Originally published in Autocar India
Date: March 2020
At the time, the TVS XL was India’s most affordable two-wheeler at Rs 30,490, with the BS4 Bajaj CT 100 just a bit more for the cheapest geared motorcycle. By the time the BS6 updates arrived, those price points had shifted, but the spirit of these bikes – affordable, dependable, and ingeniously engineered – remained unchanged. I remember setting out early one Monday toward Dahanu, taking the CT 100 at a calm, meditative pace while Rishaad on the XL 100 zipped past, its tiny engine punching far above its weight. Moments like these capture why machines like the XL and CT 100 are so special: slow, steady, and undeniably fun.