Bhuj | Anirban Mitra: Hero Mavrick 440 is a modern classic motorcycle draped in a neo-retro outfit. While its design is the most debatable aspect, the Mavrick 440 ticks a lot of the right boxes as a product. This time around the westernmost tip of India allowed us for a thorough ride experience. I was in Bhuj, and I rode the biggest-ever Hero over 400 kilometres.

Mavrick 440 stems out of the Hero-Harley partnership and imitates the X440 to a large extent. The engine, main frame and the brakes are identical between the two motorcycles. Yet, its character is visibly distinct from the Harley X440. To begin with, the Hero rides on 17-inch alloy wheels with wider profile tyres. The swingarm and subframe are also different, resulting in a 30 mm tighter wheelbase. And oh boy, it feels agile. The steel trellis frame married with a short wheelbase makes the Hero Mavrick 440 nimble and confident to steer. The handling reference brings the likes of Classic 350, H’ness 350 and Jawa 350 into the picture. Among all these, Mavrick tips scales at least weight and generates the highest output (and hence max power-to-weight ratio). A seat height of 803 mm should be acceptable for anyone above 5 feet 4 inches tall. The rider sits upright, and compared to the X440 the foot pegs are marginally rear-set for a committed feel.

The 440-cc, single-cylinder, air/oil-cooled engine is again the largest in terms of specification sheet comparison. The engine is capable of putting out 27 bhp and 36 Nm of peak torque. There is a surge of torque from as low as 2,000 rpm and the needle neatly climbs to 5,500 rpm, which means the Mavrick will breezily overtake the traffic. Out on the highways, the Hero Mavrick rewards with laid-back cruising prowess. Triple digits come naturally, and the rider can hold on to 110-120 kmph for miles. Overall, the engine is tractable with meaty mid-range torque. Vibrations kick in at 5,500 rpm and there is very little to report thereafter. Heat dissipation is also an area of concern, which may kick in during peak summers.

The hardware is basic and similar to those you find in other bikes in the segment. Dual-channel ABS comes as standard. The bite from the brakes is sharp but the feel on the levers is progressive. Mavrick 440 is suspended over 43-mm telescopic front forks and pre-load adjustable twin coils at the rear. The tuning is largely on the plushier side, soaking up bumps and road undulations comfortably. The ride becomes more assuring with a pillion or luggage. Additionally, the bike feels surefooted at highway speeds. The seat is adequately large and the softness is ideal for city runabouts. Hero MotoCorp has developed a range of accessories, buy them if need be, for the ones opting to take the Mavrick for long rides.

Do I like the way Mavrick looks? I’m yet to come to terms with the design. It rides like a sporty modern classic. The design approach is unlike any modern classic you can buy under ?2.5 lakh. The mass-forward, flared metal tank along with the round LED headlamp lend muscle to the silhouette. The short fender and the visible bits of the trellis frame also look good. Machine-cut alloy wheels are available only with the top variant. The rear appears a shade unimaginative as if finished in haste. The grab rail and exhaust, in particular, dampen the rather impressive design. I wish social media was kind. In one of my earlier videos about Mavrick, a follower likened the accessory backrest on the 440 with Destini - perhaps a reference not Hero would be proud of. The exhaust pipe is meaty and long, however, I expected it to be upswept with a metal cover. The fit and finish are satisfactory and most tangible parts around the rider are metal-carved. The reverse LCD screen is crisp with loud readouts. Bluetooth-based turn-by-turn navigation is available from the mid-variant whereas the top also gets e-SIM-based connectivity. A USB charging port is placed at the head of the tank, an easily accessible place to plug your smartphone to charge on the go.

While I expected the Hero Mavrick 440 to behave much like the Harley-Davidson X440, it surprised me. Surpassing all my expectations, this Hero will find takers who frequently travel long distances. Compared to the Harley sibling, it does miss out on some essential parts (USD forks, lesser torque) but the pricing is a steal. The top variant of Hero Marvrick 440 is ?56,000 (ex-showroom) cheaper than the Harley X440. I would like to know what you think about the design.