Category: commuter

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TVS RONIN 225 – Why it is different!

By Javed Ali Khan

TVS Motorcycles have always tried to do something new, something which was not done earlier, and if even it was, then doing it in a larger form, basically doing something unscripted. This is what they have done and pulled it off brilliantly by introducing Ronin 225 in the Indian market. The very comparison, although a wrong one as ronin has less engine capacity by 125cc and less torque by 7.07 Nm, with 350 hunter by many proves that indeed TVS has made something different.

If you see Ronin separately in a stand still form and by that we mean the fuel tank, the headlight, the indicators, front gold coloured USD suspension, rear lED lights etc etc… then you may not appreciate the beauty it holds. But when you see ronin in movement then you realise and appreciate how different it looks from other motorcycles present in the Indian  motorcycle market. The looks and stance of Ronin has even confused many experts as they refer it as a cruiser which totally puts the motorcycle in a different range all together.

Ronin 225 has an oil coil engine generating 20.4 PS of power and 19.93 Nm torque which begins to show it’s magic post 3rd gear. The gear shifts are very smooth because of assist & slipper clutch and courtesy the 5 gears and open roads near by DELHI NCR region, helped us to reach a top speed of 127 on odometer and hitting 0-100 within 12 seconds which is 2nd fastest in India. The fastest 0-100 has been recorded by Rider Virji who achieved this in 11:10 seconds with a top spedd of 136km/hr as per the odometer of TVS Ronin.

Rushing Ronin before 3rd gear makes no sense because of Glide through technology which assists the rider to ride even without using accelerator. This is a boon especially when one is in a bumper to bumper traffic and you can easily manoeuvre without changing gears or using accelerator consisitinly and saving the wrist from the torture. But once you are out in  open, Ronin put it’s rider in the commanding position and provides the pull which help in leaving the traffic behind. The only issue is that during the initial surge and excitement you tend to ignore the vibration which begins at almost 65+ Km speed and is observable only when you start to cruise on highways. It is another thing that TVS call Ronin a modern retro and not a cruiser.

The Ronin has great suspension, front 41mm USD suspension and 7 step adjustable monoshock at rear which makes potholes feel like a simple pebble under the tyre – front 110/70-17 and rear 130/70-17 tybeless. This is supported by dual channel ABS brake system with 300mm disc in front and 240mm disc at rear and they work beautifully when put in work together. Even the front brakes generate more confidence rather then the rear ones when used seperately and this is where TVS need to work a bit. Also, the 181 mm ground clearence makes jumping over the speed-breakers a calm and easy exercise.

The SmartXonnect makes Ronin a user friendly product which helps you to understand your riding pattern and also helps you to keep your Ronin well maintained as it provides the option of fixing service appointment just from your mobile. Overall, Ronin is an excellent opportunity for TVS Motorcycles to explore the un-explored by upgrading this beauty in terms of segment and features.

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Triumph Tiger Sport 660 launched in India at Rs 8.95 lakh

By Javed Ali Khan

Triumph has introduced the all-new Tiger Sport 660, powered by Triumph’s renowned inline 3-cylinder engine which makes 81PS peak power @ 10,250 rpm & 64Nm peak torque @ 6,250 rpm. With a tank capacity of 17 litre and fuel consumption of 4.5ltr/100km, the new tiger is indeed an interesting product which makes it attractive on paper.

With an introductory price of Rs.8.95 lakh, the motorcycle which Triumph says is designed to deliver the perfect daily ride to commuting, city ride or just enjoying a weekend escape, sounds a bit on a higher side. But again, many of the products in the 600 engine capacity are twin-cylinder engine motorcycles.

Some of the Key features of Tiger Sport 660 are:

  • 81PS peak power @ 10,250rpm and 64Nm peak torque @ 6,250rpm,
    plus 90% of peak torque available across most of the rev range.
  • Slip and assist clutch.
  • 835mm seat height.
  • Showa 41mm upside down cartridge forks.
  • Nissin brakes with twin 310mm front discs and versatile Michelin Road 5 tyres.
  • Height-adjustable screen enables single-handed adjustment.
  • Category-leading riding modes – Road and Rain.
  • 10,000 miles (16,000 km) or 12 months service interval.
  • Two-year unlimited milage warranty, with the option to extend for one or two years.
  • 40+ dedicated Tiger Sport 660 accessories.
  • Two-year unlimited mileage warranty on all genuine accessories.

Triumph Motorcycles India Business Head, Mr. Shoeb Farooq said, “We are delighted to add the all-new Tiger Sport 660 to our already strong portfolio in India.  Tiger sport 660 will strengthen our position in the premium adventure motorcycle category and will provide a new entry point to the Tiger range. The Tiger Sport 660 will be the most powerful motorcycle in its category and the only triple cylinder offering the perfect mix in power, handling, technology and long-distance riding comfort making it the perfect motorcycle for the young urban tourer.

 

The price of Tiger 660 starts at Rs.8.95 lakh for LUCERNE BLUE / SAPPHIRE BLACK   & GRAPHITE / SAPPHIRE BLACK colour option and Rs. 9.08 lakh for KOROSI RED /GRAPHITE colour option.

 

We are eager to ride this new breed of the tiger from Triumph Motorcycles India and share with you how it feels in the real world.

 

Till then #BeSafe, #RideSafe and #DriveSafe

 

 

 

 

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Jawa – Pictures of Test Mule

By Admin

Pictures: Shared via Whatsapp

 

With all the buzz going around for #JawaMotorcycles yet to be launched product, things got a bit more exciting on 31st of October, 2018 when someone circulated pictures of the Test Mule of the Jawa motorcycle which has been registered in Maharashtra. This is normal as the 293cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled DOHC motored motorcycle is going to be launched in Mumbai on 15th November, 2018.

If we are correct then the fully camouflaged motorcycle was being driven to Mumbai, where it will be showcased for the very first time, from Pithampur plant in Madhya Pradesh where it is being manufactured. Recently, Mahindra had shared the glimpse of the all new engine in a media event which filled the market and the lovers of Jawa with excitement.

Mahindra is trying hard to keep the price of the final product as competitive as possible and take a bite into #RoyalEnfield’s current market share. It should be noted that in the two wheeler market Mahindra has not been that successful with products like Mojo, Gusto etc.

We are eagerly waiting for the launch of the motorcycle and hope that Mahindra will bring back the magic of Jawa which would eventually give a breath of fresh air to Mahindra Two Wheeler’s segment.

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TVS Star City Plus Review – Specs, Features, Fuel Efficiency etc.

By Admin

Pictures: Admin

We all start from somewhere and the Start is always small, which is good. Even I feel that one should always ‘Think Big – Start Small – Scale Fast’ and that is what many of the Indian motorcycle manufacturers have done in the recent times. Thirukkurungudi Vengaram Sundaram – sounds a bit unknown to many but what if we tell you that it stands for initials of our very own TVS Motor Company – which had a very humble beginning and in recent times has brought in great products like Apache RTR series, TVS NTORQ 125 and many more.

The product range starts from mopeds – one which we will definitely review very soon in the time to come –  to road legal motorcycles which are full of racing DNA. But today we are going to discuss #TVS #StreetCity+ or should I say Star City Plus and how it redefines the competition in Commuter segment.

Design, Looks & Comfort:

A commuter motorcycle, a motorcycle used for reaching from point A to point B, with a 100-130 CC engine capacity, which is low on torque and high on fuel efficiency, and usually, does not requires to look good. But then again, commuters like #StarCity+ need eyes and heart which are serious about appreciating beauty and this is what happens when you don’t look seriously at StarCity+. It is like a girl/boy in the party whose overall appearance does not influence your brain sensors which are responsible for defining beauty to your heart. But when you look at StarCity+ with some patience and seriousness you realise that the same girl/boy has the best features.

The tank has sharp edges just below the TVS logo, looks good, which could have been more eye catching, had it lasted till the end and had not ended abruptly in the middle. But, if we go by what TVS has to say about the tank design, well it lowers the coefficient of friction and helps the bike to easily slice through air, then one can easily ignore that abrupt ending. The side panel with 3d emblem saying ‘StarCity+’ looks amazing and makes the side profile of the bike appealing. The seat of StarCity+ along with that all aluminium grab-rail adds to the looks department. The exhaust may not sound amazing, again a not so important thing among the commuters, but the ‘EcoThrust’ motif on exhaust muffler with all that chrome makes the side looks catchy.

The electric start along with Kick start option make things comfortable especially when I used the bike in streets around my residence and in bumper to bumper traffic of Delhi. An ‘Engine Kill Switch’ may have made the life more luxurious as many a times during traffic signals which were more than 30 seconds, required taking away life from the engine by turning the key to ‘Off’.

The multi-function console of the bike was like a friend who is as good in English as she is in Hindi and is always ready to help you out in your exam. It has Economy and Power indicator which really helped me to control the accelerator and reminded that I was driving a commuter bike and not a sport bike. The console has ‘Econometer’, a term used by TVS to define the indicator showing remaining fuel in the bike. Oh, by the way google accepts ‘Econometer’ as a term but MsWord somehow does not agrees with either Google or TVS.  Apart from this the console has ‘odometer’, ‘turn signal indicators’ and ‘service reminder’ indicator which are again, like the friend I have spoken about, makes life easier.

Also, the colour options provided are 11 and the quality of work is good and has definitely helped TVS Motor to attract more customers.

Ride, Handling & Performance:

Here I want to confess one thing, I have a tendency of reaching my destinations late, not because of being too slow while driving but because of being a bit lazy, until and unless the work has to do something with automobiles. This is where the heart of the StarCity+ which is a 109.7 cc engine with a maximum power of 8.4PS @ 7000rpm and maximum torque of 8.7Nm @ 5000rpm made my life punctual and easy. Jumping from one traffic signal to the other was not difficult as the engine packs power for the city drive but once you enter open stretches – highways, lack of power, especially when you try to achieve 3 digit figure, is clearly visible.

We all know that it is difficult to have that perfect recipe which gives satisfaction not only to stomach but to soul also. In case of StarCity+ the very satisfaction to stomach, if not to soul, is provided by its ability to handle awesomely in city and on highway and ride quality is good enough to keep you seated even while facing the idiotically designed speed breakers and un-seasonal potholes. Yes, the very lack of power on highway is taken care of by the handling capability and ride comfort of Starcity+.

Fuel Consumption & Price:

The very deciding factor for achieving good sales figure in this segment, most of the time, is the fuel consumption and price of the motorcycle. We drove around Delhi and by that we mean literally traveling to Rohini from South Delhi – making visits to doctor’s clinic in my neighbourhood where bumper to bumper traffic and sudden breaking are quite common. We drove in conditions for which any commuter motorcycle should be prepared for and still, the 109.7CC engine gave an astounding 60+ km/litre range to us especially when the motorcycle given to us was brand new and had literally few Kilometres (not even into hundred) on the odometer.

Price of this amazing no compromise motorcycle is something which has helped TVS keep its sales counter busy. The price ranges from Rs.45991 for the base (Kick Start MAG) to Rs. 51770 for the top end (dual tone) version ex-showroom Delhi. All in all 4 variants with multiple options are available.

Our Verdict:

We gave a lot of thought and time while coming up with this article. The reason being that TVS Starcity+ is a great product, a dish which has been prepared as per the book but somehow lacks zing, the same zing which could make it a household name. Therefore, we have concluded about TVS Starcity+ in the following manner:

 

  1. Best Thing about Star City Plus-

 

  1. The peppy Engine with good amount of torque for that fast take off from a traffic signal.

 

  1. The fuel consumption impressed me a lot because I used this bike in 60:40 ratio in city (60) and on Highways (40) and the almost 60+ average made my experience quite ‘Economically Emotional’.

 

  1. The comfort for the pillion rider was amazing as far as comparing it with Hero, Honda, Bajaj or Yamaha is concerned.

 

  1. What more is expected-

 

  1. The bike should come along with front disc brakes. Once riding the starcity+ a dog came suddenly out of nowhere and three of us ‘just managed’ to save ourselves from getting bruised.

 

  1. The seats are fantastic, especially for the pillion but as far as the front portion of the seat is concerned, in our case, if ‘sudden breaking’ is done, the rider hits the tank. Courtesy Delhi traffic this happened many a times and every time I was happy that nothing happened to the most sensitive part of my body.

 

Rest, the Star City Plus, according to me is an amazing product which is a perfect combination of comfort and fuel consumption which is lighter on pocket price wise and maintenance wise.

 

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TVS Apache RTR 200 4V 2.0 launched

By Admin

Pictures: TVSApache.com

Few days ago the very idea of owning a motorcycle with slipper clutch in India meant either buying a Kawasaki Ninja 300 or KTM Duke 390. But within few days everything changed as TVS Motors announced and officially posted on their website the arrival of the Apache RTR 200 4V R2.0 race edition which is fitted with A-RT slipper clutch where A-RT stand for Anti-Reverse Torque. TVS motor, by introducing slipper clutch, is trying to reflect upon the racing DNA of RTR series.

The introduction of A-RT slipper clutch at a price which varies from Rs.95,000/- to 1.08 lakh, Ex-showroom Delhi, is indeed a tough task for other manufacturers to achieve. The all new TVS Apache RTR 200 4V R2.0 also boasts of well sculpted fly-screen for an aggressive racing stance and new sticker combination for that sporty look to allure more customers and creating a rush in the lane leading to booking counter. Oh! Please ignore the words in Bold.

Carrying it forward, there are three variant which are available – RTR 200 4V R2.0, RTR 200 Fi 4V R2.0 and RTR 200 4V ABS R2.0 with five colour combinations of black, grey, red, white and matte black. The racing DNA is highlighted by the FI  which has twin spray fuel-injection and the dual -channel ABS with Rear wheel lift-off protection which detects and helps to recover wheel lock.

The whole game comes down to one thing, THE PRICE. Yes we are discussing it again because it is the price of RTR 200 4V R2.0 with slipper clutch which excites not only us and but also the prospective customers. At a price ranging from Rs. 95000/ ex-showroom for the RTR 200 4V R2.0 to Rs.1.08 lakh ex-showroom for the RTR 200 4V ABS R2.0, TVS has played a psychological price game which must have confused the competition. And yes this time don’t ignore the words in Bold.

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‘Race to the Clouds’- initiative by TVS Apache

By Admin

Pictures: TVS Motor Company

The Apache Owners Group (AOG) initiative by TVS Apache saw another event in our very own Delhi, the Capital of India. A ride, ‘Race to the Clouds’ was flagged off on 27th of July, 2018 which saw 30 TVS Apache owners from   across the country participating, including three women riders. The 14 days ride started from Delhi and will cover 2600 Km distance across 5 cities and will conclude at Nubra Valley on 3rd of August, 2018.

TVS Apache was launched back in 2006 and since then TVS has been bringing different models under Apache brand. As of now Apache series boasts of TVS Apache RTR 160 4V, RTR 200 4V, RTR 180 ABS, RTR 180, RTR 160 and RR 310. TVS even has its own Apache race series giving opportunity to budding riders.

The initiative of bringing all TVS Apache owners together has made a positive impact as almost 3000 customers in more than 35 cities are member of the group.

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TVS Motor Company Successfully Concluded Apache Owners Group (AOG) South Chapter

By Admin

Pictures: TVS Motor Company

Apache series has pushed TVS Motor Company to new heights as more and more people line up at the dealership. An increment, which was done silently, in the price of recently launched RR 310 itself speaks about the success it has brought for the Indian manufacturer. To improve upon this faith shown by customers and to have an engaging relationship with its customers, TVS Motor Company has taken up an initiative and under this they successfully concluded Apache owners Group (AOG) South Chapter.

To make the experience rich and interesting, a visit was made to the state-of-the-art Mysore manufacturing facility where motorcycles of TVS Apache series are built for customers across the globe.  A detailed tour was given, almost 150 TVS Apache owners participated, for that ‘first-hand’ experience and understanding of what goes behind the screen. Riders from cities of Bengaluru, Kochi, Coimbatore, Calicut, Chennai and Madurai came together for the two-day event which was flagged simultaneously from Bengaluru and Coimbatore on April 6, 2018 and concluded on April 8, 2018 in Mysore.

AOG or Apache Owners Group has presence in 30 cities with over 3000 passionate and like-minded customers who are brought together because of one common thing – that racing DNA which is indeed a unique experience in itself. The Apache series was launched in 2006 and has products ranging from 160, 180, 200 and the recently launched TVS Apache RR 310.