The Pantero is Mahindra 2-wheeler’s sequel to the Stallio. The Stallio found the going tough in India’s demanding two-wheeler market, but Mahindra has since taken their time, toiling to perfect the new bike, before attacking the market anew with the Pantero.
Does the Pantero have what it takes?
We get astride to find out.
Mahindra’s latest bike runs astride a set of five-spoke alloy wheels, which along with several other parts on the bike are finished in black.
There’s a tinted visor above the bikini fairing, within which sits the bike’s bright halogen powered headlamp. The Pantero comes with digital instruments set on a saffron backlit fascia. Palm grips are comfy, and you get nice levers and mirrors. The switches work well likewise, and include a pass-light flasher. A handlebar-mounted choke lever adds convenience. The fuel tank leads into the rider saddle, and sleekly designed tail-fairing. An integrated LED tail lamp brings up the rear, along with an alloy grab handle.
The Pantero deploys a four-stroke, air-cooled, 106.7cc, horizontal set single-cylinder engine, named the MCI-5 (Micro Chip Ignited, 5-curves) by Mahindra. The Pantero generates 8.4bhp at 7500rpm. The motorcycle clutch offers an adequately light feel at its control lever, and gearshifts are smooth, operating in the four-up pattern. This is a far smoother bike than the Stallio, but still not the most refined of 100cc bikes.
Performance has improved from the Stallio, the Pantero completing the 0-60kph dash in 8.64 seconds, and going on to a true top speed of 91kph.
The Pantero provides a tubular steel, twin-downtube frame, with telescopic fork front suspension and adjustable, hydraulic rear shocks. Its riding position is upright, good for a commuter bike. Ride quality is decent, making this a light motorcycle to steer in the city, but iffy cornering manners could improve, being mainly due to Mahindra sticking with a tubular steel swing arm unit.
The Pantero suffers inadequate brakes, its front and rear drums failing to provide good feel, or stopping power.
MRF tyres are the norm, these allowing the Pantero good traction.
The Pantero isn’t the most fuel efficient motorcycle in its class. It delivered us an only reasonable figure of 52.6kpl when tested in crowded city riding conditions, this improving marginally to 55kpl when riding on open highways at higher and more constant speeds
Azaman Chothia
Ved Janve
Rishaad Mody
