I had the privilege of having first dibs on the TVS NTORQ 125 Race Edition a couple of weeks before its official launch at the 2023 Makina Moto Show.

Since I only had one full day to get myself acquainted with the latest sporty scooter from the Indian manufacturing giant, I decided to make the most of my time and put the NTORQ 125 Race Editon to work.

Torquey AF

The TVS NTORQ 125 Race Edition practically pounces from one stoplight to the next, so long as I kept it in Sport mode.

Yes, this relatively modest commuter scooter has riding modes: Sport and Street. The latter seemed to offer around 10 to 15 percent more oomph and I also got a more eager throttle response.

The NTORQ is propelled by a 124.8 cc, single-cylinder, 4-stroke, 3-valve, air-cooled,single-cam, fuel-injected engine, which produces a maximum power output of 9 PS at 7,000 rpm and a peak torque of 10.5 Nm at 5,500 rpm.

However, all that grunt somewhat tapers off around mid-range, so passing long vehicles at cruising speed required precise timing and a Hail Mary.  

Traffic buster

From the TVS warehouse in Taytay, Rizal, I took the NTORQ 125 Race Edition to the Pililia Windmills via the congested Teresa route.

It was a weekend and I thought it best to avoid the moto-squids (kamote) plying Marilaque. Filtering through traffic was nevertheless a breeze, with a pair of 12-inch wheels contributing to the flickable handling.

Practical grocery-getter

Scooters are the pick-up trucks of the motorcycle world and the NTORQ 125 Race Edition can double as a delivery mule when needed.

I managed to fit two watermelons under the seat, with four more in a sack placed on the floorboard. Fruit stands in Tanay offer the best deals.

Thrifty or thirsty?

I kept the NTORQ 125 Race Edition in Sport mode all day long and the consequence was 30 km/l.

We have to consider also that I rode through 150 km of terrible traffic (Taytay-Pililia via Teresa-Cainta-Caloocan-Taytay) and the NTORQ is not exactly a light scooter, tipping the scales at 118 kilograms.

For reference, a similar scooter like the Yamaha Mio i 125 weighs only 92 kilograms.

Even so, I felt that I had inadvertently put the TVS NTORQ 125 Race Edition through the worst riding conditions, hence the low fuel mileage. So, I’ve asked TVS Philippines for a longer saddle time on the NTORQ to get more accurate results.

The TVS NTORQ 125 Race Edition will be available at dealerships beginning May 15, 2023 with a price tag of ₱80,900.

You get a 3-valve engine, selectable riding modes, phone connectivity and a digital display that reads out lap times.

Not a bad deal, wouldn’t you say?

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