TVS has been working hard, under the radar, to create a new 125cc motorcycle. It’s finally here and is a rather interesting little thing called the Raider.

• The TVS Raider has the strongest engine in its class
• Only bike here to get a monoshock in segment
• The Honda SP 125 is the lightest bike in this segment

The 125cc segment is a competitive space with major manufacturers like Bajaj, Hero and Honda jostling for market share. Here’s how the Raider stacks up against the Bajaj Pulsar 125, Hero Glamour Xtec and Honda SP 125, on paper.

TVS Raider vs rivals: engine

While all of these are 125cc motorcycles, there are a few distinctions even within the class. The Glamour Xtec and SP 125 are the more authentic commuters here. The Glamour is a true-blue commuter, while the SP 125 attempts to throw a little more style and premiumness into the mix. On the other hand, the Raider and Pulsar 125 build upon the added style with a touch of sportiness as well. This is reflected in the engine specs of these motorcycles. The Hero and the Honda are quite close in terms of power output, and sit slightly below the other two. The Raider manages more, at 11.38hp, but it's the Pulsar that's the most powerful here, at 11.8hp. However, it's worth noting that the Bajaj produces its peak power a good 1,000rpm higher than the others while the Raider has the highest torque figure of this bunch.

TVS Raider vs rivals: chassis

Once again, the contrast in this segment is for all to see. The Hero and the Honda roll on commuter-typical 18-inch wheels, while the TVS and the Bajaj sport more universal 17-inch units. However, at a rather hefty 140kg, the Pulsar 125 is by far the heaviest motorcycle in this class, while the Raider is par-for-course at 123kg. It’s also the only motorcycle here to get a monoshock. All four bikes are absolutely identical in terms of braking specification, with each one getting a 240mm disc up front, backed by a 130mm drum brake at the rear. However, the Pulsar is the only bike here to not offer a lower variant with a front drum brake. It does offer the largest fuel-tank, at 11.5 litres, while the SP 125 is the lightest of the lot, at 117kg, despite accommodating a decent 11 litres of fuel.

TVS Raider vs rivals: features

The TVS Raider and the Hero Glamour Xtec stand out as the two most feature-rich motorcycles in this segment. While the TVS Raider is expected to receive a TFT display equipped with Bluetooth connectivity sometime in the next few months, for the moment, it comes with a negative LCD colour screen. It shows quite a lot of information, including a gear position indicator and fuel-consumption data. However, the Hero Glamour Xtec already does get Bluetooth connectivity and joins the Raider in receiving a stop-start system, a side-stand engine cut-off and a USB charging port.

The SP 125 also gets fully digital instrumentation, and, like the Raider, gets an ACG starter, but misses out on Bluetooth or USB charging. The Pulsar 125 is distinctly the most dated motorcycle here, and its features list reflects this. It has to make do with semi-digital instrumentation and is also the only bike here to sport a halogen headlight while the others get LED units.

TVS Raider vs rivals: verdict

Even in a very closely matched segment such as this, the new entrant does enough to set itself apart. The Raider has a reasonably strong engine in this segment and a very competent chassis, with segment-first features including the monoshock. In many measurable aspects, it matches the competition at the very least, or marches ahead in most cases. At Rs 85,469 (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the disc variant, it does demand a price premium over its competitors–especially the feature-rich Glamour Xtec (Rs 83,500, ex-showroom Delhi).But the Glamour cannot match the Raider’s engine output figures. However, in a fuel efficiency-sensitive segment such as this one, it will be interesting to see whether the Raider’s power and torque figures have come at the cost of mileage. Especially since one of the few small chinks in its armour is a 10-litre fuel tank that’s the joint smallest in this class.