There’s a new performance electric motorcycle in town called the Orxa Mantis. And if you’re thinking the name and product have something to do with the Praying Mantis, they do. The name and a few components of the bike have been inspired by the predator insect.
Orxa Mantis Background
The bike maker, Orxa Energies, is an Indian electrical energy systems company based out of Bengaluru, Karnataka. Orxa has had a considerable presence in the aerospace and defence industries in the country, courtesy of its battery solutions and drone products. However, the Mantis marks the debut of Orxa as an electric vehicle manufacturer. With its flagship product, the brand is targeting the rather aspirational premium electric motorcycle segment – a fact justified by the Mantis’ launch price. It carries an ex-showroom price of ₹3.60 lakh in its home region, which puts it very close to the launch price of its key segment rival, the Ultraviolette F77, which was launched in 2022 at a starting price of ₹3.80 lakh.
I got a chance to visit the Orxa facility to attend the launch and media ride of the Mantis. The day after its launch, I saddled up and had a go on it at the Meco Kartopia karting facility in Bengaluru. Though all ride participants were only allowed a couple of laps, which meant I rode the bike for a short duration, it was enough to give me a taste of what the Mantis offers. So, here are my first impressions of the Orxa Mantis.
Orxa Mantis Styling
Straight off the bat, the Mantis makes a strong impression with its styling. The streetfighter design works well and makes the bike look thoroughly modern. It stands out in the crowd, for the right reasons. On closer inspection though, I noticed a few elements that elicited a mixed reaction. For example, the headlamp, with its insectoid-cum-transformer robot design, looks a little too unconventional and may not be everyone’s cup of tea. But look at it enough number of times and it might grow on you, like it did on me. Above the battery pack and around the charging port, where the fuel tank sits on a conventional ICE motorcycle, the body features cavities on either side. While it looks fine, it’s a bit difficult to find the logic behind this design execution. Other than these body parts, nothing else sticks out on the bike.
Orxa Mantis Performance
On the track, the Mantis performed well, if not exceptional. The powertrain is tuned to offer very linear acceleration from 0-20km/h. After this band, the power delivery becomes much healthier. So, the bike feels lively on the straights and acceleration from the get-go does not feel intimidating, which could be a plus point for novice riders. The track allowed me to test the bike’s braking ability nicely, which revealed a chink in its armour – the ABS calibration. The bike gets single-channel ABS and discs on both ends. While the front brakes were effective, the judder emanating from the ABS could be felt in the handlebar, especially during hard braking. Another problem area I spotted was overheating – the temperature light went off even before I could complete the first lap. In this case, the system reduces the bike’s power output to protect the powertrain from any damage. However, the Orxa team assured me that both issues can be resolved via some tuning tweaks and calibration changes.
Orxa Mantis Handling & Ride Quality
In the corners, the Mantis put up a good show. Orxa claims it has tried to achieve a 50:50 front-to-rear weight distribution and the results highlight that effort. Not to mention, the Mantis is also touted to be the first Indian bike to have an aerospace-grade all-aluminium frame, which helps it tip the scales at a competitive 182kg. Thanks to these weight balancing and weight-saving measures, the Mantis was easy to flick around with neutral handling. The front-end though felt a bit heavy while coming back up in sharper corners. The suspension was tuned fairly stiffly, which helped on the track, but it might not be a good setup for everyday riding. The Ceat Zoom tyres offered reassuring levels of grip.
Orxa Mantis Ergonomics
The Mantis offers a fairly comfortable riding position, and the rider’s seat feels pretty supportive. The handlebar controls are also set right and are easy to access even while riding. While sitting on the bike though, with my legs down, I realised the top edge of the side panels poking into my inner thighs, which felt quite annoying and inconvenient. The side panels are shaped oddly due to which they stick out. Unfortunately, it’s not something that can be rectified on customer bikes as it requires an entire redesign of the side panels. So, bulkier riders like me will perhaps have to make their peace with it.
Orxa Mantis Fit & Finish
This is one aspect in which the Mantis could do with a lot of improvement. The quality of plastics used, especially on the headlamp casing and switchgear, can be better. The welds on the aluminium frame can also do with better finishing.
Orxa Mantis Specifications
Performance
Peak Power: 20.5kW
Peak Torque: 93Nm
Top Speed: 135km/h
Acceleration (0-100km/h): 8.9 seconds
Acceleration (0-20km/h): 2.7 seconds
Acceleration (20-100km/h): 6.2 seconds
Range: 221km (Estimated IDC Figure)
Drivetrain
Motor: Liquid-cooled BLDC
Throttle Control: Proprietary Orxa ride-by-wire
Final Drive: Belt-type
Battery & Charging
Battery Type: Proprietary Orxa 5145
Energy Capacity: 8.9kWh
Battery Management System (BMS): Proprietary Orxa BMS
Enclosure: Hybrid aluminium case, IP67-rated
Charging Time (Standard 1.3kW charger): 0-80% in 5 Hours
Charging Time (Blitz 3.3kW charger): 0-80% in 2.5 Hours
Frame & Suspension
Frame Type: All-aluminium aerospace-grade alloy
Front Suspension: 41mm telescopic forks
Rear Suspension: Hydraulic mono-shock, preload adjustable
Wheels, Tyres & Brakes
Wheels: 17” Alloys
ABS: Single-channel
Front Brake: 320mm disc with four-piston fixed calliper
Rear Brake: 230mm disc with single-piston floating calliper
Tyres: Front – 110/70-R17 | Rear – 130/70-R17
Dimensions
Wheelbase: 1,450mm
Seat Height: 815mm
Kerb Weight: 182kg
Ground Clearance: 180mm
Features
Five-inch TFT display with Linux-based Orxa operating system
Regenerative braking
Side-stand indicator
Bluetooth connectivity
Connectivity features via the Mantis app
Price
₹3.60 lakh (Ex-showroom, Bengaluru, including the standard 1.3kW charger)