Photography: Shrenith Bhandary
When you think of sporty scooters in India, the Ntorq 125 is always part of the conversation. But with the new Ntorq 150, TVS is aiming higher, with a 150cc engine, aggressive design and tech features. Now, the big question is, does it ride as well as it does on paper? We find out.
The Ntorq 150 draws inspiration from TVS’ Graphite concept, and the design is evident of that. TVS paid attention to those fine details that make it an absolute looker. You get quad-led headlights, signature LED taillamps and LED indicators. The bodywork is sharp and stylish with bold and racing-inspired livery that suits the character of the scooter, including coloured wheels, which add a youthful flair to it. The dash is now compact and comprises a full-colour TFT screen. Lastly, you get a exposed handlebar, which makes it look and feel even sportier. The body panels look seamless with almost no panel gaps, adding to the streamlined design.
The Ntorq 150 is powered by a new-generation 150cc, 3-valve, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine. It gets a bigger bore compared to the Ntorq 125 on which the engine is based, complete with a larger-diameter lightweight piston with PVD-coated rings. The intake and exhaust have also been optimised for better airflow and combustion. The engine feels very smooth, and the revs are quick to climb. TVS has also added an ISG with iGO assist technology to boost the torque during sudden acceleration. All of these result in a very smooth and responsive motor, which is eager to rev while keeping the vibrations at bay.
When it comes to features, the Ntorq 150 is loaded to the gills, starting with a 5-inch high-resolution TFT cluster, which comes with Bluetooth connectivity, Alexa and smart watch integration. More features include crash alert, adaptive brightness control, vehicle live location, SOS trigger, social media notifications, emergency brake warning and follow-me headlamps, to name a few.
Hardware features include aerodynamic winglets, adjustable brake levers, four-way navigation switches and a gaming-inspired console with Race Spec UI. The 22-litre underseat storage is where you will find a USB port for charging your gadgets. It is also big enough to fit a half-face helmet along with some of your essentials.
The ride and handling department of the Ntorq 150 is where it really shines. It gets 12-inch wheels with front telescopic forks and a single shock at the rear. Braking duties are handled by a 220mm disc at the front and a 130mm drum at the rear. There is single-channel ABS to ensure a safe stop and two ride modes, Street and Race, which suit different riding conditions. There’s also traction control, which is uncommon in this segment. The sporty chassis makes handling a breeze, however, the suspension is tuned to offer maximum comfort while riding. Grip isn’t an issue with the hi-grip Remora tyres. However, we will have to ride the Ntorq 150 in the city to find out how it feels on a day-to-day basis.
The rev-happy engine makes its peak power of 13.2PS at 7,000rpm and delivers a peak torque of 14.2Nm at 5,500rpm. Acceleration is brisk, and speed builds up quickly enough. TVS claims a top speed of 104kmph, but we managed to hit an indicated 110kmph on the track. The front brake felt sharp and had enough bite, while the rear drum brake helps you shave speeds when used along with the front. The single-channel ABS only intervenes when you do some heavy braking, and since we rode it on the track, we did manage to engage it a couple of times.
The rider’s triangle feels excellent, thanks to the well-padded seat, an approachable seat height of 770mm, and the upright riding posture, with a spacious footboard, which means you will be seated comfortably for the long-duration rides, should you choose to go on one onboard a scooter. City riding dynamics and pillion comfort are something that we will have to find out when we ride it outside of the confines of a track.
Summing it up, the TVS Ntorq 150 is a feature-loaded scooter that is aimed at younger riders. At a starting price of ₹1.19 lakh, ex-showroom, the Ntorq150 is definitely a strong contender that’s ready to lock horns with the Yamaha Aerox 155 and the Hero Xoom 160. It is definitely impressive, and not just on paper.
