Hero Glamour X 125 vs TVS Raider 125: Most Feature Loaded Bike Is..

Hero MotoCorp launched the Glamour X 125 in the country, with the top-end ‘Disc’ variant priced at Rs 99,999. It is now one of the most feature-loaded motorcycles in the 125cc segment, and competes with the top variant of the Raider, called the TVS Raider 125 SX, priced at Rs 1,02,665 (both prices are ex-showroom, Delhi). We compare both the bikes to see which one is better in terms of features:

The new Glamour X 125 gets a 4.2-inch colour-LCD display that has a speedometer, odometer, real-time mileage indicator, distance-to-empty, gear position indicator and a clock too. The motorcycle also gets smartphone connectivity with turn-by-turn navigation, call and SMS alerts. The bike comes equipped with an i3s stop-start system, that switches off the engine when at a standstill or when idling in stop-go traffic and switches it on again with just the pull of the clutch. This technology saves fuel in your city commutes, making the bike more affordable to run.

Apart from this, the Glamour X 125’s main highlight is that it comes with a cruise control system, unheard of in its segment or even the one above. This helps in keeping the speed locked so that it minimises fatigue while riding on traffic-free highways for a long time. 

It also gets an electronic throttle, three riding modes: Eco, Road and Power. It changes the torque delivery as per the mode chosen. There’s also a ‘Panic Brake Alert’ which basically switches on both the front and rear indicators in case the rider brakes suddenly. The bike also has an all-LED lighting setup, a USB charging port, a side-stand engine cut-off feature and a small underseat storage space.

The TVS Raider 125, on the other hand, gets a more premium-looking TFT instrument console with smartphone connectivity, call and SMS alerts, turn-by-turn navigation with voice commands, notification alerts, cricket score, weather alerts and ride stats (like top speed, fastest 0-60kmph acceleration time, and trip details). 

The TVS Raider 125, comes with an iGo assist with its ISG (Integrated Starter Generator - a silent starter that doubles up as an electric motor), that gives the bike a small boost in acceleration, making it feel peppy while accelerating at low speeds in the city. The bike comes with GTT (Glide Through Traffic) tech that helps the bike crawl at low revs in stop-go traffic with just clutch modulation - preventing accidental stalls. 

It gets two riding modes: Eco and Power, which alter the throttle response either for better mileage or for better performance. While the headlight and tail light are LED, it gets halogen indicators. There’s a USB charging port on the fuel tank, and just like the Glamour, the Raider also comes with a small underseat storage to store the bike’s paperwork. There’s a side-stand engine cut-off too. The TVS Raider 125 also comes with a stop-start system called the ‘TVS intelliGo’. This is similar to the Glamour’s i3S, but to start the bike you need to pull the clutch and then twist the throttle. Both bikes come with a combined braking system, but there’s no ABS, even in the top variants. 

Verdict:

Both the Hero Glamour X 125 and the TVS Raider are pretty feature-packed as far as the instrument console goes. That said, while the Glamour has the advantage of having cruise control, it may not be all that practical while commuting, especially in rush hours where most of the highways are fairly packed with traffic. On the other hand, TVS’ electric assist for acceleration and low-rpm assist for low-speed crawls are a lot more useful when riding in the city - which anyway is where most of the commutes will happen - especially those who own 125cc bikes. So all in all, the TVS Raider seems to be a bit more friendly when it comes to city commutes, whereas the Glamour is the one to go for, if your travel includes long stretches of highways.