TVS Star City Plus BS6 First Ride Review - Likes and Dislikes
Can the Star City Plus satisfy the needs of those looking for a reliable, dependable commuter?
Commuter motorcycles have been the backbone of the Indian two-wheeler industry, with nearly every single Indian manufacturer, and a few international brands, catering to the masses. TVS has been pretty vocal about its star in this segment, the Star City Plus. While it has been a strong performer for the Hosur-based brand, do things change with the BS6 heart? Here’s a taste of what we liked and didn't like about TVS’s popular commuter.
Likes -
Impressive fuel Efficiency
This part goes without saying. Yes, the “fill it, shut it and forget it” mantra may not have been coined for this particular bike, but it’s no wonder that it stuck. Let’s start off with the smaller number here, though. 66.34kmpl was the figure that the Star City Plus returned during our highway testing. This translates to a real-world range close to 650km (going by the Star City Plus’ 10-litre fuel tank), or Mumbai to Goa without needing a fuel stop!
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Star City Plus |
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Fuel efficiency (city) |
83.09kmpl |
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Fuel efficiency (highway) |
66.34kmpl |
But that isn’t the shocker. That honour goes to the next number: 83.09kmpl in city conditions! Now this figure was achieved in our standard test conditions, where the test riders stick to city-friendly speeds and avoid sudden or hard acceleration. Nonetheless, a realistic city fuel efficiency score of around 75kmpl should be attainable by riders of all kinds.
Styling flair
This is another territory where the Star City Plus comes up top trumps, thanks to its great balance of functionality and flair. Now, the BS4 version had its own understated charm, but the petal disc and segment-first LED headlight on the BS6 model, coupled with the bright (though not loud) stickering gives it a new persona. The above details do make it stand out in a sea of bland-looking commuters.
Ride quality
Dislikes -
Sub-par refinement
Given that it shares its engine with the Radeon, we were hoping that the Star City Plus would offer the same butter-smooth experience. However, that isn't the case; while vibrations are under control until 40kmph, after that the footpegs start tingling. This was a bit irritating as most commuter riders hold speeds between 40-60kmph to extract the maximum fuel efficiency from the engine. In contrast, the Radeon felt quite poised at those speeds and vibes only became a bother on it at 75kmph or above.
Unusual ergos -
This TVS has the seat and pegs positioned correctly, however, the low handlebar felt tiresome. You have to stretch down to get to the control, which puts a little stress on your shoulders. A taller handlebar would ease the load off your shoulders.
Questionable brakes
We appreciate TVS providing the Star City Plus with a front disc brake, extra safety never goes amiss. However, there’s almost zero progression on offer, which could be unnerving, especially since for most riders this could be their first experience with a disc brake setup. We hope TVS introduces a little extra leeway and dials in a bit of feedback into the system for riders to feel confident in a panic braking situation.
Verdict
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Price (ex-showroom Delhi) |
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Star City Plus |
Rs 70,005 - Rs 72,755 |
The TVS Star City Plus is a pukka commuter, one that returns phenomenal fuel efficiency. Its lightness and city mannerisms do make quite a good case for itself. What mars the commuting experience is the engine’s gruffness, which TVS should solve promptly. That’s perhaps the main limiting factor for us to recommend this bike wholeheartedly.
Sudipto Chaudhury
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