New TVS Victor review, test ride

Victory march

The Victor remains a comfortable motorcycle to pilot, with an upright commuter-friendly riding position. The footrest-to seat-and handlebar triangle is well thought out, and riding saddle well-padded, also step-free and long enough for both rider and pillion.

The new TVS uses a conventional tubular steel frame, with TVS telling us key areas in the chassis have been stiffened to help handling. Suspension is telescopic in front, with dual shock absorbers at the rear, including a TVS-designed ‘Series Spring’ technology. The swingarm is box section steel. Ride quality is good, and the 2016 Victor handles with light feel, steering giving the rider a neutral, precise feedback. Cornering manners are par for this class, with the bike riding on tubeless tyres front and rear offering adequate grip. The tyres are a softer compound, branded Remora and made by TVS.

You’ll be surprised by the powerful retardation force that greets you the moment you hit the front brake. The Victor comes with an optional front disc brake, a 240mm, petal type rotor, the added safety which proved well worth paying for.

The 2016 Victor fits into its class smartly, offering nice features, a refinement engine with ample performance and good comfort too. Pretty much at the top of its space, TVS has done well to improve upon the older bike, leaving virtually no rough edges. It is high time then, the South Indian company moved with the times, and made a capable new Victor 125 along these same lines.