Unveiling the TVS Raider 125: Redefining Expectations

Simple. That’s a word you most associate smaller capacity motorcycles in India with. They walk the walk and they talk the talk. Mostly known for incredible efficiencies of riding and own it, ride it, forget it sort of mentality, they own the biggest pie in the motorcycling universe. This… This is the Raider 125, and it’s an outrageous effort by TVS. And I use that word because this is anything but a 125. I mean look at the styling, it’s got a split seat, LED DRLs. When Shumi rode the Raider at a race track, he came back impressed, very very impressed. But this my friends is the real world and this is where you and I will ride a motorcycle the most. But before I get riding…

Aesthetics that Command Attention

What a swank colour! Honestly, I couldn’t make peace with it when I saw it on screen but this in flesh looks absolutely smashing. The finish levels are decent, the quality of parts is nice and there is an overall sense of premium to the Raider 125. We are already off to a good start.

Continuing the Tradition of Enthusiast-Oriented Machines

TVS has always been known for making motorcycles for enthusiasts, I mean not just motorcycles but scooters as well and after what seems to be like a break in the 125cc class, the TVS Raider 125 finally takes that tradition forward. Nope, this is not the same engine as the Ntorq. Although it might share similar numbers on the spec sheet, TVS insists and they insist hard. It is not the same engine, so be it.

Power and Performance: Beyond Expectations

But at least in terms of how the power is delivered, how the torque kicks in, it does feel a little similar. Where you will actually feel the difference is through the gearbox because here through a manual gearbox, you have a little control on when you want to change gear, how long you want to stay on the throttle for. So that’s where you’ll actually feel the difference. I think the sweet spot for this motorcycle is between 50 to 60 kilometers per hour but it has no problem crossing 100 kilometers per hour. Might feel a little stressed at those numbers but it absolutely can venture into that territory and I think it’s fantastic. Vibrations are also low, they do creep in when you’re absolutely back on the throttle but why will you be on the Raider 125

Eco and Power Modes: A Dual Personality

There are also two modes, you’ve got the Eco and the Power mode. I feel some of you who buy the Raider 125 will mistake the mode switch for the engine kill switch and you’ll end up riding it in Eco mode for the longest time till you realise at about 94 kilometres per hour where the limiter kicks in, you’ll realise, okay, what’s happening to the motorcycle, why is there no power, what’s happening, fueling issue, something like that. then you’ll realise, okay, it’s the Eco mode and then when you switch to Power, 100, just like that. So overall, I really love how TV has decided, hey, we’re not going to make this underpowered, not going to make this as silent as the rest of the 125cc motorcycles are, we’re going to make this lively, we’re going to make this performance-oriented and I think they have done a fantastic job.

Navigating the Urban Jungle: The TVS Raider 125 City Review

The urban jungle today feels more jungle than urban, no? Considering how awesome our roads have been in the recent past, a good setup makes all the difference in the world. And while it all felt okay at the Hossu track, it doesn’t feel the same in the city. While the front is able to manage everything that is thrown at it, It is not really compliant with the slightly stiff setup at the rear. So every time you go over a bumpy road, the rear does not react the way the front does and maybe the answer to that is going slow. I’ve got two questions for you. Should you? Could you? I’ve never complained about handling on a TVS motorcycle. In some aspects, things can get better but as is, everything that rolls out of Hosur feels really good to ride.

Unleashing Confidence: The TVS Raider 125’s Agile Spirit

Now the motorcycles that sit in this class, they’re relatively calm and you want traffic to pass by before you make that move. But in the Raider 125’s case, no sir, no chance! The bike feels so light, so incredibly agile that even when you think you have to take a step back, The bike urges you to make that move, that’s how confident the motorcycle is and that’s how much confidence it’ll inspire in you as a rider. Now can you attribute this to the weight of the motorcycle? I would say no because on paper, the SP 125 still weighs less and also when you look at the wheelbase, it is longer than the Honda as well as the Hero Glamour. So in that sense, 2 plus 2 doesn’t really make 4, it doesn’t count. But when you put this package on road, Oh my god! It absolutely feels wow! I mean, I don’t remember the last time I had so much fun on a 125cc motorcycle. And by the way, you know what we say about paper, right? Stop rolling! I mean, stop wasting it!

Ergonomic Excellence: Riding Comfort and Rider Experience

We had to test the ergos. Had to figure out if TVS left their racing DNA out of this. And in some ways, yes, they did. I mean, they had to, right? In a country where more than half of us commute to work wearing formals, you don’t want to sit in a position where you reach your workplace tired. The Raider is relaxed, comfortable and positively easier to ride. The seat, though too soft for my liking, should cater to what India seeks. We also did a pillion test and our special pillion had nothing to complain about except the fact that he had to sit pillion By force

Safety and Connectivity: A Look into the Future

As we say goodbye to a billion, there is one thing that has bothered me. It’s so good, so new. But why isn’t it an ABS? I’ll tell you why. TVS has used a 124.8cc engine which means they could sneak under the mandate. Also adding ABS would have added cost to an already sensitive class, but I know for a fact, it would have made the whole experience a whole lot safer. And clearly, TVS decided to choose a path. Now as far as the brakes go, they do not have that initial bite, they’re not sharp, they almost like feel and feel old school, but that’s okay, you see, this motorcycle is going to be bought by a lot of youngsters, a lot of first timers, even someone elder in your family who’s looking at buying a 125cc sporty looking motorcycle. So in that sense, they are going to be okay with the brake feel. The most important thing is, the Raider 125 will stop when you want it to, where you want it to. Now I know I said this does not get ABS but it does get CBS and it’s actually actuated by the rear brake. So when you step on the rear brake, and if you happen to have your finger on the front brake lever, you will feel the front brake getting engaged. It’s not a scary feeling, might feel a little weird, but I know you will get used to it with time.

Future Innovations and Affordability: The TVS Raider 125’s Value Proposition

Last but not the least, even with a small bump in price, a single channel unit would have made a huge difference and would have added brownie points to the Raider 125’s back. And finally, connectivity. Wait, this does not get connectivity. Actually, it will in a future iteration which will sit at the top. So Bluetooth connection, navigation, phone calls and all that jazz. Not just that, a brand new 5-inch colour TFT display to up the fancy quotient of the motorcycle. But for now, the current display does the job it has to. The number readouts are clear and necessary information is communicated to the rider.

Efficiency and Affordability: A Winning Combination

Now let’s talk about the two things that are absolutely crucial to this segment, fuel efficiency and price. Considering the fact that this is a 125cc motorcycle, We still got about 72 kilometres per litre in the city and about 65 on the highway. These are impressive numbers because you usually associate these numbers with 110cc motorcycles in India. I feel the Raider sits in a spot where you’re getting the performance of 150 with the efficiency of 110. So in that sense, it’s a great spot for the Raider to be in. So at Rs. 77,500 for the Drum variant and about 85,500 for the one with the disc right here. There is a significant gap between the two variants but at this price, it also sits right in between the SP 125 and the Glamour. Barring those facts, what you should know is that this segment is largely ruled by the Glamour and in its latest X-Tech form, I think it looks really cool, adds some nice features as well and of course on the other hand, you have the SP 125 which is another heavyweight. But I really feel if people understood motorcycles like we did, enjoyed motorcycles like we did, I think the climb to the top is going to be that much easier for the Raider 125. On that note, thank you so much for watching this video, this city review of the TVS Raider 125. I hope you enjoyed it. If you did, then please leave us a like, drop in a comment, a really nice comment. And I will respond to as many as I can. And remember to share it with your friends. Of course, if you haven’t subscribed to our channel, do remember to hit the subscribe button. Hit the notification bell. And until the next one, And I will see you later.

Latest Reviews

Reviews of the TVS Raider have been generally positive, with critics praising its design, performance, and features. Here are some key points from the latest reviews:

ZigWheels: “The TVS Raider 125 is a stylish and feature-packed commuter motorcycle that offers good performance and decent fuel economy. It is a worthy contender in the 125cc segment.”
BikeDekho: “The TVS Raider 125 is a powerful and feature-rich motorcycle that is sure to appeal to young riders. It offers a comfortable riding experience and is well-suited for city commutes.”
BikeWale: “The TVS Raider 125 is a value-for-money motorcycle that offers a good blend of style, performance, and features. It is a worthy competitor to the established players in the 125cc segment.”

Price

The TVS Raider is available in four variants, with prices starting from Rs 95,219 (ex-showroom) for the Drum variant and going up to Rs 1,02,000 (ex-showroom) for the SmartXonnect variant.

Overall, the TVS Raider is a stylish and feature-packed 125cc motorcycle that offers good performance and value for money. If you are looking for a sporty and exciting commuter motorcycle, the TVS Raider is definitely worth considering

Here are some TVS Raider agencies near by:

[TVS – Raftaar Motor Company](https://dealers.tvsmotor.com/tvs-motors/tvs-raftaar-motor-company-two-wheeler-dealer-hussainganj-lucknow-133540/Home?utm_source=locator&utm_medium=googleplaces) is located at No 21, Chintel House, Station Rd, Husainganj. It has a rating of 4.1 stars on Google Maps.
TVS Showroom is located at Vivek Khand 2, Gomti Nagar. It has a rating of 3.7 stars on Google Maps.
[TVS – Sarvi Automobile Pvt Ltd](https://dealers.tvsmotor.com/tvs-motors/tvs-sarvi-automobile-pvt-ltd-two-wheeler-dealer-sitapur-road-lucknow-133543/Home?utm_source=locator&utm_medium=googleplaces) is located at Daliganj Crossing, Sitapur Rd, near Jeep Classic, Mausam Bagh, Triveni Nagar. It has a rating of 4.2 stars on Google Maps.
[TVS iQube – Nirman Auto Sales](https://dealers.tvsmotor.com/iqube/tvs-iqube-nirman-auto-sales-electric-motor-shop-basant-vihar-lucknow-133179/Home?utm_source=locator&utm_medium=googleplaces) is located at No 5, Nirman Platinum, Tedhi Pulia Ring Rd, Basant Vihar, Sector 14, Adil Nagar. It has a rating of 3.7 stars on Google Maps.
[TVS – Reliance Motor Works](https://www.tvsmotor.com/) is located at 6 C 1, Reliance Tower, Faizabad Rd, opp. HAL, Sector 18, Indira Nagar. It has a rating of 3 stars on Google Maps.