TVS Star Sport: The well-fought 110cc motorcycle segment saw a substantial shake up yesterday as TVS Motor Company revealed the all new Star Sport, infusing startling premium style to the commuter class at amazing fuel economy.
At a carefully curated launch event in Chennai, company officials constantly harped on about the ‘practical premium’ philosophy of the motorcycle – a clear indication of TVS’s motive to erase the age-old demarcation between commuter and lifestyle categories.
TVS Star Sport Evolution in Design: More Than Just Basic Transportation
As soon as the wraps were taken off, it was clear that the Star Sport was a massive departure from the usual commuter bike style. The front end gets a sharp LED headlamp with unique DRL signature, first in class.
The new-age lighting system is encased in a robust cowl which imparts a tougher road presence; something that is quite hard to find in the 110cc segment.
The fuel tank has aggressive knee recesses and textured tank side panels for better grip and a high-tech look. And the side panels get angular touches with metal badges, the tail section seems more cohesive with a modern LED taillight and clear-lens ilndicators that complete the contemporary look.
The new Titanium Grey is particularly striking: the colour has a delicate matte finish with a hint of metallic to it to give it a unique appearance that changes in the light, but the Star Sport is also available in a number of other colourways including the eye-catching Electric Blue and the bold Racing Red.
“We realized that the commuter segment buyer of today is changing a lot,” said Meghashyam Dighole, head of marketing at TVS Motor Company, during the launch presentation.
They want practical transportation, but they don’t want to give up style and technology. “The Star Sport provides just that – outstanding efficiency with design features that until now were available only in the premium segments.
Engineered for Efficiency: The Mileage Marvel
No matter what catches the eye at first glance on the Star Sport, the real slap on the back is actually hidden from view. It gets the same 109.7cc single-cylinder powerplant with TVS’s proprietary Ecothrust technology, which is claimed to return 83.4 kilometers to liter as per standard test conditions – figures that make it one of the most fuel efficient motorcycle on sale today.
This impressive level of efficiency is the result of numerous design refinements such as an optimized combustion chamber shape, a revised bore and stroke ratio and a lighter crankshaft, all of which contribute to the improved engine performance and reduced mechanical loss, as well as newly adopted technology such as improved oil pump efficiency, reduced oil slinging and smart heat management.
However, despite the laser-like concentration on fuel efficiency, the performance isn’t bad for city riding either, where 8.4 horsepower and 8.7Nm are modest numbers on paper but give a snappy performance around town, while still allowing for the other-worldly levels of fuel economy that nobody else in the segment has managed to equal.
The four speed transmission comes with reworked ratios particularly suited for Indian city riding conditions, focusing on feather-touch gear shifting at lower gear shifts.
Convenience And Utility Upgrades
As commuter motorcycles are generally the primary family mode of transport in a number of regions, people tend to put miles after miles on these and TVS have added several features that could come in handy for riders in terms of comfort and convenience themselves.
Upgraded seat with dual-density cushion and anti-slip texture for all-day comfort on long rides. The riding position is thoughtfully calibrated with slightly rear set footpegs and a natural handlebar position for city stints.
The suspension duties are handled by telescopic front forks up front and five-step adjustable rear shock absorbers that offer pliant ride quality while ensuring optimum handling on rough surfaces.
Luggage options are especially considered, with a lockable compartment incorporated in the fuel tank (suitable for important documents and a smartphone) and a USB socket for charging devices on the go, aiding uninterrupted use of gadgets on your daily journey.
The dashboard includes an analogue speedometer, fuel-meter and more, as well as a digital display that gives instant fuel efficiency, odometer readings – and more.
Connected Technology for a Seamless Commute
Surprise, surprise, there’s even a tech package that is significantly feature-rich as that of the Star Sport with items that you wouldn’t get to see on the commuter segment bikes.
Certain trims get TVS’s SmartXonnect Bluetooth connectivity technology that syncs with a dedicated smartphone app to provide call alerts, messages, turn-by-turn navigation along with ride stats.
It also features useful touches, such as find-my-bike localization and ride analysis that can help the rider fine-tune his riding style, improving efficiency – which is especially useful for cheapskate types looking to save some gas money.
The app even includes maintenance notifications and service scheduling, making ownership effortless.
Safety is at the forefront too, with Unified Braking System (UBS) in use; helping to increase the smoothness of your ride with combined brakes applying to both a vehicle’s front and rear at the same time, even when only the rear brake lever is pressed, or when opposite levers are used on models equipped with CBS.
Market Positioning and Product Structure
The primary variants of the Star Sport include:
Kick Start: Entry-level variant with drum brakes and analogue console.
Electric Start: Incorporating electric starter and digital-analogue instrument cluster
Related: Range-topping model with Bluetooth connectivity, and upscale options
Pricing indicates TVS’s aggressive approach, the range opens at ₹58,450 for the base Kick Start variant, while the top-end Connected variant is offered at ₹67,990 (ex-showroom), which puts it in an aggressive range as well to rival established players like the Hero Splendor Plus and Honda CD 110 Dream.
This sort of pricing also provides direct separation value of variants and at the same time never distances any variants from the hardcore commuter segment, which is a very price-sensitive category and even a difference of thousand bucks can change sale for of a bike.
TVS Star Sport Market Impact, Competitive Challenges
Trade analysts see the Star Sport’s launch as a disruptive entry into the mature and conservative commuter segment where it becomes increasingly pragmatic in terms of style and features.
TVS seems set on raising the bar for what a modern day commuter motorcycle should deliver, by bringing in high levels of efficiency together with high-end features and design elements of a premium motorcycle.
“This is the next evolution in the commuter segment,” said automotive analyst Rahul Sharma. As India’s motorcycle market further matures, the line between purely functional commuters and lifestyle products is becoming increasingly blurred.
The Star Sport concedes that with commuter buyers now wanting to buy not just ‘practical excellence’ but also emotional appeal, with so much competition in the segment, a redesign should take place.
For rivals that have played the incremental cosmetic update game to keep their players intact, the Star Sport’s complete overhaul might result in some re-evaluating of product development strategies, especially in terms of design finesse and tech play at the budget scale.
As the demand for urban transport continues to change, the Star Sport with its shandar (impressive) style, advanced technology and outstanding mileage, has the potential to change the consumer’s mind set about what commuter motorcycles should be, and can be – stylish, feature-filled and cost-effective, yet a fun-to-ride entry in a market sophisticated enough to know that reliable transportation should not be a compromise on style or features.