TVS Star City Plus : In the congested go-go streets of India where every pinch of fuel is worth its weight in gold and traffic is an inescapable reality, the TVS Motor Company Star City Plus shines as an example of sequence of production and practicality.
The new version of this very popular commuter motorcycle is creating a buzz in the market with its unbelievable claimed fuel efficiency figure of upto 79 kmpl which makes this model one of the most fuel efficient bikes for budget oriented riders now.
TVS Star City Plus The Efficiency Revolution
In a nation where mileage figures tend to matter more than bhp numbers, the TVS Star City Plus has been playing the MPGs game quite well.
The impressive 79 kilometers per liter mileage that is against the best in 110c segment, and that tells us the bike will be an offer for those ‘go-long-distance’ daily commuters.
“I changed my bike to Star City Plus last year, and the change I have noticed in my monthly fuel cost has been remarkable,” says 35-year-old office executive from Delhi, Rajesh Kumar, who drives 40 kilometers every day.
“Earlier, each month I would spend about ₹3,500 buying petrol, now I am spending a little over ₹2,200. Just on the savings I could cover my EMI difference.
This incredible fuel economy does not happen by accident. The Star City Plus is equipped with TVS’s Ecothrust fuel injection technology, a class leading technology that helps in the atomization of the air fuel mixture and prevents atomization in the cylinder which brings out the optimum combustion.
It’s the technology that enables the engine to extract every last calorie of energy out of every drop of fuel you buy, resulting in stellar mileage numbers even as recently as a decade ago would have sounded possible only at low speeds on perfectly level roadways.
TVS Star City Plus ENGINEERING MARVEL: The Heart of Efficiency
Under the sleek skin, the Star City Plus is powered by an air-cooled 109.7cc single cylinder mill that strikes a chord between performance and efficiency.
This air cooled mill generates a humble yet sufficient output of 8.08 bhp at 7,350 rpm and 8.7 Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm, numbers that perhaps wouldn’t excite boy racers but are just right for around town duties.
The key behind its impressive mileage is not only the figures, but how TVS has made every tiny ounce of optimisation count on the motorcycle.
A nicely staggered gear box of four forwards enables the engine to deliver the goods when you are in the typical city ride conditions.
Moreover, due to the light kerb weight of just 116 kg, the bike requires lesser energy to attain momentum and sustains it with less fuel burn.
Dr Anil Sharma, automotive engineering consultant, gives us the lowdown on the technical stuff: “The manner in which TVS has managed to stay put with the Star City Plus is a feat in engineering terms.
They’ve gone to great lengths to calibrate the compression ratios, valve timings and look of the fuel delivery for the perfect blend of power deliver and fuel economy.
The bike’s engine management seamlessly adjusts to ride conditions, delivering optimum power even in stop-and go-traffic.”
TVS Star City Plus Real-World Efficiency vs Claimed Results
Although TVS advertises a mileage of as high as 79kmpl for the Star City Plus, actual fuel economy will depend on various factors.
As per several owner testimonials and motorcycle review research, in overall mixed riding, the bike does 65-75kmpl average – not bad at all and among one of the most frugal machines in the segment.
Things such as riding style, road conditions, maintenance, and yes even weather can also factor into real world mileage.
Hard driving, a lack of maintenance, a higher number of stops and starts, and city stuff requirements can cause the fuel economy figures to drop, although some more relaxed driving on the highway will get the riders closer to those numbers.
Deepak Verma, a commuter motorcycle mechanic, feels the same: “I service dozens of Star City Plus bikes every month, and across the board, owners have good things to say when it comes to mileage.
People who take care of their bikes and drive with sense also tend to achieve over 70kmpl of mileage, even in cities.
“[S]imple things like running the correct tyre pressures, cleaning your air filter regularly and changing the oil when you should can get the rider close to those claimed figures.
TVS Star City Plus More Than Mileage Make Your Commute a Charmed Experience
Even though that sounds like it has been plucked from a headline, so to speak, there’s more than just mileage to the TVS Star City Plus and TVS has ensured that the new motorcycle is packed with modern technology to make it a balanced every day commuter.
The bike is a great mix of space-saving design and comfort, efficiency and power, practicality and convenience, and technology and aesthetics.
The new model features some very nice features for the price that are not only within its price:
Night ride with more visibility with the LED headlight
USB charging port helps your mobile devices on the move
Single-digital instrument console with necessary information
Ergonomically designed 785mm high seat suitable for a wide range of riders
10L fuel tank for more refueling intervals.
5-position adjustable rear suspension for a softer or firmer ride
Tubeless tires making worry about flats a thing of the past
At a price standpoint of around ₹75,000 (ex-showroom), the Star City Plus is great value for money which will only improve with the fuel saving in the long run.
The bike comes in a variety of eye-catching dual-tone colors, such as Black Red, Grey Black, Blue Silver, Black Blue, and Red Black, infusing a dash of style into its practical makeup.
TVS Star City Plus EFFICIENCY AND ITS ECONOMIC IMPACT
The value of the Star City Plus’s heart-winning mileage is not only limited to personal savings.
In a nation like India, where millions depend on two wheelers for daily commutation, the combined fuel savings made possible by very efficient bikes such as the Star City Plus can make a noticeable difference to the overall consumption of fossil fuel, and resultant pollution on a national level.
The financial payoff is clear: For individual owners, the dividends are already rolling in.
With the common Indian commuter travelling 40-50km daily, a motorcycle giving 75kmpl can save you a whopping ₹10,000-15,000 a year than a thirsty machine. This is a large percentage of many families’ typical monthly income.
This is just how economist Dr. Priya Nair sees it: “For India’s vast middle class and working population, transportation costs are top concern on the household budget.
If anything, a motorcycle that provides a fantastic fuel economy such as the Star City Plus plays a significant part in a household’s economics.
The money saved can then be invested in education, health or other critical expenses, paving the way for more effective consumption and bringing families a step forward.
TVS Star City Plus User Experience and Reliability
Ultimately, the real challenge for any commuter motorcycle is how well it holds up during long term riding conditions that are, to put it simply, very typically Indian.
Proven to be a workhorse, the Star City Plus is known for its reliability and smooth performance over the years, having been in the market for quite some time now.
Mahesh Patil has been riding his Star City Plus for the past three years and 45,000-odd kilometers and says, “I have always found the mileage to be the same over the years.
And as of this writing, three years later, I am still getting 70-72kmpl in Bombay traffic. Even more impressive is the fact that the motorcycle has demanded so little in terms of maintenance other than the regular service visits. The total cost of ownership has been exceptionally low.
Another owner who, like Graham, has had his CBR for a while agrees: “Nice to have a bike that gets 55-60 mpg, but that the midrange screams when cracking the throttle also makes it even more aswemome.”
Its low maintenance feature adds more to the cost effective aspect of the Star City Plus as a commuter.
TVS Star City Plus The Competition: How It Compares
The 110cc commuter motorcycle space is very competitive in India, with stiff competition coming from commuter motorcycles from established players such as Hero Motocorp, Honda and Bajaj.
But, with the Star City Plus pulling off such standout figures for mileage, it gets a clear edge here in this mileage-conscious category.
Versus its closest competitors:
The Hero Splendor Plus mileage is estimated at 60-65kmpl
Honda CD 110 Dream boasts of a mileage of around 65kmpl
Bajaj Platina Bajaj Platina 110Like (0) Bajaj Platina 110:Expected 70kmpl This bike intends to offer around 70kmpl
Does it? By that number and the fact that you get around 70kmpl out on the road, it is the mileage king in this segment.
Competitors may have certain advantages when it comes to lower purchase price, better service network or any few features.
Bike journalist Ravi Desai has his take: “What’s impressive about the Star City Plus is that it does all of this with little compromise to other aspects of the bike. It doesn’t seem underpowered or stripped out to achieve those mileage numbers.
What TVS has done instead, is that it has managed to put together a very well rounded package which is just so damn efficient.”
TVS Star City Plus New Efficient Manner of Transportation
As India inches closer to greener modes of transport, hyper-efficient motorcycles such as the TVS Star City Plus can act as crucial bridge between traditional ICEs and the burgeoning electric two-wheeler industry.
The tech and engineering that make the Star City Plus capable of achieving these extraordinary mileage figures results in valuable insights that can be transported to upcoming offerings, which may in-turn explore the frontiers of efficiency.
Even though electric motorcycles are the future, the long term future, ongoing enhancements to ICE efficiency are still critically important to now and the near future.
Apparently TVS itself looks determined for this alternate route, choosing to walk on both the paths of traditional enhancements as well as e-mobility.
The Star City Plus is proof of how much more juice can be squeezed out of old school engine tech when the makers decide to push efficiency.
TVS Star City Plus Conclusion: Economy Cons At Its Most Compressed
The TVS Star City Plus which is one of the best mileage bike ever with a whopping 79kmpl excellence proves to be awe-inspiring balance engineering.
Instead of going for peak power output or minimum cost of purchase, TVS has chosen what will matter most for a typical Indian commuter – getting the farthest possible life per rupee spent on fuel – without compromising on dependability, convenience or necessary features.
To the budget conscious millions who rely on two wheels for their commute in India, the Star City Plus is a compelling proposition – a general purpose commuter motorcycle that no doubt gets from point A to B using up less fuel than just about anything else out there. That’s a difference worth celebrating in a place where every kilometer per liter counts.
With the cost of fuel relentlessly spiraling and remaining an ongoing concern for observant society, the superiority of extremely fuel efficient bikes such as the Star City Plus becomes more and more relevant.
The bike is proof that prudent engineering with an eye toward the actual needs of the world can create something extraordinary despite working within the confines of an existing technology.
For the mileage and price conscious consumer who needs an efficient and reliable mode of transport in the form of transport, the TVS Star gets you home, and the economy model brings the numbers with it too.