The TVS NTroq 125 took the market by pleasant surprise when it was first launched over 2 years ago. Both performance and practicality were unheard of in India’s commuter scooter segment except a certain Italian brand- Aprilia. But, they did not come cheap.
With the TVS Ntorq in the picture, customers had an option that was cheaper, attractive and boasted class-leading features like the Bluetooth-connectivity and a data-loaded digital console. As things stand now, with the BS4-BS6 transition, the TVS NTorq has received one of the steepest price hikes of close to Rs. 10,000/-. Is this sporty scooter still worth it? Is it as aggressive as it looks? How does it stand out in the boundless scooter market of India? Read on to find out!
Pros: Riding Dynamics, Efficient Braking, Smart Styling, Class-Leading Features
Cons: Poor Fuel-Efficiency, Not Comfortable Enough, Engine Lacks Top-End Punch
TVS NTorq 125 Variants
The TVS NTorq 125 is available in four variants, each variant differs from the other in a few subtle aspects. The variants are:
- NTorq 125 Drum
- NTorq 125 Disc
- Race Edition
- Super Squad Edition
TVS NTorq 125 Design
The NTorq 125 looks highly innovative, sharp, and unique. Be it the signature ‘T’ shaped taillamp above the sporty vents at the rear or the intimidating front cluster- the NTorq screams good fun. The side panels along the length of this scooter look chiselled with tasteful cuts hidden among them. The front area consists of a diamond-cut alloy wheel, attractive front wheel fender, sleek headlight and a menacing handlebar dome with integrated turn signals. The mirrors, too, are in sync with the overall design of this scooter with its cool outline and shape. The rear, according to us, is the real eye-catcher. The stubby and muscular exhaust, diamond-cut alloy wheel, sporty grabrails and the matted-out rear fender really join hands to pose a radical sight.
The Drum and the Disc variant miss out on the LED Headlamps, 3-tone colour options and the sporty decals that come with the Race Edition and the Super Squad variant. Apart from this, they share the same embossed NTorq logo on the side and a few common decals across the body.
TVS NTorq 125 Features
The NTorq 125 is almost synonymous with features, and with good reason. The NTorq still boasts a fully digital display with features like a personalised welcome message, three trip meters, ride stats, lap-timer, and even an engine temperature gauge. But the most impressive feature is the Smart Connect Bluetooth Connectivity. The connectivity features include phone battery display, incoming call notifications, automatic SMS reply, navigation assistance, signal strength display, etc. TVS has managed to create a class apart for itself in this aspect and the competition is far from keeping up with the same.
The NTorq was also the first scooter to get an engine kill-switch, following suit, it now gets a hazard light switch on the Race Edition variant. On the mechanical side of things, this scooter is equipped with a 124.8cc, fuel-injected engine mated to an automatic CVT-i transmission.
TVS NTorq 125 Engine Performance
The NTorq hosts a sporty and quick engine. The air-cooled 124.8cc motor gets RT-FI (Race tuned-Fuel injection) that produces 9.25 BHP at 7000 RPM and 10.5 Nm of torque at 5500 RPM. As expected, the refinement has seen a rapid improvement from the BS4-BS6 change but at the cost of the raw grunt that was found earlier on this scooter. This, in turn, has resulted in a significantly slower offering- compared to the previous version.
Nevertheless, the NTorq is still fast, peppy and highly responsive, especially in the low and mid-range. The top-end, however, is not up to the mark. Cruising at around 60 km/hr is a breeze with a top speed of around 96 km/hr. The RT-FI ensures an engaging throttle response with consistent refinement throughout the speedometer.
TVS NTorq 125 Mileage (or Fuel Efficiency)
The NTorq 125, being a commuting oriented scooter, has fairly poor fuel efficiency figures of around 42 km/l under economic riding conditions. In hectic city traffic, the number may fall down to around 38 km/l. In the vast segment of 125cc commuter scooters, the NTorq 125 has one of the lowest mileage figures. The exciting performance it offers hopefully makes up for this shortcoming. The 5.8-litre fuel tank offers a riding range of about 200-220 km.
TVS NTorq 125 Handling (or Dynamics)
The NTorq 125 handles with great ease and confidence. The scooter handles with agility, possesses good cornering capabilities, and has strong high-speed stability. The scooter also gets 12-inch rims with wider tyres than the competition. What does this mean on the road? The NTorq may probably outperform most of its rivals in corners.
What makes it so good at handling? The telescopic suspension at the front and the mono-shock at the rear is highly responsive and engaging. The latter, interestingly, is uncommon among scooters in this segment. The high-rigid underbone chassis and the kerb weight of 118 kgs also complement the brilliant riding dynamics.
TVS NTorq 125 Comfort (or Ergonomics)
The NTorq 125 is a comfortable scooter, the seats are wide, soft and offer sufficient space for the rider and the pillion. The rider has ample leg space on the footboard and the upright riding posture prove useful for short stints where riding for prolonged durations could cause discomfort. However, the performance-tuned suspension is not the best for bad roads as it’s stiffer than usual. Thrill-chasing customers will bode well with what this scooter offers, but, the mature audience may not find it as appealing owing to the stiff ride quality.
Lastly, the under-seat storage has remained the same and at 22-litres, it is not as impressive as it sounds given that a full-sized helmet cannot be fit in it. However, the storage unit gets a USB port and an LED light that’s pretty premium.
TVS NTorq 125 Safety (or Brakes)
The NTorq 125 has four variants on offer, among them- the Drum variant is equipped with 130 mm drum brakes, on both wheels. While the bite and stopping power is sufficient on this variant, the Disc, Race Edition and Super Squad variants are all equipped with the same 220 mm disc brake at the front and a 130 mm drum brake at the rear. The braking feedback is more than satisfactory on these variants, owing much to the meagre weight of 118 kgs. Bigger than usual tyres and the inclusion of SBT (Synchronized Braking Technology) makes this smart scooter a safe bet on our perilous roads.
TVS NTorq 125 Service
TVS has established a wide network of aftersales service centres around the country. They offer a wide range of authorised service centres and showrooms across the country where people can buy their motorcycles and get them promptly serviced, at an affordable cost. Motorcycle and scooter spares are also quite easily available. The service interval for this particular scooter is around 3000 – 4000 km costing you anywhere between Rs. 500/- to Rs. 1000/-.
TVS NTorq 125 Price
Following is the price of the TVS NTorq 125 (on-road, Mumbai) –
- TVS NTorq 125 Drum – Rs. 90,893/-
- TVS NTorq 125 Disc – Rs. 95,419/-
- TVS NTorq 125 Race Edition – Rs. 99,471/-
- TVS NTorq 125 Super Squad Edition – Rs. 1,02,301/-
TVS NTorq 125 Resale Value
TVS is a brand that promises products that are easy to maintain, sturdy, and have a respectable build quality. The NTorq 125 should have a fairly adequate resale value depending on the mileage on the odometer, age, accidents (if any), and overall maintenance.
TVS NTorq 125 Colours
If you’re looking to purchase this able commuter, you’re spoilt for choice with over twelve different colour schemes to choose from, each as attractive as the next. The colours are as follows:
TVS NTorq Drum Variant colours:
- Metallic Blue
- Metallic Grey
TVS NTorq Disc Variant colours:
- Matte Yellow
- Metallic Blue
- Matte Red
- Metallic Grey
- Metallic Red
TVS NTorq Race Edition colours:
- Race Edition Red
- Race Edition Yellow
TVS NTorq Super Squad colours:
- Stealth Black
- Combat Blue
- Invincible Red
TVS NTorq 125 Specs
- Engine: 124.79cc, Single-Cylinder, 3-Valve, Air-Cooled, FI
- Power: 9.25 BHP at 7000 RPM
- Torque: 10.5 Nm at 5500 RPM
- Transmission: CVTi RE Automatic
- Fuel Type: Petrol
- Frame: Rigid Underbone Rectangular Tube Frame
- Suspension: Telescopic Forks (Front), Gas-Filled Hydraulic Monoshock (Rear)
- Tyres: 100/80/12 (front), 110/80/12 (Rear)
- Barkes: 130 mm Drum (Front), 130 mm Drum (Rear) (Drum Variant)
- Brakes: 220 mm Petal Disc (Front), 130 mm Drum (Rear) (Disc, Race Edition, and Super Squad Variant)
TVS NTorq 125 Dimensions
- Length x Width x Height: 1861 mm x 710 mm x 1164 mm
- Wheelbase: 1285 mm
- Ground Clearance: 155 mm
- Seat Height: 785 mm
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 5.8-litres
- Kerb Weight: 118 kg
TVS NTorq 125 Rating
We give the TVS NTorq 125 a 4.5/5 rating.
TVS NTorq 125 vs Honda Activa 125
The Honda Activa 125 is no stranger to fierce comparisons and relentless competition. Amidst all this and more, the Activa 125 has been a consistent performer since its first introduction. With the BS6 update, it now gets fuel injection and a bunch of other smart features like an engine inhibitor that prevents the motor from cranking up if the side stand is down and a start/stop feature that kills the ignition if the throttle is left unengaged for 3 seconds, thus saving fuel.
On the design front, the Activa is simple, sophisticated and neat. Whereas the NTorq, plainly put- is the opposite. The Honda scooter is also lighter by around 7 kgs and returns better fuel-efficiency figures. The suspension and brakes, however, could have been much better. The Activa makes sense for a person looking for a straightforward and no-nonsense scooter that gets its commuting duties done. The NTorq, on the other hand, will make draw the attention of a person more invested in what the scooter has to offer. That is- better handling, cool design, and unique features. Both scooters are appropriately priced with the TVS offering costlier by just around Rs. 2000/- to Rs. 3000/- than the Honda commuter.
TVS NTorq 125 vs Aprilia SR 125
The Aprilia SR 125 is arguably the best at what it does. What does it do? It offers unparalleled handling, punchy performance, and a sleek design. The Italian scooter is powered by a 124.45cc fuel-injected engine producing similar power figures as the NTorq 125. Although the Aprilia is heavier by around 2kgs, with a slightly larger fuel tank at 6-litres; it is a fun-loving scooter assured to put a grin on your face.
On the design front, both commuters are keenly attractive sights, but, the Aprilia SR 125 may appease more to certain customer bases. Fuel economy on both the offerings are not great, to begin with, but, the TVS scooter returns better figures. The service outreach and maintenance of the Aprilia could do with some improvement, especially considering the fact that it is around Rs. 10,000/- more than the NTorq 125.
Final Verdict
The NTorq 125 is not for everyone- the stiff ride quality, poor fuel efficiency, and sharp design makes sure of that. If you are someone who prefers substance over style, this scooter is not for you. But, if you are someone who takes pleasure in riding and wants to truly connect with the machine, the NTorq 125 is as good a choice as any. It’s agile, nimble, handles well, and takes corners with ease- All leading to a fun riding experience.
The class-leading features on offer are the cherry on top of what is- a fine scooter. Sure, the price hike is pretty substantial causing its value-for-money factor to diminish by a bit, and it’s also not the most comfortable choice out there, but, the NTorq 125 is a deeply enjoyable experience. We hope this article has helped provide some clarity and hopefully aided you before your big purchase. Thank you for reading and ride safely. Cheers!
