Feb 27, 2016 04:25 PM
28023 Views
I feel glad to have been the proud owner of Victor GLX, a bike which I have been riding for more than 10 years. Yes. I bought this bike in Feb 2006 when 125cc bikes were targeting the sports segment. No engine boring done till date, although I have underused this bike as I have never done long trips. The odo meter reads just around 12, 800Kms and I had to change engine oil for just 3-4 times till now!
I have no regrets that I spent around Rs. 52, 000 including the accessories cost on this one as I made the choice of a bike over jazzy auto-gear scooters from kinetic honda or bikes from the popular honda or bajaj series. The proximity of the service centers and the Made in India brand of TVS coupled with easy availability of spare parts, had influenced my decision to choose TVS over other brands.
No alloy wheels on this one. It's the classic spokes wheels you'll find on legendary bikes that remind you the times of Caliber and CD-100 from Bajaj. City commuting is a breeze on this one as shifting gears is smoother once you finish your 10, 000Kms service.
Also, you need to idle the engine for a minute before you move the vehicle after each engine start. Because, Victor GLX performs best only after its engine heats up. in terms of both mileage and pick-up.
Assuming you keep your speed limits around 50-60kmph, you can easily do 45-50Kms of mileage in city limits regardless of the bike's age. And 55-60 on highways even if you drive aggressively at a speed of around 70-80Kmph. Yes. I am still able to achieve this amazing mileage even after ten years of use!
A steady driver with calculated gear-shifts when you hit the peak rpm at each gear, will make you feel like the shifts are indeed butter-smooth. Also, you feel the engine roaring to life in third and fourth gears. The 2nd and first gears somehow lack the punch, so normally I never use them, unless I have to climb an uphill terrain!
The VTi engine surely packs a punch when you twist the throttle just at the right moment, after shifting to the top gear. Keep pushing the throttle a bit more until it locks itself, and you could reach a top speed anywhere between 90 to 100kmph, depending upon the age of your engine and the quality of maintenance.
Although my bike can still zip from 50-80kmph effortlessly, it struggles to reach 90kmph and then runs out of steam. But, it could do almost 110kmph during the first couple of years from its purchase date. I couldn't have expected anything better from a commuting bike that flaunts a few sports bike features like disc brake and aerodynamic design.
It feels sad to note that TVS has stopped making the Victor series and the spare parts are also scarcely available. But, none of those constraints have stopped my bike from being 100% functional.
Maybe it's time to change my bike's headlamp as the light emitted through it is thinning and patching. I guess it faced the brunt of weather fury including the wear/tear from usage for 10 long years. Apart from couple of battery replacements, and one front disk-brake-plate -set replacement, I have not spent a penny on maintaining this bike.
Victor GLX 125cc is truly a legend and you'll be proud to own it! You will love its low-cost maintenance and cherish the seating comfort as well as butter-smooth handling for as long as its engine keeps revving with life.
Happy riding! It truly offers you: "More smiles per hour". as the bike's popular punchline goes.
I am anxious to buy the RTR 180 next, as my faith in TVS never seems to fade away.
Improvements: Please offer a wider wheelbase and something from the racing genre. No TVS tyres please as they make your bike lose stability and skid on wet roads, especially while cornering or taking acute turns. Do something about its looks and make it more sporty!
