Mahindra Gusto 125 Review
Bike Tested: 2016 Mahindra Gusto 125; Road Test No. 648
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 54,000 – Rs. 56,000/- (est.)
The Gusto 125 is an attempt to capture a larger share of the rapidly growing scooter market
The time has come when most cities in India are suffering from bad traffic conditions which has reduced the average speeds and increased driver fatigue. This has led to a spike in the sales of scooters as they offer a lot of convenience. Moving in and out of traffic is very easy and one doesn’t have to worry about shifting gears either. To tap into this market, Mahindra launched the Gusto 110 earlier. After getting positive sales response, the Indian automaker has now added a 125cc version to the lineup which gets a few tweaks to differentiate itself from its lower powered sibling. How does it fare out on the open roads? Read on to find out.
Motor Quest: One of the new entrants in the 2-wheeler space, Mahindra has tasted reasonable success with the Gusto which it launched in 2014. It is the company’s first scooter which it developed itself.
Styling – One look at the Gusto 125 and it is hard to miss the changes it gets. While some of the changes are very subtle, some of them are loud and scream for attention. Starting from the front, the apron gets a totally new design and gets faux air vents with indicators moving to a new position. The rearview mirrors are finished in body colour to add that touch of style. Moving on to the side, the design remains largely similar to the 110cc version with the only change being the 125 badge and the chrome accents. The most noticeable change is the dual tone paint job which is well executed. For the ones who prefer subtlety, there’s a black shade on offer as well.
Instrument Cluster and Switchgear – The changes to the instrumentation and switchgear are minimal and one might miss them if not paying attention. The instrument cluster remains the same and gets a gawdy looking silver casing. The switchgear on the Gusto 110 was of great quality and the same has been carried over to the Gusto 125 as well. Two major changes come in the form of metal brake levers and bar end weights. While the former adds a touch of premiumness, the latter helps in reducing vibrations on the handlebar.
Ergonomics – The ergonomics on the Gusto 125 remain similar to the 110cc version as there are no changes to alter those. The seat gets the right amount of cushioning to make the rider and pillion feel comfortable. The unique selling point of the scooter is its height adjustable seat which offers a healthy travel range of 35 mm to suit riders of different heights. This makes it a very practical choice for families where more than one person rides the scooter. The controls fall in hand just fine which makes breezing in and out of traffic effortless. The rearview mirrors offer a good field of view and do not shake at high speeds either.
Performance – The Gusto 125 is powered by a 124.6cc M-Tec engine which produces 8.5 BHP of peak power at 7000 RPM and 10 Nm of torque at 5500 RPM. What these numbers translate into is excellent mid-range grunt and the scooter feels happy up to 80 km/hr. Progress post that is slow which makes it unsuitable for fast pace roads. The gearbox operates smoothly delivering power in a linear fashion. When we talk about the engine, we have to talk about the refinement levels as there are no hints of vibrations from the motor and it feels more refined than the older 110cc engine.
The additional power isn’t very apparent as the increase is quite marginal
The Gusto 110 produces 8 BHP of power and 9 Nm of power. This translates to an increase of 0.5 BHP and 1 Nm in the Gusto 125. The increase isn’t much and thus the incremental power isn’t felt in most situations and this is partly due to the high kerb weight. Only when one accelerates hard, the additional power comes into play and helps in accelerating a bit faster. The fuel efficiency figures are expected to be very close too as Mahindra has added some technical wizardry to achieve the same.
Riding Dynamics – The riding dynamics of the Gusto 125 have changed a wee bit over the Gusto 110. The changes are due to the dampners Mahindra has added to the handlebar which improve the feedback from the tyre and help reduce jerks from potholes. The addition of bar end weights has led to a slight improvement in stability while cornering but the difference won’t be felt by most owners. While the handling is good, cornering clearance is poor leading to scraping of the main stand on aggressive riding. The braking remains the same with the front brake feeling wooden and the rear brake providing most of the stopping power. Suspension setup soaks bumps rather well and ride quality is excellent.
Verdict – Most people looking out for scooters aren’t bothered about power figures as much as fuel efficiency figures. However, there’s a set of customers who do like their scooter to provide good performance. For the first category of people, there’s not much to gain by going in for the Gusto 125 as the Gusto 110 serves their purpose well too. For the latter, the Gusto 125 is a good option as it provides that bit of extra juice. For someone looking for a feature packed scooter, the 125cc variant ticks the right boxes.
The Gusto 125 gets slight increments in most departments over the Gusto 110. It makes sense for someone who is particular about having that bit of extra power or for the ones who are enthralled by the looks of the dual tone versions which might be a bit too loud for most.
What’s Cool
* Refined engine
* Features (seat height adjustment, follow me home lights, etc.)
* Ride quality
What’s Not So Cool
* Additional power isn’t very noticeable
* Front brake feels wooden
* High weight
Alternatives: Honda Activa 125, Suzuki Swish
Mahindra Gusto 125 Specifications
* Engine: 124.6cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled
* Power: 8.5 BHP @ 7000 RPM
* Torque: 10 Nm @ 5500 RPM
* Transmission: CVT
* Fuel Consumption: 40-45 km/l (est.)
* Fuel Type: Petrol
* Suspension: Telescopic (Front), Coil Type (Rear)
* Tyres: 90/90/12 (Front), 90/90/12 (Rear)
* Brakes: Drum (Front), Drum (Rear)
Mahindra Gusto 125 Dimensions
* Length x Width x Height: 1825 x 711 x 1188
* Wheelbase: 1275 mm
* Ground Clearance: 165 mm
* Seat Height: 735 mm – 770 mm
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 6-litres
* Kerb weight: 119 – 123 kgs
Further Reading –
Mahindra Gusto 125 Video Review
