TVS unveils liquid-cooled RTR 125 at EICMA in Milan; India launch seen as unlikely

TVS Motor has unveiled its new bike, the TVS RTR 125, at EICMA 2026, the international motorcycle exhibition held in Milan. The bike is drawing attention for its sporty design, liquid-cooled engine, dual-channel ABS and new technology. It is also being compared with the TVS Raider 125, already popular in India.

Both bikes are in the 125cc class, but the engine design and performance differ considerably. The RTR 125 has a 125cc, 4-valve DOHC engine that is liquid-cooled. It produces 14.9 PS at 9,000 RPM and 12 Nm of torque at 7,000 RPM. The Raider 125 has a 124.8cc, air-cooled SOHC engine, producing 11.4 PS at 7,500 RPM and 11.75 Nm of torque at 6,000 RPM.

The RTR 125 thus delivers 3.5 PS more power than the Raider 125. With liquid cooling and DOHC technology, its emphasis is on strong performance. The Raider 125 aims to balance daily commuting, a comfortable ride and mileage.

On features, the RTR 125 gets a 5-inch TFT display, along with mobile connectivity, Google Maps mirroring and switchable dual-channel ABS. Depending on the variant, the Raider 125 gets a TFT or digital display, mobile connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation. Its top variant also has switchable traction control. The RTR 125 appears more advanced in technology and braking safety, but a direct comparison of the two requires looking at the features available in each variant.

The chassis and suspension also differ. The RTR 125 has a trellis frame, KYB inverted front forks and a rear monoshock. The Raider 125 has a single-cradle tubular frame, telescopic front forks and a rear monoshock. The RTR 125 has disc brakes at both front and rear. On the Raider 125, the front brake is a disc depending on the variant, and the rear is a disc or drum. The RTR 125's build may help with sporty riding and control in corners. Disc brakes on both wheels and wide radial tyres add to its sporty look.

The biggest question is whether the bike will come to India. According to available information, the RTR 125 has been built specifically with the European market in mind, where sporty 125cc bikes matter to customers in the A1 licence category. India has no such A1 licence limit based on engine capacity, so buyers here have the option of higher-capacity bikes. For this reason, an India launch of the RTR 125 is currently considered unlikely. Without an official announcement from the company on the Indian market, no firm launch date can be given.

Overall, the TVS RTR 125 is a bike with sporty design, a powerful engine and advanced features, while the TVS Raider 125 is the more practical option for everyday use. Whether the RTR 125's new design will show up in TVS's Indian models later remains to be seen.