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Riding the bebek

TVS has launched the Neo, also known as bebek, in the Indonesian market. Can it make it a success, we find out

In Indonesia, people prefer their bikes, also known as bebeks, parked within their houses. In addition, Indonesians expect and are used to high levels of quality. And unlike India, where bikes are purchased in a snap, bikes make up for a mere 15 perc ent of the Indonesian two-wheeled market; the other 75 percent is constituted of step-thrus. So to make it in this market would be quite a task for any company that has just entered. But why are we so concerned with the Indonesian bike market?

TVS Motor Company in India has taken a huge step and launched the TVS Neo or bebek — a racy-looking step-thru bike, in Indonesia. This step is especially big for TVS because only a few years ago, TVS severed all ties with Suzuki in order to grow independently. The Neo is the first to roll out of TVS’ brand new plant situated just outside Jakarta. It isn’t going to be easy for the Neo to make a mark in this market. TVS will have to establish the made-in-India credibility and only then will it even manage a small hold on the market.

Since most riders of bebeks in Indonesia are women, the stance of the Neo has been kept compact.

The bebek sports smartly-chiselled engine crankcases for its 109.7cc four-stroke and single cylinder powerplant. It is an air-cooled and twin-valve unit, with a carburettor-fed single-cylinder positioned in near-horizontal format. Peak torque of 0.86kgm spins out at 4500rpm, while the NEO manages to push out 8.5bhp at 8000rpm. Salient features of this ‘Duralife’ engine are friction-reducing roller bearings on the rocker arms, slim piston rings and a Teflon coating for the cam-chain tensioner.

In Indonesia, people warm-up their bikes – a good habit – every morning following a cold-start. To assist them in knowing when to go, the NEO offers ‘i-start,’ a light that informs riders of their engine having achieved running temperature. Ignition timing is automatically altered at this point, to assist reaching a safe/ rideable temperature faster. This TVS uses an exposed final drive chain system. And while the base model NEO will offer an automatic clutch for its four-speed gearbox, with no clutch lever, the top-end bebek goes an extra mile to offer a manual override clutch system.

A good amount of aluminium alloy has been used on this bebek and this is evident in the front-telescopic forks and the grab bar and the rear pillion footrest sub-frame. Clear lens lamp and the LED look are on this bebek as well. Clever contrasts are deployed, with a well turned-out silencer, bright rear suspension springs and black six-spoke alloy rims (only on the top-of-the-line model). The top-end model will also offer a futuristic speedometer, with a digital touch and amber backlighting. A gear indicator, fuel gauge, tripmeter and TVS’ trademark economy and power indicator mode are all present on this step-thru. Grips, switches, levers and mirrors are equally well turned out, while the new TVS also uses bar end weights. A glow-in-the-dark ignition key slot is at hand to help riders locate this on inky nights. Practicality is taken care of with a voluminous and lockable under-seat storage bay.

The NEO uses a steel tubular frame, telescopic front forks and dual hydraulic shock absorbers allied to a rectangle section swingarm at the rear. Tyres are IRC brand, in skinny 2.50 x 17 and 2.75 x 17-inch sizes. TVS claims the Neo has been designed to deliver 10 percent more fuel economy than its Indonesian competitors. In our test, it delivered 54kpl in city limits. The Neo is a good effort by TVS and Indians should be proud. A pity the bike isn’t available in India, at least not yet.

TECHNICAL DATA NamE TVS NEO