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S. Muralidhar

I plan to buy a new bike and am confused as there are so many in the market. I am more interested in mileage and looks than pick-up and power. The maintenance costs should also be reasonable. Which bike do you think will be the best option?

JITEN HEMANT SANGHVI

I have been driving a scooter since 1987 and have never driven a motorcycle before. Now, I plan to buy a bike. My daily commute is about 40 km. Please suggest a bike that will be fuel-efficient and good value for money.

PRADEEP

My job involves extensive travelling. I want to buy a bike that has low maintenance, good looks and is "ruff and tuff". The price must be approximately Rs 40,000.

RAJEV GOEL

I intend to buy a two-wheeler in the Rs 30,000-40,000 price bracket. My daily travel is normally restricted to commuting from residence to office, a distance of 20 km. I do plan to travel within the city and to my village, a distance of 80 km during the weekend. If I have to choose between the Bajaj Caliber 115, Hero Honda Splendor, TVS Centra and the Bajaj Chetak, which will be the best choice in terms of value for money, low maintenance costs and better mileage during the next five-six years.

MULLAPUDI SATYANARAYANA

I plan to buy a 100cc, low-priced motorcycle. My daily travel rarely exceeds km with a pillion rider. Please compare the Hero Honda Dawn, Bajaj Boxer, Yamaha Crux, and TVS Centra, and recommend the best 100cc bike.

M. N. SRIDHAR

In our view, the TVS Centra is currently the best option for the fuel-efficiency conscious 100cc bike buyer. The better part of the whole packaging that the Centra offers is that the bike's price is nearly on a par with two-wheelers such as the Hero Honda CD100, the Bajaj Caliber 115 and Bajaj Boxer, while it still offers as good or better trim and ride quality. It is also at least 10 per cent more fuel-efficienct.

The mileage numbers that our test bike came up with was completely based on in-city driving and without a pillion rider. So, the only possible variation that you may have will be due to a varied driving style or due to an increase in gross weight from the presence of a pillion rider. In the long run, the Centra can be expected to give 68-75 km per litre. In comparison, the Hero Honda Splendor offers 58-65 kmpl and the Bajaj Boxer's fuel efficiency will be a shade lower at about 55 kmpl.

In terms of power, the 99.35cc Bajaj Boxer engine throws up about 7.7bhp of maximum power, the 97.2cc Hero Honda Splendor engine pumps out 7.5bhp and the Bajaj Caliber 115's (which is in the same price range) 111.6cc, KTEC engine comes up with a max power of 9.5bhp. In comparison, the TVS Centra's 99.8cc engine offers 7.5bhp of maximum power. Again here, the VT-i engine comes up with this respectable max power at a lower rpm level compared to the other bikes. This again improves the fuel-efficiency of the bike.

The TVS Centra's ability to get the most out of every drop of fuel comes from the number of technological features that not just the engine, but some other parts of the bike have been loaded with. New features in the engine focus on reducing fuel wastage, friction reduction and complete combustion of fuel. Other features such as the slippery Teflon-coated timing chain guide and the roller cam follower take the bike's obsession with friction reduction to a new high.

In addition to making the Centra appear visually larger than other entry-level bikes, TVS has also given it an edge with its focus on a few practical aspects such as the large headlamp, sturdy and large turn indicators and broader seating.

Another feature that TVS has brought into the Centra, that has up until now been available only with the bikes in the higher segments, is the aluminium die-cast grab rail at the rear. Bikes from the competition such the Bajaj Boxer and the Hero Honda Splendor come fitted with chrome-plated steel grab rails at the rear.

The Centra also features the same rectangular swing arm that the company had first introduced with its 110cc Victor. The rectangular swing arm sharply reduces body flex of the bike and, therefore, improves stability and ride quality.

Overall, the TVS Centra should fit the bill for most entry-level bike buyers. Yes, as yet, it lacks the image and road presence of the Hero Honda Splendor, but for the moment it has the right technology backing its focus. The VT-i technology has proved to be road-worthy and TVS plans to adopt the same technology for its future engines.

We are sure the competition is not going to sit back and watch their market erode, but as yet, the Centra is the best option.

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