After a quick ride on the Jive it was evident that it’s a perfect way to commute from point A to point B without any hassles or the nagging clutch system to worry about. It might not be a head turner or have the ability to woo chicks but it is not meant for that either, it has a solid feel to it and really does what it’s meant for i.e. effortless commuting, though I personally feel that the whole “T-Matic” system needs a bit of fine tuning. The throttle is very responsive and a good low and midrange torque ensures that you can breeze through the hectic traffic with ease.
Design:
Design is minimalistic and possesses the basic elements such as bikini fairing, simple and round looking indicators, round headlamps. Nothing flashy but all do their job and overall a very simple design but solve their purpose. The seats are very comfortable to sit and provide good cushioning. Jive comes with a 5 spoke alloy wheels which has become quite the norm even in the commuter bikes segment, the front suspension is an inline telescopic suspension and the rear is taken care of by a twin hydraulic shock absorber with coil springs. The dashboard of the Jive is very simple consisting of two circular sections; one consist the speedometer and a small analog odometer, the other part consists of the fuel meter, gear indicator, neutral indicator.
Overall the design is simple and neat, nothing flashy or outstanding.
Engine:
The heart of the Jive is an 110cc, single cylinder, air cooled unit which pumps out decent 8.4bhp and has very good low and mid range torque which is what you exactly need to ride in cities. Even though it is a commuter vehicle it was surprising to note that the engine was eager to be revved hard. The maximum power output is at 7500rpm and there is enough low range and mid range torque to take you from place to place. Maximum torque of 8.3 Newton meter is available at the rear. The Rotary gearbox works flawlessly and TVS has included an Anti Stall system which doesn’t allow the engine to stall under any condition. The bike can be started in any gear the whole system works quite well but needs a little bit of time to get adjusted to.
Handling:
It’s a breeze to drive, nothing complicated or difficult. Just turn the ignition and away you go. The vehicle can be started in any gear and there are 4 in total. A gear indicator is present in the dashboard. Jive does have its own share of problems for example , when you downshift from 4th to 3rd the wheel tends to lock up for a second giving a sudden jerk . The right way to probably do it by completely letting go of the accelerator and releasing the gear lever slowly at the proper engine speed. This only comes by riding the vehicle for some time and getting the feel of it but once sorted, it will be a minor issue. The brakes are not the best but just perform the function they are meant for.
Mileage and price:
These two words are actually the most important factors in deciding a bike especially for bikes in this segment. In Chennai the on road price of the bike is about Rs 49,500/- .Expected mileage is around 65kmpl, Decent.
Verdict:
If you want no nonsense bike that can take you within the city without any hassles or complication then take a look at Jive. It can also be for people who want to upgrade their scooters or for people looking for a decent commuter. Bajaj Discover also retails around the same price bracket and is the main rival for the Jive. Is the “T-Matic” technology good enough to save Jive and its sales? We certainly think so. It sure lives up to its tag as the no tension bike.
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