My petite lady in blue, TVS 50 | Now 40 years young

anjan_c2007 · 19th July 2008, 15:55

This is my first ever ownership experience with a motor vehicle. Its been a 25 year old attachment with me and is very dear to my heart. The moped is so simple mechanically, that I can open almost anything and get it repaired even today. I have changed the piston rings, piston, clutch, reed valve and even the carburettor. It has run some 28,000 kms. Spares are somewhat a problem but TVS still keeps the supply flowing at its local dealership, M/s A.K. Gandhi & Co, Nagpur. The build quality is superb- each nut and bolt spells quality. There is no shoddy work on this little machine anywhere- thanks TVS!
I have driven this moped, used it, abused it , maintained it, loved it and still cherish it. Mind you, the paintwork and the graphics are all original. It was so simple to drive it through the city's thorough fares till about a decade back, but now I feel it is too slow for the city traffic, though it still runs well and is very reliable.
The TVS 50 was launched sometime in 1981 and marked TVS's first foray into two wheeler manufacturing. The company was TVS Sundaram Clayton , the brake liner/ brake related spares making arm of M/s TVS which later on became TVS Suzuki and now is in its latest avatar.

My petite lady in blue, TVS 50 | Now 40 years young-sonycamv-199.jpg

My petite lady in blue, TVS 50 | Now 40 years young-sonycamv-194.jpg

My petite lady in blue, TVS 50 | Now 40 years young-sonycamv-200.jpg

My petite lady in blue, TVS 50 | Now 40 years young-sonycamv-201.jpg

desideep · 19th July 2008, 20:40

its funny but it looks nice. though in my old days i did not go for a TVS Champ that was offered to me i went for a HERO PUCH Shakti 3g.

VJ_MAVRICK · 19th July 2008, 20:45

25 years is some kind of achievement and i really liked your honest report and the enthusiasm you have it in you. Keep it going.

rider60 · 19th July 2008, 21:26

now a breath taking moped that has completed its silver anniversary and is still top notch! three cheers to that!

and yes there was real quality back then with these hard working mopeds they were and are still simply awesome, i still know one which is only abused and has done over a 4lacs on it and lost the odo on it after that! and surprisingly is still used and runs doing the luggage carrying quiet will with a mileage of say 50kmpl!

now thats really some thing and trust me you will definitely find people buying the brand new kick start versions of this in chennai to even this day.

kudos mate.

anjan_c2007 · 20th July 2008, 12:58

Thanks VJMAVRICK and rider for your nice posts about my Old Faithful TVS 50.

anjan_c2007 · 4th August 2008, 20:57

The clutch slippage problem is acute in this moped. I forgot to mention about that.The starting needs the clutch to be engaged with a small lever on the left side of the handlebar, below the rear brake lever. Even when the moped was new, the clutch slipped and posed starting problems during rains or after a wash. The same problem persists and is a genetic defect of all old TVS 50's.
I also forgot to say that during my very recent trip to Bangalore in June'08, I could see numerous TVS 50's alive and moving on the congested streets. The newer and the latest models with a "Heavy Duty" sticker are still used by the people of Bangalore. Hosur the TVS factory in Tamil Nadu is near Bangalore, just like NOIDA/ Ghaziabad and Gurgaon are nearer to Delhi though in other states.
The TVS 50 was very popular in Hyderabad in its hey days in the 1980's and part of the 1990's but these are rarely seen on Hyderabad's streets now.
So its hats off to the TVS 50 lovers of Bangalore who still keep this machine alive and selling. I guess it also sells very well in the rural areas of South India.

santhosh_kumard · 5th August 2008, 17:02

Quite impeccably maintained. Kudos for that my friend!

anjan_c2007 · 5th August 2008, 22:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by desideep

its funny but it looks nice. though in my old days i did not go for a TVS Champ that was offered to me i went for a HERO PUCH Shakti 3g.

Thanks desideep for your nice words

anjan_c2007 · 5th August 2008, 22:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by santhosh_kumard

Quite impeccably maintained. Kudos for that my friend!

Thanks santosh for your nice comments.You are from Bangalore and you may be used to still seeing these mopeds on the move there on the roads.I was pleasantly surprised to see these TVS 50's still very much liked by riders there.

JayD · 5th August 2008, 23:01

HEy Anjan c2007, it seems we share the same interests! i too have a Landmaster(1957) and a 1985 TVS 50 XL, But my moped has a squarish kinda light and a coil spring at the rear, But the clutch slippage problem exists on mine too!!

PatienceWins · 5th August 2008, 23:02

That is a great achievement. I am sure you must be very fond of the vehicle.

Very well maintained!! Keep it going dude.

IronWolf · 5th August 2008, 23:14

Now there is a thread with the smallest engine. Nice review, however is the mileage cannot be right?

only 28k in 25 years?

maxj2005 · 5th August 2008, 23:21

I had the same one when I used to go to school in dehradun.

The best thing about it was the milage and when you run out petrol you can always pedal your way home.

I knew a guy who used its engine to make a small 4 wheelar .

Congratulation and Keep it going!

egangsta · 6th August 2008, 00:51

Well Doctor, you never told me about this beauty of yours

.

speedzak · 6th August 2008, 02:28

Wow! So, another Tvs50 owner proud of his possession from the last 25 years! I thought only JayD had these crazy passions.

Congratulations doctor! I'm sure you love her and will take care of her till the end.

19th July 2008, 15:55	#1
anjan_c2007 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: India Posts: 8,511 Thanked: 21,768 Times View My Garage	My petite lady in blue, TVS 50 \| Now 40 years young This is my first ever ownership experience with a motor vehicle. Its been a 25 year old attachment with me and is very dear to my heart. The moped is so simple mechanically, that I can open almost anything and get it repaired even today. I have changed the piston rings, piston, clutch, reed valve and even the carburettor. It has run some 28,000 kms. Spares are somewhat a problem but TVS still keeps the supply flowing at its local dealership, M/s A.K. Gandhi & Co, Nagpur. The build quality is superb- each nut and bolt spells quality. There is no shoddy work on this little machine anywhere- thanks TVS! I have driven this moped, used it, abused it , maintained it, loved it and still cherish it. Mind you, the paintwork and the graphics are all original. It was so simple to drive it through the city's thorough fares till about a decade back, but now I feel it is too slow for the city traffic, though it still runs well and is very reliable. The TVS 50 was launched sometime in 1981 and marked TVS's first foray into two wheeler manufacturing. The company was TVS Sundaram Clayton , the brake liner/ brake related spares making arm of M/s TVS which later on became TVS Suzuki and now is in its latest avatar.
	(16) Thanks

19th July 2008, 20:40	#2
desideep Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Adelaide Posts: 1,159 Thanked: 323 Times View My Garage	its funny but it looks nice. though in my old days i did not go for a TVS Champ that was offered to me i went for a HERO PUCH Shakti 3g.
	(1) Thanks

19th July 2008, 20:45	#3
VJ_MAVRICK Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney Posts: 1,239 Thanked: 34 Times View My Garage	25 years is some kind of achievement and i really liked your honest report and the enthusiasm you have it in you. Keep it going.
	(1) Thanks

19th July 2008, 21:26	#4
rider60 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bhagyanagaram. (A.K.A. Hyderabad) Posts: 1,620 Thanked: 56 Times View My Garage	now a breath taking moped that has completed its silver anniversary and is still top notch! three cheers to that! and yes there was real quality back then with these hard working mopeds they were and are still simply awesome, i still know one which is only abused and has done over a 4lacs on it and lost the odo on it after that! and surprisingly is still used and runs doing the luggage carrying quiet will with a mileage of say 50kmpl! now thats really some thing and trust me you will definitely find people buying the brand new kick start versions of this in chennai to even this day. kudos mate.
	(1) Thanks

20th July 2008, 12:58	#5
anjan_c2007 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: India Posts: 8,511 Thanked: 21,768 Times View My Garage	Thanks VJMAVRICK and rider for your nice posts about my Old Faithful TVS 50.
	() Thanks

4th August 2008, 20:57	#6
anjan_c2007 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: India Posts: 8,511 Thanked: 21,768 Times View My Garage	The clutch slippage problem is acute in this moped. I forgot to mention about that.The starting needs the clutch to be engaged with a small lever on the left side of the handlebar, below the rear brake lever. Even when the moped was new, the clutch slipped and posed starting problems during rains or after a wash. The same problem persists and is a genetic defect of all old TVS 50's. I also forgot to say that during my very recent trip to Bangalore in June'08, I could see numerous TVS 50's alive and moving on the congested streets. The newer and the latest models with a "Heavy Duty" sticker are still used by the people of Bangalore. Hosur the TVS factory in Tamil Nadu is near Bangalore, just like NOIDA/ Ghaziabad and Gurgaon are nearer to Delhi though in other states. The TVS 50 was very popular in Hyderabad in its hey days in the 1980's and part of the 1990's but these are rarely seen on Hyderabad's streets now. So its hats off to the TVS 50 lovers of Bangalore who still keep this machine alive and selling. I guess it also sells very well in the rural areas of South India. Last edited by anjan_c2007 : 4th August 2008 at 20:59.
	(1) Thanks

5th August 2008, 17:02	#7
santhosh_kumard BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Back to BLR Posts: 176 Thanked: 15 Times	Quite impeccably maintained. Kudos for that my friend!
	(1) Thanks

5th August 2008, 23:01	#10
JayD Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Cochin! At last Posts: 3,237 Thanked: 2,572 Times View My Garage	HEy Anjan c2007, it seems we share the same interests! i too have a Landmaster(1957) and a 1985 TVS 50 XL, But my moped has a squarish kinda light and a coil spring at the rear, But the clutch slippage problem exists on mine too!!
	(1) Thanks

5th August 2008, 23:02	#11
PatienceWins Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,434 Thanked: 856 Times View My Garage	That is a great achievement. I am sure you must be very fond of the vehicle. Very well maintained!! Keep it going dude.
	(1) Thanks

5th August 2008, 23:14	#12
IronWolf Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Benga-loo-ru Posts: 1,569 Thanked: 45 Times View My Garage	Now there is a thread with the smallest engine. Nice review, however is the mileage cannot be right? only 28k in 25 years?
	() Thanks

5th August 2008, 23:21	#13
maxj2005 BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cary NC USA Posts: 112 Thanked: 9 Times	I had the same one when I used to go to school in dehradun. The best thing about it was the milage and when you run out petrol you can always pedal your way home. I knew a guy who used its engine to make a small 4 wheelar . Congratulation and Keep it going!
	() Thanks

6th August 2008, 00:51	#14
egangsta BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: thane Posts: 365 Thanked: 26 Times View My Garage	Well Doctor, you never told me about this beauty of yours .
	() Thanks

6th August 2008, 02:28	#15
speedzak BANNED Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: India Posts: 4,347 Thanked: 27 Times	Wow! So, another Tvs50 owner proud of his possession from the last 25 years! I thought only JayD had these crazy passions. Congratulations doctor! I'm sure you love her and will take care of her till the end.
	() Thanks