TVS Radeon Review
Bike Tested: TVS Radeon; Road Test No. 1035; Test Location: Mumbai
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 63,200/-
The Radeon is yet another brilliant offering from TVS for the commuter market
I have been riding the Apache RR 310 for quite some time and TVS had the latest offering in the commuter segment ready for review. So I swapped it for a week and to my surprise, I didn’t know whether this decision was going to be good or not. Glad to say it was more efficient and exciting than I could have ever imagined. For starters, in the last 7 days, I rode it for around 300 kms and filled fuel just once when the bike came! But is the TVS Radeon up to the mark and ready to face the competition it already has?
Motor Quest: The Radeon is based out of an existing TVS model, the Star City+. It comes with an all-new design and stiffer suspension setup. However, the underpinning stay the same as the Star City+ while it gets larger alloy wheels.
The TVS Radeon gets a lot of chrome treatment all over
Styling – The design of the TVS Radeon goes very well with the existing competition. But it stands out due to the bright colour scheme and enhanced use of chrome at various places. The headlight cover, crash guard, the whole exhaust, suspension cover, luggage holder and even the grab rail is finished in chrome. Matte black shade on the engine with a golden cover for the oil sump looks nice too. The Radeon also gets a bright DRL upfront and our test bike was in the gloss white shade which grabbed a lot of attention. As we speak, attention to detail with a rubber tank pad and TVS Radeon logo in 3D adds a nice touch to the motorcycle. It grabs a good amount of attention which I never expected. So much so, that a few people actually stopped me to ask which bike is it!
A very simple analogue unit does duty for the instrument cluster
Instrument Cluster and Switchgear – The TVS Radeon gets a very simple yet attractive looking instrument cluster. It is an analogue unit but the design is so similar that it reminds me of the one which the Brezza gets! Dual pods do the job here while the right one has a fuel gauge and a side stand indicator. The left one includes the speedometer and economy and power mode LEDs. The centre area consists of a few more tell-tale lights with the TVS logo on top. The cluster is fairly simple but looks really nice for a bike like this. The switchgear has somewhat of a piano black finish and they go very well with the bike. It does not get a kill switch but a headlight switch is present to switch between the DRL and the headlight.
Brown leather seats look good and have great cushioning too
Ergonomics – The ergonomics of the TVS Radeon are exactly like other 110cc commuter motorcycles. Seating posture is upright with the handlebars being slightly raised and the footpegs being slightly front-set. The seat cushioning is very comfortable and the seat is wide enough for both the rider and pillion. The pillion footpegs are also at a comfortable level. While the pillion gets a decent grabrail, it can also perform as a tiny luggage holder. There is a luggage hook over the right suspension too and there is a chance that it might bother the pillion. But it comes in handy to carry heavy luggage when the pillion is not around. The rearview mirrors are comparatively small but give a decent view of what’s behind.
The engine has a very strong mid-range and looks good too
Performance – Powered by a 109.7cc Duralife motor that produces 8.2 BHP of power and 8.7 Nm of torque, the Radeon’s numbers are very similar to the competition. However, what is interesting is that power delivery is very strong in the mid-range. The low-end is adequate for traffic duties and there’s no top-end as such. But the motorcycle reaches 90 km/hr in a very comfortable manner and pushes till 100 km/hr post which it goes out of breath. However, the lively spot is at 60 km/hr while you can get the maximum fuel efficiency at 40-45 km/hr which happens to be close to 70 km/l. The throttle is also very responsive and the Radeon picks up pace gradually.
Straight-line stability is pretty good, it rides really well
The Radeon has a bassy exhaust note, sounds very similar to the Apache series
The 4-speed gearbox is slick-shifting but the Radeon would miss-shift between 3rd and 4th gear when pushed a lot. First gear isn’t very tall but the other three gears are quite tall comparatively. One can ride at 45 km/hr or push it till 90-95 km/hr in 4th gear itself and the engine wouldn’t stress out. The Duralife motor is actually quite durable and smooth. NVH levels are very well contained and there are no vibrations at all. However, when you push the motorcycle to the limit, there is a slight buzz that can be felt on the footpegs. The exhaust note of the Radeon is also very bassy and sounds very similar to that of the Apache 200.
A commuter that is up for any kind of a task
Riding Dynamics – The ergonomics of the Radeon are purposeful and the riding dynamics are comfortable too. The suspension setup comes from the Star City+, however, the setup is stiffly sprung to comply with luggage carrying duties for the rural market. As the setup is stiff, there is no bounceback effect and the Radeon handles like a gem. It stays planted and yet flicks around very well. Manoeuvring through traffic is a piece of cake for the Radeon. The 18-inch alloys come with Ceat rubber and they grip decently well. The Radeon also get SBT (Sync Brake Technology) which is yet another term for combi-braking system. Apply the rear brakes and it automatically engages the front brakes too. Although the Radeon gets only drum brakes which don’t have a strong bite, SBT helps in achieving a shorter stopping distance.
The TVS Radeon is just a rugged commuter motorcycle
Verdict – The TVS Radeon is available only in select markets if you visit the TVS website. It is made for rural and semi-urban markets and yet it feels like it has a place in tier-1 cities as well. It looks great, has a commendable engine and rides very well too, however, for that we have the Star City+. Not to be tech-savvy but the Radeon also gets a first in the segment USB charger next to the headlight. It is definitely a superb product from TVS and as far as the competition goes, the Radeon is a very strong contender. For a price of a 110cc scooter, the TVS Radeon is surely an compelling commuter motorcycle.
USB charging port is placed right behind the headlight
What’s Cool
* Simple design language looks very neat
* Engine has a good mid-range and a bassy exhaust note too
* Priced very attractively, it undercuts even 110cc scooters
What’s Not So Cool
* No disc brake offered even as an option
* Cost saving is evident at quite a few places
* Not available for urban markets, planned for rural areas
We have come a long way what 4-stroke motorcycles used to be, have we?
TVS Radeon Specifications
* Engine: 109.7cc, Air-Cooled, 2-Valve
* Power: 8.4 PS @ 7000 RPM
* Torque: 8.7 Nm @ 5000 RPM
* Transmission: 4 Speed Constant Mesh
* Top Speed: 100 km/hr
* Fuel Type: Petrol
* Fuel Consumption: 64 km/l
* Frame: Single Cradle Tubular Frame
* Suspension: Telescopic Forks (Front), Adjustable Hydraulic Shocks (Rear)
* Tyres: 2.75 x 18 (Front), 3.00 x 18 (Rear)
* Brakes: 130 mm Drum (Front), 110 mm Drum (Rear), SBT
TVS Radeon Dimensions
* Length x Width x Height: 2006 mm x 705 mm x 1070 mm
* Wheelbase: 1265 mm
* Ground Clearance: 155 mm
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 10-litres
* Kerb weight: 112 kgs
Testers’ Note:
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