TVS Raider ride review – A perfect first bike!
Hyderabad: The Chennai-headquartered TVS, as we all know produces some amazing machines. Be it the Apaches or the XL 100s, their two-wheelers have always had the value for money. With the 125 CC Raider, TVS adds another commuter motorcycle to its line up, and a wonderful one at that! For the young Choosing between the […]
Hyderabad: The Chennai-headquartered TVS, as we all know produces some amazing machines. Be it the Apaches or the XL 100s, their two-wheelers have always had the value for money. With the 125 CC Raider, TVS adds another commuter motorcycle to its line up, and a wonderful one at that!
For the young
Choosing between the looks and styling of a motorcycle and the economy and performance of it is always a tough task, especially if you are a young rider.
TVS is going all out with the Raider, setting new benchmarks in the commuter segment which has seen some rather old-school less attractive motorcycles which have failed to grab the attention of the younger lot, prompting them to spend big bucks on their first motorcycles.
With its strikingly good looks and some segment-first features, the Raider makes a great choice for a first motorcycle at an amazing price of Rs. 80,794 (ex-showroom Hyderabad).
Specs, engine, performance
The Raider comes with a 124.8 cc air and oil-cooled 3 valve engine which churns out a maximum power of 8.37 kW at 7,500 rpm and 11.2 Nm of torque at 6,000 rpm. TVS promises better mileage, better startability, refinement and durability with the Ecothrust Fuel injection (ETFi) technology. The engine which comes mated to a 5-speed gearbox boasts of best-in-class acceleration of 0-60 km/h in 5.9 secs and an impressive top speed of 99 km/h.
Raider, as TVS claims, returns with a mileage of 67 kmpl. Not much to argue there as the motorcycle we have test ridden in city traffic has come back with more or less the same figures claimed by the company.
The motorcycle becomes TVS’ first to come with an integrated starter-generator which ignites the engine without a typical machine starting sound. It comes with two riding modes – Eco and Power. While there is no change in the power output between the two modes, the revs will be restricted, restricting the top speed. Though the fuel efficiency is slightly better in the eco mode, the throttle response becomes quite bleak.
However, the acceleration I feel is top-notch for a bike of this size and the Apache—like exhaust note makes it fun to ride.
Ride, comfort and braking
The suspension set up – a 5-step adjustable mono-shock at the rear and a low friction suspension at the front – made sure I had a smooth ride on bumpy roads.
The split seat is completely to my liking with the right amount of softness, never leaving me sore in the city traffic. The TVS Remora tubeless tyres give a good road grip and offer stability in corners, giving a secure feeling of being nicely planted.
Braking, I must say, is Raider’s strong suit. The 240mm front disc variant that I got to ride is sharp and to the point. The 130 mm drum on the rear is quite accurate and the SYNCRO (Combi brake) works wonderfully well which will be of great use for younger riders who are traditionally taught in our country to jam the rear brakes in panic situations.
Design, features and verdict
I have been saving the best part for the last and before I get there, let me quickly talk about the dynamic styling of the motorcycle.
A glance at the motorcycle gives an impression of a 150-160cc motorcycle and the handsome looking headlamp with the daytime running lamps give the bike a strong road presence.
The reverse-LCD display on the motorcycle is perhaps the most premium feature of the bike and is definitely my favourite part of the Raider. It is not often that you ride a 125-cc commuter bike with an optional TFT display with a voice assist. The cluster is packed with features like gear shift and position indicators, top speed recorder, distance to empty and average fuel economy, side stand indication and a cool helmet reminder.
To manage and get so much packed in stylish, bigger-looking commuter motorcycle is absolutely smart by TVS and if you are someone looking for a pocket-friendly yet premium looking motorcycle, search no more and go for the wicked ride! Don’t forget, keep the rubber side down!
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