TVS NTORQ 125 Long Term Report: May 2018

Full-throttle Motoring

I used to think that a motorcycle is the most convenient and enjoyable way to commute in a city like Delhi. And because of this very reason, I’d been regularly nicking keys of all the nice bikes that’ve graced our long-term garage in the last two years. Whether it was the Mojo or the R3 in the past, or the Yamaha FZ25 and TVS Apache RR 310 from our current fleet, I’ve been accused of hoarding these motorcycles a little longer than anyone else in the office. My views, however, have changed now, thanks to the arrival of the TVS NTorq 125 in our fleet, for this 125cc scooter has shown me that that a fancy and powerful motorcycle isn’t what I need for commuting. 

I rode the NTorq at TVS’s test track during its market launch and came back fairly impressed. But after riding the scooter in what we journalists call ‘real-world conditions’, I’ve now become a fan of this thing! First of all, it’s an absolute hoot to ride – the engine has enough poke, the brakes are strong and it handles beautifully. Because the handlebar is tall, turning the NTorq lock-to-lock is a breeze in traffic – something you appreciate when you’re slicing through traffic. Thanks to its nippy handling, my hour-long commute time has reduced by a good 10 to 15 minutes these days.

The best aspect of the NTorq is its supple suspension. While it offers a bit of a sporty side, the suspension has been calibrated in such a way that it never feels stiff or bumpy. It just gobbles up all undulations without breaking a sweat. I can and will say that it has the best ride quality in its segment. The fuel efficiency is decent as well. It managed to return 44km/l, irrespective of the fact that I was going full-throttle all the time.  

Another thing that I love about the scooter is its Bluetooth connectivity feature. I tried it a couple of times, and so far, it has worked flawlessly. I have written a detailed piece on its pros and cons, which you can read here - TVS NTorq Review. 

Thus far, I haven’t found anything worth complaining about this scooter. Although if I’ve to nitpick, I’d say the sliding-type indicator switch tends to get stuck at times and the fuel filler on the outside doesn’t actually solve the purpose, since it’s not operated from the ignition switch. All said, though, I am absolutely loving my time with the NTorq.