When I first wrote about the Flame, I didn’t have much driving experience with it. You can’t get this by a test drive. The’proof is in the pudding’ as they say. And "let the buyer beware".
Ok. You know it’s positives. Handsome good looks(minus the Flame sticker), the neat analog/digital display, good tyre size, and overall good ridability and handling at around-the-town(i.e., SLOW) speeds. And you should know all the specs.
I also have been reading many reviews about this motorcycle and I wonder how people can come up with completely opposite opinions about a motorcycle. even when they acknowledge the same chronic problems. I also think that some writers have a special interest, passing disinformation, or, some buyers are simply trying to justify their purchase. It is indeed difficult to admit when we are wrong.
I am not an engineer, a mechanic, or anyone with special knowledge. But I do have a lot of experience riding motorcycles and scooters. And this product has a serious flaw. Virtually everyone complains about the engine vibration, and the engine having to’work too hard’ at a higher speed. My friends, all bias aside, this is not right. It is not acceptable. There is something fundamentally wrong in the design if this is happening. and it is! Some owners are passing this off. And it seems TVS is not coming out to admit this unacceptable problem. They should replace all the engines.
Further, this 125 has great difficulty managing the weight of two passengers going up hill. After some experience on this now, it has been proven to me. Going up a moderate slope, we needed to down shift. But then the gear was too low, which forced us to upshift. Then the power was too little. It was a back and forth shifting to get up this hill. No one gear was sufficient.
At 80 kmph, as one other write said, "I was hoping there was a fifth gear." But none. The engine just roared.
Further, the fuel economy is not acceptable either, especially when the company lies in their advertising about it.
And the fuel tank is simply too small.
And all of us complain about back pain driving long distances.
Come on. Who can justify these behaviours in a brand new 2-wheeler?
But what recourse do we have? Short of just selling it, taking the loss, and going back to say, reliable Honda? Which I am going to do as fast as I can before no one wants to buy this product or doesn’t do some internet research.
TVS knowingly allowed this product to enter the market with these flaws, especially the engine. Can anyone out there think that no one at TVS drove this vehicle to know about this unacceptable vibration and power problems? You know, it’s a real shame because it could have been a wonderful bike.
Recommendation. If you really want to buy a motorcycle with a chronic engine vibration problem, and you need only a bike to drive around town at under 60kmph speeds(and no hills with a passenger), then go ahead and buy it.
Otherwise, as an owner, I can not recommend this two wheeler.