TVS’s need to give us a budget bike for the rural people was answered in the form of the TVS Star City. Who better to showcase the strength, durability, calm attitude and holding its ground and the list continues of the bike than our very own Ex-Captain of the Indian Cricket Team M.S Dhoni. The whole idea is to stand on your own feet or to make it own your own. Hence the Dhoni dialogue “Ab Taaqat Apne Haath mein”! Coming from a small town in Ranchi to taking India win two World Cups, nothing is impossible, motivation seems to be the point here. TVS launched the Star City in 2012 and it has come a long way. In 2017 they have relaunched the TVS Star City Plus, Let’s have a look at what is new and does it still hold its ground.

TVS Star City Plus Price

City On-road Price
New Delhi INR 49,869
Bangalore INR 55,697
Pune INR 54,456
Chennai INR 53,891
Hyderabad INR 54,829
Mumbai INR 54,456
Ahmedabad INR 54,569
Kolkata INR 56,212
Chandigarh INR 50,986

At this price this bike is cheaper than most scooters and with a robust built and durability. Typical of Mr. Dhoni. I am trying to figure how is TVS managing to keep the price low. Since they have upgraded the TVS Victor, it seems the Star City would take its place as a cheaper option for a good commuter.

Also Read: TVS Victor Price and Review

TVS Star City Plus Top Speed

With a top speed of 90 km/h it is not that fast but more than enough for the rural commute where roads are non existent and road sense of the people is also non existent.

TVS Star City Plus Dimensions

Length 1980 mm
Width 750 mm
Height 1080 mm
WheelBase 1252 mm
Ground Clearance 172 mm
Kerb Weight 109 kgs
Seat Height 785 mm

The bike is longer than average but is quite narrow at 750 mm. I was pleasantly surprised with the ground clearance of 172 mm. This provides excellent ride over the rural roads. At 109 kgs this weight would give a tough competition to most scooters and it very agile. The seat height too is not too high neither too low at 785 mm. Hoping that the average Indian can find it easy to roam about.

TVS Star City Plus Design

The headlamp is large and clear but being more flat looks like a headlamp from an old Maruti 800, and the flat visor looks like a cap that olden days Maharashtrians would wear specially in black. The tank is sharp sculpted like a spade and has a nice arc or the knee for added comfort. The front forks are long for the 172 mm ground clearance. The alloys and engine are matte black coated to give a universal colours for uniformity and it actually adds to the premium and sporty looks.

TVS Star City Plus Side

As TVS says the Star City Logo is a chrome 3d logo that protrudes out. The exhaust has a chrome cover with a ECOTHRUST badging on it. What is different is the regular tyre treading in the front but button tyre treading at the rear for the bad terrain. The tail lamp along with the indicators is clear and very visible. Here the grabrail is not of fibre but of aluminium and TVS marks this as a style and premium quotient. The seat is very comfortable and the riding posture is upright making this an apt bike for the almost no roads in the rural regions of India.

Also read: Bajaj V15 Vikrant Price And Review

 TVS Star City Plus Colours

The Star City is available in a variety of colours,

  • Chocolate Gold
  • White Gold
  • Black Gold
  • Oscar Black
  • Black Silver
  • Matte Grey
  • Black Blue
  • Matte Grey
  • Titanium Grey
  • ShowStopper Blue
  • Celebrity Scarlett

This list of paint is probably more than the lineup of bikes TVS has. Yes there is my Black but the mix of gold, silver and blue didn’t go very well to my liking. The Matte Grey seemed the best.

TVS Star City Plus Specifications

Engine 109cc
Power 8.30 bhp @ 7000 rpm
Torque 8.70 Nm @ 5000 rpm
Transmission 4-speed
Bore 53 mm
Stroke 48 mm
Starter TCI
Cylinders 1
Top Speed 90 km/h

TVS has focused on the rural areas to deliver more mileage than performance considering the fuel pumps are far apart. The 4-speed gearbox seems less but more than makes up as attaining a speed of 90 km/h for this gearbox is an engineering marvel with super refinement. The bike seems a bit crude but the gearshifts are smooth and do not get stuck. The mid range torque is well managed with very few gear shifts.

Also Read : Hero Splendor iSmart 110

TVS Star City Plus Mileage

Mileage (ARAI)
City 80 km/l
Highway 90 km/l
Overall 86 km/l
Tank 10 litres
Distance 800 km

The Star City is well focussed on mileage and with an efficiency of 86 km/l the car can do an easy 800 km before hitting the next fuel stop. That is a good month running even for the long rural areas. This would take me to goa and halfway back.

Also Read: Honda Livo Review

TVS Star City Plus Ride and Handling

I can’t talk about cornering and track as this is a simple commute bike. Yes we can talk about off roading because most of rural India do not even have roads. The bike is light and this makes the bike agile whether it is heavy traffic or bad undulations on the road. The excellent ground clearance is admirable but also is the softness of the suspension. The straight seating posture make it very comfortable without much of pressure on the back on bad roads.

 TVS Star City Plus 2

TVS finally introduced alloys to provide tubeless tyres so make the consumer less worried about tyre puncture and accidents. I mean with 80 km/l would you really bother about how much lean you could do into a corner. One thing is admirable is TVS provided dual purpose tyres. The button tyres at the rear make this bike good for all purpose terrain. The handle bars are not too wide and turn easily. Only thing i missed was disc brakes. The drum brakes have a delayed feel and lock under pressure.

Verdict

 

This bike is not giving u much but it is surely delivering what it is supposed to. Mind boggling efficiency and good ride comfort and ease. Yes the design looks like that of a bike 5 years back and even the new paint scheme does not seem to help but the bike is robust and long lasting with cheap spares to use. Should you buy it? I would say yes, I mean what else would you find for this price.

3 Comments

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  • Normal petrol

  • Which petrol i should use in it. Speed or normal petrol. Which is better.?
    I ride normaly in speed of 80-90

  • Visitor Rating: 1 Stars