So you’ve managed to convince ma that you can be trusted with a two-wheeler. With the toughest obstacle out of the way, finally, you have taken a look at your finances and decided that you can put together about a lakh of rupees for your first ever two-wheeler. What are your choices? Well, you can obviously choose any of the scooters available for around that much, but what you really want is a motorcycle, and not an anaemic 100cc run-of-the-mill machine either. At that budget, the meaty 150cc motorcycles, the KTM RC 125 and the KTM 125 Duke are beyond reach. Your only realistic option is one of the other 125cc machines, but which one?

From Hero to Bajaj and TVS there are a range of options for you to choose from. You could choose bikes like the Hero Super Splendor or Glamour, the Honda SP 125 and Shine and the Bajaj Pulsar 125 and Pulsar NS 125. There is now another option too. Introducing, the all new TVS Raider. If we’re sorting the apples from the oranges in this basket, then the Raider and the pair of Pulsars are the orange, mandarin and musambi while the rest can be put in the basket full of apples and put away. In terms of styling and output, the TVS is wedged squarely at the two Bajaj-es.

Visually, the Raider looks like a bigger bike than it is. If you didn’t know, you would think it’s one of those 150cc machines that were the stars out of reach. Sharp styling, a meaty-looking fuel tank, stepped individual seats and a forward bias in its stance help achieve this sporty silhouette. Fit and finish are top class too and you’ll find little to complain about in terms of quality. What I really like is the USB port that is discretely covered by a little flap cover just ahead of the petrol filler. Very practical, and thoughtful. Certainly more useful in my opinion than newfangled connected tech that I often see being marketed these days. I just wish the little flap was less fiddly to open and stayed open instead of irritatingly shutting down even before you’ve connected the charging cable to it.

Getting astride is easy and you’ll be able to plant both your feet firmly on the ground even if you’re of average height, thanks to a low 780mm saddle height.

Intelligo engine

The foot pegs are set slightly to the rear, which means you’ll get a slight forward-leaning seating posture that feels sporty. Once you’re on it, the first thing you’ll see is the rectangular all-digital colour instrumentation and the lack of the usual red engine kill switch on the right switchgear. The instrumentation is similar to what you get on the larger Apache RTRs and has clear useful readouts, like two trip meters, range and average fuel economy, along with the usual speed and engine revs and other warning lamps. Instead of the engine kill switch there is now a grey switch that lets you alternate between power (PWR) and economy (ECO) modes where the engine basically switches between two throttle maps, one customised for a slightly better performance. In ECO, the engine also switches itself off after about 10 seconds at traffic signals. You’ll have to roll the throttle on and off to get it fired up again.

Reverse LCD display

Thumb the starter button and the 124.8cc single-cylinder air-cooled engine springs to life in near-complete silence. This silence, however, is quickly replaced with a rich note from its stubby exhaust. The engine revs freely and the 1-down, 4-up gear shift is slick. Maximum output is 11.4HP at 7,500rpm and 11.2Nm at 6,000 revs. This means that while the Raider is behind the Pulsars on power, it has the highest torque in the segment. On the move, you’ll find yourself going through the gearbox quickly before settling into an easy 50kmph. The entire grunt of the engine has been spread towards the bottom, a more than direct indication of its commuter intent. The tractable engine pulls cleanly from as low as 35-40kmph in top gear, which most commuters would appreciate. On the flip side, while the Raider can get up to slightly beyond 100kmph, the engine starts to feel strained above 85-90kmph and vibrations begin to make their presence felt.

Underseat storage

In traffic, the motorcycle is super nimble and you’ll find it very easy to ride. With a kerb weight of 123kg, it’s a fair bit lighter than either of the Pulsars, which is a boon when you’re filtering through traffic. At higher speeds it continues to feel stable and will inspire confidence. What my own rear end appreciated the most over Calcutta’s wonderfully smooth roads was the supple ride quality that TVS engineers have been able to get out of the suspension set up without sacrificing handling prowess. It takes ruts, bumps and potholes in its stride and only the largest of bumps or deepest of potholes will catch it out. At 180mm, you won’t have to worry about ground clearance either.

Ride mode selector

There is, however, a chink in the Raider’s armour. The motorcycle I rode was equipped with a 240mm dia disc at the front and a 130mm drum at the rear. The set up works well enough in terms of bite and there’s a system (called SYNCRO SBT), which basically applies the front brake each time you apply the rear brake. Unfortunately, there is no feel at the brake lever. In fact, it reminded me of the old Apache that used to feel all wooden when you tugged on the right lever. I would also have liked ABS, at least as an optional extra if not standard fitment.On the whole, the Raider ticks all the right boxes for a first-time motorcycle buyer who aspires to own something that isn’t boring. It is stylish, feels like a bigger bike, has all the practical bits and bobs you’ll need and won’t break your bank either at Rs 88,789 (ex-showroom in Calcutta). The most important bit though is that it is peppy enough and agile enough to be fun too, which means there will be that little spark of excitement when you head out to college or your first job. Happy riding!

The RAIDER IN NUMBERS

Length x width (mm):2,070 x 785
Wheelbase (mm):1,326
Saddle height (mm): 780
Ground clearance (mm): 180
Kerb weight (kg): 123
Engine type:Air-cooled, single cylinder
Capacity: 124.8cc
Transmission:5-speed, constant mesh
Maximum power (hp @ rpm): 11.4 @ 7,500
Maximum torque (Nm@rpm): 11.2 @ 6,000
Fuel tank capacity (litres): 10
Front brake: 240mm disc
Rear brake:130mm drum, with SYNCRO SBT

USB port on fuel tank 

What we liked...
**Engine tractability
*Agility
*Handling
*Low saddle height
*Styling
*Build quality
*USB port

...And what we didn’t
*Lack of feel at the brake lever
*Fiddly cover on USB port
*No engine kill switch

Pictures: Abhijit Mitra and TVS Motor Company