The Indian commuter motorcycle segment has been heating up over the years, and competition has only got intense with TVS Motor Company pushing its new Sport ES Plus variant against established leaders in this price band. The new offering which is priced aggressively at Rs 60,000 (ex-showroom) is an outright competitor for the Hero Splendor, which is one of the highest selling motorcycles in India. The development is an indicator at TVS’ efforts to add more muscle to its lineup in the entry-level commuter motorcycle category, that has value for money and dependability written all over it.
Table of Contents
Market Background and Positioning
Traditionally, the Indian commuter motorcycle market has been ruled by the likes of Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj and Honda. This category, which has equally price sensitive customers with focussing interest on fuel efficiency, reliability and user friendliness, has been expanding annually. With the Sport ES Plus, TVS seeks to grab more chunk of this rewarding segment providing latest amenities at an affordable price.
The price of the Sport ES Plus is just Rs 60,000, which is pretty affordable when you compare it with other bikes in the segment. This knee jerk pricing indicates that TVS has already apprehended the market scene where even a slight price difference could make a world of difference in purchase patterns. By settling at this price point the company hopes to appeal to price-sensitive consumers who would have otherwise gone for tried and tested competitors.
Features and Specifications
The TVS Sport ES Plus has a few stand-out features which can help it lead in the segment. Powering the base variant is a robust 110cc single-cylinder sumo engine that ensures power and mileage. It’s been a fruitful recipe in the Indian market – the ideal combination of power and frugality.
A special mention is its electric self-start, which is now in vogue in India. No more kicking to start your bike! This is a very easy, fun bike to ride and is perfect for all ages and skill levels in stop-and-go urban traffic. Electric start system is another streak of modernity in the bike’s existence which will attract younger audience who appreciates such things on their machines.
The essence of design philosophy for the Sport ES Plus is TVS’ promise in delivering motorcycles that are both, stylish and practical. The exterior design combines a modern feel with the everyday needs of a commuter motorcycle. The new age styling with dynamic tank design and muscular graphics with aggressive looking headlamp make the bike look contemporary yet functional.”
Performance and Efficiency of the Engine
The 110cc machine axing the Sport ES Plus is a unit designed to perform, yet not at the cost of fuel efficiency. For the Indian market, where efficiency is indeed a key consideration for many buyers, TVS has worked on developing an engine that can offer good fuel economy numbers too. It has been reported to be capable to return mileage of somewhere around 70-80 kmpl under normal riding conditions as per the industry estimates.
The low-end torque bias in the engine’s tuning lends itself well to commuting in the city where shifting gears constantly and brisk acceleration from traffic lights is required. This feature guarantees motorcyclists a safe ride on crowded overtaken roads and high mileage. Smooth power delivery makes for comfortable travelling, too.
Suspension and Handling
Considering the different riding surfaces in India, TVS have provided the Sport ES Plus with a suspension setup that is a mix of comfort and sporty. The regular suspension is teenage, and contains telescopic forks in front and a normal spring-loaded system in back. This setting adds a level of compliance by soaking up road irregularities, yet offers planting and stable handling attributes.
Wheelbase and the overall geometry of the bike are designed to cut through urban congestion. All this makes the Sport ES Plus an ideal city scooter to squeeze through cluttered city roads and alley ways that a regular Indian riders are used to. The light weight even contributes to the motorcycles’ easy handling and flickability.
Searching for a HERO!
The TVS Sport ES Plus is one of the Hero Splendor’s direct rivals and is a typical challenger in the tough commuter motorcycle rang in India. The Hero Splendor continues to be the standard barer in this segment and is renowned for the reliability, fuel efficiency and reach of its service network.
The Sport ES Plus however aims to set itself apart with a contemporary style, electric start (a standard fitment) and, crucially, aggressive pricing. The Splendor offers reliability and wide after-sales network at the cost of eyes-closing configuration, sold long enough with the technology on offer, the TVS offering add little fresh and youthful with its design and features.
In market perceptions too, Hero Splendor has decades of diaspora of brand loyalty and faith built with Indian consumers. The TVS Sport ES Plus, on the other hand, caters to those who are in the market for a new offering with new features and that too an affordable price. This ploy will benefit TVS to win over market share, both from Hero customers and the new potential entrants in the market.
Technology and Innovation
TVS has packed the Sport ES Plus with some technology add-ons to uplift the entire ride experience. The motorcycle is also gets LED position lamps for greater visibility and looks. Simplicity was further adopted for the instrument cluster, while all necessary data is still clearly and easily read.
The brake system has been developed to provide consistent braking performance, setting the Dura-Ace standard at an affordable price point. The front employs a drum brake assembly which is standard fare in this class, and does a decent job of slowing the bike down in city conditions. The rear drum is a perfect partner to the front ensuring consistent braking.
Market Strategy
The appeal of the Sport ES Plus for TVS seems to lie in combining value-centric with what the present-day customer is after. The target audience includes:
Motorcycle freshmen seeking an affordable gateway to two-wheeled living
College students and grads on a budget.
Any tradesman needing dependable and practical transportation for the day to day grind
Families in need of a second motorbike for visiting purpose
At an ex-showroom price of Rs 60,000, the pricing strategy of the Jawa perches the motorcycle well within the reach of a wide spectrum of customers and leaves enough on the table for the company to turn a profit. This move shows that TVS understands the Indian market well because patriotism plays a large part in decision making.
After-sale service and service network
A very important factor for success for any commuter motorcycle is the after sales support from the manufacturer. TVS has been expanding its service reach in India and has been investing heavily in offering greater connectivity to its customers for service and maintenance. The company’s commitment to quality of service is reflected in training service personnel and availability of spares.
The Sport ES Plus has service at its convenience and will be catered to by TVS’s extensive dealer network in urban areas and service points in semi-urban and rural areas. This broad system also guarantees that their customers can service their bikes at their own convenience as it could be found anywhere. Maintenance fees have been competitive enough to make them affordable for an average person with a middle income.
Economic Effects and Market Implications
The Sport ES Plus will start selling at Rs 60,000, and this development has several connotations for the sport just as it does for the Indian two-wheeler market in general:
Stronger competition at the lower end
Possible competitive price pressure to hold market share
Wider options for riders in the budget commuter segment
Potential market growth, new riders coming to the motorcycle segment
This action of TVS may force the competitors to take a second look at the products and the pricing of the products. The effect on consumption would be to raise the bar on features and value propositions in the category, to the ultimate advantage of the consumer.
Customer Value Proposition
The TVS Sport ES Plus promising good combination of speed of style with the:
Aggressive Rs 60,000 ex-showroom price
Creatively modern with sleek elements, this portable organizer is designed to reconfigure with your wardrobe.
Standard electric start
Solid 110cc power plant with good gas mileage
Relaxed sitting position for city commuting
Low maintenance and cheap parts
And all these while ensuring the commuter in India gets what he fundamentally needs and folding in contemporary conveniences that make for a sweeter ownership experience.
Future Prospects
The Sport ES Plus will be a success or failure for all these reasons, depending on word of mouth, real world fuel economy, and along road test of reliability and ownership experience. It’s how well TVS actually follows through with the Sport ES Plus and the motorcycle’s no-nonsense reliability that will determine if it can become a serious alternative to players that are already doing constant business in this segment.
The firm is also likely to launch variants with little changes to suit varied customer preferences like alloy wheels, disc brakes or even colors. Those could help broaden the Sport ES Plus’ appeal without pricing it out of competition.
Looking Forward
The TVS Sport ES Plus is a tactical move to penetrate the crowded commuter motorcycle space. At Rs 60,000 ex-showroom, it paves the way for a tough competition against the likes of the Hero Splendor, with its modern features, up to date design and aggressive pricing. But whether it has legs to sustain itself, will depend on if it truly lives up to claims of reliability, fuel economy and value proposition.
With the Indian two-wheeler scene constantly changing, products like the Sport ES Plus are a pivotal step towards bringing about innovation and enhancing entries in the entry-level segment. For the consumer, all this competition means better selection and values. The Sport ES Plus demonstrates TVS’ deep understanding of the Indian motorcyclists’ requirements and its intent in addressing the needs of customers in the key sub-100 cc commuter segment.
