I have in my house, a TVS Jive 110cc(5&1/2 year-old), Hero passion Xpro 110cc(1&1/2 year-old) and lately, TVS Phoenix 125 cc(3 months old).
I have behind me 45 years of experience with two-wheelers.
Jive, though the most stress-free city commuter, failed in the market. But I kept it simply for the marvel of a bike, it is.
Passion X-pro has the best cycle parts and a good engine with nice torque & fuel economy. Except for its stiff rear shock absorbers, it otherwise, is a good bike. I use this bike rarely because I care for my back.
Now, about TVS Phoenix.
I find Phoenix offers. perhaps the best of everything.
It might not be a great eye-catcher, but good enough in the looks department.
My experience of riding this bike is too good to describe.
It has the best ergonomics and the best rear-absorbers available on any bike today.
One doesn’t at all feel tired, hours after riding either in dense, congested traffic or a long highway drive.
Power and torque(10.9 bhp & 10.8 nm) compare very well in its favor against all other 125cc bikes available now.
Braking, Head-light brightness are pretty good for safe driving- day or night.
On the all important fuel economy front, you should believe me when I tell you, the last check(Reserve-to-Reserve method) showed 102 Km for 1&1/2 Litres(for Rs.100 in Hyderabad) translating to 68 kmpl - in Hyderabad traffic!
TVS service depends on the service station one goes to.
After checking 2 other stations earlier, I settled with Kiran TVS / Secunderabad, which I find good enough.
Spare-part costs are reasonable from what experience I have had with the TVS bikes, thus far.
All in all, I find Phoenix is a very good bile to invest your money in, in the 125cc commuter segment.
I didn’t go into details of the bells and whistles department since I rather give less preference to them than practicality in a commuter bike.
If one goes into those details also, Phoenix doesn’t disappoint at all.
My verdict:
Phoenix, the most reasonably priced 125cc bike, provides us the most comfortable commutes with the best fuel economy - better than most 100cc bikes in the real world scenario.
I simply love this bike. One can blindly go ahead and buy.
Wish one and all, safe and happy commutes!