Tit-bits from Mahindra 2 Wheelers press conference at Lavasa during the updgraded Duro Power Scooter first ride!

Viren Popli with the Mahindra Duro 125DX

Mahindra 2 Wheelers had invited us to Lavasa to try out the new Mahindra Duro 125DX. The ride was preceded by a press conference wherein Mr. Viren Popli- Senior Vice President, Strategy and Market Development, Two Wheeler Sector introduced the media to the new Mahindra Duro 125DX. The new scooter from Mahindra 2 Wheelers is based on the old Kinetic Nova. Since, taking over the two wheeler division Mahindra has upgraded the Duro with a 125 cc four-stroke engine and with the Duro DX, the two wheeler maker has made huge advancements in terms of ergonomics, design, safety and technology.Through this article, I will fill you in with all the happenings from the press conference. Meanwhile, do stay tuned for a complete first ride review of the new Mahindra Duro 125DX scooter. To start with, Mr. Sunil Gate introduced us to Mr. Viren who took charge of the proceedings. Viren then explained to us all the development that has gone into the new Duro 125DX. Apart from the engine that is pretty smooth and the improved ride, the Duro gets an increased ground clearance, new telescopic front suspension and a firmer rear setup.

Mahindra Duro 125DX

As far as ergonomic changes are concerned, the handle has been raised to so that taller riders will also find it easy to maneuver the scooter. The head lamp design has now been tweaked for better visibility and so are the brakes which also pretty good. So, apart from the head lamp which is new and a raised ride height, rest of the bike is fairly similar to the standard Duro. Mahindra 2 Wheelers has not yet revealed the price for the new Duro 125DX. Having said that, prices will be revealed in the first week of December.

The big question on everyone’s mind was about the Mojo which the company showcased last year. Replying to a question put forward by one of the media guys, Viren Popli said, the Mojo project has been handed over to a dedicated team which is working on it. He also maintained that the bike which was showcased earlier was a prototype and that the Mojo which will be launched in India may not necessarily be like the one showcased last year. However, he did say that the team is proceeding in the right direction. Mr. Popli did not reveal a specific time line for the Mojo.

Mahindra Duro 125DX

Mahindra 2 Wheelers is also working with different partners from around the globe to develop new products and improve present products to make them even more competitive. Mr. Popli, however said that Mahindra 2 Wheelers will not compete with existing bike manufacturers in a market where the leaders make their own rules. Mahindra would like to create new segments wherein they will make their own rules. Of course, this argument does sound promising, with lower competitive risk and hence, Mahindra has gone for a 125 cc scooter instead of a 100 cc or 110 cc scooter.

So, the main rival to the Mahindra Duro 125DX will be Suzuki’s Access 125. That said, volumes haven’t been high for Mahindra 2 Wheelers compared to other players like Honda. There has been a long waiting period for the Honda Activa which could contribute to increased sales for Mahindra. The Mahindra production unit can also churn out more vehicles in case demand for the scooters grow over a period of time. To find how the Mahindra Duro 125DX fairs in our brief ride review, watch this space for our Duro ride review which is on its way!

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