VOL. 51 ISSUE 11 MARCH 18, 2014 P113
later, with perhaps a Moto4.5
category for those like me who
are architecturally ill-equipped
to squeeze aboard such a mi-
nuscule motorcycle, and ride it
safely in anything approaching
anger. A Moto4.5 category for
450cc MX-derived singles with a
minimum 53-inch wheelbase and
220 pound weight limit should do
it, especially as such bikes are
already raced successfully in Su-
permono.
But casting an eye over the
Mahindra as it sat in Silverstone's
pit lane was like standing in an
expensive jewelry shop admir-
ing a Swiss watch that you could
never hope to afford. The quality
of the engineering is breathtak-
ingly high, while still remaining
within the FIM's rules – but now
the big question had to be an-
swered: could I fit aboard it with-
out surgical intervention with my
5'11" stature?
Sling a leg over the relatively
tall slim-line carbon monocoque
seat, and – well, well, how amaz-
ing, I can get both feet on the
footpegs without my knees rub-
bing my elbows, even if I can't
tuck away behind the quite short
but relatively broad perspex
screen to make some sort of pre-
tense at an aerodynamic stance.
I'd need eyes in the top of my hel-
met to see where I was going.
Okay, let's fire up the little 250
single on the rear wheel starter,
dropping the clutch sharply as
the roll call to a pretty raucous
concert of four-stroke music,
with the glorious bark from the
Akrapovic pipe. The Mahindra
idles at 3500 rpm - not only to
avoid having to blip the throttle at
rest to prevent it from stalling, but
also to further help minimize any
trace of rear-wheel chatter brak-
ing into a turn on the overrun.
The 2D dash is minimalism
gone mad, by the way, recalling
both the Britten V-1000 and Ten
Kate Honda Supersport racers.
It doesn't show engine rpm, just
basic info like water temp and TC
level, and leaves you to change
gear whenever the shifter lights
tell you to. And quickly, too, or
else you'll find yourself hitting the
fierce-action revlimiter – no ride-
by-wire digital throttles allowed
in Moto3, remember – and thus
in turn lose your greatest hard-
earned asset on a minuscule
