Upgradation of Rodeo RZ125 by Mahindra Two Wheelers - 2012

Mahindra Two Wheelers has given the 2012 Rodeo RZ125 automatic scooter with a slew of new features to make the scooter more likeable. Most of the changes that Mahindra has effected on the Rodeo has come on the back of customer feedback which the two wheeler major has been gauging ever since the Rodeo’s launch in 2009. The automatic scooters that Mahindra Two wheelers has been selling have been directly lifted from erstwhile Kinetic Engineering’s two wheeler business, which was taken over by Mahindra. These scooters have been tweaked with Mahindra badging and now sell under the Mahindra Two Wheelers banner.

2012 Mahindra Rodeo RZ125 Power Scooter

The Rodeo has South Korean underpinnings. In fact, it is an automatic scooter designed and developed by SYM, which is a Souh Korean two wheeler maker that Kinetic Engineering had collaborated with for a range of automatic scooters.

Now that Mahindra sells scooters like the SYM Flyte and Rodeo in India, a few changes have been incorporated to suit Indian conditions better. Make no mistake, the 2012 version of the Rodeo RZ125 is not too different from the model that went on sale way back in 2009. However, there have been many crucial changes under the skin, changes which actually matter over the long term ownership of this scooter. Visually, the scooter gets new graphics and a couple of new paint shades.

Front Panel Glance of Mahindra Rodeo

Firstly, the ground clearance of the Rodeo RZ125 has been increased by about 24mm, to 154 mm. This means that most speed breakers and potholes that Indian cities throw at the Rodeo should be dispatched with alacrity. Also, the underseat storage space has been enhanced on the 2012 model of the Rodeo RZ125, another bit that will make the automatic scooter better to live with in the long term.

The 125cc four stroke engine has been reworked for better fuel economy. On whether the Rodeo RZ125 really delivers higher fuel economy is something that needs a road test to verify, for now we’ll go with Mahindra’s claims.

Fuel economy was a weak spot in the older Rodeo and if this issue is resolved, the automatic scooter could find much higher acceptance. The 125cc four stroke engine of the Rodeo produces a peak power of 8.1 Bhp at 7,000 rpm and a peak torque of 9 Nm at 5,500 rpm. The Rodeo’s 106 kilogram kerb weight means that it will be quite peppy with a good power and torque output. While prices haven’t yet been announced, Mahindra plans to launch the Rodeo RZ125 in a phased manner beginning from the South of India over the next couple of months. We’ll be coming up with our first ride report of the 2012 Mahindra Rodeo RZ125 very soon. Watch this space.