[sarkankur]

The Background

This dates back to 2016, when I'd been in Chennai for approximately a year and a half. I had to commute to work from T.Nagar to Beach Road and used the local bus service (Chennai has excellent public transport). Though the distance was short, there were rotational shifts, which proved difficult, especially early in the morning and late at night.

It was at this point that I started considering getting a bike. I had a budget of INR 50-55K, so my alternatives were primarily confined to 100-110cc engines, of which there were plenty on the market. I didn't like the designs on Hero, Suzuki, and Yamaha commuters, particularly the Splendor NXG, Hayate, and Saluto. I liked the Bajaj Discover 100M, but it was discontinued, and Bajaj had a reputation of abandoning models regularly, which could have caused problems later on. This left me with TVS.

I've always appreciated TVS, largely because I liked their designs, as I did the Bajajs, and also because I'd seen how dependable TVS motorcycles were. My father had a red 2004 TVS Star that served as his workhorse until his retirement in 2018.

I tried out both the Star City Plus and the Star Sports. I liked the City Plus since the seat was more comfortable and the ergonomics were ideal for my height. It was also larger than the Sports and had dimensions similar to the Apache, which I loved and would have chosen if it hadn't been so expensive. So I decided to go with the Star City Plus.

Bluebird came home on February 10th, 2016. Here are some snapshots from Day 1. These are really old photos, and the quality is quite poor.

The bike became my daily commute to work, which used to be around 600 kilometers per month. I've used it on several trips in and around Chennai. As a result, by 2021, I had travelled around 40,000 km in it. I relocated to Bangalore in 2022 and re-registered it in Karnataka.

We've shared a lot of memories over the last nine years. Some were pleasant, others not so much.
Here are some of them:

• Frequent rides to ECR and Mahabalipuram, particularly to witness the sunrise.
  
• An unplanned weekend getaway to Pondicherry.
  
• Rides to Tada, Pulicat, and Sriharikota.
  
• Several outings to the dhabas and other eateries along NH48.
  
• On the third day, on my way home from work, the front visor cracked. An autorickshaw swung left and collided with the front visor, cracking it and destroying the right indicator. The indicator was fixed the next day, but I chose to use Fevikwik to fix the minor fracture on the visor. That jugaad worked nicely, and the same visor remains on the bike.
  
• Survived the Vardah Cyclone and was practically unscathed when a branch crashed on it in the apartment parking lot.
  
• Clutch wire snapped while returning from the night shift at roughly 7:30 a.m., while climbing the Gemini Flyover. I found a few helpful auto-annas and other riders who gave me a leg up until I arrived in Kodambakkam and had it changed.
  
• The keys were misplaced by the packer & mover when shipping the bike to Bangalore, and the lockset had to be replaced.

Basking at a random stop on ECR

En route to Pondicherry

Towards Mahabalipuram for sunrise

Returning from Pondicherry

Ownership Experience:

Here's what I loved and disliked throughout the years.

Likes:

• Fuel efficiency: I used to get 65-70 kmpl.
• Service cost: Always had a good and cost-effective service experience with TVS, either due to luck or because the service centers were in the city.
• Maneuverability: Lightweight and nimble, particularly in the city.
• Comfortable seat: It is large and wide enough for both the rider and pillion.
• Riding ergonomics: Due to the elevated seating posture thanks to the way the handlebars were set up, I always had an upright, comfortable, and commanding riding posture.
• Engine thump: I liked the slightly bassy growl it produced as compared to the other 100-110 cc commuters.
• Power delivery: The low-end torque was good, which was perfect for moving within the city. It peaked out at 8 bhp, which isn't too much but was good enough for commuting to work.
• Design: It resembled a toned-down, domesticated version of the Phoenix and Apache, particularly the rear panels, the shape of the fuel tank, and the instrument cluster to some extent. The indications for Economy and Power Modes were really handy.
• Reliability: I have never been surprised by a breakdown in the middle of a ride. The clutch wire had snapped once. However, this was due to normal wear and tear, just like the batteries and tyres.

Dislikes:

• Refinement: The engine was smooth until you reached 45 or 50 km/h, after which you could sense the vibrations. Once you've crossed 70 km/h, you'll be feeling the vibrations creep in aggressively to the footpegs, the handlebars, and even underneath the seat.
• Performance: Though I shouldn't complain about this because that's what provided me the fuel economy I highlighted before, the engine struggled to perform beyond 50 km/h and maxed out at 90 km/h.
• Tyres: The stock TVS tyres, particularly the rear tyre, used to lose traction on wet surfaces. I switched to CEAT once it wore out.

The Drop in Utilization and the Decision to Upgrade

Working from home, my wife's pregnancy, and the arrival of our baby resulted in a significant decline in utilization, as we were either staying at home or using the car during this time.

By October 2024, this had resulted in a multitude of issues, including clogged carburetors, battery discharge, and rusting on the exhaust pipe, to name a few. So I had it all fixed and then started using it again by going to the office on Fridays.

At the same time, I began exploring other work opportunities and was fortunate enough to find one that matched my professional goals. However, it introduced a new challenge. I would now have to commute 40-45 kms (round-trip) per day to work. Given the travel time, traffic in Bangalore, and the fact that I'd been using the BSIII Bluebird for almost 9 years, I made up my mind that I would be upgrading to an Apache. I'll create a separate thread for the upgrade because I want this one to be about the ownership experience. After visiting other TVS dealers in my region, I chose Deva TVS on Begur Road for a better valuation on the Star.

The End of the Road

On March 31st, 2025, I went to the showroom to do a PDI of the new bike, following which I had to hand over Bluebird.
And with that, a nine-year adventure spanning 43K kilometers and innumerable experiences came to an end. It was a bittersweet moment for me. I never expected to feel sad handing over the keys. I was delighted about the new bike, but Bluebird was my first motorbike, and I will always have a special connection to it. So I grabbed a few shots before heading back home and saying farewell to my friend, wishing him luck in finding another family.

I knew I would need them to create a thread for the bike.

Moments before the Handover

43678.6 - The Final Reading from the Odo

Adios Mi Amigo

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[doomketu]

Wow 9 years with this is fantastic. So which apache would you be upgrading to ? If it’s apache 200 or 160 ( both excellent choices ) any dealership should be fine, but if you are planning for Ronin or the 310 siblings please do reach out via DM. Can share some inputs on the dealers and svc. I have had a fantastic experience on mine. Cheers

[Oldschool guy]

TVS Star City the underdog champion.

I got the chance to take an elderly family friend's Star City for a spin.

No thrills but it definitely left an impression buttery smooth engine, strong low end pull and a super comfy ride. Exactly what you need in a city commuter.

No wonder TVS bikes are so loved across African countries as they know how to build tough, practical machines.