UM Motorcycles recently launched two cruiser motorcycles for the Indian market from its Renegade range at the 2016 Auto Expo - the Renegade Sport S and Renegade Commando. A third bike, the Renegade Classic, was unveiled at the Auto Expo as well and will be launched in June this year.
US-based UM International has a 50-50 joint venture in India with Lohia Auto and has its manufacturing facility in Kashipur, Uttarakhand. The venture, called UML, has already invested Rs. 250 crore in setting up this manufacturing plant and expanding the brand's presence in India.
Deliveries for the Renegade Sport S and Renegade Commando will begin in May and UM has also said that the company will be simultaneously exporting bikes from India to European countries, which include UK and France, and to Southeast Asian markets.
UM Renegade Sport S
The UM Renegade series will offer American cruisers in the Indian market with typical cruiser styling, a simple single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine and the company is also ramping up its sales and service network to service customers. UM has already finalised 30 dealerships across India, including four in Delhi alone and three more in Mumbai. The rest of the dealerships are spread out over most of the state capitals across the length and breadth of the country.
UM's range of Renegade cruisers begin with the entry-level cruiser - the Renegade Sport S, which is the most affordable bike from UM at Rs. 1.49 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
UM Renegade Sport S Side Profile
The Renegade Sport S came in for quite a bit of appreciation when it was showcased at the 2015 EICMA in Milan in November. And even at the 2016 Auto Expo in Delhi, the UM cruisers attracted a lot of attention.
UM Renegade Sport S Speedometer
The Renegade Sport S has classic American cruiser looks with an easy riding position and reminds us a little of the much larger Suzuki Intruder, with the headlamp cowl, classic circular headlamp, teardrop-shaped fuel tank, handlebar design et al. Like most bikes in the cruiser category, this one has a muscular, yet uncluttered, design as well. Overall, the design works well.
UM Renegade Sport S Side and Rear Profile
The front forks and exhaust have a matte finish which adds to the overall look of the motorcycle. The rear pillion seat is covered by a detachable cowl, which also adds a nice touch.
The bike measures 2227mm in length, 1140mm in height, 780mm in width, and has a wheelbase of 1545mm. The cruiser is equipped with an 18-litre fuel tank and has a kerb weight of 172kg.
UM Renegade Sport S Engine
The Renegade Sport S is powered by a 279cc, single-cylinder, water-cooled engine that develops a maximum power output of 25bhp at 8500rpm and 21.8Nm of peak torque at 7000rpm. Power is transmitted to the wheels via a 6-speed gearbox.
The Renegade Sport S gets Endurance brakes with a disc up front and a drum unit for the rear, but no ABS. The suspension duties in the front are handled by 41mm telescopic Gabriel forks, while the rear uses a dual shock absorber set-up. The Renegade Sport S comes with a 110 section tyre over a 17-inch rim at the front and a 140 section tyre with a 15-inch rim at the rear.
Overall, the Renegade Sport S looks good and seems to be a promising product in the entry-level cruiser segment. Of course, together with a strong sales and service network, engineering and quality will matter when it comes to how it's received in the market eventually.
Priced at Rs. 1.49 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), the Renegade Sport S doesn't have too much competition in this price range in India, but UM will be hoping to grab a slice of the market dominated by the likes of the Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 and the Bajaj Avenger series. What UM offers is a brand new line of cruisers backed by a brand with classic American lineage. But it's a relatively unknown brand yet, and if the product backs UM's plans, it's certainly going to attract a lot of consumer attention in the Indian two-wheeler market. We'll of course be doing a first ride review soon, so keep watching this space for a detailed review of the latest cruisers from UM.
