TVS Jupiter Classic vs TVS Victor: Comparison test

Gallery Introduction City Highway Ownership Conclusion

Introduction

The TVS Victor is one of our favourite 110cc motorcycles. The peppy engine, great brakes and the long features list make it a delightful commuter bike. But a look at TVS’ sales charts will show you that there is a product which has consistently outperformed the Victor. It is, in fact, the second highest selling two-wheeler of its kind in the country. We are referring to the Jupiter.

Given their practicality and ease of use, scooters are fast becoming the preferred choice among two-wheeler buyers. And the success of the Jupiter is a testament to this paradigm shift. It strikes the perfect balance of engine performance, fuel economy, features and even styling; you can’t go wrong with the Jupiter.

So if you are in the market looking for a 110cc two-wheeler, making a decision isn’t that simple any more. Should you go for a scooter instead of opting for the tried and tested formula? What are the pros and cons of owning either of these? We put the Victor and the new special edition Jupiter Classic through different scenarios to find out the answer.

City

The concrete jungle is the natural habitat for both the TVS Victor and the Jupiter Classic - they have been engineered to perform well during daily commutes. Both the Victor and the Jupiter Classic get a 109.7cc air-cooled single-cylinder engine. While the Jupiter gets two valves, the Victor gets a three valve engine head. Even the output is higher at 9.5bhp and 9.4Nm of torque as compared to the Jupiter’s 7.9bhp and 8Nm of torque. And this makes a big difference in performance.

The Victor gets off the line quicker and feels livelier during roll-on acceleration. The Jupiter Classic’s power delivery is relatively laidback, with the CVT transmission’s rubber band effect cutting down on the performance. However the CVT strikes back with the ease of use. While the tall third and fourth ratio on the Victor ensure that you do not need to shift very often, the Jupiter Classic makes riding through traffic an effortless task. Also, once you get over the burst of power, both the Victor and Jupiter Classic have similar characteristics. The sweet spot lies between 40kmph and 60kmph, and the engines feel most refined in this range of speed.

The ride quality is where the Victor easily trumps the Jupiter Classic. The plush suspension and the bigger 17-inch wheels make a mockery even out of Mumbai’s pothole ridden roads. Mind you, the Jupiter Classic’s ride quality is one of the best in its class, but it does not stand a chance against the Victor. Even the front brake on the Victor has a stronger initial bite and more stopping power. The Jupiter Classic’s front disc brake seems to be softened up as a safety measure, to stop people from locking the front wheel by grabbing on to the lever too hard during an emergency.

Nevertheless, the smaller 12-inch front wheel makes the Jupiter Classic better at filtering through traffic and taking tight turns in slow-moving traffic. It also gets a plush seat which is more comfortable for the rider and the pillion. The back rest might seem tiny, but offers good support to the pillion’s tail bone.

Highway

Although both the Victor and the Jupiter Classic feel out of place on the highway, the Victor feels better suited for the job. Once you start riding the Victor, you get that impression that you are riding a bigger motorcycle. There were several instances where I would try to upshift in the fourth gear, only to be reminded that it is actually a modest 110cc commuter bike. Be it high speed stability or cornering, the Victor feels more at ease on the highway.

Both the Jupiter Classic and Jupiter get soft seats which make them cosy on brief rides. During long hauls however, the Victor is slightly better. Even through the occasional bad patches, all you need to do on a Victor is grab the tank with your knees and stand up to make it less painful.

On our standard test cycle, the Victor was marginally more frugal at 59.8kmpl as compared to the Jupiter Classic’s 56.4kmpl. This coupled with the bigger 8-litre fuel tank means fewer fuel stops. Fortunately, the Jupiter Classic’s fuel cap is located in the tail section, and the rider doesn’t have to get off and open the seat to fill fuel, as with traditional scooters.

Where the Jupiter Classic beats the Victor fair and square is utility. It gets two storage hooks at the front to hook luggage kept on footboard, a decent-sized bay under the seat and even a USB charger. A backpack or heavy luggage, which can simply be placed on the Jupiter Classic’s footboard, necessitates the use of bungee straps on the Victor.

Ownership

When it comes to the pride of ownership, a motorcycle always gets a higher preference among Indian buyers. And that would be the case in a fight between the Victor and the standard Jupiter. However, the Jupiter Classic is a special edition scooter which gets a glitzy paint scheme, windshield, pillion back rest and the dual-tone seat cover. So, as far as street presence goes, the Jupiter Classic has the upper hand. The Victor, with its gleaming paint job, sculpted fuel tank and sharp headlamp cowl is one of the best-looking commuter bikes, but it is no match for the Jupiter Classic.

One of the biggest reasons for the popularity of scooters is the ease of use. It is truly a family vehicle; be it the college-going kid or the octogenarian, anyone can use it without any trouble. Another reason is the low maintenance costs. A Jupiter Classic is cheaper to service than a Victor. Also, over the long run, the Victor will require components like a cone set and chain sprocket more often, which add up to the cost of ownership.

Conclusion

The Victor disc brake variant is priced at Rs 62,073 while the Jupiter Classic will set you back by Rs 63,092 (both on-road prices). A motorcycle offers a sense of control and safety that is second to none. Besides, the comfortable ride and the ease of maintenance make the Victor a better motorcycle for a rural setting.

However for a run-of-mill user, the sheer practicality and ease of usage of a scooter tips the scales in the Jupiter Classic’s favour. Such a buyer wouldn’t mind compromising on the riding dynamics if the scooter offers more versatility. Even though you would spend similar kind of money to buy either of these, the Jupiter Classic has a premium aura to it, which is missing in the Victor.