Hero HF Deluxe Flex Fuel vs TVS Radeon: This Is A Simple One!

Hero recently launched the HF Deluxe flex fuel in India and that’s another bike in the 100cc commuter market, albeit an E85-compatible one. And one of our favourites in this segment has been the TVS Radeon, for it’s not only extremely fuel efficient but is also a very smooth and refined bike, something you often don’t expect in this segment. So we thought of putting the 2 against one another. Here’s how that went: 

Price & Variants

• The TVS Radeon has always been one of the most affordable bikes in its segment and we love to see that it’s still the case. With an ex-showroom price of just above Rs 58,000 for its base variant, that’s fantastic value for money. 

• We love that TVS has even thrown in a disc brake for its top model, something that we don’t really see in this segment. That said, we wish TVS had also equipped it with an ABS variant. While it would’ve been a bit expensive, you can’t put a price on safety. 

• While the top variant with a disc brake and a digital console costs a fair bit more than the HF Deluxe flex fuel, the latter gets neither of the two things as well. 

• To sum things up, the Radeon wins this round by quite a margin. If value for money is what you want in a bike, the TVS bike is off to a good start already.  

Dimensions & Design 

• Leave the spec sheets aside, for if we talk about dimensions, there’s not a whole lot that makes the bikes feel different. They are both everything you would expect from a simple commuter: lightweight, easy to ride and extremely easy to maneuver through the smallest of gaps in traffic. 

• Dimensions-wise, they’re both quite small bikes and people who are above 6 feet might find the bikes a bit small. Both bikes, especially the Radeon, have long seats which will comfortably seat a rider, a pillion as well as some luggage between the two of them. 

• In terms of designs, they’re both simple designs with more curves than edges, making them more appealing to the average buyer. 

Features & Safety

• The HF Deluxe flex fuel is simple and so are its features. There’s a simple analogue console that’s very easy to read even on the go. Then there’s the side-stand engine cutoff which will ensure you don’t start riding while your side stand’s still down. 

• The i3S technology is quite a nice thing to have, especially at long signals and the cherry on the cake are the tubeless tyres. There’s nothing fancy but the HF Deluxe does tick a lot of the bases. 

• But the TVS Radeon takes things up a notch. Its higher variants have a fully digital LCD console that has nifty little things like a service reminder along with the regular information like speed, low fuel indicator, odometer, etc. That said, the LCD console doesn’t facilitate Bluetooth connectivity so you don’t get features like turn-by-turn navigation. 

• On the whole, the Radeon seems to offer more at a slightly higher price. If you like your bikes feature-loaded, the extra money for the Radeon might seem worth it. 

Engines

• Both bikes have engines that work exactly the way you’d expect them to from a 100cc commuter. They both have most of their grunt at low speeds, so they’re both tractable bikes that can be ridden in a gear or two higher, without the engine really complaining. 

• What impressed us the most about the Radeon was its smoothness. The bike feels almost butter smooth and while the HF Deluxe doesn’t have a lot of vibrations, it cannot match the Radeon’s smoothness. 

• The Radeon also makes a bit more torque at much lower revs so it will feel like the gruntier of the two. Apart from the city duties, they’re both reasonably capable out on the highway. If you’re okay with them being loud and a bit of vibrations kicking in, they both can manage your occasional highway jaunts. 

Verdict 

As we mentioned in the title, this is actually one of the more simpler comparisons we’ve done. The TVS Radeon has a much lower starting price, has a smoother engine and is pretty much on par in terms of features (with the lower variants). And those 3 are enough for the TVS Radeon to be the winner of this comparison, for it is the more value for money bike. 

The Hero HF Deluxe flex fuel is still a good bike, for it does tick most of the boxes of what you’d expect from a fuel-efficient commuter. If you’re ready to pay a bit more for it, it being E85-compatible means you would not have to worry about anything when the E85 fuel does eventually become available all across India. 

Comparisons With Other Rivals: 

Hero HF Deluxe Flex Fuel vs Hero Splendor Plus Flex Fuel: The HF Deluxe is for those who want the more affordable bike, while the Splendor is for those who want the Splendor tag and are ready to pay a bit more for it. 

Hero HF Deluxe Flex Fuel vs TVS Sport: The TVS Sport looks a bit more sporty while costing significantly less, so it’d be the pick of the 2 for us. 

Hero HF Deluxe Flex Fuel vs Bajaj Platina 100: If you’re unsure of E85-compatible bikes, get the Platina. If you want something more future-proof, get the HF Deluxe flex fuel. 

Hero HF Deluxe Flex Fuel vs Honda Shine 100: The Shine 100 is focused mainly on city riding, while the HF Deluxe is more of an all-round bike. So if you’ve regular highway jaunts too, get the HF Deluxe. 

Hero HF Deluxe Flex Fuel vs Hero HF Deluxe: With E85 fuel around the corner, the flex fuel variant will give you some peace of mind. But if you’re unsure of it altogether, you can get the standard HF Deluxe.