TVS Raider vs Honda Shine: Photo Comparison

TVS may be  late to the party but can its new 125cc commuter pose a serious threat to the segment leader? We find that out through detailed images

The past few years have witnessed tremendous competition in the 125cc motorcycle segment. Honda has been ruling the sales charts with its Shine for quite some time now. Now, TVS has entered the market with the Raider to challenge the Shine’s domination in the segment. But can the Hosur-based manufacturer be successful? Let’s find out through these detailed images:

TVS is targeting the younger audience with the new Raider, and it shows with its striking design. Its sporty design is complemented with an array of youthful colours. Meanwhile, the Honda Shine’s ordinary design may appeal to mature riders.

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The TVS Raider’s LED headlight and LED DRL may seem a bit polarising, but it is unlike anything we have seen in this segment. The sharp headlight surround and striking colour choices will surely demand a second look. On the other hand, the Honda Shine continues to use the archaic halogen bulb, which has shorter life than LEDs.

While most manufacturers tend to use semi-digital or analog instrument consoles in this segment, TVS has gone ahead with a negative-lit LCD unit. This console packs a gear position and shift indicator, helmet reminder, top speed and average speed recorder, range and mileage indicators, Eco and Power modes, and a clock over and above the conventional readouts. Still want more? Well, TVS is all set to introduce a new variant with a TFT display and smartphone connectivity. Compared to this, the Honda’s twin-pod analog console looks downright dated.

One of the reasons for the Honda Shine’s success has been its reliable and refined 125cc engine. It’s tuned to produce 10.7PS and 11Nm. In the BS6 iteration, it gets a starter generator for silent starts. TVS too has added a starter generator to its 124.8cc 3-valve engine that makes 11.38PS and 11.2Nm. Apart from a few patented technologies, there’s also an idle start-stop feature. But the highlight for the engine has to be its riding modes: Eco and Power. ‘Eco’ restricts the power to 7000rpm in fifth and 8000rpm for other gears. This, according to TVS, results in a three percent improvement in fuel efficiency.

Both the bike feature telescopic forks at the front. However, while the TVS Raider packs a gas-charged monoshock with preload adjustability at the rear, the Shine uses the traditional dual shock setup. For braking, both bikes employ a similar setup consisting of a 240mm disc up front and a 130mm drum at the rear, with an option to go for a 130mm drum unit instead of the disc.

In terms of pricing, the Raider comes in at Rs 77,500 (Drum) and Rs 85469 (Disc) while the Shine demands Rs 72787 and Rs 77,582 (ex-showroom Delhi) for the drum and disc variants respectively.  However, the TVS Raider offers segment-first features like an underseat storage, and an optional USB charging socket for no extra cost. Both of these add to the convenience during commutes, and are missing on the Honda Shine. So, if you are in a lookout for a 125cc commuter, the TVS Raider presents a strong case with its features and powerful motor.