra Pantero 110 CC Specifications : 

Engine: 4 stroke engine, Air cooled SI engine Displacement: 106.7 CC 

Power: 7 Bhp @ 7500 rpm 

Torque: 8 Nm at 5500 rpm Start 

Type : Electric Start & Kick Start

Gears: 4 speed 

Battery: Electric Start 12V / 6Ah 

Maintenance free Tough frame Cluth : Wet Multi Plate 

Brake: Front, Rear Drum Stroke : 52.4 x 49.5 mm 

Speedometer : Digital/ Analog

Head Lamp : 12 v 35w/35w - Halogen 

Tail Lamp : LED 

Wheels: Alloy Weight: 125 Kilograms 

Tank/Fuel Capacity: 13.7 liters 

Dimensions : 2000 mm X 720 mm X 1050 mm