Bajaj Platina 110 H Gear vs Hero Splendor Plus vs TVS Radeon: Spec Comparison

Before we take this fight out on the road, we pit Bajaj’s new city commuter against established rivals like the Splendor Plus and TVS Radeon on paper

Bajaj has extended its Platina range by adding the Platina 110 H Gear. The new motorcycle looks quite promising, but how does it fare against its rivals? We find out. 

Engine:

Straight away, the Platina 110 H Gear has a slight edge over its rivals when it comes to power. Although it has more cubic capacity, there isn’t a significant difference; it produces just 0.24PS and 0.2PS more than the Splendor Plus and the TVS Radeon, respectively. The Platina 110 H Gear’s torque figures too are at par with its rivals. However, Bajaj has a neat trick up its sleeves. While the Splendor Plus and the Radeon are equipped with a 4-speed gearbox, the Platina 110 H Gear gets an extra cog, which could help improve its highway efficiency. Additionally, with the help of extra gear, the engine is likely to be less stressed at high speeds compared to its rivals. And it’s the only motorcycle in its segment to come with a 5-speed transmission! 

Underpinnings: 

Hero hasn’t given the Splendor Plus a major mechanical update in aeons! Yes, it’s suspension setup is similar to that of the Radeon, but TVS’ offering gets more features that it can boast about. However, it’s the Platina 110 H Gear which feels a step ahead of its competitors. It gets the same front suspension setup as the others, but it is equipped with twin spring-over-spring Nitrox shock absorbers at the rear. Additionally, the Platina 110 H Gear gets a 240mm disc at the front, whereas Hero and TVS have equipped their offerings with 130mm drum units. Now, how does this translate into braking performance? We will be riding the new Platina 100 H Gear soon. So stay tuned for a comprehensive first ride review soon!

Dimensions: 

Commuter motorcycles need to be light, agile and compact and these three contenders fit the description. But it’s the Platina 110 H Gear which seem ahead of its rivals on this front. It’s longer and it can hold more fuel compared to its rivals. Bajaj claims that the Platina 110 H Gear offers 84kmpl, which is more than its rivals! Also, its 118.5kg kerb weight may not seem much on paper, but it’s 5.5kg and 6kg heavier than its rivals. Bajaj has given its city commuter a ground clearance of 200mm, which is also the highest by a significant margin. 

Features:

Even though these motorcycles are priced under Rs 55,000, they get a healthy dose of features. Except the Hero Splendor Plus, that is. It feels quite dated on this front. The Platina 110 H Gear gets a semi-digital instrument cluster with a gear position indicator, which is a segment first. The TVS Radeon, on the other hand, misses out on the semi-digital instrument cluster, but it gets LED DRLs and a nifty USB charging port! Meanwhile, the Splendor Plus gets... err... an electric start and that’s about it. 

Verdict:

The Bajaj Platina 110 H Gear is priced from Rs 53,376 (drum), which is Rs 2,000 and Rs 3,000 more than the Splendor Plus and the Radeon, respectively. And for that slight premium, you get more features and a more powerful motor than the Splendor Plus and the Radeon. So if you are out there looking at getting an affordable yet rugged motorcycle that can handle your daily chores with ease, you should either opt for the Platina 110 H Gear or the TVS Radeon.