TVS Victor vs Bajaj Platina 110 H-Gear vs Hero Splendor iSmart BS6: Spec Comparison

The Hero Splendor has been the king of the 110 commuter segment, but how does it hold its own against rivals like the TVS Victor and Bajaj Platina H-Gear on paper?

The Hero Splendor has come a long way ever since its inception way back in 1994. This ordinary-looking, budget-oriented bike was one of the most reliable units out there and delivered in spades when it came to fuel efficiency. Over the years, the bike gained more tech and features and evolved into what we now know as the Hero Splendor iSmart BS6. However, in the present day and age, Hero now competes in a stiff market segment that’s populated with bikes like the TVS Victor and the Bajaj Platina 110 H-Gear which offers a number of segment-first features. But how do these commuter motorcycles fare against each other on paper? 

Engine:

It’s difficult to pick a clear winner when it comes to city commuters since all three bikes are pretty much neck-and-neck in terms of power. However, based on the torque output, it’s the Platina H-Gear that has the upper hand. What gives? It’s basically the way it produces its torque, which is 1,000 revs earlier compared to the Victor. 

Granted none of these bikes are out-and-out tourers, but, if you consider Bajaj’s H-Gear philosophy, the extra cog on the Platina makes it a better highway tourer. It’s also likely to extract better fuel efficiency as its engine won’t feel as strained with respect to the other two.

The TVS Victor may pack the smallest engine but it’s the most powerful out of the lot. Add a kerb weight of just 113kg and you have a peppy bike at hand.

As for the Hero Splendor iSmart BS6, it’s the only BS6-compliant bike in the comparison, which means it’s easier on the environment. The motor has been tweaked to produce 10 per cent more torque (9.89Nm) throughout the rev range. That’s 0.89Nm more than the outgoing model.

Underpinnings:

All three bikes are equally matched in terms kit. However, Hero has opted for a more stable setup with an 18-inch wheel configuration on the iSmart BS6. The Victor and Platina, on the other hand, run 17-inch wheels.

Dimensions:

The Platina H-gear is understandably heavier than the rest of the bikes since it packs the largest fuel tank amongst the trio. That said, it has the shortest wheelbase in the segment which should make it the most agile bike of the lot. 

A seat height of 807mm is high but it shouldn’t be a problem if you take into account the bikes slim personality. It gets a high ground clearance of 200mm to tackle Indian road conditions with ease.

The TVS Victor is the lightest of the lot, but employs a small 8-litre fuel tank which means you’ll have to fuel up faster than the other two. Hero claims it has tinkered with the Splendor’s chassis to make it more agile, but that could only be put the test in a thorough road test review. So stay tuned for that. All three bikes come equipped with CBS (combined braking system).

Price and verdict:

If we had to pick a winner, it would without a doubt be the Bajaj Platina 110 H-Gear. Bajaj has managed to cramp in a bigger, more fuel-efficient motor, extra gears and a ton of features into an affordable package that simply works. Out road test review should be a testament to that claim.

That said, if you desire a future proof engine with a couple of segment-first features like Hero’s i3S technology, then we’d suggest the Splendor iSmart BS6. Bear in mind though, it’s the most expensive bike here.

Last but not the least, the TVS Victor. While the bike performs well in all parameters, it simply misses out on the oomph factor.