It all started a day after Valentine’s Day. The entire team was on its way to the middle of a desert to ride Hero’s most powerful motorcycle yet. It was called the Hero Mavrick 440. We all had caught a glimpse of the motorcycle when it was launched and the first looks of the vehicle were out for the viewers to view. But this time it was different, we were going to ride it.
From the looks, it looked quite different from the Harley Davidson 440X, which the Mavrick shares the platform with. But it was safe to say that, the Mavrick 440 was pleasing to the eye from multiple angles. The attention to the front of the vehicle, the tank design, and the rear section of the vehicle… everything was done tastefully!
However, the big aspect of the vehicle was the engine. Even the presentation before the first ride emphasized how the engine had been tuned to provide a more usable torque bandwidth when compared to its rivals. They had also gone to lengths to showcase the difference, which meant how much they thought this aspect was the USP of the motorcycle.
Now that all the presentations were over, the ride had finally begun. The first leg of the journey wanted us to ride the Rann of Kutch and halt at the Tent City Hotel. This allowed us to get a grip on the platform and let us have an idea of what type of potential it can hide.
One thing that became clear, as soon as we were on the road, was that the Mavrick was quite a capable cruise. The seating position was comfortable, the motorcycle was poised and grunty at the same time and to top it all off, there was a lot of torque that was available at any gear (except the sixth). All these pointed towards its mile-munching prowess.
As I started clearing miles on it, it started to become clear how much thought had gone into the making of this product. Everything worked well and there was a clear direction in vehicle usage. Now that says something. Sometimes the need for a motorcycle to please everyone leads to a lack of identity. However, the Mavrick doesn’t have such a problem. It is built with a clear picture in mind that is to be the best cruiser in its price range.
It is priced quite aggressively as the prices just shy off INR 2 Lakh, making it one of the most affordable 400cc motorcycles in India. Moreover, it is aggressively priced when compared to its rivals and that makes this a perfect candidate to disrupt the market.
It is quite good-looking to begin with. No matter which angle you look at it from, it can impress you or at least, catch your eye. The headlights along with the tank protrusions, help it to come across as bulky and ‘macho’!
Once you get over that come to the side, the shape of the tank will be the first thing to catch your eye. The fit and finish were also up to standard and very few things looked out of place on the motorcycle.
The rear section also looks to be tastefully done. It is comfortable for the rear passengers to sit and also includes the rear backrest which was such a great addition. However, if you go for the accessory list, this motorcycle bulks up as well. It starts looking muscular and looks like a bigger motorcycle than it is.
But even without those add-ons, this motorcycle can stand out. I mean look at the indicators; they have the Hero logo inside them. You look at the headlight or the taillight, they both have the design element of the letter H and that just makes this more special. Truly a nice touch.
One thing that you will find interesting is the instrument cluster. Now, from the first look, you will find it quite elemental and simple to look at. However, once you use it in outdoor conditions, you will realize the usability of this. Under no condition, was this a problem to use, and the things that one really needs to see, are available to see at a moment’s glance. However, if someone is complaining about the small rpm meter, tell them to feel the revs and it will tell you when to shift. Nothing more.
Engine: 440cc, Air-Oil cooled 2V, Single cylinder
Power: 27 bhp @6000 RPM
Torque: 36 Nm @ 4000 RPM
Braking: Front brake Disc - 320 mm
Rear brake Disc - 240 mm
Fuel tank: 13.5 litres
Pricing: Rs 1.99 - 2.24 Lakh
Now this is the interesting bit. To begin with, this is not a light vehicle. Its weight is felt when you sit on it. However, the magical part is when you feel the absence of it when you start riding it. Even when you put it in corners, or take it through undulations, it manages to comply with the inputs. The weight at that point becomes something that you can manage and the constant supply of torque allows for the negation of the weight aspect.
Now for the magical sixth gear. If you are an enthusiast, you will feel that the sixth gear is useless. The power drops when you push from fifth to sixth, and suddenly the top speed takes time to increase. However, that is not the use case of this gear, at least to what I felt. Rather, when you are on the highway doing triple digits, you can move to the sixth gear and see that the stress on the engine disappears, the vibrations lower and you are left with a free-revving engine that can do those triple digits for days.
The suspension is on the softer side. This means that you will not be able to push the motorcycle a lot on the tarmac. When you take the corners, you may not be able to be that aggressive… It is kind of a letdown… But, there is a magic to this. Take this on the worst roads that you can find. Suddenly you will realise the benefits of the soft suspension. Yes, it is soft, but the way it manages its weight, and the weight of the rider while going through some of the worst terrain Bhuj had to offer while maintaining a speed of 80kmph…. Do you get my point?
Lastly, the grip that you get from the front end of this motorcycle is very promising. A lot of the weight of this motorcycle is in the front end. That generally means that braking on this motorcycle can be a little challenging. This is due to the front end taking the inertia of the motorcycle, while also trying to stop at the same time. For the front end of a motorcycle to do all this, it has to be a very capable one.
And this delivers. The front suspension is strong, and the handlebars are in the right place. This allows you to load up the front without hesitation. Whether it be a corner, braking, or going off-road, you can trust the front end on this. Moreover, both wheels being 17 inches makes it a very stable platform. However, it also means that the platform is a little boring… For that, the suspension, the brakes, and the beautiful engine step up to allow you to take the motorcycle literally anywhere.
