WILY VT-I

8,100km report Many trouble-free kilo-metres down the road, the Victor GLX continues to win broad smiles.

Having put in 8,100 graceful odometer clicks in a relatively short time span, our long term Victor GLX shows it has what it takes to withstand the ravages of time.
Since our first report on the TVS Victor GLX in September 2004, this bike has put away some serious mileage. Being taken over at that point by diligent correspondent Sushant Balsekar, it now has to traverse Thane to Mumbai on a daily basis. This fresh Victor, while no headturner, provides sincerely practical biking. With great palm-grips, comprehensive instrumentation and smartly buffed aluminium alloy treatment for its triple clamp and surrounding area, the Victor GLX enjoys an upmarket feel that is alien to its segment. We had earlier praised its headlamp and switchgear and they remain as silently efficient as on day one. While our earlier report had it that the bike was showing early spots of corrosion in places, these have neither mushroomed further nor attained any sort of significant proportion over the last five months. Sushant waxes eloquent on the VT-i-enabled 124.8cc single-cylinder Victor motor for its silken smoothness and absolutely vibration-free operation. What disappoints him frequently is the need to thrash the engine while climbing a gradient, or with a heavy pillion riding astride. In these situations the bike feels slightly out of breath and in need of a tad extra horsepower. What thrills him no end though is the consistent frugality. In spite of subjecting the GLX to harsh situations on a daily basis, the machine is returning an average mileage over 50kpl. TVS Motor Company will soon have to consider a self-starter for this bike as most of its competitors have lately begun to provide this luxury.
Sushant has also been taken in by the bike’s agility in crowded city traffic as also its plush rear suspension that keeps his spine shipshape — this in spite of the near 70km to and fro ride he undertakes to office everyday. The brakes on the GLX continue to live upto their fine reputation, with adequate stopping power on tap for all situations. There have been no breakdowns in the 7500-odd odometer clicks completed so far. Surprisingly, an annoying loss of tyre pressure that afflicted this bike in the beginning too has sealed up. Routine servicing and scheduled oil changes have been the only nursing this bike requires.
So there you have it. While not an exciting road-scorcher by any means, the Victor GLX has us smiling with its rock-solid reliability and adequate all-round functioning.l
Rishad Cooper

Captions:
Smooth VT-i engine is reliable.

Top drawer switchgear for GLX.

Alloy triple clamp and surrounding area offers upmarket feel.