Centuro, the third motorcycle from Mahindra Two Wheelers, is a concerted effort from the highly successful Utility Vehicle giant to establish itself firmly in the Indian two-wheeler market. We put the bike through its paces to see whether it&rsquo;s good enough. <img alt="Centuro " src="http://images.mid-day.com/2013/jul/Centuro.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 283px;" /> Features The Centuro boasts of features that have not been seen even on premium bikes in India. <img alt="Centuro" src="http://images.mid-day.com/2013/jul/Centuro1.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 359px;" /> The digital instrument console on the Centuro comes with a &ldquo;Distance to empty&rdquo; (DTE) feature that analyses the fuel consumption after every 100ml and lets you know the distance that could be covered with the remaining amount of fuel. Also a service reminder has been embedded into the dash. <img alt="" src="http://images.mid-day.com/2013/jul/Pantero.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 351px;" /> The fuel tank has been retained from the bike&rsquo;s Pantero cousin The Centuro features a flip-type key similar to that of cars and has a 96 bit encryption, rendering an unlocking attempt useless. The mechanism is mated to an engine immobiliser function that disables the engine. Also, an in-built anti-theft alarm gets activated and buzzes for two minutes, audible from a distance when a breach is attempted. <img alt="" src="http://images.mid-day.com/2013/jul/gaudy.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 343px;" /> The Centuro is a well-designed motorcycle but it could have done without that gaudy set of golden bars under the tank The &lsquo;find-me-lamps&rsquo; helps you locate your bike in a large parking lot during the night or even daytime. As in cars, a dedicated button on the flip key activates a twin beep sound while also flashing the blinkers, pilot lamps and tail lamp. <img alt="" src="http://images.mid-day.com/2013/jul/suspension.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 384px;" /> The five-step coil spring rear suspension is set on the slightly stiffer side The Centuro also features Guide Lamps that keep the pilot and tail lamps on for 10 seconds even after you pull out the key. This illuminates the surroundings helping you find your way in dark. A small LED torch has been built in the flip key to locate the keyhole of your door or hunt for little things that might have fallen off in the dark. Design Housing a large reflector and a bright set of three LED pilot lamps on each side, the headlight looks appealing. A set of clear lens multi reflector blinkers adds to the attraction. The fuel tank has been retained from the bike&rsquo;s Pantero cousin with the ugly rubber spine, thankfully having been removed. The five spoke alloy wheels and the exhaust have been carried over from the Pantero, the rear upswept seat and the chunky grab rail, however, are different in design. The belly pan on the top end variant looks overdone and the nail-polish finish on it doesn&rsquo;t look good. In terms of build quality, the Centuro is a well-designed motorcycle. Except for the shoddy belly pan, the paint quality is good across the body. Apart from the minor lack of finishing in a couple of areas, overall the Centuro scores well on most parameters for its segment. The bike could have done without that gaudy set of golden bars under the tank. Engine and performance The start button instantly cranks the engine, which feels refined doing moderate speeds in all gears. Whack the throttle open and it gets a bit audible, but doesn&rsquo;t translate into unpleasant vibes at the pegs or handlebars. As regards gearbox, it&rsquo;s not one of the smoothest units around. The shift action is accompanied by a pronounced clunk. If there is an area that M2W would need to improve on the Centuro, it would be the gearbox. Also working some more on the refinement of the engine would place it alongside the biggies in the trade. Handling and ride quality The Mahindra Centuro absolutely delights on the handling front. With a weight distribution ratio of 46 (front) and 54 (rear), the Centuro managed to amaze us with its handling prowess and felt lighter than it actually is. The five-step coil spring rear suspension is set on the slightly stiffer side, but in a country like ours where a bike more often than has a pillion rider, the stiff suspension should provide good absorption without bottoming out. Summing it up The Mahindra Centuro may not be an epitome of refinement but it&rsquo;s still a well-engineered bike. It&rsquo;s loaded to the brim with features and offers decent performance with great fuel efficiency too. What&rsquo;s more, Mahindra have introduced the Centuro at a price of Rs 45,000 ex-showroom (44,000 for the first 10,000 buyers), which is quite a deal. Amit Chhangani is the founder /editor of Motoroids.comu00a0 Tech specs Engine: 106.7 cc Single Cylinder, 4-stroke, Air cooled, MCI-5 engine Bore X Stroke 52.4 X 49.5 mm Power: 8.5 PS @ 7500 rpm Torque: 8.5 Nm @ 5500 rpm Transmission: 4 Speed Fuel Tank Capacity: 12.7 litres Top speed: 92 kph (speedometer reading) Mileage: 85.4 kpl (claimed under ARAI tests)u00a0

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With its aggressive pricing and great features, the Centuro may just be the breakthrough Mahindra Two Wheelers has been hunting for, says Amit Chhangani

The Mahindra Centuro is a well-engineered bike

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The Mahindra Centuro is a well-engineered bike

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