UM Renegade Commando Classic & Mojave: Top three facts

UM Motorcycles is eyeing a larger share of the entry-level premium cruiser segment in the country with the more premium Renegade Classic and Mojave. Here's the top three things you should know about the two new motorcycles.

Positioning

The UM Renegade Classic and Mojave as mentioned are the more premium versions of the Renegade Commando. The Classic is UM Motorcycles' new flagship – it is priced at Rs 1.89 lakh ex-showroom New Delhi and is styled to look like traditional American cruisers. Its design makes it looks distinctive and in fact the Classic is the best looking UM to be launched in India yet with its two-tone paint job, pinstripes, front windscreen and chrome finish on the wheels, engine, exhaust and other parts.

The UM Renegade Classic is the more premium offering with a dual-tone color scheme and lots of chrome-work

The Mojave sits a rung below the Classic, but above the standard Renegade Commando. Unlike the Classic, it looks identical to the standard Commando. The differentiating factor is the paint-job – the standard Commando wears an olive green hue finished in matte, while the Mojave gets a desert sand brown colour, and it even reminded us of the Royal Enfield Classic 500 that's available in a similar paint-job dubbed the Desert Storm.

The UM Renegade Commando Mojave looks identical to the standard Commando, save for its matte-finished sand brown paint job

Powertrains

The Renegade Classic and Mojave use the same engine and transmission as the Renegade Commando and Sport S. This is the 280cc, liquid-cooled and fuel injected single cylinder engine that is currently imported by UM-Lohia and assembled onto the rest of the motorcycle at its plant in Kashipur, Uttarakhand. The engine makes 25PS and 23Nm and comes mates to a six-speed gearbox. The engine does not feel as punchy as you would expect of a cruiser motorcycle, particularly at low revs. Another disappointment is the exhaust note – the bikes sound like regular single cylinder bikes, and lack the thump one associates with cruisers.

Alternatives

The UM Mojave and Classic are priced at Rs 1.80 lakh and Rs 1.89 lakh ex-showroom New Delhi respectively. That puts them squarely in the same region as the Royal Enfields, particularly the Classic 350 and Thunderbird 350, which are hugely popular, and can be considered direct rivals for the UMs. Alternatively, if in the market for a 2 lakh rupee cruiser motorcycle you could also consider buying a used Hyosung Aquila 250. The Aquila is again styled to look like a traditional cruiser and comes powered by a 250cc, liquid-cooled V-twin engine that produces 26PS.