Which brings me to the instrument console on the Rodeo. An all-digital design, the unit is futuristic to look at. A nifty tachometer surrounds the circular read-out panel, which incorporates a trip meter, clock and odometer in addition to the standard speedometer. Oh, and lest I forget, the entire thing changes colours, colours which you can choose, by the way. What deserves mention here are the mannerisms of the speedo. On the go, and above an indicated 70 kph, the meter went all loony and displayed all sorts of arbitrary figures. The readings kept varying between 80 to 95 kph and would keep changing abruptly, despite my steady throttle inputs and no change to the inclination of the road. It's like the thing wanted me to pull out a calculator and work out the arithmetic mean to simply gauge the pace I was riding at.
Small wheels are great for agility, which the Mahindras have tonnes of. Sifting through traffic is easiest on the Rodeo and Flyte. Having said that, it doesn't mean that the Duro rides around like a half-track - far from it. It just takes a little more effort to get about, especially when compared to the other duo. But all that nimbleness endowed by the small rollers comes at a price – lack of sure-footedness and a harsher ride. Low diameter wheels will catch even the smallest of ruts and imperfections on the road. So, if you're going at it like the devils are nipping at your heels, it can get quite scary on anything but mirror-smooth roads. Unfortunately, the trailing-link front end of the Duro does little to help.
It's a good thing that the Rodeo and Flyte have been shod with telescopic forks at the front, but they aren't exactly the best in the business. If you're going to assume that they protect you from potholes as they do on motorcycles, think again. Go flat out over one of those expansion joints on flyovers, and you're thinking 'Wow! That was fun'. Then the next one hits you, and you're wishing you were sitting at home instead. Feedback from the forks is tremendous and actually, they relay so much to you that it can get jarring at times.
What the Mahindras really need are a good set of brakes. The drums, technology from the Middle Ages, are simply inadequate. Summon them with urgency and they'll kick in with the efficiency of a government office. Also, thrash them a couple of times and they'll fade almost instantly. This isn't good news, really. Plonk in a disc brake and matters will improve radically. Besides, discs aren't very expensive in this day and age and that makes this compromise even harder to digest. Space is in plenty on all three scooters, and this includes the under-seat storage as well. Enough for Farmville, and they'll easily swallow a full-size half-face helmet plus some more; the scoots excel in this department. Footboard space is more than adequate.
Prices are about the same as the competition. Ex-showroom Mumbai prices for the Rodeo, Duro and Flyte are Rs 41,299, 38,299 and 38,999 respectively. And remember, these things burn petrol, despite whatever else the pump attendant might tell you!
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