TVS Ntorq 125 » My ownership review after 17,000+ kilometers.
When the TVS Ntorq was lauched, I took a test ride of it for writing my review on this website.
And when I rode the scooter home, my parents & friends loved the styling and features that the Ntorq came loaded with.
Not just them, I also fell for the performance and looks of the Ntorq 125.
And guess what? I decided to buy the scooter.
We needed an extra vehicle for home, and the NTORQ 125 felt just the right thing to buy.
Today when I’m writing this ownership review, I’ve ridden the Ntorq for more than 17.500 + kilometers.
Review Outline: I’ve been an owner of TVS Ntorq for more than a year now. It is a giant leap in the world of scooters in India. But is it a good scooter for our patchy Indian roads? Not really. To be honest, I’ll never enjoy riding an Activa after experiencing the smooth acceleration and sharp handling of the Ntorq. But it’s not perfect, no motorcycle or scooter is perfect. I have a few complains which I’ve addressed in this ownership review.
Let’s talk mileage »
Ye mileage Kitna deti hai? That’s the most common question people ask about the NTORQ.
So let me clear it today, In the city, the Ntorq 125 gives a mileage of 35-37 kilometres per litre, depending on how hard you ride it.
The exhaust sounds throaty and aggressive at full whack, which compels me to ride it hard, and then the mileage drops to 30 kmpl.
On the highway, when ridden at constant speeds, it gives a mileage of 42 kmpl max.
Let’s talk engine »
The engine on the Ntorq 125 is what sets it apart from all these other scooters in the market
It’s a 125cc, 3 valve CVTI Revv engine with a lot of juice for a city going scooter.
The scooter pulls strongly from the mid-range to the top end. Overtaking on this scooter is also easy and fun.
The engine on the NTORQ is undoubtedly one of the best engines seen on an Indian scooter.
It can handle a lot of stress. I took the Ntorq on a small tour around Uttar Pradesh.
My friend was my pillion, and we rode 1200 kilometres approximately in two days.
I was skeptical about taking the Ntorq for touring, but surprisingly, the engine didn’t break a sweat after our journey finished.
Needless to say, I poured some fresh engine oil into it after the long-long trip.
Touring on Ntorq: If you’re doing a long tour on the Ntorq, my advice will be to take a break between every 50-70 kilometre.
Let the engine cool down for 15-20 minutes.
Scooters are not meant for touring in the first place, but if you still do, have some machine sympathy and don’t stress the engine too much.
If you take breaks every 50-70 kilometres, there’s no problem. But don’t throw some impossible standards and ride it continuously for 150-200 kilometres.
There are high chances that the engine will seize.
A scooter’s engine can’t cool down itself unlike a motorcycle’s.
Interested in touring? Here are all the “touring bikes” you can buy in India on a budget.
Braking »
Whenever I ride a TVS two-wheeler, I find myself complaining about the front brakes.
Sadly it’s the same with the Ntorq too.
The front disc brake lacks the hasty response that I would’ve appreciated. And the rear lever gets loose after some hard breaking too.
I’d say that they’re a little weak for my liking.
But if you’re not a mad rider like me, they will make you stop at average city speeds without a problem.
In fact, they make a mad rider like me stop too…but I have to really pull the levers hard.
Handling »
I’ve ridden the scooter for more than 8500 kilometres, and after all these kilometres, I’ve fallen in love with the way it handles.
“It is the best handling scooter in the market. Period.”
The suspension, the chassis, the tyres, all contribute in making it a superb handler.
It leans into corners with the eagerness of a sports bike and maintains its composure from the apex to the exit.
To be honest, I never thought that a scooter could also be so enjoyable around corners.
On the highways, the Ntorq allows you to remain at 90-95 kilometres per hour without any effort, without any jittering.
Even after owning the scooter for 8 months, I’m awed by its high-speed stability.
And believe me, you’ll be surprised after experiencing its high-speed stability. The12 inch meaty tyres play a big role in making it a plush ride.
Storage »
The Ntorq swallows one half face helmet with ease and still leaves room for more.
Often, I have a helmet, a phone, a bag, a rubric cube, a pack of biscuits, a book, and a small water bottle in the boot. And as you can see, it all fits well.
There’s enough space for keeping your camping stuff or shopping stuff.
If that is less for you, then you have two hooks in the front too where you can hang your bags.
Pretty cool, eh?
You can also buy a gloves box to keep your riding gloves.
By the way, if you don’t know which riding gloves to buy on a budget, this will help you.
Cool Features »
The modern instrument cluster is one of the most talked-about features of the NTorq.
It’s the black box of the scooter.
Connect your phone with the scooter using the app. And you’re good to go.
Apart from notifying you about calls and messages, it also shows the remaining battery and network strength of your phone.
You’ll find this feature convenient when your phone is charging under the seat.
Just by looking at the console, you’ll know the battery level and the network strength.
More features on the instrument cluster include sports mode and street mode.
In the sports mode, the scooter will measure your top speed. It will also tell you 0-60 speed, lap time and more.
Note: There’s no change in power when you change the mode.
Navigation »
Currently, the Ntorq app uses Mapmyindia for navigation. Which is decent, but is nowhere close to google maps.
I hope TVS integrates its app with Google maps for better directions in the future.
Having said that, the navigation works really well.
The remaining distance to the location is updated in real-time, and it has turn by turn assist too.
The navigation feature is something that people living in metro cities will love. I promise it will make your life so much easier.
Electronics & Lights »
I always wanted to see a kill switch on a scooter, and well the Ntorq gets one. Talking about headlight, it is super bright and illuminates the road in front in front of you very well.
Taillights and indicators are bright too and smartly placed on the scooter.
There’s a USB charger under the seat and small light too.
My ownership of the TVS Ntorq 125 has been full of pleasantness so far. But we’re done with the good bits. And like I said, no motorcycle and scooter are perfect, so let me tell you what I find bad about the scooter.
What I don’t like about TVS Ntorq »
Front Suspension.
The front suspension is the worst thing about TVS Ntorq 125. It is great when you’re riding on smooth roads, but if you’re riding on patchy roads, it’s shit.
It is too noisy on patchy roads and transfers all the harshness of the roads on your body. And as you know, in India, we have a lot of patchy roads. So the noise and discomfort due to front suspension become unbearable sometimes.
If anyone from TVS is reading this, I request you to please work on the front suspension. The Ntorq can be a great product if the front suspension is upgraded.
Switches.
The Indicator switch was not smooth in the first place. Now after three months, it gets stuck often, on either side. The plastic used in the kill switch, indicator switch, mirrors is not up to the mark. I hope TVS works on the details, in the future. But it is not something you cannot deal with.
Update: My light switch was giving me trouble, and TVS replaced the whole panel of switches on the left handlebar under warranty.
Body Fitting.
TVS could’ve worked on fitting the parts neatly, but sadly they didn’t.
I noticed the same thing on TVS Jupiter. The body parts are not fit neatly on both the scooters.
Although, they are not evident until you watch with an eagle’s eye. And maybe it’s just the case with my Ntorq.
