American based UM Motorcycles has commenced testing its models the Hypersport dual purpose motorcycle and the Renegade Commando cruiser in the country, which were spotted being tested by Autocolumn reader Arjun Dhavale in Pune. UM Motorcycles made its Indian debut at the 2014 Auto Expo, earlier this year showcasing its range of products. However, while the company maybe a little unheard off in the country, UM Motorcycles has been manufacturing entry-level and quarter-litre affordable bikes for over a decade now and has also setup a new R&D centre in Delhi for developing two new engines for India.
Coming to the motorcycles, the first bike spotted was the Hypersport. The bike sports dual-purpose on-off road styling that can be used for commuting as well as for weekend fun. Internationally, the Hypersport comes with three engine choices namely 124cc, 199cc and 223cc. The company is most likely to launch the top end 223cc oil-cooled engine which produces 17.27 HP of power at 8000 RPM and 16.86 Nm of torque at 4000 RPM. The 124cc engine though produces 10.45 HP and 9 Nm, while the 199cc engine produces 14.75 HP and 15 Nm of torque. All the three engines are mated to a 5-speed gearbox.
The Hypersport also comes loaded with safety and electronic gadgetry for enhanced performance. You get the UM developed SAM (System Auto Maintenance) system that indicates when auto maintenance is required, intermittent anti-theft lights, blind spot mirrors for enhanced visibility; tyres come equipped with anti-flat sealant and LED headlights. How many of these features actually make it to the product upon launch is still to be seen.
The other bike that will be launched by UM will be the Renegade Commando in the country. The Commando ticks the right boxes with the quintessential cruiser looks and an all black theme. The cruiser also comes with a 223cc engine that belts out 18 HP and 15.5 Nm of torque and is mated to a 5-speed transmission. The cruiser gets 110/90/R16 tyre at the front and 130/90/R15 at the rear. Stopping power comes from a disc at the front and drum brakes at the rear, while the fuel tank capacity is limited to 17-litres.
UM will be bringing its models initially via the CKD route and will first establish itself in the Indian two-wheeler market, before launching its mass commuter bikes in the entry-level segments. The company is expected to launch its products by the end of this year in the country. With established players like Hero, Bajaj and Honda holding onto the threshold of the market, UM can undercut the competition by offering its products at a very competitive price point. With an aggressive price tag, UM Motorcycles might just establish itself in the high growth 2-wheeler segment of the country.
Spy Picture Source – AutoColumn
