Here are some of the pros and cons I felt after a little bit of driving, along with some interesting observations and a little bit of deep dive into the techy instrument cluster.

BHPian SS338 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Introduction: -

I was in the market for a new two-wheeler to commute from my stay to office after landing a new job in Bengaluru. The company provided transportation was expensive for the distance that I had to travel and the inconsistency of finding Rapido's and similar bike taxis during peak office hours only added fuel to the fire. I was only looking for a vehicle for doing duties of taking me from point A to point B, with a little bit of sporty flair added as a bonus. I did not intend to purchase a vehicle for doing highway and touring duties as I am a little sceptical in riding a two-wheeler on fast highways from a safety stand point and prefer a car over 2-wheeler for the same.

As some of you might have guessed, I have recently joined TBHP officially and only used to go through the forum for any advice that I needed, be it for me or for my friends. However, I was taken aback when I was not able to find even one ownership thread or buying process thread in the forum for the segment I was looking into. And rightfully so as the majority of the intended customers of the segment just go to a brand which they trust and just select a vehicle and purchase it without much research. There were a few threads on Ola's here and there and but nothing apart from that. So here are my two cents summarising my buying decision and jot down the ownership experience and review of my purchase.

TL;DR: TVS Raider 125 SX Initial Impressions

I have driven the bike for over 150kms in the last 15 days since I bought it, mostly in city traffic for commute to office and visiting some friends on weekends. Here are some of the pros and cons I felt after a little bit of driving, along with some interesting observations and a little bit of deep dive into the techy instrument cluster.

What I liked: -

• The sound of the motor and the exhaust. It has a deep bass to it and it might easily be one of the best sounding 125cc bikes out there.
• The top end performance is good and the engine pulls very linearly upwards from 4K RPM. This is a stark contrast to other commuters which focus mainly on bottom end.
• The gearing is short and it helps in moving cleanly from a standstill. Even though it doesn’t sport TVS’s GTT officially, the bike does move in 1st gear without any throttle input.
• The horn is loud and headlamp is bright, all necessary for the urban jungle. Whereas the headlamp is focussed nearer to the vehicle in my Jupiter, the Raider has a long throw especially in the high beam, which is sufficient for speeds up to 70~80.
• The integrated ISG is a cool addition and silently starts the vehicle. It is nowadays getting common with more brands using the same tech, but still a thoughtful addition nonetheless.

What I disliked: -

• It is a high compression engine, but still I was surprised when I noticed some heat dissipation near my legs when in a stop-go traffic environment for more than 5-10 mins. It is not uncomfortable in any shape or form though.
• The absence of low-end torque makes it presence felt especially when carrying a pillion. The bike has a tendency to stall and does not move cleanly from a stand still when carrying a pillion.
• The centre stand is a company fitted accessory but it reduces the ground clearance by a good margin. You have to have clear the speed breakers in 1st gear at absolute walking pace when carrying a pillion, otherwise they scrape through. Need to get the rear suspension adjusted to its tightest setting and see if it helps.
• There is no way to disable the auto start stop in Eco mode, which is an inconvenience in traffic conditions. You can mitigate the same by switching to power mode, but this changes the low-end throttle map and makes pulling from standstill even more challenging.
• The rear brake bite is poor, although the CBS ensures that the front brake is engaged as soon as you press hard enough on the rear brake pedal. And once the front disk engages, the braking performance is spectacular.

The Instrument Cluster (Including App, Maps, Connectivity): -

• The instrument cluster is very bright and has ambient light sensor which it uses to automatically switch to a dark theme at nights, so as to not blind the rider. I keep it on the 4th brightness step out of total 5 which works well in Bengaluru daylight.
• The TVS connect app is buggy, no doubts there. It does not auto connect to the cluster, even though the manual says so. You have to manually connect it by pressing the connect button in the app and the animation it plays every time it gets connected takes its own sweet time to get over. However, once connected the connection is rock solid.
• The app records the live engine RPM and speed through the bike's cluster and the location through mobile’s GPS, which is presented in a shareable form at the end of the ride.
• The cluster stays on for a few seconds even after you turn off the key/bike. It displays the ride statistics in that time such as distance travelled, average speed, fuel consumed, time taken etc.
• The turn-by-turn navigation works good enough. It is smart enough to dynamically adjust the distance to next action (turn/U-turn) depending on the speed. If you are moving slow, it goes as low as showing to take a turn in the next 5 metres. On the other hand, if you are travelling fast, it just goes down into intervals of 50 metres for examples.

The ride stats page

The share page for sharing any ride

Buying Decision: -

Initially I hunted in the used market, visited a few used bike dealers and some known dealers such as Beepkart, etc. However, I was not able to trust the used dealers especially in a new city and the offerings from Beepkart, although fresh looking, were a fair bit overpriced.

So, the natural choice was to look for new bikes & scooters around the 125cc segment. I also added a few EVs in the mix as my office parking provided charge points which would essentially mean that my running costs would be free. I started researching online by visiting each brand’s website and checking the models available, their features and prices. Although I had a fair bit of idea about the current market situation and what all models are available, I just wanted to get an idea about the pricing as the road tax in Karnataka is high compared to my home state. I set my budget to around 1~1.5L. Brands such as KTM, Bajaj, RE, Yamaha, Ather, etc were automatically ruled out as their cheapest offerings were even out of budget. Finally, I narrowed down to a few bikes and scooters from TVS, Hero, Honda, Suzuki and Ola.

Let me jot down the pros and cons of the few offerings that I considered and why were they eventually rejected: -

Hero: -

1. Xtreme 125R – A new (6 months old) offering from Hero with a styling that did appeal to a young person like me. However, I visited 2 dealers and both of them said that there is a waiting period of 2-3 months if you order it now. Seriously, waiting period on a 125cc from Hero?? The showroom experience was also nothing to write home about. The staff was busy in their own work and they were also not keen to providing a test drive for their other 160cc models.
2. Super Splendor/Glamour - We already have a Super Splendor at home. But personally, I do not like the designs of both the bikes as they now getting a little bit out of fashion.
3. Xoom/Vida - Xoom is slightly less powerful than what I would have liked and Vida is overpriced for the range & features it offers. TCO according to my running was coming a fair bit higher for Vida compared to Ola let’s say.

Honda: -

1. Shine/SP125 - Both of their design is also getting old at this point similar to commuter designs from Hero.
2. Unicorn 125 - Unicorn did offered ABS, however front ABS in a 125cc is a bit overkill and nowadays almost all of them come with CBS which further reduces the importance of ABS. The price was also expensive compared to the feature list it offered, such as analog dash, etc.
3. Activa -They are literally everywhere on the road and personally I do not like their driving dynamics and front heavy feel. Also, the feature set is rather paltry.

Suzuki: -

1. Burgman/Avenis - Personally, I don’t like how Suzuki’s scooters look with their smaller rear wheel. No doubt burgman is a handsome looking machine, and so is its price, very expensive compared to what it offers.

Ola: -

1. S1 Air - I had my eyes set out on this, as amongst all the EVs this is the most value of money. And as a result, it naturally leads to a large number of sales from bike taxis to delivery riders everybody using this particular model from Ola. This was very apparent on my showroom visit. The showroom was stinking, there were only 2 people managing the whole floor and the service area was crowded with many people waiting to get their vehicles repaired. There were many vehicles standing outside as well waiting for their turn to get repaired. They didn’t have any test drive vehicle; the manager offered me a test drive of S1 pro from one of his colleagues. The instant acceleration in hyper mode was very impressive however the I found the throttle map to be a bit inconsistent and the scooter was getting confused in what to do in slow crawling traffic and on an incline in front of the showroom, where it refused to move even with more than half of the throttle open.

TVS: -

1. Ntorq - It’s an impressive scooter with a likeable sound that it makes. Having driven it extensively in the past, the riding dynamics are spot on, I knew. However, the top model didn’t offer the best engine tune, which is only offered on the 2nd best model, and the top model’s price is very similar to that of its cousin Raider.
2. Jupiter - Already own one at home and it is a very sorted scooter with very decent riding manners and a bright headlight, silent start, etc. Though I feel the design is slightly catered towards a little bit of more mature audience.
3. Raider -Personally, I am a fan of gizmos and the big connected screen instantly appealed to me. The sound that it makes is even better than Ntorq and I liked the top end performance it offered when I test rode it. Although the top model only offered a screen with navigation for INR 10K extra, which could easily be achieved by a 200Rs mobile holder, but still I chose to go with the top model. Such is the human mind, I guess!!

Buying Experience: -

A phone call from home informing me that 7th of July is an auspicious day prompted me to visit the showroom instantly. A test drive was offered almost instantly and the SAs also were very friendly and knowledgeable. I asked them for an evening delivery and they confirmed that yellow top end is available in their stockyard. They accepted credit card as a form of payment and I chose to go with that because why not. Did the payment and left. Visited at 5pm in the evening and there was a rush for deliveries due to it being an auspicious day. My vehicle was 12~13th in the queue. I used that time to match the Chassis number and visually inspect the vehicle and odo. Took delivery around 6pm as it also rained for some time in between. Offered them a box of sweets, clicked some pics and left. Overall, I would highly recommend Trijal Motors in Marathalli and SA Abhinandan. The documents, RTO, number plate everything was taken care of by them and everything worked like a clockwork.

Price Breakup: -

• Ex-showroom - 1.09L
• RTO/Road Tax - 23K
• Insurance - 7.5K
• Mandatory accessories - 800
• Complimentary - Helmet
• Total - 1.42L on road

During delivery

Mandatory Pooja, joined by another Apache 160 4V

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TVS also manufactures select BMW products at its Hosur plant.

According to a media report, Norton Motorcycles plans to manufacture its bikes in India from 2025. As you may be aware, the UK-based bike maker is owned by the TVS Motor Company.

During a recent interaction with the media, TVS MD Sudarshan Venu stated that the company would be leveraging its manufacturing and supply chain in India to bolster Norton Motorcycles. The bikes will be manufactured at TVS’ Hosur plant.

“I believe high-quality manufacturing is what TVS really brings. It is the strength of TVS. Therefore, we will definitely use that fully, to leverage Norton,“ Venu said. “But at the same time, they (the bikes) will be uniquely Norton, which is why we’re having European design, European marketing, European engineering as well. And so, we will bring this combination together to create products which are uniquely Norton,” he added.

TVS also manufactures select BMW products at its Hosur plant. The factory produces BMW’s 310cc range, which was jointly developed with TVS. The BMW CE 02 electric scooter is also manufactured at this facility.

Source: Autocar India

The first time I saw her I knew that this was it. I mean, it was exactly what I was looking for. However, I was more keen about the Bajaj Pulsar N160 due to the dual-channel ABS.

BHPian autophile_nj recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello Team-BHP members,

I got home my first bike, a TVS Apache 160 4V, in the first week of February. This one is the Dual Channel ABS, the one TVS announced in December 2023.

The need for a new machine started around September last year. I was using my mom’s 21-year-old Activa 1st Gen (2003). I used it throughout my Bachelor’s and Master’s degree last year. There weren’t frequent breakdowns per se but the breakdowns were in the most crucial places and we knew it was about time. Frankly, I didn’t favour a bike back then, but my mom and dad were more excited and practical in convincing me to bring one home. The story is quite the opposite of Indian households. I did want a new machine but initially, I was more inclined towards something like an Ather 450x, quick, fast and electric. But God had other plans and was quite happy his plan worked.

Although I had my Geared license in 2019, my close friends and family didn’t have a bike to ride on regularly. I got used to driving our car more easily as I often went out with my parents for outstation trips and grocery runs in our Jazz or Alto. My nervousness was quite high initially when we decided to buy a bike.

So my hunt began. I wasn’t looking for something fancy or heavy (like a RE or a KTM) but a simple but adequate power for my occasional countryside trips and regular commute to work.

One criterion to be added was turn-by-turn navigation. I prefer being connected and I hate installing my phone on the stand next to the handlebar or wearing AirPods while riding. But not something I could not live without. Keeping this in mind, I had two major options in my head:

Bajaj Pulsar N160

So we visited the Bajaj showroom in Aundh and to my surprise, they did not have the bike for a test ride. The attitude of the salesman also didn’t seem quite interesting. My dad was quite interested in this as he loved the OG 2002 Pulsars. But we turned this down due to the unavailability of a test drive temporarily. I tried my friend’s N160 and the one thing that impressed me was its brakes and seating posture. The only factor and a major one going in favour was the dual channel ABS.

TVS Apache RTR 160 4V

To be honest, the time I saw her I knew this was it. I mean, it was exactly what I was looking for. However, I was more keen on N160 due to the Dual-channel ABS. My apprehensions of the uncomfortable riding posture (I am 5’11) were proved false after the test ride. But we didn’t land on our decision then.

Around mid-December, while I was discussing with dad about this dilemma and scrolling through IG in Pune University traffic, I saw a post, and my happiness touched a cloud 9 to say.

It was the "Bhagwaan jab bhi deta hai chappar fadd ke deta hai moment for me". APACHE RTR 160 4V with Dual Channel ABS!!! Exactly what I wanted.

So I went to the nearest TVS showroom and to my surprise they had no clue that TVS Apache 160 4V was launched with Dual Channel ABS. Inquired to 3-4 showrooms on call. One of them referred us to Shelar TVS in Swargate who had the new model.

We went to Shelar TVS in Swargate on 26 Jan as all three of us had a holiday. I tried out the bike and my mom asked, you like it? I was like yeah, it's quite something I am looking for. My Dad “Book it then, seal the deal”.

Finally, after 8 days, I took her delivery on Feb 4. Named her MiFa (after Luke Skywalker’s First starship Millenium Falcon from Star Wars: A New Hope Ep IV released in 1977)

So MiFa has clocked around 3200kms to date mostly in the city lanes and less between the highway stripes. So, I'll add my elaborate thoughts on highway performance once I get to spend more time with her on the highway.

Here are my observations:

Pros:

• Easy to adapt: As my first bike, RTR 160 4V has been easy to get around with for a person who is not in touch with riding a bike. Just took 3-4 hours on a Sunday morning to get used to it.
• Engine: Well refined with enough power for my needs. Love the exhaust note as well. It has a powerful midrange and helps in traffic.
• GTT: GTT has spoilt me for good. I can’t explain how effective this is. I go to Symbiosis Lavale for work and this is like a Godsend feature in peak traffic hours.
• TVS SmartXConnect: Initially had issues with pairing and connection. It has its bugs but works 90% of the time (I use it only for navigation and call alerts) One of the factors is that you cannot directly add a location from WhatsApp. You have to search it on the TVS app and start the navigation using Mapples India.
• Ride Modes: Apache has 3 ride modes:

• Urban: Smooth and controlled power, with ABS setting at medium
• Rain: Power same as urban, ABS setting set to Max
• Sport: Highest power, with lowest ABS setting
• Fuel Economy: Happy to report FE in the range of 46-51 kmpl with the right tyre pressure. I make sure to get it checked from my tyre store on my way back home after refuelling.

I shall point out an observation, although it's very, very rare. it was raining cats and dogs while riding in 2-3 weeks ago, and in rain mode, I felt engine braking acting a lot more aggressively, but it just happened once or twice. Or it may be the Rain mode’s ABS acting upon.

As I mentioned previously, I’ve not ridden on the highway much, just twice or thrice, but it does inspire confidence in a new rider. Stable and planted at higher speeds.

Cons:

• Brakes: I know many have pointed this out, but something I have learnt to deal with. I realized how weak they were compared to the competition when I rode my friend’s 3-year-old N160.
• Fuel Gauge: Quite confusing at first. Fuel bar often reappears after 3-10 minutes when you are riding. My bike shifted on reserve due to this in my first month. Now I refuel once I have two bars left.

To sum up, getting MiFa home has been one of the best decisions of my life! Lived a frugal life for 4-5 months to get her home with my own money. But worth it!

From not wanting a bike until last June to giving her “Princess-like” treatment. I have started loving motorcycles more and understanding them better.

Hopefully, this bike will help me be a better rider with every passing experience.

Honourable mentions to Hagaru and Offypoint for their valuable reviews! The Team-BHP community also deserves credit for valuable suggestions and advice through this amazing forum.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

As per reports, the TVS Jupiter 125 CNG project is internally referred to as 'U740'.

Bajaj Auto recently launched the world’s first CNG-powered motorcycle, the Freedom 125. The TVS Motor Company is also working on a similar product, a CNG-powered scooter.

According to a media report, TVS has already developed a CNG powertrain, which is likely to debut on the Jupiter scooter. It could be launched in the market by the end of 2024 or early next year.

As per reports, the TVS Jupiter 125 CNG project is internally referred to as 'U740'. Technical details are still unclear, but the scooter could get a small petrol tank as a range extender in addition to a CNG tank.

The TVS Motor Company has neither confirmed nor denied these reports. However, the company did mention that it is interested in all technologies like CNG, EV and multi-fuels. It plans to launch another electric 2-wheeler, an ICE model and an electric 3-wheeler later this year.

Source: Autocar India

The Apache RTR 160 Racing Edition is powered by a 160cc, single-cylinder engine that makes 16 BHP and 14 Nm.

TVS has launched the 2024 Apache RTR 160 Racing Edition. It is priced at Rs 1,28,720 (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The Apache RTR 160 Racing Edition comes in a unique Matt Black colour scheme with carbon fibre race-inspired graphics with the Race Edition logo and red alloy wheels. It features a digital instrument console with TVS SmartXonnect. It also gets three ride modes – Sport, Urban and Rain.

The Apache RTR 160 Racing Edition is powered by a 160cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine that delivers 16 BHP @ 8,750 rpm and 13.85 Nm. The engine is paired with a 5-speed gearbox.

The bike has a conventional suspension setup with a telescopic fork at the front and dual shock absorbers at the rear. Braking is handled by petal-type discs at both ends.

It started after I met with an accident last year. I hear the noise whenever I make a U-turn.

BHPian ManualMaestro recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello, fellow riders. I own a 2021 TVS Apache 160 4V. I've only clocked around 7k kms in the past 3 years as my parents are petrified of riding a bike on our highways. The bike has served me well with no issues whatsoever.

However, I met with an accident past year with an auto that sideswiped me because he saw a potential "bhada". Since then I've been hearing rattling sounds from my brakes whenever I make a turn. When I went for my routine service a few months ago, I pointed this issue out along with video proof (captured using an action cam). They told me it was some debris and after cleaning it the noise is gone. I test rode it, made a few 8s, and was not able to hear it. But now again I'm noticing it. Today after taking a closer look, I found that the brake pad is hitting a metal structure, which causes the rattle whenever the tyre turns, and consequently vibrates (encircled):

Also, the caliper seems to be held on by only one bolt. (indicated by arrow):

This is the first bike my family owns, so I never had any exposure to how they work. Is this supposed to be like this?

Also, the noise occurs when the tire vibrates, which I tried to recreate by hitting the tire.

Here's what BHPian Mr.Boss had to say about the matter:

Worn out caliper pin, get it replaced.

OT: Front wheel axle has so many threads projecting beyond the nut, is it the case with all Apache RTR or specific to your bike, get it checked.

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About our Bangalore trip, Agarwal Packers and Movers brought the Jupiter back along with the rest of our stuff, with no damage and no issues.

BHPian AulusGabinius recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

10,000 km Update

The Jupiter 125 continues to serve as the faithful family steed. No niggles or service issues, but some annoyances are there. They are:

1. The side footrest got broken off in a parking lot when doofus tried to move the scooter, and I have not been able to get a replacement since.
2. The chrome on the strip above the display has begun to strip off. Minor detail, but annoying nonetheless.
3. The seat cover is a mess and needs to be replaced when I can get around to it.

Otherwise nothing to complain about. The tyres, TVS ones, are nearly done and I'm not as confident about them anymore when going into turns. I'll probably get some Bridgestones, since they've served me well in the past and the harder rubber will do better, I think, against some of the awful roads I encounter. As a daily commuter, it's been fantastic.

About our Bangalore trip, Agarwal Packers and Movers brought the Jupiter back along with the rest of our stuff, with no damage and no issues. While in Bangalore, mention must be made of Global TVS in Muneshwara Block in Mahalakshmi Layout. Fantastic service experience for three services, and professional staff. Now it's back to Kalamkar TVS on Baner Road for the services, but I do intend to try out my usual FNG.

The actual reason why BS VI vehicles should be sent to the ASC one in a while is actually the OBD kit. FNGs are just not being supplied one that is good for most BS VI vehicles, and that is a damn shame.

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It was really nice to see RTR310 customers getting exclusive treatment like this from company, TVS is definitely making serious efforts towards mending the aftersales issues that they have been having lately.

BHPian curiousbolt recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I purchased RTR310 in Nov'23 and the past 6 months with this product has been amazing. I had posted my experience with the product after 1500km (TVS Apache RTR 310 - Quick review after 1500 km).

After 8500km, I can say the product is still extremely fun and feels like everything works together so well. Every day is like a new day with the bike and the bike is definitely still a head turner in traffic.

I have completed 2 services in Bangalore. I had three issues nagging me although not a dealbreaker -

1. The vibration at handlebar used to make my hands feel numb after riding for 30-40km continuously. Not a dealbreaker in city limits but in highways it was irritant.
2. When I roll off throttle, the bike used to take around 0.5seconds till the rpm started rolling down. This delay was a bit irritant in traffic conditions where I could not predict how the bike is slowing down.
3. Rider seat vibration - The rider seat has a peculiar vibrating range between 4-6k rpm after which it disappears. It was irritant sometimes.
4. The Quickshifter used to turn off randomly and 2nd to 3rd gear used to become hard.

I complained about this during my service but the advisor at Prakruthi TVS told they have done all the adjustments that have been told to them by their technical team. I contacted the territory manager from TVS to ask for a solution and they had told me they would inform me when the updates are available.

Fast forward last week, got a call from my service center that TVS has planned to do a service camp at their premises in Anekal. I was asked to choose between 8th and 9th June and I went with 8th June.

The Carecraft camp is what TVS calls it, was an amazing experience. We had a detailed technology brief on how the features function in RTR310, interactive session with TVS management to share product and service experience, Detailed explanation of the updates being done on the vehicle, introduction to the Apache owners group(AOG) and also basic DIYs that one can do at home.

The following updates were installed on my bike -

1. The seat cushions below the rider seat were changed - the new cushions have a better fit and hardness specifications.
2. The foam which is placed on the fuel tank were changed - 2 on the right side and 3 on the left side - the density of these have been modified to absorb vibrations better and also to have better fit with the cover that comes on the fuel tank.
3. Handlebar dampers were changed with slightly heavier dampers to absorb vibrations better.
4. ECU software was changed to reduce the lag during throttle roll off and also the software has refinements in the engine map to make the throttle response better.
5. The Quickshifter wiring routing was changed and also my knuckle guard was removed (the aftermarket knuckle gaurd was partially pressing my clutch lever making the Quickshifter malfunction at times). Now, the quickshifter works flawlessly.

After the update I took the long way back home, rode the bike for around 80km and the bike feels more alive and responsive now. The bike is sharper to throttle inputs and the engine braking kicks in instantly when I roll off. The Quickshifter by TVS is a work of art. Beauty!

The vibration kit what they installed is perfect, I was worried the bike would become like an EV losing all the character when they told they are damping the vibrations  . But, the bike has just enough vibration to make it feel raw and powerful yet not annoying - just at that perfect balance point.

Overall, I was really happy with the event. Met a lot of other RTR310 owners in the event got to know their riding stories and chronicles with service. All of the TVS Aftersales management team from Bangalore were there at the event to hear us out and I also had the chance to interact closely with them to share my experience with service and sales. It was really nice to see RTR310 customers getting exclusive treatment like this from company, TVS is definitely making serious efforts towards mending the aftersales issues that they have been having lately.

Awaiting pictures from the company as our mobile phones were submitted at the security gate, as this was factory premises. Will share all the pictures on this thread when I get them. 

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I realised that since the scooter was not being used, people in my housing society were treating it like scrap.

BHPian Iyencar recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

So the scooter was just sitting around for a while. Too much happening on the personal front. The real reason though was one fine day I was about to go to work and again had the starting issues. I got fed up, just stopped trying and took a rickshaw to the nearest metro station. Since then I kept meaning to have it looked at thoroughly but never got around to it.

One fine day had a mini scare when I couldn’t see the scooter at the place I remembered parking! This was a society we recently moved in to so I was really confused. Took the security supervisor’s help and after a good 20 min of searching finally found it moved to another corner of the society.

Anyway, since the battery was completely down now I let it be. Long story short, this was a bad decision. Things really came to a head when someone broke the number plate and put the broken piece in the glove box. I kicked myself for letting things get this far. Realised that because it was sitting around people around it were treating it like scrap.

So, the next day while returning from an errand I walked into a nearby battery shop. There was a young mechanic working on a scooter. Had a quick discussion and he showed up at my place with another guy. He had a look. Asked some basic questions and said he’d first charge the battery and do a full service while at it. He then offered to get the display repaired by a guy he knew. I was doing mental cartwheels when I heard this! Best part was a warranty of a year. I mean there was no warranty slip or anything but I told myself, hey at least he’s confident enough to give a fake one. They did the Indian method of towing it with their foot (should it be called toe-ing then?).

Anyhow, in about 5 hours he called and said everything was done including the display! Now that was fast. Off I went to the shop and there she was, looking as shiny as ever. Turned on the scooter and almost cried seeing the beautiful display. Icing on the cake was that odo was recording all this while. Only the top panel was bad. Fuel gauge worked too. No more vedic mathematics needed to calculate the drops of fuel left and extrapolate to the time taken to the nearest pump.

Damages were Rs. 4k odd. Out of which 2500 was for the display repair. Other expenses were the oil change, new numberplates, new air filter, cleaning the brake lines, charging the battery, etc.

The scooter gave starting trouble again when I left it for a few days as I was travelling. However, the mechanic said once I drive around a bit the battery will get charged. Seems he is right since the two times after that have been subsequently easier. If not, the carb may need cleaning.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

How the quickshifter and the Limp Home mode work was explained in detail. We were also given a small overview of what makes the heated/cooled seats tick.

BHPian doomketu recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Updates after first service & TVS Care Craft Camp

First Service

I got the first service done at Bharath TVS Jayanagar, Bangalore. It set me back by 1100 Rs. This was done on April 10th. During the service, I mentioned the brake bite issue and the clutch stiffness. They adjusted it promptly and told me to take a test ride. The changes have now made the clutch easier to operate. They mentioned the adjustment was done to the cable and now the feedback is properly sent. My next service is due in August.

TVS Care Craft Camp

I got a call from TVS Motors last week asking if I would be interested in attending a Care Camp at their Institute of Quality and Leadership, Anekal. I happily agreed as this would be a new experience. The agenda was to invite the owners of the current flagship and teach them about the bike, explain the effort that went into designing it and have a hands-on DIY session for fixes that could be done by the rider.

The journey to the camp

Their TVS IQL center is also their R&D center which is located in Anekal. It's near the Karnataka Tamil Nadu border, located just 20 km south of electronic city, and about 50km from my location. Only the last 8km is worth mentioning as it is flanked by fields on both sides and looks beautiful. The majority of the section is the usual Bangalore Hosur road that is swamped with traffic any time of the day.

Upon entering their beautiful premise, we were made to submit our phones at the gate due to security reasons. Their R&D facility is in one of the buildings and they test new advancements extensively there at the track located at the far end of the compound. We were guided to the tent where we gave our bikes to their engineers and walked the last 200m to the "Dr Washio" Classroom.

I was late by 30 minutes and reached at 1030 owing to a wrong turn and going 10km in another direction. The hall was already buzzing with activity as other riders had started a discussion with our instructors for the day. Mr Mithilesh was the Product Lead for the RTR 310 and the other gentleman, whose name I could not catch, was leading the services. For those who, like me, have forgotten 10th and 11th standard Physics and Chemistry, this was a refresher. How the quick shifter works (hall effect) and how the Limp Home mode works, were explained in detail. We were also given a small overview of what makes the heated/cooled seats tick and what 11th standard chemistry has to say about this (heat exchange anyone?).

After a brief round of introduction, we sat through the session where feedback was taken on the positives and negatives of the bike. Each feedback was treated with 100% sincerity. That is when I noticed the last row of people sitting in the classroom were wearing TVS shirts. It then struck me about the true nature of this camp. The programmers from the TVS connect app, the lead designer for headlamp and DRL, the Quality assurance head and GMs of many franchises of TVS were in attendance and were paying close attention to concerns.

The camp was split into 3 sections: Theory, changes to bike and DIY hands-on bike.

• Theory: This session in the classroom covered the bike's features in detail. Many of us lamented the lack of feature knowledge in the showroom. The feedback was noted. We went through slides of what makes the RTR 310 engine tick and the advancements in tech that made this bike possible.
• Changes to the bike: We were called to their facility to receive an ECU update and vibration dampers. A stripped-down bike was shown and the changes that were to be done were explained in detail. Changes to ECU would mean a more aggressive response and reduction in lag we felt earlier (which in my case led to the bike "coughing at times" on urban mode 50-60kph") and new dampers which aimed to reduce the vibrations in the mid-band.
• DIY session: This session was post-lunch, but was by far the most exciting session. Post lunch while most folks tend to tune off for a bit, the 25 of us were listening in rapt attention to our instructor as he showed us part by part, the sections of the engine and covered the Preload adjustments, chain lube cleaning and clutch cable adjustment. We were instructed to measure the angle of the quick shifter (21 Degrees) and also to calculate the unladen sag and the laden sag to ensure that the difference is in the ballpark of 42mm or 30% of travel for optimal setup.

Post this session, all of us were corralled back to the classroom where we had a fun trivia session with the 1st and 2nd prize winners getting a TVS smart connect S20X Bluetooth intercom while 3rd and 4th getting t-shirts. The trivia was based on what we had learnt during the day and the basics from the owner's manual.

As the day came to a close our bikes were lined up ready to go. A video was taken of a slow rollout of all the bikes present and we were itching to test out the changes in engine mapping. I rode back the 50km with a wide grin plastered across my face. The response was crisper and the exhaust note at higher revs was pure music to my ears.

I need to ride it more extensively and feel the nature of the changes made in various settings.

If anyone from our forum was there yesterday or going today, please do chime in with your experience.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.