Victor 125GLX ready to roll from the TVS stables

The TVS Group banks on
30 June 2004

Most two-wheeler makers are very optimistic about the 125cc category of motorcycles as they believe that a typical executive segment bike buyer will eventually prefer to park at this level.

The biggest chunk of the motorcycle market at present is the executive segment and averages three million of the five million two-wheeler market. The largest selling bikes in this class are from the Hero Honda — the Passion Plus and the Splendor plus. The Splendor, introduced in 1995, was treated to a facelift recently and re-christened Splendor plus, enabling it to regain lost ground by averaging a whopping 95,000 units.

Victor GL from TVS averages around 35,000-40,000 units while the Freedom from LML, close to 16,000 units. There are many other bikes like the Bajaj Caliber 115, Kinetic Velocity, TVS Centra, with an engine displacement capacity ranging between 100 and 115cc with only the Bajaj Wind 125 being in the 125cc class, which sells around 3,000 units.

But that is not damping the enthusiasm of two-wheeler manufacturers who are of the opinion that the 125cc market will grow. TVS had introduced the 125cc version of its Victor GL and named it Victor GLX. This exercise is akin to the introduction of Freedom Prima 125, roughly based on the 110cc Freedom.

Looks wise the Victor 125GLX is not very different from the Victor GL. It is almost as conservative in it's styling, yet different. Its fairing has an opto-prism headlamp. Aft of the fairing are the instruments — a large speedometer and a tachometer with various warning lights located in between. They include the 'power and 'economy' indicator as well as the VTi. Both these have to do with the technology backup of the 125GLX (more on that later).

The GLX is equipped with a disc brake — a big jump from the drum brake on the Victor GL at front. It has a bigger than normal fuel tank into which the side and rear panels merge in an effort to present the 125GLX with big-bike looks since the GL and the GLX share the same platform. This is more than evident after a close look at the engine and the frame. The wheelbase is longer than the 110cc Victor's with higher power at 10bhp @ 7,750rpm and 0.97kgm of peak torque at 6000rpm.