CENTRA-FRUGAL FORCE

12,600km report The VT-i-powered commuter bike with a frugal drinking habit continues to thrill.

Autocar India staffers continue to do battle over who gets to ride the diminutive Centra. This in spite of the bike getting along in age. Though our long term stable sports a few larger and more powerful motorcycles, few match the Centra in terms of sheer practicality.
It's no eye-stunner, yet within its segment the Centra does comfortably manage to pass off as a fair looker. Our test bike looks mean in shining black paint, and drawing close to the 13,000km mark has done little to take away much from its fine gloss.
The fuel tank, which is larger than those on most other 100cc commuter bikes, helps it impart a nice meaty feel to the rider. A fine headlight, adequate switchgear and nice grips and levers are other rider-friendly qualities that we have come to take for granted on the Centra.
We have always groaned about its clunky fuel-filler lid, and another minor hassle is a recent audio rattle from the rear tail-fairing bit, something that will need tending at the bike's next visit to the TVS service
centre.

The Centra motor comes armed with in-built VT-i technology and the engine has proven reliable in not giving us any untoward reason for complaint to this day. This bike is no trailblazer when talking performance, yet it's no slouch when paired with any of its direct competitors.
Snapper Ashley Baxter has maintained the bike as carefully as his own sibling. He resides in the back-of-beyond Thane and has racked up extensive mileage while cruising in for a day at office — an 80km run each day. His smooth and experienced riding style ensures the Centra has managed to maintain fair mileage figures and the bike returns a most creditable 63.3kpl on this mix-and-match of a highway-city run.
Ashley gives the thumbs up to the Centra's ability to cruise around the 60-70kph mark with comfort and minimal gearshifts. The clutch is well weighted and serves to add to the bike's plus points. Ergonomically too, the bike does not give cause for complaint.
On one occasion, the bike started misfiring when accelerated beyond the 60kph mark and had him scrambling it in for a fifth routine service. Minor adjustments at service — to the brakes, clutch and cleaning of all filters — were all that were required to set the problem right in a jiffy. Engine lube was also duly replaced at the same service. Handling on the Centra remains sparkling from the outset. It is one of the early commuter bikes to sport a rectangle section swingarm, and this always helped endow it with pleasant cornering and stability manners.
All said and done, the Centra makes a hassle-free and reliable companion. Not surprisingly, the bike is not short of admirers and the Centra is all set to move on to another staffer who's relishing the idea of a pleasant experience in riding a smooth and friendly commuter bike.
Rishad Cooper