Orxa Mantis

The Orxa Mantis is an electric motorcycle from Bangalore-based startup Orxa Energies, the result of nearly eight years of development. The bike boasts a unique design inspired by the praying mantis, with sharp angular lines and a muscular stance. It features a liquid-cooled motor producing 27bhp and 93Nm of torque, paired with a 9kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The Mantis has an all-aluminium frame and subframe, suspended by a telescopic fork at the front and a monoshock at the rear, with power transmitted via a belt drive system. The bike has a comfortable riders triangle with an 815mm saddle height, but lacks features like reverse mode and riding modes. The braking system includes a radially mounted ByBre calliper at the front and a single-piston calliper at the rear, though it only comes with single-channel ABS. Overall, the Mantis has potential but needs significant improvements in quality, features, and performance to compete effectively in the Indian electric motorcycle market.

The Orxa Mantis, despite its promising specifications on paper, falls short in several critical areas during my first ride experience. The bikes handling is nimble and it corners well, but the braking system is a significant letdown, particularly with the rear wheel locking up easily and the absence of dual-channel ABS. The design, inspired by the praying mantis, is polarizing and while it has some appealing elements, the overall finish and paint quality are subpar. The TFT display takes an unacceptably long time to boot up, and the lack of features like reverse mode or riding modes adds to the list of shortcomings. Given that the bike I rode was a prototype, Orxa has a lot of work to do before the final product hits the market in April 2024. As it stands, the Mantis is a difficult bike to recommend, but there is potential hidden beneath its current flaws.

Orxa Energies has announced a significant R&D collaboration with UrbanMatrix, a drone technology company, to the tune of ?20 crore. This partnership aims to propel drone manufacturing for global markets, showcasing Orxas versatility beyond electric motorcycles. I believe this move could open up new avenues for Orxa in the tech sector.

Bookings for the Orxa Mantis are now open, with an initial booking amount of Rs 10,000 for the first thousand customers, which will later increase to Rs 25,000. Deliveries are scheduled to start in April next year. I think the competitive pricing and early booking incentives will attract a lot of interest.

Orxa Energies Mantis has completed a world record-breaking endurance ride, covering 13,510km each in 54 days over extreme terrain and temperatures in India. This feat highlights the durability and reliability of the Mantis. I believe such tests are crucial for building consumer trust in electric vehicles.

The Orxa Mantis electric motorcycle has been launched in India, priced at Rs 3.6 lakh (ex-showroom). It features a liquid-cooled electric motor producing 27.8bhp and 93Nm of torque, with a top speed of 135kmph. The bike also boasts an 8.9kWh battery providing a claimed range of 221km. I think the liquid-cooled motor is a game-changer for performance and efficiency.

Orxa Energies Mantis was first unveiled at the India Bike Week 2019, marking the entry of the Bengaluru-based startup into the electric bike market. The Mantis is designed with a sporty aesthetic, featuring aggressive twin pod LED headlamps and a sharp cowl on the tank. I believe the design will appeal to those looking for a stylish and powerful electric bike.

The Orxa Mantis is priced at 3.6 lakh ex-showroom in India, with deliveries initially limited to Bangalore starting from April 2024. This pricing places the Mantis in a competitive segment, particularly against the Ultraviolette F77, which is slightly more expensive but offers more refined features. On-road prices will likely vary depending on state-specific taxes and other local levies, but one can expect an additional 50,000 to 70,000 to be added to the ex-showroom price. Given the current state of the bike, the price seems steep, especially considering the quality and feature issues that need to be addressed. However, if Orxa can iron out these problems, the Mantis might offer better value for money.

The mileage of the Orxa Mantis is a aspect that remains somewhat speculative based on my initial ride. The bike is powered by a 9kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which is a decent size for an electric motorcycle. However, during my test, the bikes conservative thermal management caused it to enter a low-power mode quickly, which could impact real-world range. Orxa claims a top speed of 135kmph and a 0-100kmph time of 8.9 seconds, but these figures were not fully tested due to the constraints of the go-kart track. In practical terms, the actual range and efficiency will depend on various factors including riding style, terrain, and ambient temperature. Until more comprehensive testing is done, its challenging to provide a definitive mileage figure, but its clear that the Mantis needs further optimization to deliver on its promised performance. ABOUT The Orxa Mantis is an electric motorcycle from Bangalore-based startup Orxa Energies, the result of nearly eight years of development. The bike boasts a unique design inspired by the praying mantis, with sharp angular lines and a muscular stance. It features a liquid-cooled motor producing 27bhp and 93Nm of torque, paired with a 9kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The Mantis has an all-aluminium frame and subframe, suspended by a telescopic fork at the front and a monoshock at the rear, with power transmitted via a belt drive system. The bike has a comfortable riders triangle with an 815mm saddle height, but lacks features like reverse mode and riding modes. The braking system includes a radially mounted ByBre calliper at the front and a single-piston calliper at the rear, though it only comes with single-channel ABS. Overall, the Mantis has potential but needs significant improvements in quality, features, and performance to compete effectively in the Indian electric motorcycle market.