Bajaj Platina 110 H-Gear – vs TVS Star City Plus comparison
Even if superbikes define modernity and supremacy, it’s the commuter bikes that account for a substantial market share. While they might not have a footprint when it comes to superbikes, automakers like Hero, Bajaj, TVS etc are always on their toes in perfecting their respective sturdy commuters. Recently, Bajaj launched the five-gear – or rather Highway-Gear – version of the Platina. The update comes out as a gulp of fresh air for a segment that’s only been known for delivering bikes with a four-speed gearbox. And you must have read in our Bajaj Platina 110 H-Gear review, how easy it had become to ride the Platina on a highway. So, we decided to pit the Platina with the sturdy TVS Star City Plus. Read on. It’s no surprise that functionality over styling is the first preference of a buyer particular to this segment. And that’s the formula for designing a commuter. And I must say, Bajaj and TVS have done a great job in sticking to this formula. Starting with the Bajaj, the Platina H-Gear carries over the same styling cues as the standard Platina. It still has the same boxy headlamp, a thin LED DRL, multispoke alloy wheels and a long seat. Moving over to the TVS, the Star also gets a conventional boxy headlamp and multi-spoke alloy wheels. In fact, a first glance reveals almost no difference – barring the badging and stickers, of course – in the two bikes. For me, I prefer the modern look of the Platina, especially with that eyebrow-like DRL.
At the heart, the Platina is powered by a 115cc single-cylinder motor that is capable of churning out 8.5bhp and 9.81Nm of torque. The TVS, however, features a 109.7cc single-cylinder engine that’s good for 8.3bhp and 8.7Nm. As evident by its on-paper figures – and as we reflected in our Bajaj Platina 110 H-Gear First Ride review – the Platina remains to be the torquiest bike in the segment. What’s more though, the Platina is mated to a five-speed gearbox, in comparison to the Star City’s four-speed gearbox. This not only makes the Platina a comfortable commuter on the highway, but it also helps the bike in achieving a respectable fuel efficiency during highway overhauls. And that’s what makes the Platina 110 H-Gear a winner. After all, the Platina gets an additional gear, a modern touch of an LED DRL and a comfortable ride at highways over the Star City Plus. To read our extensive Bajaj Platina 110 H-Gear review, and to learn more about TVS Star City Plus, be sure to tune in to autoX.