TVS Radeon BS6 Road Test Review

Has the inclusion of fuel injection made the loveable TVS commuter more frugal?

It is fair to say that we have been in awe of the TVS Radeon. The 110cc retro-styled commuter has been much loved by all members of our team, with Arun even daring to take it on a road trip to Goa - head here check out his (mis-)adventures with the bike. The BS6 iteration has finally arrived at our HQ in Pune, even though it went on sale a long time back. Nevertheless, have the BS6 updates affected the commuter’s frugality in any manner? 

Engine & Performance:

• The inclusion of fuel injection is the main change on the Radeon BS6. Peak power is now rated at 8.2PS, which is 0.2PS less than the BS4 bike. No change to the 8.7Nm torque figure. It has put on a little weight, 4 kilos to be exact. The lighter drum variant (on test) now tips the scales at 116kg while the disc variant now weighs 118kg.

• Despite the drop in output, there is a marginal improvement in the 0-60kmph acceleration times. Thank the new TVS 'EcoThrust Fuel Injection’ system that has improved the efficiency of the 109.7cc motor.

• There’s an improved torque surge in the mid-range, making the Radeon feel more peppy when zipping past slow moving traffic. This improvement is evident as it is almost 2 seconds quicker than its BS4 counterpart in in-gear roll-on acceleration timings.
• The Radeon was always a pretty smooth operator and this BS6 model kicks things up a notch. It emits a very light buzz at low speeds and only when you start gunning the bike to reach 75-80kmph does it feel strained. But let’s be honest, you ain’t going to be riding it at 80kmph for long.

• You will be riding it economically and reaping the benefits of its brilliant city fuel efficiency figure of 73.68kmpl. Its highway score ain’t bad either, returning 68.6kmpl in our test. Both of these are stark improvements over the BS4 model.

Ride & Handling

• The 4kg gain in kerb weight hasn’t made much difference to the handling of the Radeon.
• It still remains a very light bike with easy riding characteristics. The pliant suspension has wowed us right from day one and we are glad that there’s no change in the ride quality department.

• The brakes continue to be a downer, the Radeon taking near about the same braking distance as before to come to a dead halt. We were still testing out the front drum brake variant, which lacks braking ferocity. Hopefully, the disc version should be an improvement.

• The Radeon still remains a fairly accessible motorcycle for riders of all heights. There are no changes to the stance, with the rider still sitting upright and relaxed.
• The soft seat cushioning is very comfortable short city commutes. But it does continue to be a bother when one has to spend long hours in the saddle. Thicker seat foam should do the trick, something that TVS might want to introduce in the next update of the bike.

Ergonomics

• The Radeon still remains a fairly accessible motorcycle for riders of all heights. There are no changes to the stance, with the rider still sitting upright and relaxed.
• The soft seat cushioning is very comfortable short city commutes. But it does continue to be a bother when one has to spend long hours in the saddle. Thicker seat foam should do the trick, something that TVS might want to introduce in the next update of the bike.

Variants 

• The TVS Radeon BS6 continues to arrive in three variants -- standard, special edition drum and special edition disc. Prices for the 110cc commuter start at Rs 59,962 while the special edition drum model is priced at Rs 64,287. For the extra moolah, you are just getting some different colour options, metal finished levers, round chrome mirrors, a large rubber tank pad, redesigned tank pads, and a cross-stitched maroon seat. However, we would recommend you get the special edition disc variant (Rs 67,287) for the extra safety aid. All prices, ex-showroom Delhi.

Verdict

The list of updates on the BS6 Radeon are not as comprehensive as some other bikes of its segment, like the Hero Passion Pro 110 which is more or less a ground-up new motorcycle. Nevertheless, this TVS commuter remains a lovely no-frills daily runabout vehicle. In this BS6 avatar, it has become more enthusiastic. And if you do buy this bike, you can bank on its improved fuel efficiency. Your Acche Din have indeed arrived.