TVS Raider vs Hero Xtreme 125R
When we first laid our eyes on the TVS Raidar a few years back, I remember saying it over delivered. It punched way above its weight in the 125 cc premium commuter space.
And I wasn’t alone because that year, it snatched the curated Indian Motorcycle of the Year award.
And in its old segment and the market, it became a bit of a sales superhero. And speaking of hero, not the one to be sitting silently in one corner, they are throwing in the hat in the ring with the new Xtreme 125 R.
The Xtreme is gunning for glory alongside Hero’s own glamor x-tech, ready to tempt Raider fans. So what happens when these two go head-to-head? Which one will end up as the king of the urban jungle.
TVS Raider 125 Design
The TVS Raider might not be the prettiest in its segment, but it’s got a a Bumble Bee-s headlight, which makes it stand out like a sore thumb in a good way.
It’s like they’ve tried to cram in the charm of a three-port headlight in this LED unit.
Spotting this bike from a far isn’t a challenge. And with its array of five-colour choices, it’s got a wardrobe that’s ready for any occasion.
The Raider got the bones of a commuter bike, but with the beefy belly pan, the tank shrouds, the split seat, and the nippy tail, it is dressed in its Sunday best. Sporty with a hint of rebellion.
Hero Xtreme 125R Design
Now, the Xtreme, as the name cheekily hints, takes the design too well, the Xtreme. It’s like they looked at the Ducati Streetfighter and said, Yeah, let’s have some of that.
But those pointy lines, those sharp tank shrouds, the stubborn tail section, all of it is quite good-looking.
These are head turners, in my opinion. In fact, the 125 R looks so good. It means the Xtreme 160R look a bit tame in comparison.
The belly pan is a bit on the mayside, but those protr headlights headlights, they are like the eyes of a predator, making the radar look a tad less adventurous in comparison.
Decked out with LED lights all around and some snazzy graphics, the Xtreme does have a bit of a premium swagger, but it only comes in three color options as of now.
And once you swing your leg over, the low-rent switch gear and that rather plain-jane LCV cluster might just leave you feeling a bit shot-changed.
In this day and age, we expect a bit more flair, don’t we.
TVS Raider 125 Features
In fact, when it comes to features, the Raider just stashes it out of the park.
In its standard trim, it gets a standard LCD cluster that looks better than the Xtreme, also is easier to read. But the real showstopper is this stop-in version with that TFT display.
It’s got a strong-key five-inch TFT display, bringing with tech bizarraderie.
It’s got everything: telephony, navigation, a bit of cheeky messaging when you’re at standstill, and even the ability to stash your vehicle’s documents in a digital format, a true testament to its connected technology province.
Even two years post-launch, competitors are still scrambling to match these offerings. And the goodies don’t stop there.
The Raider comes equipped with a USB charging port, essential for our gadget-filled lives, and not one, but two riding modes.
Hero Xtreme 125R Features
In contrast to the Raider, the most notable feature maybe on the Xtreme is the presence of a kill switch, which, by the way, does come in handy.
And you also get this really tastefully designed sari guard, which is a bit of a shame though, because with the high seating that it has, it’s not exactly the best place to perch for your sari-clad companion.
Ergonomics of both bikes
Now, let’s gab about the ergonomics. The Raider is like your favorite armchair, roomy and welcoming with a seat height of 780 millimeters that’s easy to get along with.
The Xtreme, on the other hand, has you pushed high up, feeling like you’re commanding the road.
But it’s the Raider that feels like a best-poked fit. It’s like slipping into a well-tailored suit, comfortable and just right.
It keeps it cool with a relaxed tarns, typical of a commuter bike, while the Xtreme looks ready to pounce, even when you’re just cruising.
Acceleration of both bikes
In terms of overtaking, both the bikes do it with breeze. This one has a slight bit of edge. You will have a chilking drin when going past that slow moving traffic.
The Raider flexes its muscle with only a smidge more torque than the Xtreme. But when it comes to in-gear acceleration, the Raider gallops ahead, both in the urban jungle and on the open road.
In the city and out on the highway, the Raider engine is like a chilled out cat, lounging in the sun, totally relaxed.
The Xtreme, in contrast, feels like it’s had one too many Espressors. Beyond the 90 km/h mark, the engine gets quite buzzled, quite throaty, as if it’s auditioning for a garage rock band.
It’s begging for that sixth gear to smooth things out.
Fuel economy figures of both bikes
The high-strength character of the Xtreme’s engine also dips into its economy.
On the highway, it barely skimmed the 50 km/l mark and the Raider, meanwhile, struts his staff close to 60 km/l.
The city streets tell the same tale. Now, ironically, the top-end version of the Xtreme does not get Fiero’s acclaimed i3s Start Stop tech.
However, the more modest non-ABS version gets it. Speaking of ABS, its absence is a real bugbear in the Raider otherwise shiny ama.
Braking figures both bikes
TVS has a knack of sprucing up its RTR line almost annually. So I was all ears
I was hoping they would sprinkle some of that magic potion even on the Raider. Maybe introduce an ABS variant, but clearly, they haven’t.
Now, don’t get me wrong, they’re still leaning on that combined break-in system, and it works quite well. It also keeps that nose dive in check compared to the Xtreme.
But then in today’s day and age, where you have concrete roads that are expanding faster than a rabbit’s colony, the safety net of an ABS is more than just a nice to have.
The Xtreme, meanwhile, drops into the safety dance with more options. You got the standard model, flaunting combined braking, or you can step up to the range-stopping version you see here with single-channel ABS.
The latter also boasts sharper braking and shorter stops Than the Radar. The break leavers on the Xtreme lack the smooth, progressive feel you get with the Raider, making it a bit like a grabby handshake, effective, and not as refined.
Ride & Handling – TVS Raider 125
The Raider looks a bit underdressed with these nearly slim 30 millimeter forks, but surprise, when it comes to actual ride quality out of the box, I think it’s really good. It does a really good job.
It’s a smooth operator at smoothening out those road imperfections, pesky bumps, etc.
So if I were to ride on the typical Indian roads, this would be my choice over the extreme, it has a bit of that firm edge.
Suspension, Ride & Handling – Hero Xtreme 125R
Now, the Xtreme suspension isn’t exactly like riding a jumpy baboon. It lacks the same level of finesse. However, it shows off its stuff in the handling.
When you hit the twisty bits of the tarmac, the Xtreme feels steadier and more in tune with the road than the Raider.
Thanks to its beefier forks, the front-end is surprisingly spranglier. And with those chunkier tires, it’s like having an extra dose of courage when you are carving up those corners, leaning more towards the apex.
Both bikes hold their own on the highway, boosting solid stability regardless of their different shoe sizes.
Dating through lane that speed is as unnerving as a walk in the park. When it comes to braking at highway speed, there is a bit of that nose dive, but it definitely feels a lot more confident, whether it’s tarmac or concrete roads.
A tip of the hat for that ABS.
Verdict & Price
Value-wise, when ABS is off the table, the base models of the Raider and the Xtreme 125 are squaring off pretty closely in terms of the price, but the Raider edges ahead in the value stakes.
It packs a snazzier LCD cluster, a handy USB port, nifty under seat storage, and better fuel economy.
So if I were to place my bets, the trophy would go to the Raider as far as the base model showdown goes.
But if you’re eyeing the top-tier variants, then things are going to be a bit different in my books. You see, the Raider justifies its 4,000-rupee premium with that Porsche TFT and connected tech.
Conclusion
However, if I were spending my money, I would rather go with the Xtreme 125R ABS because the safer braking in my books is much better than some fancy hardware.
So if you are willing to stretch that budget, I would lean with the hero.
By one point, to be exact. So if I were to sum it up, if you are looking for a nice, comfortable commuter and if fuel efficiency is a big criteria for you, then the Raider should keep you happy.
But if your heart yearns for something that is sporty, something that is a bit more characterful, in that case, I think the Hero Xtreme 125R could be your motorcycle.