TVS Radeon mileage and running cost

Radeon's claimed mileage is 63 kmpl, and unusually, owners and our own riding land right on it: expect 59–66 kmpl in everyday use. Few bikes get this close to their brochure figure.

Among the 21 commuter bikes we have reviewed it ranks 15th for mileage, 2 kmpl below the group average of 65 kmpl.

At Delhi's petrol price of ₹94.80 a litre and a real-world 62.5 kmpl, the Radeon costs about ₹1.52 per km in fuel. Ride 30 km a day and that is roughly ₹1,183 a month, or ₹14,197 a year, before servicing.

The 10-litre tank gives a realistic range of about 625 km, so a 30 km commute means a fill-up every 3 weeks.

Spread over five years and 46,800 km, the Radeon works out to about ₹3.8 per km all-in, of which 40% is fuel and 48% is the purchase price itself. Resale value is not counted; a nameplate this established holds value well.

The quickest wins for the Radeon: keep tyres at the recommended pressure (under-inflation by 5 psi can cost 2–3 kmpl), shift up early and avoid idling at long signals, which the idle start-stop system handles for you.

Short trips hurt most. A cold engine on a 2 km run can return half its normal mileage; if that is your use, expect the low end of the real-world band.

Service on time. A clogged air filter or old spark plug shows up in mileage before it shows up anywhere else.