Is The TVS Radeon The Best 110cc Commuter Bike In India? You Decide!

Welcome to Auto Premier League, India’s only auto awards where you, the reader, get to decide which is the best bike in its class. And no, we’re not restricting this to just the bikes which were launched this year. Best in class means best in class, period! The voting is set to open from June 5, and to know more about the Auto Premier League, head here.

The category we’re talking about right now is the commuter segment up to 110cc. Two-wheelers are mostly considered as a means of no-nonsense, affordable mode of transportation and the 110cc and below segment takes up the lion's share in terms of sales. In fact, a handful of India’s best-selling motorcycles such as the Hero Splendor, HF Deluxe, Honda CB Shine, etc fall in this category. In this segment, you have other noteworthy contenders from the likes of Bajaj Auto and TVS as well. You can vote for your favourite bike here: https://bit.ly/2z9yVWQ. Check out this list of bikes competing for top honours in this category:

Hero Splendor:

The unassuming Hero Splendor single-handedly became the most sought-after choice for many Indians who wanted a hassle-free, affordable means of point A to point B commute. Over the years, its design has remained largely untouched and this plays an important role in keeping the familiarity factor of the motorcycle intact. Its reliability and efficiency have had the masses hooked and the Splendor has been India’s best selling motorcycle almost the whole time since it was launched.

Pros:

• Extremely frugal

• Reliable powerplant.

• Low seat height and light weight make manoeuvring at tight spots easy. 

Cons:

• The design feels rather old now.

• No disc brake even as an option.

• Not rich on features.

For more details, check out: https://bit.ly/2zw0zxo

TVS Star City Plus:

Where bikes like the Radeon and Sport are targeted towards more budget minded commuters, TVS’ Star City Plus has its sights set on those riders, for whom style is as important as substance. In fact, BS6-compliant Star City Plus is the first motorcycle in its segment to feature a full-LED headlamp. Apart from this, it also comes in five vibrant colours. These aspects coupled with the slightly sporty bodywork make it an ideal choice for younger riders. With three million motorcycles on the road so far, it’s safe to say the TVS Star City Plus has some healthy fan following.

Pros:

• Features LED headlamp

• High on fuel efficiency

• Comes with a standard 5-year warranty.

Cons:

• No front disc brake even as an option.

For more details about the TVS Star City Plus, head here: https://bit.ly/2zyGW7L

Bajaj CT 100:

Priced at Rs 41,293 (ex-showroom Delhi) for the base kick start-equipped variant, the Bajaj CT100 is by far the most affordable BS6-compliant motorcycle in India. One of the reasons how Bajaj has been able to achieve such cut-throat pricing is the usage of an electronic carburettor instead of a full-fledged closed-loop fuel injection system. While the CT100 was originally launched at the turn of the millenium, the bike had nearly a 10 year hiatus from the mid-2000s, remerging back into the Indian market in 2015. While it hasn’t been able to find the same sales success as some of its rivals from Hero MotoCorp, it has consistently been amongst the top 10 best selling motorcycles in India for many years. 

Pros:

• Competitive pricing

• Gets a generous 170mm ground clearance

• Fuel efficient motor

Cons:

• No tubeless tyres

• No optional front disc brake

Check out more details about the Bajaj CT100 here: https://bit.ly/3c5unOs

TVS XL 100:

The TVS XL100 has racked up consistent sales over decades and now this legend lives on in its BS6-compliant avatar. What’s more, it is also the second most affordable BS6-compliant two-wheeler you can buy in India after the Bajaj CT100. Its utilitarian design and its heavy duty (pardon the pun) yet fuel-efficient motor has made it an ideal choice for those who need a trusty workhorse. And let’s not forget. If it wasn’t for the original XL50, TVS wouldn’t be the tour-de-force it is today in the world of racing.

Pros:

• Good luggage carrying capacity

• Rugged design

• Competitive pricing

Cons:

• Engine lacks punch

• Build quality is a little crude

Read more about the TVS XL100 here: https://bit.ly/2TCaBUj

TVS Radeon:

The TVS Radeon is one of the peppiest motorcycles in its class. It is designed to emulate the familiarity of the Hero Splendor and it seems to have worked well for its target audience. Besides being involving to ride, the Radeon is also one of the most fuel-efficient bikes in its class. This coupled with good fit and finish and a comfortable seat make it a very strong contender in its segment.

Pros: 

• One of the most efficient bikes we’ve tested

• It comes with a supple suspension setup

• Soft and well padded seat is super comfortable

Cons:

• Looks too similar to the Hero Splendor

• Brakes could have been better

Know more about the TVS Radeon here: https://bit.ly/2TH5G4D

Hero Splendor iSmart:

The Hero Splendor iSmart is essentially a more powerful, premium, fresher-looking version of the venerable Splendor Plus. Hero MotoCorp’s first indigenously designed 110cc engine after it parted ways with Honda debuted on this motorcycle, and it was the first motorcycle in India to offer start-stop technology. It was also the first BS6-compliant commuter motorcycle in the country.

Pros:

• Refreshing looks

• Robust engine

• Packs a generous 180mm ground clearance

Cons:

• Price is a bit on the expensive side

Head here to know more about the Hero Splendor iSmart: https://bit.ly/2XtQpoR

Bajaj Platina H-Gear:

The Bajaj Platina H-Gear has earned the distinction of being the only 110cc commuter motorcycle to have a 5-speed transmission. Apart from this, it also comes with an electronic carburettor like the Bajaj CT 100. More importantly, Bajaj has taken quite a lot of effort to make this bike as comfortable as possible. So it comes with features like gas-charged spring-over-spring rear shock absorbers, well-cushioned seat and a telescopic fork with 135mm travel up front.

Pros:

• 5th gear helps in improving highway efficiency.

• Gets a semi-digital instrument cluster with gear position indicator

• Comfortable seat

Cons: 

• Headlamp illumination could be better

• Side stand indicator is absent

Check out more about the Bajaj Platina 110 H-Gear here: https://bit.ly/36tDc3C

Hero Passion Pro:

The Hero Passion Pro has always been known to be the trendy-looking one under Hero MotoCorp’s commuter bike lineup. In its BS6-compliant version, the Passion Pro gets a reworked bodywork that goes really well with its new vibrant colour schemes. Additionally, it also features longer travel suspension and better ground clearance. Another notable feature is the semi-digital instrument cluster with real time mileage indicator. The BS6 Hero Passion Pro also gets Auto Sail technology which helps in crawling at traffic speeds effortlessly

Pros:

• Sporty looks

• Auto Sail technology makes life in the slow lane a lot easier.

• Semi-digital instrument cluster gets a real time mileage indicator.

Cons:

• Has become rather expensive now

Here are more details about this motorcycle: https://bit.ly/2LYKcvR