TVS XL 100

The TVS XL 100 is one of the very few mopeds available in the global market right now – a category of vehicle which is designed with the aspects of minimalism and simplicity in mind. The TVS XL 100 is no looker at all, and the very slim and minimal approach towards design is something which only purists will love.

The TVS XL 100 looks basic when viewed head-on, and gets a simple round headlamp encased in a black semi-spherical housing. A pair of amber round themed turn indicators flanks both the sides of the headlamp, and that’s all that completes the front fascia of the TVS XL 100. The front telescopic forks do come with rubber paddings on them to showcase its utilitarian side.

There are very few side body panels in the TVS XL 100, which do look simple and compact but tend to look smart with fresh appearing body decals. There is a very small vertically placed fuel tank with curved edges which is placed behind the handlebar. The floorboard here looks slim and is placed horizontally, which acts as a separating panel for the footrests and other controls on both sides.

There is a small curved body panel placed just below the main rider’s seat, which acts as a small storage compartment. There is a separate pillion seat, which is longer than the main rider one and gets big tubular grab rail which also serves as a luggage carrier for mounting heavy loads.

There is a tubular portion below the pillion seat, which ends up with a very plain looking tail lamp cluster on its rear edge. Just below this tubular portion, there is a curved rear fender, which flows all the way towards the engine in the middle, which has been given a black treatment here. The presence of basic looking spoke wheels is another testimony of its simplicity.

The instrument console of the TVS XL 100 is a single pod affair, with the round-shaped unit getting only the basics in the form of an analog speedometer and odometer. The long and curved handlebar is good enough to be in reach for even shorter riders. 

The TVS XL 100 gets a very humble mechanical suspension setup, which is sturdy enough to make this petite vehicle quite durable. The TVS XL 100 gets basic hydraulic telescopic forks at the front and a pair of hydraulic coil springs with tubular swingarm at the back. The light kerb weight, slim profile and tall 16-inch tires make it a very easy to ride machine even for beginners. The 80mm drum brake at the front and 110mm drum brake at the rear are very basic but are god enough to bring this light-weighted machine to a halt.

The TVS XL 100 is powered by a very small four-stroke, single-cylinder, air-cooled, carbureted, 99.7cc engine, which is a huge leap forward from the 2-stroke engine which was erstwhile available on this model. The engine here is married to a single-speed gearbox, and pumps out a maximum power output of minuscule 4.3 PS of power and 6.5 Nm of torque. The power and torque figures might seem too low, however, factor in the very low kerb weight of 80 kg, and it feels decently powerful while on the go.

The TVS XL 100 does not get any noteworthy safety feature, given its bare-bones design approach and cost-effective image.

The TVS XL 100 is devoid of any single modern-day feature, and gets the most basic of mechanical components, whether you take its engine or chassis in consideration. But the solid and durable mechanicals do make the TVS XL 100 a very durable machine, despite is hardcore simplicity.