Mahindra Gusto 125 | Motown India Road Test Review

Now the Gusto 125 has a 124.6cc engine which produces 8.5bhp and a peak torque of 10Nm. All of these numbers can be compared and co related with its competitors but by Jove this scooter has something the others will never have - The Mahindra off-road DNA. Mahindra has been manufacturing SUVs since ages and they have perfected the art of making vehicles meant for India. This DNA has definitely trickled down into their two-wheeler division. We tested the 125cc Mahindra Gusto in Lavasa which offered a variety of terrain. In and around the city we got some really smooth roads and as we moved away we got some really bad roads as well. But that was not really what I had in mind to test this scooter on. So I went in search of something that is worthy to wear the off-road badge for our test. Alas we hit a spot where we could take the Gusto down to the dried up lake bed.

The Gusto 125 is supported by a telescopic air suspension in the front and a coil type hydraulic suspension in the rear. The interesting part to note is we were riding over really bad terrain; there was no tarmac just fine sand, rocks, pebbles and sudden inclines. Apart from holding its own this scooter managed to provide quite a comfy ride. The saddle is broad enough to fit a large adult (me) and the cushion kept my rear cheeks quite cosy. The scooter rides on 90/ 90 R-12 tubeless tyres in the front and rear. We did a lot of panic breaking on and off the tarmac.... the tyres squealed and kicked up dust but not once did I get the feeling that the brakes did not have enough bite. Another factor to keep in mind while on bad roads (most Indian roads) or off the beaten track is the ground clearance of your vehicle. Now I do admit wedging an SUV over a rock can be a lot trickier than having the same happen with a scooter but one can land in a much bitter pickle if you were riding at high speeds on off-road tracks or bad roads. The ground clearance on the Gusto 125 is 165mm which is quite decent by my standards considering that not once did I hit the underbody despite managing a few jumps, riding over rocks bigger than my fist or through deep crevasses created by the water current.

Now coming back to how fast you can go on the Gusto 125... Well it is not speed which you will buy this one for. Yes it is fast there is no doubt about it but the Gusto will pick up speed once it clears 6000rpm post its mid range where the meat of the power band lies. So on road I was able to reach 75kmph in a matter of seconds which should be sufficient to keep up and over take in city traffic. The scooter does feel out of breath past the 75kmph mark but then again “it isn’t built to do that”. The scooter also offers 10Nm of torque at 5500rpm and the VX variant (top end) which I rode weighs a 123kgs. That plus the added weight of 86kgs of pure soulful human being (me) ended up in a total of plus 200kgs. But this was not a problem for this gutsy scooter. It climbed up steep inclines both off and on the road with ease and a determined self to not let it give up. I also found that the ride of the Gusto 125 was quite a sturdy one. It is not easily shaken up and feels well built. Going wild came so easy!

Now that I knew it was more than capable for Indian roads I settled to find out just how convenient this scooter was. The first thumbs up it got was for the small pocket it has up front to hold your mobile phone and other pocket sized things. Apart from that it has a baggage hook and a roomy under seat storage area. But what really sets this one apart is the thinking gone behind its making. A height adjustable seat for starters. Man, woman and kids all have different heights and the seat can be adjusted for each user according to their preference. The upper seating position is measured in at 770mm while the lowest position is at 735mm. The second distinctive feature on this scooter is the LED DRLs which have a follow me and guide me function. They may not make sense now but in crowded parking spaces they can be precious time savers.

So to sum it all up I can simply say that if you have driven a Mahindra Thar then this has to be its counterpart in the 125cc scooter segment. It handled every hurdle I threw its way with grace and finesse while ensuring I had a comfy ride. The scooter also comes with new colour options – Orange Rush, Bolt White, Monarch Black and Regal Red. The styling has been tweaked with a chrome plate for the Mahindra logo and chrome accents around the turn indicators. The colour scheme on the scooter also adds spunk and appeal to the offering. We estimate it should be priced around the Rs. 53,000 mark (ex-showroom Delhi) which if true would be a steal.