TVS Motors were among the biggest
players in the 110cc commuter segment at the turn of the century with the
Victor range of motorcycles. Sadly for the Hosur based manufacturer, the Victor
couldn’t survive the test time and slowly faded away after making a promising
start. TVS knew that it couldn’t afford to bow out from the commuter segment
given the volumes they register. For this purpose it launched the Star City
range of commuters and the new TVS Star City+ is the flagship offering in the
commuter segment from the manufacturer. The styling of the bike is similar to
any modern commuter motorcycle with a bikini fairing, single piece headlamp,
alloy wheels, sculpted fuel tank and the works. But owing to the snazzy
graphics and the use of chrome on the exhaust shield and the 3D logo, the Star
City+ is striking for a commuter offering. The Star City+ has an analogue dial
for speedometer and a digital fuel gauge along with a service indicator and
typical TVS, eco and power mode indicator. Switch gear quality of the
motorcycle is fantastic and wouldn’t seem out of place on a more expensive motorcycle.
Build quality and paint finish is also impressive and the bike is solidly put
together and this has slowly becoming a hallmark of TVS products. Riding
posture is upright in typical commuter fashion while the fuel tank recess mean
that one can snugly hold the bike with your thighs.
Powering the motorcycle is a 110cc
displacement motor that generates 8.4PS at 7,000rpm and 8.7Nm at 5,000rpm. The
performance of the bike is good with peppy acceleration and the bike can cruise
at speeds around 60kmph easily. But once the bike is pushed above its comfort
vibrations can be felt on tank, footpegs and handle bar. Power is transmitted
via a 4-speed constant mesh gearbox that performs satisfactorily. The single
cradle tubular frame has endowed it lively handling dynamics and it can squeeze
through the tightest gaps with relative ease. Suspension duties are handled by
telescopic front forks and hydraulic shock absorbers at the back. The softly
sprung suspension setup means it glides over undulated surfaces but the bike
feels a bit spongy and wallows while cornering at high speeds. Braking is done
via drum brake at front and rear and they do a decent job in shedding speeds.
Although fuel efficiency is the forte of a commuter, the Star City+ disappoints
with an overall mileage of 65kmpl. Apart from the mileage, the TVS Star City+
is a great commuter motorcycle option and has been priced competitively at Rs
44,000 ex-showroom Delhi.
3. YAMAHA ALBA
Yamaha Motors has launched another 106cc bike
much like the extension of the Libero G5. Yamaha Alba stands apart with some of
the novel features. The bike has an electric start and sports some cool
graphics. Alba has all the potential to fit into a middle class family wish
list. It is pocket friendly in terms of maintenance and fuel efficiency. It is
an ideal bike for the middle class commuters and it renders comfortable riding
experience for the rider even though it is not a hi-fi performance bike. In
short, it is a bike that contains everything that one can expect from a good
bike in this segment.
Yamaha Alba's 106cc engine adopts the similar
engine of Yamaha Libero G5 and Crux and it can whack a power of 7.6 bhp @7,500
rpm with the maximum torque of 80Nm at 6000 rpm. Alba has four-speed gearbox
connected to the engine. The gear system is similar to the Yamaha's regular
shift pattern. However, the perfect engineering of gear ratio helps in
controlling the torque levels even at lower rpm bands.
The new age bike from Yamaha Motors adopts modern
technology for the build quality. Aerodynamic cowl, sturdy tank, broad seat,
ergonomic seat, handlebar, knee recess on petrol tank are some of the amazing
features fitted-in to this bike for the matchless riding experience. To offer
economy and low maintenance, the bike has been shaped keeping in mind of the Indian
driving condition. Alba 106 has a well arranged gear ratio for the convenient
ride in congested areas without changing gears repeatedly. Yamaha Alba comes in
two variants of alloy wheel and spoke wheel which are known as Alba Deluxe and
Alba Standard respectively.
Yamaha Alba is quite comfortable on its broad
seat. But while riding we need to lean forward as the wheelbase of the bike is
a long one. Considering the Indian road conditions, Yamaha has aptly designed
this bike with a good gear spacing ratio to give an easy ride in the heavy
traffic without changing the gear frequently. It can offer a good 65 km per
liter of petrol in the normal Indian road condition though Yamaha Motors claim
that it can run 85 kmpl. Mileage is the deciding factor that makes Alba stand apart
from its rivals. It hits the speed limit of 95kmph sans vibrations but the
engine cries and makes cranking noise in the increasing speeds.
The Yamaha Alba has a
mileage of 80-85 kmpl. It has got light weight alloy wheels and a sporty
instrument console. It has an SOHS engine of 106 cc including a single cylinder
and 4 – stroke. Riders are happy with the way the Yamaha Alba has shaped up and the spacious seat of the bike
provides comfort to the riders. The mileage of the bike is perfect for the
riders and many regard it as the best mileage bike in India.
4. BAJAJ DISCOVER
The Bajaj Discover has a decent mileage of 82 kmpl. The graphics on the bike
are black and chrome style. The best feature about the bike is that it can
start easily under any given weather condition. It has stylish headlamps and
innovative LED tail lamps. The Bajaj Discover is relatively one of those bikes with good mileage.
Since the launch, Discover is the one of the most loved brands from Bajaj. It
has created a benchmark in the Indian market, therefore, Bajaj has been
continuously evolving the motorcycle with cosmetic changes to make it look
refreshing in its segment. The Discover range of motorcycles have various
variants, all of which are underpinned on the same platform. It is available in
both Electric and Kick start option.
dia
being the largest two-wheeler market in the world mostly entertains affordable,
stylish and value for money motorcycles. Keeping this point in mind, Bajaj
introduced Discover series in the country, which ticks every column of a
prospective buyers’ requirement list. Currently, the series offers 5 models
that are differentiated on the basis of engine capacity and style. Out of
which, Discover 125 is the oldest model in its line-up, which was recently
bestowed with some noteworthy upgrades. This is also the first generation model
of Discover series and to keep it competitive against its next generation
rivals, it gets a retuned motor for better mileage along with 5-speed gearbox.
The
size of the rear tyre has been increased for better stability and control.
Moreover, front disc brake has become standard with the 5-spoke alloy wheels.
The claimed mileage of the motorcycle is 82.4kmpl that makes it one of the most
fuel efficient 125cc commuters ever. On the other hand, it also notes down a
top speed of 100kmph. The machine houses a 124.6cc, 4-stroke, air-cooled,
2-valve, DTS-i engine that generates 10.9bhp of power and 10.8Nm of torque.
This is the same old engine that has been serving this motorcycle since
inception.
5. HERO HONDA SPLENDOR
The Hero
Honda Splendor is a motorcycle manufactured in India
by Hero Honda. It has an electronic ignition and a tubular double cradle
type frame with a 97.2 cc engine. The engine is based on the Honda cub
C100EX with a similar bore and stroke of 50mm X 49.5mm. As of 2009, Splendor
models were selling at a rate of one million per year.
Splendor is the
successor of the legendary Hero Honda CD100 and the Hero
Honda Sleek - both inspired by the Honda CB250RS series of
the 1980s.
In 2004, Hero
Honda launched the upgraded version of the Splendor, the Splendor+. This
version features multi-reflector headlight, tail light and turn signal lights,
and new graphics.
In 2007, Hero
Honda launched the Splendor plus with changes in body fairings and including
alloy wheels and other improvements.
In 2011, Hero
Honda launched the Splendor Pro with changes in body fairings, self-start
features, alloy wheels and other improvements. Hero Honda was changed into Hero
Motocorp.
In 2014 Hero
Motocorp launched a new model 'Splendor iSmart'
After the separation
of Hero group and Honda motor company, the Splendor is now manufactured by
Hero group only.
6. HONDA CB TWISTER
The CB Twister has a mileage of 70 kmpl. This
being said it also has short muffler and a sharp rear. The bike is powered with
a 109 cc, 4- stroke, air cooled, SI engine. The bike is supported by a muscular
tank and has a combinatory instrument panel. This is one of the mileage
The Honda CB Twister is a 110 cc standard motorcycle produced
by Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) in India since 2009. This model
has been discontinued in India with its successor named Honda Livo. It is sold
as the CB110 in Colombia and the Philippines
Honda CB Twister was recently discontinued as a new product
named Livo was introduced at its place. The bike was even slowing down in
overall sales but carried an impressive design for its price segment. It
carried the same 109.19cc, single cylinder engine producing 9 BHP at 8000 rpm
and 8.97 Nm at 6000 rpm. It comes mated to a 4-speed gearbox and weighs 108 kg
with fuel fuel tank (8 liters). It claims a top speed of 89 kmph and rivals
Hero Splendor, Mahindra Centuro and all other 100-110 cc bikes in the Indian
market.
