Introduction
Who better than an Indian would know the unwarranted prices of fuel today? Heck, the price of petrol was Rs 83 per litre while writing this report, which is a lot of money for an average earning countryman.
So what better time to introduce the TVS Radeon in our long term fleet than now?
Well, the first thing I noticed was its striking similarity to the Hero Splendor in more ways than one. However, looking closer, the fit and finish along with the quality of materials on the Radeon is superior and definitely feels a step above its rivals.
Moreover, the Radeon would surely add much more splendor and in this particular white colour, let's also say a bit more shine to my commute. Now, sporting chrome on the drivetrain and mechanical components is not that uncommon in the 110cc world but that dash of shiny metal on the Radeon’s body work definitely makes it a looker. It also features a chrome bezel on the headlamp, which further gets an LED DRL and bezels on the instrument pods too. Now, this cluster may not convey any more than basic information, but it is well read-out and looks fresh. Furthermore, I couldn’t help but notice the brushed gold finished engine case. Premium feels, double-ticked.
The Radeon offers utilitarian features like a carriage hook capable of carrying my mom’s weekly bag of groceries. It also surely wouldn’t shy away from a heavy jute bag, a few more bags of groceries or a milk can. Oh, and if one of those refuse to be hung around the carriage hook, the Radeon comes fitted with a luggage rack at the rear too. Well, I’m not that sure about carrying a milk can but I will definitely aim to tie down a backpack; but more on that in the next report. It also gets a grab handle specially made for a side-saddled pillion which, by the way, the ladies found really useful.
Talking about pillions, I liked the long, wide and brown…seat. The cushioning is just perfect and the tank grips provide for additional support on the slim tank. Along with the plush seat, the motorcycle offers an upright riding position which is comfortable and doesn’t make you slouch after a long commute. The Radeon’s drum brake setup with the SBT (Sync-Braking Technology) tends to fade over time, but offers decent initial bite and stopping power. What I did not like, however, is the stiff suspension setup that makes the bike bounce about on crummy patches of road. Carrying a little more speed helps, as the bike manages to glide over these undulations easily.
The 109cc single-cylinder motor on the Radeon produces 8.4bhp and 8.7Nm of torque. It feels peppy and gets a keen throttle response that exudes confidence while overtaking. The bike also gets a bass-y exhaust note mimicking a 125cc motorcycle. Lest we forget, the 112kg motorcycle is agile, making life easier through the hustle bustle of peak hour traffic.
I have come to like the Radeon in the few hundred kilometres that I have ridden it. It has returned decent fuel efficiency figures (74.7kmpl in our fuel efficiency test), is comfortable and manages to grab attention, even from the cops; obviously in a good way! We will soon be riding the motorcycle across cities to see how it performs under load and on the highway. Stay tuned!
Photography by Kaustubh Gandhi
Bike Stats
Odometer: 728km
Kilometres this month: 603km
Fuel Efficiency: 74.7kmpl
Gallery
1/6
TVS Radeon Action
Double Tap to Zoom
