Jan 05, 2006 02:28 PM
9598 Views
(Updated Jan 05, 2006 02:29 PM)
I bought the TVS Victor about two years ago after a lot of research on small four-stroke bikes. I had an Enfield Bullet 350 cc before and the main reason for me to downgrade from a 350cc to a 110 cc bike was fuel economy. The petrol bill on the Bullet was really burning my wallet. So before my wallet got all burnt I decided to trade in and go for a more economical bike. The main considerations I had when I decided to down grade were:
Fuel efficiency of at least 60 km per litre.
Stability at medium speeds of about 60 km per hour.
Reliable engine with not too much maintenance.
Good or rather acceptable looks.
Price around Rs.45,000
The options available at that time were not many. I had to choose between Yamaha Libero, Hero Honda Splendour, Bajaj Caliber 115, LML Freedom and TVS Victor. I chose Victor mainly because this has been touted as the first 100 percent indigenous bike. Partly patriotism and many of my friends told me that if I look after the Victor well it will last me long and the mileage will stick to about 70 km per litre.
Well two years since then I am not complaining about the mileage at all... I still average around 60-65 and sometimes even 70 km per litre and the bike is pretty stable after two really hard crashes. I can still take some really good turns and I'd say the tires are excellent on smooth tarmac roads. But take the victor on sand or even little muddy roads and you have had it... you will crash easily.
But what can you expect out of a puny 110 cc bike after having ridden the most powerful and stablest bike that India has ever made. I do some highway riding also and that is where I miss my old bike... which would enable me cruise effortlessly at 80-90 km per hour and still return 30 km per litre... Victor gives me 70 km per litre on highways but well... I'll be crawling at 50-60 km per hour and the ride isn't exactly comfortable.
There is some amount of rattling but I am not really bothered... I guess after 50,000 kms any bike will rattle.
In short I'd say Victor is value for money bike. Don't expect to go off road on the bike and don't expect to zip around at 80 km per hour... then you will be happy with a Victor.
