A likely success. Review on TVS Star

TVS has recorded declining sales over the past one year. Now only HH and Bajaj dominate. This is primely because each of them have their own pukka entry level contender. The CT100 is a best seller and I don't need to tell anything about the Splendor.

TVS also has a contender, that is the Max 100 R. It was a 2 stroke bike and that gave it good performance which was its main appeal. But fuel efficiency wasn't up to the mark and it was dated. So TVS put in a lot of R&D and came out with the all new TVS Star.

TVS has put in a lot of trust into this bike. And it looks like it won't let those guys down. It's USP is ruggedness and toughness. This is evident from the torque, design and other such features. So it is squarely aimed at the rural folks. The CT100 is currently the emperor of this segment. Does the Star make as much, or more sense than the CT100?

Styling- A little dated, but rugged to suit its image.

The Star has a very basic design. The multi reflector round headlamp up front looks quite good. It has two circular indicators flanking it. One very striking feature is the chrome mud guard. This makes it look rugged and not soft like the CT100. The petrol tank has been nicely sculpted with curvy meaty lines. It has a capacity of 16 liters! The Star has a very good finish. It looks better in flesh than in photos. The graphics make it look a little appealing. Without them it would look basic. The grab rail is in chrome and looks very dated. The dials look too basic. But they will just do. The switchgear is also okay. In its segment, the Star has just sufficient appeal.

Engine and performance- Tried and trusted technology, good torque, average performance.

The Star has a simple 99.7 cc SOHC engine. To suit its rough and tough image, it requires a lot of torque. TVS has done this job really well and the Star gets 0.76 kgm of torque. TVS has opted for the conventional CDI ignition over their trademark vt-i technology. It pumps 7.5 bhp of power which is the class topper. The engine is the most refined in its class. Vibrations are almost non-existent and noise is muted. The Star is enthusiastic and acceleration is rapid. The clutch and gearshift is very smooth. The torque wave should help to lug loads easily. It hits the 60 km/h mark in a little more than 10 seconds which is on par with the class. It is only above 70 km/h that vibrations start to creep in. The top speed is an average 85 km/h.

Ride and handling- Good ride and okay handling.

The suspension is stiffly sprung and so on rough roads it is a little uncomfortable. But the rear suspension is 5 way adjustable. On the softest setting, it feels quite comfortable. This adjustable suspension should work towards the Star's favor as it will help in obtaining a comfortable ride in different speeds and conditions. The Star has a rather long wheelbase which gives it a good character while handling. But when pushed hard into a corner, it doesn't inspire much confidence.

Fuel efficiency- Up there with the best in its class.

The fuel economy is the deciding factor here. The Max 100 R was fun and popular, but its bad economy ensured its bad numbers. It looks like the Star won't go wrong here. On the highway it runs 70+ km/l on average. In hectic city driving it manages around 62 km/l and an average of 65 km/l in mixed conditions. This is exactly on par with the best in its class. So this should ensure good sales figures for the Star.

So it is an overall good package. This bike is pretty normal except for its rough and tough intention. It uses conventional technology and engineering with nothing new. But what it does is excelling in those areas. Simple, but good. It may look a little dated, but at this segment, you can't expect more. Moreover, it manages to be a little rough and tough. The engine is orthodox, but has a lot of torque and good power. The Star does well in the main area; fuel economy. This should propel its sales quickly. Furthermore, it is priced spot on; Rs. 30000. So on the whole, what you get is a conventional bike which excels at certain areas to impress.

OVERALL- A very good bike which is sure to give the CT100 excellent competition.

STYLING-8/10

BUILD QUALITY-9/10

FIT AND FINISH-9/10

ENGINE-9/10

POWER-9.5/10

PERFORMANCE-9/10

RIDE-9/10

HANDLING-8.5/10

FUEL ECONOMY-9/10

VALUE FOR MONEY-9.5/10

GRAND TOTAL-89.5/100

Feel free to express your opinion on this review and this product.