UM Renegade Commando Mojave - Road Test Review

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It was last week that we got hold of the Mojave, a special edition of Renegade Commando lineups from UM Motorcycles. The Renegade Commando Mojave is named after the American desert Mojave and has styling cues of a rugged and robust cruiser. We know that people are sceptical about the brand and its motorcycles, so we thought of trying out the Renegades on a very fine afternoon in Kochi, to find out what these mighty cruiser motorcycles are really here to offer.



After a few minutes of riding the Mojave, what anyone will notice most will be the riding position, which at first may seems weird, will become an essential one. The Mojave is very nimble to handle and feels surprisingly light in weight. The seat height is very low and this helps even short riders to handle the vehicle very easily. One of the best thing that makes the Commando Mojave stand out from the budget cruiser segment is its superb suspension setup combined with a very comfortable seat.



The rear suspension setup works like a charm and it could handle potholes and speed breakers at high speeds without breaking the riders back; a quality a cruiser motorcycle should have on the long ride.



Another main thing, one notice about UM motorcycles, in general, and Mojave, in particular, is its unique road presence. The eyes these motorcycles catches while on roads and highways is something not may motorcycle in this price range may offer. The Commando Mojave simply killed it in terms of looks. The massive road presence of this bike makes the rider grin with confidence.



The Mojave has a very big fuel tank of 18 litres and the instrument cluster shows an accurate fuel indicator for reference. The big fuel tank will give a very good riding range and the fuel indicator ensures a carefree ride without the fear of running out of fuel.



The braking system of the Mojave is very satisfactory. UM has given Single 280 mm disc brakes with 2 Piston Caliper at the front, while the rear brakes are done with 130 mm drum brake system. Surprisingly, the braking of the Mojave is satisfactory but the lack of ABS is a real turn off.



Gear Shifting
Even though the Mojave comes with many merits, it has its downside too. When it comes to gear shifting, this bike is very tricky and this may seem confusing and be intimidating for a first-time rider. The gear shifting should be done by maintaining proper gear ratios, otherwise, the motorcycle may stall and cause unpleasant jerkiness and weird sound. But over time, the rider can get used to the gear ratios and shifting patterns and then the gear shifting problems becomes a less of an issue.

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To make smooth and hassle-free gear shifting a simple and daily affair, UM has also included gear indicator inside the cluster display, which in turn will be of much help in cities and stop and go traffic.

Engine performance

This is a real surprise. The Mojave is a real highway performer. The power delivery of this UM is linear and the 279.50 cc Liquid cooled Single-Cylinder engine simply just works. The Mojave could produce a maximum power of 24.80 bhp @ 8500 rpm and a peak torque of 23 Nm @7000 rpm. The engine is Fuel Injected and comes mated to a 6-speed gearbox. The Commando could take highway cruising at 110 km/hr and more without breaking a sweat, and the addition 6th gear will come to the use of the ride for good.



On close inspection, the vibrations kick in at 80 km/hr while cruising, but when the 6th gear is engaged the vibrations seem to fade away and makes way for a smoother ride. The trick is to ride in the proper gear ratios for a smooth ride, but Mojave seems very challenging in that department. The engine simply puts the Odo pass 100km/hr without breaking a sweat, and this will be a boon for long distance riders.

Verdict

To simply put it, the Mojave is a very good attempt from UM Motors in the budget cruiser segment. The big engine is good at delivering power and torque, but UM might need to make it a little more refined, yet highway riders will be happy about the performance of the Mojave, unless gear shifting problems may not be an issue. The styling of this American cruiser is simply superb, and the massive road presence alone can simply be a good reason to take the Mojave out to the cities.



To name it a few, one may find the deficiency in build quality here and there, especially the saree guard; which has been attached to the bike comes with mediocre quality and feels like being simply bolted in for namesake. The paint quality of this bike could have been a little improved, yet this cruiser is a killer on looks. The overall look and stance of this bike will make you remember the American Cruisers of the golden era and pays homage and tribute to the homeland; America.



To wrap it up, the Mojave will cater to the needs of anyone who is looking for a decent looking motorcycle for commutes and long rides under the price tag of less than 2 lakhs. The riding position of this motorcycle is upright and combined with the wide handlebars and superb suspension setup, the Mojave ensure a very pleasurable ride with less fatigue. Even though this American cruiser comes short in some departments, none of those things may come between the rider and the motorcycle if one could tame it over time.

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Test Vehicle provided by : Backwaters UM Kochi

Full Details and Specifications of Commando Mojave

Photos By : Jithin Johnson