The Honda SP 125 is one such competitor. So, how do the two compare against each other, at least on paper?

Price & Variants

• The TVS Raider is available in seven variants: Drum, Single Seat, Split Seat, iGO, SSE, SXC DD and TFT DD. The starting price of owning a TVS Raider is about Rs 5,878 less than the Honda SP125, but the Honda bike's top-end variant is about Rs 1,585 more affordable than the Raider 125's TFT DD variant.

• The bikes are almost similarly priced and the difference lies in the number of variants available for both of them, which is also reflected in the features and other specifications of the two bikes. If you are planning to get the TVS Raider on a loan, check out our EMI buying guide.

Dimensions & Design

• The TVS Raider has a slightly longer wheelbase, which should give it better high-speed and straight-line stability. The longer wheelbase should provide a better ride quality over bad road conditions.

• The TVS Raider has a 20mm higher ground clearance, which should make it better equipped to deal with potholes and bad road conditions in the city.

• The Honda SP125 has a slightly larger fuel tank, which will be extremely helpful while commuting in the city with much less frequent fuel stops at petrol stations.

• The Honda SP125 is 5kg lighter than the TVS Raider, which should make it easier to handle in heavy traffic areas. But from our own experience of having tested the Raider 125 over the past few years, the bike is very agile to ride in the city and the excellent handling dynamics are complemented well by the engaging riding position.

• In terms of design, the TVS Raider's design looks fresh and sharp with clean design lines striking a good balance between edginess and cohesiveness.

• The Honda SP125 has the muscular design out of the two and looks more like a commuter compared to the TVS Raider.

• In the Lightning Black colour scheme of the TVS Raider, the whole bike is blacked-out and gives a stealth look to the overall design.

• The Striking Red colour makes the bike pop and the Fiery Yellow colour option makes it look quite vibrant.

• The Blazing Blue colour option gives a glamorous look to the design while the Forza Blue highlights the design elements very well with its glossy paint job.

• The Nardo Grey colour option adds a subtle look to the design while the red alloy wheels give a vibrant touch.

• The SSE variant has four different liveries inspired by Marvel characters Deadpool, Wolverine, Black Panther and Iron Man, making the bike look very youthful in the process.

• The SXC DD and TFT DD variants' Striking Red colour scheme has white graphics on the fuel tank, engine guard, headlight cowl and alloy wheels. Check out the official accessories available for the TVS Raider 125.

• In the Honda SP125, the Mat Axis Grey Metallic gives a minimalistic look to the muscular design.

• In the other colour schemes, the bikes gets a snazzy graphic on the fuel tank, headlight cowl and tank extensions. The Imperial Red Metallic colour scheme makes the bike look quite handsome.

• The Pearl Siren Blue colour scheme adds a youthful touch to the design while the Mat Marvel Blue Metallic colour scheme makes the bike look fresh.

• The Pearl Igneous Black colour scheme adds a classy touch to the bike's design. Confused between the Honda SP125 and the Honda Shine 125? Here's a detailed spec-comparison.

Underpinnings

• The TVS Raider has a more sophisticated suspension setup at the rear in the form of a monoshock. And the unit is gas-charged, so it provides even better damping compared to the SP125's twin shock absorber setup.

• Both bikes get similar 130mm drum/240mm disc brake setup at the front. But at the rear, the TVS Raider 125's 200mm disc brake in the TFT DD and SXC DD variants certainly takes the edge in this department with its superior initial bite and stopping power. This helps in giving the TVS Raider 125 an engaging ride quality, suiting its sporty handling dynamics. Also, the TVS Raider gets single-channel ABS in the TFT DD and SXC DD variants, increasing its safety quotient in the process.

• Adding to the Raider's sporty handling is the 17-inch tyre setup, which makes it easier to turn the bike in tight traffic conditions compared to the SP125's bigger 18-inch setup. But the bigger wheels in the latter should make it better equipped to handle bad road conditions.

Features

• Compared to the TVS Raider 125, the Honda SP125 is the more basic bike in terms of the features on offer. The SP125 gets a TFT instrument console that shows speedometer, odometer, tachometer, trip meter, fuel gauge, gear position indicator, side stand indicator and clock readings.

• It also gets Bluetooth connectivity for call and SMS alerts, and turn-by-turn navigation through the Honda RoadSync app. But the bike misses out on all-LED lighting.

• The TVS Raider is the clear winner in this category with a TFT instrument console in the TFT DD variant and an LCD instrument console with Bluetooth connectivity in the rest of the variants. Both displays show speedometer, odometer, tachometer, gear position indicator, fuel gauge, clock and riding mode readouts.

• The bike also gets Bluetooth connectivity for call and SMS alerts, turn-by-turn navigation, voice assist, cricket and weather updates.

• It also gets all-LED lighting, making the bike the standout with the most modern feature list in this comparison. Here's a quick explanation about all the features the TVS Raider 125 offers.

Performance

• The TVS Raider is powered by a slightly bigger engine compared to the Honda SP125. It also delivers higher power and torque outputs, highlighting its edge as a sporty commuter.

• The Honda SP125's engine offers that smooth and stable performance expected from a Honda bike. The engine offers good low-end and mid-range grunt and is perfect for providing a comfortable riding experience in the city.

• The TVS Raider's single-cylinder engine has two different personalities. In Eco mode, the power delivery is smooth and calm, making it ideal to commute in the city.

• Power mode is the sportier mode of the two and the engine's power delivery is sharper and peaky in this mode. Throttle response also gets sharper and the engine likes to revved hard to the redline.

• The peaky nature of the engine is matched by the slick gearbox, making it a hoot to ride the TVS Raider in a sporty manner in the city.

Verdict

As we have seen above, both bikes are capable sporty commuters in their own unique way. The Honda SP 125 is more of a 125cc commuter with adequate power and torque output for some sporty riding in the city. The bike has a bigger road presence with its muscular styling, comfortable ride quality, good handling dynamics and an engine that delivers smooth power delivery. If you are looking for a 125cc commuter bike that has the required power on tap for the occasional spirited rides in the city, then you should consider the Honda SP125 as your next purchase.

The TVS Raider 125 is the out and out sportier bike in this comparison and this bike basically started the 125cc sporty commuter segment, back when it was first launched in 2021. With its snazzy design lines and graphics, it stands out on the road with its unmistakable styling. The bike has excellent handling dynamics and is agile enough for zapping in and out of traffic with ease. And the ride comfort is more than adequate for a stress-free ride inside the city. The feature list is one of the most extensive out of all the other 125cc bikes in the Indian two-wheeler market and the sporty power delivery of the engine combined with thumping exhaust note makes it all that more engaging to ride it on a daily basis. If all of this fits your criteria, then the TVS Raider 125 is the straightforward choice for your next purchase.

We have compared the TVS Raider 125 with the Bajaj Pulsar NS125, and the also with the Pulsar N125. Also for maximum information about the TVS Raider 125, check out our Ultimate Buying Guide.