2021 TVS NTorq 125 Race XP Road Test Review: India’s Quickest 125cc Scooter, Again

  • Sep 13, 2021
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Here’s how TVS revitalised the NTorq 125’s youthfulness

Our biggest issue with the 2020 TVS NTorq 125 was that the process of meeting new emission norms robbed some of its sporty edge. Its acceleration was hampered and it even lost out in our mega 125cc scooter comparison. Not one to accept defeat, TVS did a fair bit of work on the NTorq for 2021, especially in the powertrain department. It has increased power, reduced weight and given ride modes, the first for an ICE scooter in India. Has it paid off?

2021 TVS NTorq 125 Race XP Road Test Review

The Performance Updates
The 124.8cc single-cylinder 3-valve mill has been worked upon a fair bit. TVS claims to have improved its breathing and combustion process to churn out 0.82PS more power and 0.3Nm more torque. Also, weight saving measures in key areas have been carried out as a result of which the NTorq is now 2kg lighter. How much of a difference do these small tweaks make?

Specs

2021 TVS NTorq 125 Race XP

2020 TVS NTorq 125 Race BS6

Engine

124.8cc single-cylinder, 3-valve

124.8cc single-cylinder, 3-valve

Power

10.2PS @ 7000rpm

9.38PS @ 7000rpm

Torque

10.8PS @ 5500rpm

10.5Nm @ 5500rpm

Acceleration

0-60kmph

8.07s

9.26s

0-80kmph

15.37s

18.73s

20-50kmph

4.32s

4.46s

Quite a lot, actually. The NTorq now is the quickest it has ever been. In the sprint from 0-60kmph, it is over a second quicker than the 2020 BS6 model and the gap widens to over 3.5 seconds by the time you reach 80kmph. It even managed to beat our current champion of 125cc scooters, the Suzuki Burgman Street 125, by nearly a second. These are quite astonishing figures as the Burgman and the 2020 BS6 NTorq was tested by a guy who is significantly lighter than our new tester.

2021 TVS NTorq 125 Race XP Road Test Review

The improvements in fueling are evident as the NTorq once again lurches ahead to scythe through traffic. It pulls cleanly to 90kmph and has a claimed top speed of 98kmph.

Fuel efficiency

2021 NTorq Race XP

2020 NTorq Race BS6

City

54.33kmpl

51.54kmpl

Highway

55.8kmpl

56.23kmpl

The great bit here is that the extra performance doesn’t come at the expense of fuel efficiency. Rather, the NTorq Race XP outscored its standard Race model by 3kmpl within city limits and out on the highway, it was almost on par. This balance has been achieved by improvements in fuelling, mid-range performance and by using the Street riding mode.

2021 TVS NTorq 125 Race XP Road Test Review
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Ride Modes For A 10PS Scooter?

Specs

2021 TVS NTorq 125 Race XP - Race Mode

2021 TVS NTorq 125 Race XP - Street Mode

Power

10.2PS @ 7000rpm

9PS @ 7000rpm

Torque

10.8PS @ 5500rpm

10Nm @ 5500rpm

The NTorq Race XP is India’s first ICE scooter to offer riding modes. While you would say that a 10PS scooter doesn’t need riding modes, the purpose here is simple. It isn’t to restrict performance in the name of safety. Rather, by activating Street mode, the engine’s characteristics are altered to increase fuel efficiency by dulling down the throttle response just enough to make it feel like a sedate 125cc family scooter.

You can switch between the modes by a single press on the starter button or by giving voice commands.

2021 TVS NTorq 125 Race XP Road Test Review

SmartXonnect Is Even Smarter Now But…
...it has quite a lot of bugs. The NTorq was the first scooter in the country to get smartphone connectivity, call alerts and turn-by-turn navigation. For the Race XP, there’s a brand new UI experience which displays the two riding modes and the rpm when the engine is active. However, the voice commands feature still needs to be worked upon. Understanding and executing the instructions takes a while and the experience isn’t seamless. But hey, it is nothing that a few app and console firmware updates cannot fix.

There are a few cosmetic changes to differentiate the NTorq Race XP from its other variants as well, which you can read about in this story here.

2021 TVS NTorq 125 Race XP Road Test Review

The Quickest 125cc Scooter In India

Variants

Price (ex-showroom Delhi)

Standard Disc

Rs 77,320

Race

Rs 80,325

Race XP

Rs 84,025

The Race XP trim comes in at a premium of Rs 6,000 over the standard disc model of the NTorq 125. For the extra moolah, you get a sportier graphics theme, quite a lot of extra features and, most importantly, class-leading performance. After riding the Race XP, you feel energised, with a wide grin plastered inside your helmet. And if you are a bit conscious about fuel efficiency, you have riding modes to help you out. So, kudos TVS, and thank you for making the NTorq 125 the quickest 125cc scooter in India once again.

TVS NTORQ 125 Video Review

TVS NTORQ 125
TVS NTORQ 125
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