Its more than just an ATV and it's not quite a rally car. This is a whole new breed of beast.
When one mentions specifications like three cylinders, 996cc, 70bhp and a CVT transmission, what comes to mind is one of the many regular commuter hatchbacks available in our market. But its a 540kg ATV we're talking about here. And this combination changes everything. Meet the Rage Cyclone. It’s got a 130bhp-per-tonne power-to-weight ratio and isn’t road legal in India yet. With torque sensing limited slip rear differential, disc brakes at all wheels, fly-off handbrake, 13 inches of suspension travel from the Intrax racing shock absorbers, racing buckets with four-point harnesses and off-road tyres — this is definitely not a toy.
On board, it’s a simple dashboard — aluminium pedals, steering wheel and speedometer, and a fly-off handbrake between the seats. There’s no windscreen, so you need a helmet.
Unlike a rally car, the Rage Cyclone is easy to drive from the off and it’s been designed to be that way. So, on the driver’s right is a gearlever that has three positions — forward, neutral and reverse. Crunch into forward (there’s no synchromesh as the CVT doesn’t need one), give it some gas and there’s a calm before the storm. This is because of the way the CVT works, there is some lag when you go through the initial bit of pedal travel. Once the CVT’s belt has hooked up though, there’s a blare from the stainless steel exhaust system and the Cyclone takes off.
I’m careful initially over the car breakers that pass for a dirt track but there’s absolutely no need to be. The Cyclone’s tall struts, the suspension’s setup and the chassis’ inherent strength shrug off mountains like they were molehills .
