Who is the real Predator? Mahindra Mojo 300 vs KTM 390 Duke

Mahindra is all set to launch the awaited Mojo 300 this month and the company has already started test rides of the motorcycle in 4 cities- Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore. Although, it will be the first of its kind of motorcycle in India, it's styling and pricing will stand it against the KTM 390 Duke. So, here we are with a short comparison of these motorcycles.

Design & Styling: Mahindra Mojo 300 is a roadster styled tourer, while the KTM 390 Duke is a streetfighter machine. However, both of them have a common style feature, which is their predator appearance. 

Mahindra Mojo has a unique styling, which might look weird at the first sight. However, detailing of the bike is nice and has been designed practically. It has an owl eye pattern twin-pod headlamp with eyebrow like DRLs, placed in a bikini fairing. The signature 'Golden Ribs' of Mahindra with golden painted front forks and swing-arm gives a rich look to the bike, while the massive fuel tank and dual side-slung mufflers give it a masculine feel. The bike also gets one of the best-looking analog digital instrument clusters in the respective segment with lots of information.

KTM 390 Duke, the pocket rocket, is the most compact mean machine in India with naked sport styling. A masculine fuel tank, bold headlamp, naked trellis frame, fat tyres and much more, the bike has all the features of a proper streetfighter. Body panels have been kept minimum on the bike with two colour options- White and Black, while the trellis frame and wheels come painted in the signature KTM Orange. The bike has a fully digital console with a big LCD screen, which looks decent.

Engine and Performance Figures: Both the Mahindra Mojo 300 and KTM Duke 390 have a single-cylinder, liquid-cooled motor with 4-valves aspiration and Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI). However they are made for different purposes, hence, both have different kind of engine tuning.

The refined 300cc mill of Mahindra Mojo has been tuned for touring purpose and long rides. It makes 27bhp of maximum power at 8,000rpm and a peak torque of 30Nm at Just 6,000rpm. It has a nice acceleration with 6-speed constant mesh gearbox, having short gear ratios. Claimed top speed of the motorcycle is 160kmph and it is expected to deliver a better fuel economy than its rival.

Powering the KTM 390 Duke is a 373.2cc short stroke motor, which is tuned for aggressive performance. It has also been mated to a short ratio, six-speed gearbox, however, it also gets a slipper clutch for super-smooth downshifts. The engine puts out power up to 43bhp at 9,500rpm and torque up to 35Nm at 7,250rpm. Claimed top speed of the bike is also similar to the rival, however, its acceleration is better and many riders claim to achieve over 170kmph on it.

Chassis and Equipment: 

Mahindra Mojo 300 has been built on a diamond frame and it gets Inverted front forks and an adjustable mono-shock damper at the rear. The 17” alloy wheels of the bike have been covered with high-quality Pirelli Diablo Rosso II rubber having a section of 110/70 up front and 150/60 at the rear. The braking system combines of a big 320mm disc brake at the front and 240mm disc at the rear, both with J.Juan calipers. 

Bolted on a space trellis frame, KTM 390 Duke features WP suspension system with 43mm inverted front forks and adjustable mono-shock at the rear. Tyre and wheel size of the bike are similar to that of its competitor, However, the rubber comes from Metzeler Sportec M5. It has a Bybre braking system with 300mm and 230mm disc at the front and the rear respectively.

Pricing and Verdict: 

Mahindra Mojo 300 is expected to be priced around Rs. 1.7 lac, while the KTM 390 Duke comes with a price tag of around 1.95 lac. The latter one has a much higher price tag than the prior one, however, the KTM is giving better features like ABS and slipper clutch. If we talk about the performance, 390 Duke is again a winner. 

But when we need to use the motorcycle a touring machine, comfort is the first thing we need. And that could be the Mahindra’s key to the success as the Mojo 300 offers more comfortable seating posture along with a well-cushioned seat and relaxed engine. Still, we believe that the company should offer ABS at least as an optional feature with the bike as a tourer is incomplete without this safety feature.