Review: 2018 TVS Radeon long term review, final report

I didn’t really feel much for the TVS Radeon when I spent some time with it in its initial days at our garage. At the time, my heart was set on the Ntorq and the Radeon just wasn’t as convenient, or fun. Many months have passed since, and now that the Ntorq has gone, my commutes are equally split between the Radeon and the Interceptor.

The hinged fuel-filler cap is a small but thoughtful feature that’s appreciated at the price.

The reason why the little TVS is not being ignored now will come across as a little bit of showboating. Over the past couple of months, I’ve been riding some incredible machines – everything from big BMWs to magnificent MVs to electrifying Harleys. The LiveWire is what really hit the switch (heh!) and I came back from riding this super-futuristic but rather soulless machine craving some back-to-basics simplicity. The Radeon proved to be the perfect antidote.

The riding position and seat are very comfy for riders of all shapes and sizes.

This humble commuter and I have braved the monsoon together, me wrapped head to toe in waterproofs while the bike simply went about doing its business. We’ve ridden through slush, craters and floods, and the only thing that affected it was water getting into the drum brakes, turning them either super-grabby or very dull. They also need frequent adjustment. While I long for a front disc, I also wish there was some form of storage for a tool kit and basic documents.

The side-stand-down warning sound chimes even in neutral and this is a constant annoyance.

But then, the Rs 50,820 price means I really cannot complain, especially when I recall that the obscenely expensive phone in my pocket costs more. Just having tubeless tyres, a side-stand-down alert and electric start is enough at this price. On the plus side, I’m enjoying the motor for its tractability and the peppy exhaust note. I’ve grown to appreciate the lazy ease of the heel-toe shifter and I’m happy that the seat is far more comfortable than the Interceptor’s. The fact that fuel stops are an infrequent ritual is a pleasure too.

Drum brakes demand frequent adjustment and the monsoon rain makes them very grabby.

In all this time, we’ve only faced one mechanical woe – a snapped clutch cable. But that shouldn’t have happened on a bike with less than 3,500km on the clocks. When it was new, the bike took quite a while to warm up and sputtered for the first few minutes of riding, but that issue has sorted itself out with time and a couple of services. Beyond that, everything just works, and there’s a genuine allure to a motorcycle that is so simple and straightforward. So much so, that I’ve even caught myself pondering buying one as a reminder of the simpler times. I won’t, but the fact that the thought even came up says something…

The Radeon is a capable commuter, but it still has that little spark to keep you smiling and TVS deserves a pat on the back for achieving that rare mix.

Also see:

2018 TVS Radeon long term review, first report

2018 TVS Radeon long term review, second report

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