TVS Raider 125: Should You Buy One?

The TVS Raider 125 is a really special little bike. I first rode it in 2021 and had to be yanked off because otherwise I would have missed my flight. That little yellow thing was a sweetie and a half.

It presented the idea of a 125 that did the commuter thing well and had a little extra spice on top. Now, five years later, has the termite of time hollowed the Raider from the inside?

Spoiler: Anyone who rides it is going to like it.

Why It’s TVS’s Best-Seller

Riders love the simple, direct charm. They’re surprised at how much fun it is to ride—even at city speeds. And that charm is built on fundamentally solid basics:

Easy to ride
Comfortable
Fuel efficient

It’s no mystery why this is TVS’s single largest selling motorcycle. Its success has inspired Hero’s Xtreme 125R and Bajaj’s N125—both unabashedly inspired by the Raider.

City Performance: Excellent

Aspect	Performance
Weight	One of the lightest in class (only Hondas lighter)
Engine character	Good torque, easy riding
Gear changes	Minimal for overtaking
Fuel economy	52-55 km/l

This is an excellent, consummate city bike. But honestly, today’s 125s are all competent in this regard—this is good, but it’s just the start.

Highway Reality Check

I wouldn’t recommend a 125 if your riding takes you onto the highway frequently. If that’s your situation:

Spend ₹30,000-40,000 extra for a 150
You get ABS, higher cruising speeds, and more reserve for overtaking

If you do find yourself on the highway with a Raider, you’re not in trouble. It cruises at 60-70 km/h easily, manages overtakes, and stays stable. But two-up highway riding becomes tiresome, and adding luggage is challenging.

Suspension and Comfort

The suspension can feel slightly stiff initially versus rivals, but it works really well almost all the time. Not a lot to complain about.

The Raider has a slightly sporty commuter riding position with excellent seats for both rider and pillion. This was very good in 2021—today it still is.

Note: Some rivals may now be considered more comfortable. The Pulsar N125, for example, has a worse seat but more expensive-feeling, tightly controlled suspension.

Ownership Experience

Factor	Details
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 km (new bikes only)
Service	Twice yearly, 6,000 km apart
Service cost	~₹1,000 per visit
Reliability	Generally good, troubles few and far between

The caveat: TVS is the brand whose service generates the most complaints in our experience. TVS has indicated they’re working on this, but between hasty service and the warranty clause, they could be more welcoming of customers.

Design: Mostly Great, With Quirks

I love this design except for the headlight. The inverted triangular form and vaguely anti-design of the headlight and DRLs weaken the look a bit.

The good:

Muscular tank
Huge panel underneath
Simple tail piece
Restrained but muscular stance
TVS-quality build that feels robust and long-lasting

The size issue: The Raider is a compact, tiny motorcycle. When you stop at a light and a Hero Xtreme 125R or Bajaj N125 pulls up, you become aware you’re on what feels like a smaller machine. This diminishes your sense of premium slightly.

A facelift should be due—can TVS just scale the motorcycle up 10% without losing its charm?

The Cluster Chaos

The LCD cluster is needlessly complex and constantly wants your attention like a hungry six-year-old:

Hash graphics make things difficult to read
Boost gauge filling and emptying
Left LCD that won’t stop scrolling with useless information
Feels like looking at a chaotic early PowerPoint presentation

TVS should tell their UI/UX teams: grow up a little, and calm down a lot.

Which Variant to Buy?

The Raider has many variants, which can look confusing. Here’s the simple guide:

Ignore:

Front drum brake variant (competes with Honda Shine)
iGo Assist variant (boost is imperceptible)
Super Squad graphics
Most expensive TFT + navigation variant

Buy: Front disc brake models around ₹97,000 ex-showroom—either split seat or single seat. That’s all you need.

The Real Reason to Buy

Everything above is relevant, but it’s not the real reason to buy the Raider.

It’s how this motorcycle feels to ride.

This is an eager beaver. It has good torque that its rivals don’t match. As you get used to it, there’s a small voice saying “rev more, go faster, try more.” When you listen, the Raider becomes a heck of a lot more fun—energetic, enthusiastic, a naughty little pleasure.

In the corners, skinny but grippy tires and a good chassis make it feel responsive, natural, and confidence-inspiring. You enjoy corners more, feel more connected to the motorcycle.

Why This Matters

If you start out on fun, charming, enthusiastic motorcycles like the Raider, you’ll go a long way on motorcycles. That ability to build a connection at the beginning of your riding journey—the Raider has it in spades.

Any motorcycle that can do that? In my book, that’s very special.

Buy it if:

You want a fun, engaging commuter
City riding is your primary use
You value that extra spark of enthusiasm
You can accept TVS’s service network quirks

Skip it if:

Highway riding is frequent
You want a larger, more premium-feeling machine
Perfect service experience is non-negotiable