TVS Raider: Style, Features, And Fun To Ride

At first look, the brand new TVS Raider might be mistaken for a 150cc or 160cc machine. The 125cc bike has a way of presence you don’t count on from machines on this section and the design is kind of likeable.

Its sharp wanting LED headlamp with a placing set of DRLs is less complicated on the attention than the quirky headlamp on the larger RTRs. Then there’s the big, sculpted gas tank that appears prefer it got here from an even bigger bike. TVS has added smaller touches within the type of small silver-coloured tank shrouds and a stomach pan.

Split seats add to its sporty stance, however the rear part is a bit more simple with a big and sensible seize rail and a few neat LED brake lamps. There are 4 colors obtainable together with black, an attention-grabbing darkish blue and a pleasant shade of purple. The general design is one thing you’ll count on to see in a section above and other than the good-looking, however aged Pulsars, the TVS Raider is essentially the most sporty wanting of the 125 commuters.

The excellent news retains coming if you sit on the bike. There isn’t any boring commuter driving place right here and TVS has injected a touch of sportiness into the foot peg place together with the delicate lean ahead to the handlebar. It remains to be good and cozy and the seat to foot peg ratio will not be as cramped as on the larger Apache RTRs. The break up seats are fairly giant, properly padded and there’s sufficient room for larger riders as nicely. Shorter riders gained’t really feel disregarded both, because of the pleasant 780mm seat top.

The firm has additionally put thought into designing issues just like the attention-grabbing wanting brake lever, the beneficiant below seat cupboard space and the non-compulsory USB port mounted forward of the gas filler cap. The most premium bit is probably the brand new negative-LCD show that reveals loads of info together with a gear place indicator, two journeys, gas economic system, vary and extra. The bike even has a side-stand down engine kill characteristic, which is uncommon at this worth level.

And that isn’t all as a result of TVS will even provide a prime mannequin with Bluetooth connectivity and a TFT show. However, that bike will launch in a couple of months.

Effectively, the TVS Raider is well one of the vital feature-packed bikes within the section. But there are a couple of tough edges just like the iffy wanting plastics within the switchgear and the unfastened feeling fuel-filler flap. Mostly although, high quality ranges and end are fairly good and the Raider feels extra premium than one would count on from a typical 125cc machine.

This is TVS’ first 125cc bike in round a decade and so they have constructed a brand new engine for the job. On paper, the 124.8cc three-valve structure is equivalent to the motor from the Ntorq, however the firm says that’s the place the similarities finish. We are advised all inner parts are new and because of this, this engine makes 2 hp greater than the usual Ntorq for a complete of 11.38hp at 7,500rpm and 11.2Nm at 6,000rpm.

The Raider can also be the primary TVS motorbike with an built-in starter generator and meaning it has a spooky silent begin with none typical starter motor sound. The ISG additionally allows a start-stop system the place the engine mechanically cuts off if it has been idling for some time. A fast blip of the accelerator begins the engine again up and the system appears to work easily, however that is one thing we might want to take a look at on public roads in heavy visitors.

Another segment-first is that the Raider will get two driving modes — Eco and Power. These modes don’t change the facility output, however Eco mode brings the rev limiter in at 8,000rpm within the first 4 gears and at 7,000rpm in fifth gear, which restricts the highest pace a little bit. Eco additionally presents barely gentler responses and TVS says that it’ll enhance gas effectivity by about 3%. Power mode, in the meantime, offers you crisper responses, however deactivates the Start-Stop system.

You can change between the modes utilizing the change on the correct aspect handlebar that appears like a kill-switch. The modes will change on the transfer as soon as the rider closes the throttle. However, the location of this mode change means the Raider doesn’t get an engine kill change.

The worth of driving modes on a 11hp motorbike, most likely counts for extra on the brochure than the precise driving expertise. But don’t let that take away from the engine itself, as a result of this little factor is mighty spectacular.

First of all, refinement ranges are glorious and the engine is clean, irrespective of the pace. The precise efficiency is kind of good too and this engine has essentially the most torque within the section, whereas the quoted energy comes a detailed second to the 125cc Pulsar.

The acceleration feels robust for the section and is accompanied by a sometimes peppy exhaust be aware that you’d count on from a TVS. We noticed an indicated prime pace of 107kph down the lengthy straight on the TVS take a look at monitor and even at this level, the engine didn’t actually really feel confused or sad.

The motor is kind of tractable too, with peak energy coming in at a low 7,500rpm and it doesn’t thoughts being in fifth gear as little as 35kph. The transmission is clean and exact and all of because of this the bike needs to be fairly good to experience on the road as nicely.

The Raider comes with an uncovered chain, which is one thing that sensible bikes on this section don’t often have. It seems to be good and sporty, however would require extra frequent upkeep. That being mentioned, it gained’t be a shock if there’s a extra wise commuter oriented bike that can comply with on this new platform sooner or later. After all, it was solely final 12 months that TVS trademarked the title Fiero 125.

Nevertheless, even with the comparatively sporty Raider, TVS says they’ve additionally targeted on gas effectivity and declare that clients can count on an actual world effectivity determine of 67kpl. That is one thing we are going to reserve commenting on till we will totally take a look at the bike. But as issues stand, this new engine is a pleasure to make use of.

The Raider will get a model new chassis holding issues collectively. This single-downtube body makes use of a monoshock rear suspension and the entire bike weighs 123kg. The slim 30mm telescopic fork and the 5-step preload adjustable shock have been tuned for that typical delicate and supple really feel that you’d count on from a TVS and street consolation needs to be fairly good.

While we should wait to verify that, what is evident proper now could be that the Raider is a candy little handler. The bike feels extremely gentle and agile, to the purpose that it is advisable to get used to how shortly it reacts to inputs.

Once you do, there’s loads of enjoyable available and the TVS Remora tyres have numerous grip if you want it. We by no means scraped the foot pegs within the corners, however the rear suspension does really feel a little bit delicate and bouncy if you actually push it to the restrict. Bumping up the preload helped, however for many clients within the section, this stage of dealing with is certain to be participating.

Braking is taken care of by a 240mm entrance disc and a 130mm drum on the again. The entrance brake has a pleasant agency really feel on the lever, however the efficiency is a little bit uninteresting as you’ll count on from a motorbike on this section. There isn’t any ABS, however the mixed braking system works nicely. However, it is possible for you to to lock the rear brake for those who step on the lever exhausting sufficient. TVS can even promote a base variant of the Raider with a drum brake on the entrance, however we didn’t get to expertise that bike.

Prices begin at ₹ 77,500, ex-showroom Delhi, for the drum brake mannequin which is superb worth. That places the Raider proper on par with the comparatively youthful and sporty 125s just like the Bajaj Pulsar 125 and the Honda SP 125, to not point out making it a full ₹ 20,000 cheaper than the Pulsar NS 125.

However, TVS will cost you ₹ 8,000 extra (₹ 85,469) for the disc brake mannequin that you simply see right here. That appears an unreasonable quantity for simply the addition of a entrance disc, for the reason that firm tells us that the disc mannequin will get no further options. Perhaps TVS will elevate the value of the bottom mannequin in a couple of months to make that hole smaller.

But even so, the Raider packs loads of sport altering model and options together with a genuinely enjoyable to experience character, and that makes it not solely a convincing 125cc bike, but additionally a professional different to the likes of the favored Yamaha FZ which produces simply 0.6hp extra.

We have nonetheless bought tons to find after we experience this on public roads however after a enjoyable blast on the TVS take a look at monitor, issues look good. The Raider comes at a time when bikes basically have gotten painfully costly, shopping for powers have been curbed and the easy act of visiting a gas station can go away you indignant and annoyed. A comparatively inexpensive but fashionable, characteristic packed and genuinely enjoyable to experience bike may simply be what the physician ordered in these attempting instances.