TVS Radeon: 4 Facts

Here are 4 important facts you should know about TVS’s latest 110cc commuter bike

Despite the onslaught of new and more powerful motorcycles we can not deny the fact that its the 110cc commuter segment that gets India moving. It is still the de facto choice of millions for their daily mode of transportation, especially in Tier II and Tier III cities. And every big bike maker in India has at least one 110cc commuter bike in their portfolio. TVS here has four commuter bikes, the newest addition being the Radeon. This new bike is placed between the Star City plus and Victor and is a product with which TVS hopes to sway the ‘Millenials of middle India’. Their words, not ours. If you are on the lookout for a new commuter bike to replace your ageing Splendor, here are four facts you should know.

Design & Features:

Overall the design reminds us of a premium version of the Hero Splendor. It is the kind of design that has stood the test of time and is familiar among Indians. While the design might be simplistic, the Radeon gets a lot of premium touches. The rubber tank grips are a neat touch. It also gets LED DRL’s under the headlamp. There are a lot of chrome accents around the bike to give it that premium touch. A highlight is the seat that TVS claims is the longest and widest in the segment. The chrome pillion grab handles merge into a small rack. The turn indicators are flexible to prevent breakage. There is an optional USB charging port that sits behind the headlamp.

The twin-pod instrument cluster houses a speedometer, fuel gauge, eco and power indicator and a side stand indicator along with other telltale lights. The side stand indicator is accompanied by an alarm that beeps to remind you that the side stand is down.

Engine and performance:

The Radeon shares its 109.7cc air-cooled single cylinder mill with the Star City plus but has been tuned for more low-end grunt and gets a flatter torque curve. It makes 8.4PS at 7000rpm and 8.7Nm of torque at 5000rpm and comes mated to a four-speed gearbox. Called the Duralife engine, the motor has been developed keeping in mind it has to last for thousands of kilometres without needing any major engine repairs. TVS claims a fuel efficiency figure of 69.3kmpl for the Radeon. With its 10-litre fuel tank, the Radeon should theoretically give a range of more than 500 kilometres on a fuel tank.

Chassis and suspension:

The single cradle tubular steel frame is shared with the Star City plus but here, it is strengthened for more rigidity. This has been done for the bike to last longer on bad roads. The Radeon gets telescopic forks upfront and twin 5-step adjustable shock absorbers at the rear. To handle bad roads, the Radeon gets larger 18-inch alloy wheels are shod with Dura Grip tubeless tyres. It also gets a best-in-class ground clearance of 180mm and a longer wheelbase of 1265mm for better stability. Braking comes in the form of 130mm front and 110 rear drum brakes with Synchronized Braking Technology which activates the front brake as well when you press the rear brake pedal. This is similar to the combined braking system seen in scooters.

Pricing:

The TVS Radeon retails for Rs 48,400 (ex-Delhi). It faces competition from the ubiquitous Hero Splendor iSmart 110 (Rs 53,530), Bajaj Discover 110 (Rs 55,667), Honda CD 110 Dream DX (Rs 48,931), and Yamaha Saluto RX (Rs 48,721).

The Radeon does everything expected of a commuter i.e. have a torquey, fuel efficient engine in a durable chassis with suspension setup equipped to handle bad roads, It also gets a long seat that more times than one might have to seat three people in comfort. In addition, it gets a few additional features and looks premium as well. This 110cc commuter is worth a dekho.