Coming from the hands of one of the finest motor manufacturing companies in India, the new TVS Raider is a power-packed beast. With its flexible design for Indian roads and numerous colour options, the bike is the perfect choice for the new Indian.
With the introduction of Raider, a brand-new premium commuter motorbike, TVS Motor Company has revised its lineup. The new Raider will be available from TVS Motor Company in three variations: Drum, Disc, and Connected. In the Indian market, this new model from the Hosur-based two-wheeler manufacturer competes against the Bajaj Pulsar NS 125 and the Honda SP 125.
It comes in two variations and four colours. The 124.8cc BS6 engine that powers the TVS Raider 125 produces 11.2 horsepower and 11.2 Nm of torque. The TVS Raider 125 has a dual-wheel braking system with both front and rear drum brakes. The 10-litre gasoline tank on this 123 kilogramme Raider 125 motorcycle weighs 10 gallons.
According to the manufacturer, acceleration from 0 to 60 kilometres per hour (kph) takes 5.9 seconds, and the peak speed is 99 kph. A 124.8cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled, three-valve engine is used in all models; it generates 11.2bhp at 7,500 rpm and 11.2Nm of maximum torque at 6,000 rpm.
There is a five-speed gearbox connected to the motor. Some stylistic elements include a contemporary LED headlamp design, a body-coloured headlight, a body-coloured front fender, a split-style saddle, an aluminium grab rail, and an engine cowl.
The TVS Raider was launched in September 2021 in India.
An LED headlamp with integrated LED DRLs, an LED taillight, a five-inch digital display, an idle stop-start system, two ride modes (Eco and Power), and first-in-segment under-seat storage are included as standard features on both variations of the motorbike.
Incoming call and message notifications, voice assistance, navigation, and other features are added to the Connected version. The Connected model also has a colour TFT screen, Bluetooth technology, and a Voice Assist feature that integrates with TVS SmartXConnect.
There is a USB charger available as an additional.
The suspension system comprises a preload-adjustable rear mono-shock and 30mm telescopic front forks. All variations include a combined braking system as their safety net, and drum units on each wheel provide the braking duties for the standard model.
The front and back drum units of the disc type each measure 130mm in diameter.
The TVS Raider in India can be purchased in 4 different colour options:
The variants of TVS Raider include:
The 124.8cc single-cylinder motor powering the TVS Raider 125 has the same diameter and stroke measurements as the TVS NTorq 125. The engine is also fresh and coupled to a five-speed transmission. The Raider is one of the most potent bikes in its class, producing 11.38 PS and 11.2 Nm.
The TVS Raider has LED headlights and taillights; however, the motorcycle’s turn indicators are bulbs. The impressive TVS Raider has an unmatchable transmission and a very well-tuned and respectably powerful engine.
It has an instrument cluster that displays the typical information, such as a speedometer, tachometer, trip metre, and fuel gauge. Indicators for low gasoline, gear position, time, fuel economy, and ride modes are also included.
Power and Eco are its initial two riding modes, supported by a split single-downtube frame held in place by a front telescopic fork and a rear mono-shock. It travels on grippy TVS Remora tyres mounted on 17-inch alloy wheels.
The front of the bike has a 240mm disc brake or a 130mm drum brake. While the vehicle is equipped with a 130mm rear drum brake and CBS as all standard bikes.
While the engine has a dynamic and endearing personality, the braking system does not share this trait. The input given from the front feels uninspiring and is hard to take in. The setup feels better since the combined braking system sends pressure to the front disc when the rear brake is engaged. When utilised with the rear brake, the configuration is adequate.
It might not be appealing to seasoned motorcyclists. But remember, the individuals who are either new to riding motorcycles or upgrading from the 100cc class; are likely to purchase TVS Raider 125; these riders frequently utilise the rear brakes rather than the front.
To take a piece of the 125cc market in India, TVS Motor Company is acting aggressively. TVS ensured the motorbike was enjoyable enough to compete against its well-known rivals, such as the Bajaj Pulsar NS125 and the Honda SP 125. However, is it enough? We rode it to offer you an in-depth road test evaluation of the new TVS Raider 125.
A sporting attitude may be seen in the rider’s triangle. Sporty ergonomics are achieved via the handlebar’s lower position and the foot pegs’ small, rearward offsets.
Highway speeds are comfortable for the motor. Most of the time, it also feels polished; the vibrations only become noticeable at higher rpm. You need to crank beyond 6,000rpm and change down a notch for speedy overtakes.
In the Power mode, the speedometer will gladly exceed 80 kmph and into the triple digits. Although we had a few false neutrals during the test trip, the gearbox is also snappy.
While the engine has a dynamic and endearing personality, the braking system does not share this trait. The input given from the front feels uninspiring and is hard to take in. When utilised with the rear brake, the configuration is effective.
The TVS Raider boasts the finest acceleration and torque in its class. Additionally, this commuter bike has an optional TFT instrument display and smartphone connection, making it more feature-rich than most competitors.
But do all these advantages make the TVS Raider more advantageous than the well-liked Honda SP125?
The TVS Raider has a coloured LCD as standard equipment. It provides all the essential readouts, including speed, trip metre, gear-shift indication, tachometer, fuel economy, peak and average speed, helmet indicator, odometer, fuel gauge, etc.
For the braking hardware, the Raider comes with a 240 mm front petal disc brake and a 130 mm rear drum brake with synchronised braking as standard. Honda SP 125, as standard, relies on 130 mm drum brakes, but customers can upgrade to 240 mm front disc brake, albeit at a premium.
TVS Raider standard model costs ₹77,500, while the SmartXconnect unit has a significant premium and can get fixed as an accessory. The Honda SP 125, on the other hand, gets a price tag of ₹78,381 for the drum brake variant and ₹82,677 for the disc brake variant.
In addition to these features, the Raider boasts a side-stand engine cutoff that delays starting the bike until the side stand is fully disengaged.
The new TVS Raider is a motorbike with a stunning appearance and numerous segment-first features. It is highly distinctive and distinguishes itself from its high-end commuters competitors.
But Bajaj Auto also introduced the brand-new Pulsar NS 125 in India, a bare-chested streetfighter that competes directly with the TVS Raider 125. How do these brand-new 125cc motorcycles compare to one another?
A 124.8cc, single-cylinder, air and oil-cooled engine comes with TVS’ ET-Fi or Eco Thrust Fuel injection technology that complies with BS6 powers the new TVS Raider 125. This motor produces 11.2 Nm of maximum torque at 6,000 RPM and 11.3 HP power at 7,500 RPM. This motor produces 11 Nm of maximum torque at 7,000 RPM and 12 HP power at 8,500 RPM.
BS6 compliant 124.45cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled, fuel-injected engine powers the Bajaj Pulsar NS 125.
The starting price of the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V is Rs. 1.20 Lakh, which is Rs. 36,155 higher than the basic model of the TVS Raider, which costs Rs. 84,000. Technically speaking, the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V has a 159.7 cc engine, but the TVS Raider has a 124.8 cc engine.
Compared to the TVS Raider, which comes in four colours, the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V gets five distinct colours.
In terms of mileage, comfort, maintenance, and features, the TVS Raider is superior. Both bikes have received identical ratings from users based on performance. Additionally, the TVS Raider costs Rs. 36,155 less than the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V.
The 159.7 cc Petrol engine of the Apache RTR 160 4V generates 14.73 Nm of torque at 7250 rpm and 17.63 PS of power at 9250 rpm for the Front Disc and Rear Drum variant. In contrast, the 124.8 cc Petrol engine of the Raider in the Drum version generates 11.38 PS at 7500 rpm and 11.2 Nm at 6000 rpm of torque.
The TVS Raider setup feels better since the combined braking system sends pressure to the front disc when the rear brake is engaged. It might not be appealing to seasoned motorcyclists.
The TVS Raider 125 should be a serious contender on your shopping list if you’re in the market for a new 125cc motorcycle. The only drawbacks we discovered were the lack of high-beam headlight performance and the unsatisfactory response from the front brake.
It is reasonable to state that the new TVS Raider 125 is one of the greatest 125cc bikes available on the Indian market today in its price range, if not the best. While the engine performance and handling qualities are commendable, the style is enticing. However, the pros outweigh the cons by a significant margin.
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