pankajshirke

Long back 4 years I was looking for new bike bored with my powerless and petrol drinker splendor plus in 8 months.I am close to 6 feet in height and hence I needed a tall bike with good decent power providing comfort for around 30 kms commuting from home to office hence I expected decent mileage also
Super splendor and Gl;amor Suzuki Zeus and Heat were definately not my option because of their 8.75 to 9 bhp and were suited for congested city riding only.
Also It was not suited for me because I fet cramped while riding these bikes.
I was looking for Yamaha Gladiator because it was almost matching my expectations with some compromise on mileage but due to poor sales,Yamaha started shutting down their showrooms in Pune and Pimpri.The only Yamaha showroom which was selling bikes I saw was at Khopoli but was far away from Pune hence ruled out.
So I made up my mind to buy a Bajaj Discover 125/Pulsar 150 hence I went to Bajaj Showroom near Wakdewadi Pune.
Bajaj salesman handed me a pamphlet which was comparing Discover with Victor GLX and Yamaha Gladiator hence I came to know that there is also a 125 cc bike from TVS but when I approached a TVS showroom,they said that TVS is stopping all Victor models(GX,GLX and Edge 125). Hence I had to postpone my decission for buying a bike.
Once in my office a friend of mine was having a GLX.I just told him to show me his bike.I wanted to ride and test it.I took his bike and amazingly after riding for 10 kms,I just thought that this bike is made for me and it will fullfill all my requirements.I asked my friend about mileage and I came to know that it gives mileage of around 55 in city which is also fine with me.
Now again I visited TVS showroom Yash TVS near Hadapsar Pune(Now Yash Honda).
The salesman started to convince me for Apache 150 but I remained firm on GLX only.
The owner of Yash TVS told me that he will contact TVS chennai because I have heard that though TVS has not stopped GLX but it was still in production only for Army CSD people.
I requested TVS for this model.
After 15 days I got a call from Yash TVS that from Chennai,one GLX had been arranged and hence I did the downpayment after negotiating the price for my 8 months old splendor plus.They agreed to buy mu petrol drinker splendor plus for 33500 rupees and I would get new Victor GLX for 46,000 rupees on road price(41,000 plus road tax,insurance etc).Thjis was a good deal and in next 15 days I got delivery of my GLX(Black color with Silver strips)
This was the story of how I got my GLX
But after that,I always gave for servicing at authorized service center of Century TVS in Pune which was near my house.Though that owner of service station was hesitant in the begining but for maximum time,I serviced from him.I never gave for servicing at Yash TVS because these Yash TVS people were hesitant to do servicing.I really didnt understand why(But after Yash TVS was converted to Yash Honda,I realized the reason for its bad service to TVS)
Anyway I got good service from Century TVS servicing centers in Pune.
Twice I tried servicing from Castrol bike zone also but I found out that in any case these people will see that you are billed for minimum 700 rupees.
When I went to Castrol bike zone for first time,they told me that rear brake liners are gone hence they charged 300 rupees along with their golden service of 350 rupees.
Next time also they told me for replacing brake liners.
I changed brake liners as suggested by bike zone and immidiately after getting delivery of bike,I approached a local mechanic to open the brake drum because I want to see the liners.
Belive me or Not,I found out that the liner was not a new one.
Alas
After this,I stayed away from castrol bike zone.
Now for small things,I prefer a local mechanic and for intense problem like changing piston ring,I prefer authorized service center of TVS.

This bike is problem free for me from 4 years.
I have done around 70,000 kms in these 4 years on this bike
It gives me mileage of 65 kmpl on highways and around 58 kmpl in city(Inspite of carburretor main jet of Bullet 350 standard).My splendor plus used to give me 45 in city and around 52 on highway.
I can also get more mileage on highway from this bike but on highway I ride around 70 to 80 kmph hence I get mileage around 65 otherwise I had got around 78 kmpl when I drive at speed less than 50.But at this less sped,I feel very boring to drive.
Top speed of GLX is said to be 100 kmph(in owner's manual) .Well I comfortably managed to go upto 95 on plain road with pillon rider.
Now I changed its main jet to that of standard bullet main jet and replaced my air filter with pipercross stock replacement filter
I was really surprised and stunned to see my GLX going upto 115 kmph when I was riding alone without pillon.I achieved this speed on Mumbai Nasik highway while travelling from Igatpuri to Kalyan after Kasara Ghat.I even thought that my bike would reach 120kmph or even more but at this speed,it was becoming uncontrollable and I was afraid that the bike may collide with a divider and hence lowered down the speed and came back to 90 kmph.
What to do but no road in India is straight for atleast 50 kms.After every 5 to 10 kms,the road takes a turn,hence 100 kmph is also not easily achievable.
With this bike,I have travelled western coast right from Valsad till Goa,Karwar and almost all Ghat in Sahyadris spanned by this bike(Only Amboli ghat and Kumbharli ghat remaining).Half of Maharashtra spanned by this bike
And yet this bike is rock solid.

Only few things I had to spend.
1) Piston rings change after 57,000 kms.Block piston is the same.Not changed.350 rupees for rings plus 600 rupees labor charges include valve grinding.This too because of mistake of trusting castrol bike zone.I once filled castrol power zone of 700 rupees which bike zone told that no need to change engine oil for 10,000 kms but after 6000 kms of running,I noticed smoke coming out of silencer at high rpms.I had no option other than contacting century tvs service center.That man honestly suggested me only to change the rings and no need to go for new block piston since piston was fine and since the engine was opened hence he suggested me to do valve grinding also.After this my bike is running fine.

2) The headlight and one mirror broke because a branch of tree fell on my parked vehicle hence I changed to round headlight with Pulsar round dome with Bullet 500 classic Headlight assembly supporting 60/55 watts bulb.Total cost was 650 rupees against 1200 rupees for GLX headlight.
I have put chrome plated mirrors of Fiero FX and put a small windshield on top of headlight.Thus my bike looks like a cruiser bike when looked from front

3) Pipercross air filter element of 1600 rupees plus 45 rupees for main jet of bullet 350.

After the experience from castrol bike zone,I stay away from castrol engine oils also.I use oils from Shell(Shell advance 4t) or Gulf(Pride 4t) only and change it every 2500 kms(even if the drain period mentioned is 10,000 kms).
Believe me no engine oil lasts more than 5000 kms.

Inspite of my few mistakes(castrol bike zone) ,It didnt cost me much as compared to other bike users.Hence this bike is very good
I dont know why many people on biking forum abuse this bike.TVS GLX is the most abused bike on any biking forum but for me,it has prooved me value for money.

Finally I would like to ask a query to ask TVS why they have stopped this bike and introduced Flame.
TVS would have continued this bike along with this flame.Whats wrong in having two 125 cc models.Even Hero Honda has Glamor and Super splendor,Bajaj has 125 cc discover and platina,xcd etc etc
I want to request TVS to start GLX 125 again.
This bike is such a wonderful bike even after 70,000 kms and rough use,yet this bike is rock solid.

Here are some pics of my bike

Attachment 34629

Attachment 34630

Attachment 34631

Attachment 34632

sunilg

Ownership experience approved.

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lockhrt999

nice experience.
what castrol service zone branch you went into?

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DIY Another day: Upgrading the headlight and pilots of Pulsar.
Tomorrow Never DIYs: Safest and easiest way to tune the AFR

pankajshirke

Hi lockhrt999
I did servicing twice-thrice at Castrol bike zone Shivajinagar
When my piston rings were gone due to castrol power one race formula oil,these guys suggested me for a complete change of engine and head assembly for 8000 rupees whereas I did piston rings change and valve grinding from a mechanic who used to work for TVS service center Vishrantwadi Pune.
Total cost was 1200 rupees as compared to 8000 rs told by bike zone.

They always used to find minor problems like brake switch not working hence they used to suggest me new brake switch.But I used to tell them that I have delibrately disconnected brake switch for sake of good and constant headlight beam.

I have put 60/55 watts bulb on my GLX with Bullet classic headlight assembly.Now I have two regulators on my bike.One for my headlight only and other the stock one for all other electricals.

Here is few more information on making headlight brighter only for TVS bikes
1) I disconnected my headlight wires from my stock regulator/rectifier
2) Secondly I took a Bajaj Super FE regulator of 60 watts and connected it between my Magneto and Headlight.Now without any problem I can run a 60/55 watts bulb.But I can do this because TVS magneto(all Victor models,Star city kick start) are of 90 watts and 50 watts are reserved for lighting only hence with this slight modification ,TVS bikes can support 60/55 watts bulb.
And without any modification,TVS bikes(Victor,Centra) can support 40/45 watts bulb of Caliber.
This scooter regulator is nothing but it is capacitor based which gets charged due to current from magneto and the output is fed to headlight.

lockhrt999

^^nice...Please post some picture of light throw.

__________________
It's always brainy to go with the heart.™
-
DIY Another day: Upgrading the headlight and pilots of Pulsar.
Tomorrow Never DIYs: Safest and easiest way to tune the AFR

chicane1879

Nice info, there. It feels really good when someone shares all the nitty gritty experience gathered with their machine. I too have rhe Victor GL 110cc. Amazing bike to say the least and it's soldiering on from past 8 and 1/2 years.

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swift

Hi Pankaj,

Do you have any info on which synthetic oil(grade/brand) is applicable for Victor GLX?

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TVS Victor GLX(2003)
Honda Activa (2011)
CBR 250R (In dream) :P