Before I start talking about the motorcycle, I would like to make a small disclosure. I own a KTM 200 Duke, so for me, any motorcycle below 25bhp is boring. Anything above that figure can be safely considered fun. Frankly, I stereotype a lot. So, the day I received the TVS Star City Plus, I had very little expectation from the motorcycle. However, two days and about 150 km later, the Indian workhorse proved all my pre-conceived notions wrong and I was pleasantly surprised after riding it around town and on the highway.
Well, then, let’s start with the review, shall we?
Looks and design
Let’s talk about the design first. The new Star City Plus has more than just a new embossed logo on the side of the motorcycle. The cosmetics have been reworked by the company to appeal to the younger audience. The new version gets a redesigned headlight which is actually smaller than the earlier iteration. This does not mean that it lacks illumination capabilities though. The performance of the headlight is fairly decent during night and it illuminates the roads quite efficiently. The tank gets beefier, and houses the knees well while riding. Creases on the tank and body have become sharper, and add to the new, sporty design. The sides of the bike get sports faux mesh inserts which are followed by the embossed “Star City+” logo. The side panels hide the top portion of the rear suspension as opposed to the earlier version which had a completely exposed view of the springs. The pillion handle grab is bigger and provides better utility than the earlier model. The seat is almost the same as before and provides comfortable seating to rider and pillion.
Build quality is good and the paint finish is impressively smooth throughout. The black coating on the engine, the quality of plastic used, the handlebar weights, handlebar grips, switches – all point towards the effort put in by TVS to provide top notch quality for the given price. Electrical switches have undergone change as well and feel more premium than the ones on the earlier Star City. The only suggestion to TVS would be to add backlit switches.
In terms of the instrument cluster, while the speedometer is an analogue unit, fuel gauge and ODO meter are fully digital. The dashboard also features tell tale lights representing turn signals, upper beam, neutral gear, and a service reminder unique to the 100-110cc category. The handle bar comes with end-weights on both sides which would come handy for protecting the levers in case the bike takes a tumble. The redesigned mirrors also work well.
Too many positives? Too good to be true, right? Well, there are a few flaws too. The pass beam for example – it won’t function when the headlight is turned on. You have to use the high/low beam switch to signal oncoming traffic. The fuel gauge too is not accurate. What’s missing on the new Star City Plus is the mobile charging point that was a standard fitment on the earlier model. Although it was rarely used accessory, it was, in our view a very handy add-on especially for long rides. Another flaw is the heat shield. The Ecothrust badged heat shield doesn’t perform its job well and heats up a fair bit.
Read ahead for performance and handling details>>>