New TVS Radeon: Explained In Images

TVS has launched the updated Radeon with quite a few new features. The TVS Radeon is a sturdy, fuss-free commuter, and while it had a fair amount of features, the new update makes it even more wholesome. The Radeon now comes in three variants: Base, Digi Drum, and Digi Disc. Here's a closer look at the new Radeon in pictures, and how it differs from the older one:

Design

Most of the change is at the front. The fat chrome bezel that used to sit around the headlamp is gone, so the headlamp and the cowl now blend into one clean shape. The full LED headlamp is framed by a pair of fang-like DRLs, which look pretty cool if you ask us. 

The tank looks cleaner too. The rubber pads that you saw on the older models are now removed entirely from the new one (except for the red colour variant). We do prefer them, as it helps with gripping the sides of the tank with your thighs. TVS has tried to make the design a bit more funky with dedicated graphics on this part instead.

At the back, you get an LED tail lamp with vertical arrow-like elements, plus LED indicators. We really like the tail light design, and the indicator design appears to be shared with the TVS Ronin. That should give it a premium appeal too. 

Colours And Prices

The bike gets new graphics along the tank, headlight cowl, and side panels, which add a bit of style. The Base has two colours, and the Digi variants have more to choose from. Black & Orange is the boldest of the lot, and the orange accents stand out against the black body.

Each step up costs Rs 3,000. Compared with the older Radeon, the new Base costs Rs 8,250 more than the old All Black Edition. The Digi variants add the digital cluster, and the Digi Disc is the only one with a front disc brake.

Engine

The engine is the same as before, paired to a 4-speed gearbox. Performance should feel similar to the older Radeon. It runs on a 109.7cc, air-cooled engine making 8.2 PS at 7,350rpm and 8.7Nm at 4,500rpm. The numbers are modest because this bike is built for daily commuting, not for speed. Having said that, it is still one of the peppiest engines in its segment, so riding will be delightful even if you’re commuting from point A to B. One detail: The bronze-finished engine cover with the red TVS logo also looks good against the black body. We’re glad TVS carried this styling element over to the facelifted version.

Features

The Digi variants get a digital cluster with a colourful display. It keeps to the essentials. A real-time mileage indicator lets you track your mileage on the go, which is handy if you like keeping an eye on your fuel use. There’s a service reminder, a low fuel indicator, dual-tripmeters, odometer, tachometer, speedometer, helmet reminder and other tell-tale lights. That said, there’s no connectivity or a gear position indicator. The Eco and Power lights light up depending on how you ride (aggressively or in a laid-back manner).  More importantly, the updated Radeon now comes with a USB-type C port, which should be useful to keep modern smartphones topped up.

On the other hand, the Base variant keeps a simpler analogue cluster with a speedometer, fuel gauge and odometer. 

The updated Radeon now gets TVS’s Glide Through Technology, which is meant for effortless slow-speed riding in traffic. This low-rpm assist lets you ride at low speeds with just the clutch modulation, without stalling. It also gets an all-gear self-start, so the bike starts instantly in any gear. Both are handy for stop-and-go city riding. On the ergonomics front, you get a long and well-cushioned seat, which is meant for all-day riding comfort. The seat cover looks premium, and the pillion grab handle-cum-utility hook will be quite practical. Also, you can secure smaller loads on the tail rack.

Underpinnings & Hardware

There are no changes to this department as the foundations are pretty solid to begin with. The telescopic fork could’ve had gaiters if you ask us. That would prevent dust ingressing into the fork seals. 

At the rear you get a 5-step preload adjustable twin shock absorber setup, which is now blacked out as opposed to a metallic finish on the older model. We like this look as it is more uniform with the blacked out wheels. Speaking of which, it rides on large 18-inchers, wrapped on Dura Grip rugged-ish tubeless tyres, which should be ideal for our bad roads. The Radeon is built around a single cradle tubular frame. The bike is 2,025mm long, 705mm wide and 1,080mm tall. That slim width should make it easier to squeeze through gaps in traffic.

The Base and Digi Drum use 130mm front and 110mm rear drum brakes. The Digi Disc swaps the front drum for a 240mm disc. This petal disc should go a long way in improving braking confidence, and we’d definitely recommend this one. All variants get a combined braking system, which links the brakes so that pressing the rear helps in transferring a part of the braking force to the front.

All in all, the facelifted TVS Radeon looks a whole lot sharper and is a much more capable modern commuter than before.