TVS Victor

This, my friends, is the new 110cc motorcycle from TVS Motor Company. The name Victor might ring some bells and that’s because the Hosur-based company has reintroduced the brand in a 110cc avatar. The 110cc motorcycle segment is tough to crack, but everyone wants to be present here because there is volume and where there is volume, there is money. The Victor 110 sits above the Star City + and Sport in the lineup, and is expected to garner good sales for the company.

The new Victor is propelled by the same 110cc engine that we see on the Star City+. But this heart features 3 valves, for better performance and fuel efficiency. And it genuinely does! We rode this bike at TVS’ Hosur facility which lacked general road conditions, but had straights in abundance. This motor provides good acceleration and has strong mid-range punch. The engine produces 9.4bhp at 7500rpm and 9.4Nm at 6000rpm. Twist the throttle and you’ll notice a decent surge in torque, because that’s how this engine has been tuned. The four-speed gearbox on the other hand, feels little clunky and spoils the overall riding experience. The clutch is light and feels good to operate in stop-go conditions. 65kmph-75kmph is the ideal cruising speed for the bike. Try to go above that and the vibrations starts to sneak in. However, were you to cruise at 20kmph in fourth gear then there are no signs of engine knocks. The refinement level of this bike is brilliant, but this is the story only till 75kmph.

The new Victor is built around a single tubular frame that uses the engine as a stressed member. Suspension duties are taken care of by the telescopic forks in the front and five-step adjustable suspension at the rear. The result is a plush ride that improves the overall comfort level. We did manage to sneak into TVS’ suspension testing facility to test this out.  This bike isn’t meant to go screaming around the corners, but you can do that too, not intensely, though. The bike handles corners well, thanks to the TVS Remora tyres that offer plenty of grip.  We’re yet to test out the bike in the city, but an upright riding position and kerb weight of 113kg, might make this bike a brilliant city commuter. TVS claims an ARAI fuel efficiency of 76kmpl for the new Victor. We’ll get you the exact figures once we get this bike for a proper road test.

The stopping power comes from the 240mm disc in the front and 110mm drum at the rear. We were truly overwhelmed by this setup. While there isn’t much feedback from the lever, it does the job of stopping the vehicle on time. We also rode the front drum brake version, which to be honest, doesn’t have the bite and feel at all.

The design of the bike might bring back memories of the Star City + and that’s because TVS wanted the overall styling to resemble the family. And honestly, the design is just okay.  You should also note that the saddle on the new Victor is very comfortable. TVS claims that the seat is the widest in the segment, and we believe them (you’ll see this in PowerDrift’s review). Plus, the red stitching on the seat gives it a premium appearance. The switch gear is rock solid and is meant to last. The quality of the paint and switchgear is brilliant. Weirdly, there is an engine kill switch option which, when operated, turns the hazard lamp on.

The instrument cluster is basic and does the job of displaying ride information pretty well. However, the plastics used around the cluster aren’t really substantial. The bike rides on 17-inch alloy wheels and tips the scale at 112kg for the drum brake version and 113kg for the disc.

Comfort, braking and good amount of torque – if these are your requirements from your new 110cc motorcycle, then you should walk into the TVS showroom because we tend to bend towards a product, which provides an overall package. While the Victor does provide a good deal, do check the bike in person first for its styling.

The TVS Victor is right in the middle of its competitors when it comes to the pricing. The Victor with drum brake is priced at Rs 49,990. The segment leader, the Hero Passion Pro retails for Rs 52,525, whereas the Dream Neo from Honda is sold at Rs 49,070. The most affordable of the lot, the Centuro Rockstar is priced the least at Rs 45,300. All are ex-showroom Delhi.