A near-perfect (for yours truly for sure) riding position is the key to the Victor's brilliant dynamic ability. From the well balanced stance, fine weight distribution to the perfect saddle height (reduces as you pile on the kilometres on a long journey and the seat cushion gives up a losing battle, making you sink lower...), to well sorted out suspension components at both ends, confidence inspiring brakes and fantastic tyres, this is a bike which one can throw around corners, scrape foot pegs, change direction in emergency situations and ride the rough and the rutted with as much aplomb as she will scorch on tarmac.
  
I once again can't resist saying this but the Victor outhandles the Fiero and that is one big, very big statement. But it is the truth nonetheless. Out on the highway near Devanahalli, Arvind Pangaonkar and myself were riding flat out on two bikes and Arvind told me give the handlebars a strong push to see if the bike could get out of line. I knew that he wouldn't like me to commit harakiri but with some trepidation I gave it a feeble push. The bike straightened as if nothing had happened. Arvind saw this and beckoned me to watch him do it. I kept a lot of daylight between him and me on the four-lane highway and the great motorcycle enthusiast that he is, he gave a mighty thrust on the right hand side of the handlebar while doing at least 80kmph plus, and the Victor hardly twitched and kept tracking straight.
  
With a slight glint in his eyes he came alongside and said that it was now my turn! This had me in a spot for it was now mano-a-mano, man against man, no make man against the laws of physics, man wanting to injure himself, man stupid enough to fall in a trap... but chickening out would have been a cross I would have to bear the rest of my life.
  
So there went an equally huge heave on the handlebar, all the while keeping as great a distance between the two. The handlebar rocketed to the left and in a smooth fluid motion it was back pointing in the direction it always needed to be in before the exercise. The stiff nature of the chassis - almost flex free mind you in such a manoeuvre I could make out, the superb Srichakra tyres and the optimised steering geometry saved my skin and my reputation which was mere seconds away from being blown off, for the lousiest of reasons! But Arvind had made his point and the weave which one can experience on many a bike in such a tank slapper sort of hair raising movement was non-existent. Confident, I did it again two or three times and then it was great. We did a flat out 65km blast from Devanahalli to the TVS factory in Hosur via some traffic infested thoroughfares in Bangalore in under 48 minutes and our grins said it all. This bike can offer you handling pleasure in as strong a degree as your abilities permit you to exploit.
  
The brakes are progressive and bite well without locking up but it is the tyres which are a revelation. TVS Srichakra have made a most impressive turnaround from the insipid rubber they put out on the Fiero (which we took the stick to). The new tyres not only grip well but ride superbly and do not squirm while braking or the like. I am sure that the other tyre companies would be surely trying to play catch up with them on this count.