source :overdrive
Seems like only yesterday, when we couldn’t stop complaining about TVS’ conservative outlook, be it the design of its motorcycles or the add-ons it so beautifully shied away from offering. We wanted this engineering company to gives us something sensational. And with the launch of the Apache just over a year ago, the company delivered. And how! Now, with the bike’s timely upgrade in the form of the Apache RTR 160, it seems TVS wants to rub it in.
She is an important bike, is the RTR, and not just for TVS but for biking enthusiasts in general. You see, the latest iteration of the Pulsar gave the entry level premium motorcycle buyer features which were unseen even on more expensive bikes. Now, the RTR promises to take things to a new level altogether offering both more features and better real world performance.
We spent a week thrashing the bike, gauging her show-off coefficient, and her stunting abilities. And yes, we also found time to put the RTR through our road test regime to confirm that this one isn’t just a paper tiger.
Style & build:Yellow, yellow stunning fellow
She sure is one stunning piece. And looks more so doused in yellow. The graphite theme for the engine, along with black racing strips that run her length, and the red stickering on the black alloy wheels (yes, it’s no pin striping job this, just stickering which could have been better executed), further highlight her sporty mien. But underneath all the jazz, she is identical to the Apache 150, with TVS retaining all the body panels, and the switchgear lock, stock, and barrel.
Not completely a bad thing given that Apache’s sculpted front mudguard, bikini faring, side panels and the muscular tank still look contemporary. We would have nevertheless liked to see a more innovative tail piece design. RTR, in addition, gets a belly pan, which adds to the racy appeal of
the bike.
Also new for the bike is the instrumentation featuring a yellow glow LCD screen displaying the speedo, odo, two trip meters, fuel gauge and clock. The tachometer continues to be an analogue one and houses telltale lights indicating low battery charge, service due and low fuel while weary looking indicators for high beam, turn indication and gearbox neutral reside separately. Meanwhile, the silver finish for the console as shown at the bike’s preview has been dumped for a complete black affair. LED tail lamps, which have become a norm of sorts for this product category with the Pulsar and CBZ X-Treme already sporting the same, make their way on to the RTR as well.
However, unique to the new Apache are the clip-on handlebars complete with nice looking alloy finished levers and meaty but comfortable grips. Not only do the adjustable bars add to the bike’s sporty demeanour, these along with the impressive looking alloy rearset footpegs, and a supportive seat make for a sporty but comfortable riding position as well. The bike also sports the most attractive and user-friendly set of split grab rails we have seen on an Indian bike.
The RTR leaves a little to be desired in the fit and finish area though. The LCD console doesn’t fit flush within the plastic shroud around the former revealing uneven gaps towards the lower side. Also, given the bike’s out-an-out sporty character we would have liked smaller things like the side-stand design to reflect the same. In terms of build quality, the bike held together very well over a week of hard riding with no rattles or squeaks cropping up, and if it weren’t for a dislodged clutch cable, the left side parking bulb conking off, and the fuel gauge of the LCD display behaving erratically, we’d have nothing to crib about at all
She is an important bike, is the RTR, and not just for TVS but for biking enthusiasts in general. You see, the latest iteration of the Pulsar gave the entry level premium motorcycle buyer features which were unseen even on more expensive bikes. Now, the RTR promises to take things to a new level altogether offering both more features and better real world performance.
We spent a week thrashing the bike, gauging her show-off coefficient, and her stunting abilities. And yes, we also found time to put the RTR through our road test regime to confirm that this one isn’t just a paper tiger.
Style & build:Yellow, yellow stunning fellow
She sure is one stunning piece. And looks more so doused in yellow. The graphite theme for the engine, along with black racing strips that run her length, and the red stickering on the black alloy wheels (yes, it’s no pin striping job this, just stickering which could have been better executed), further highlight her sporty mien. But underneath all the jazz, she is identical to the Apache 150, with TVS retaining all the body panels, and the switchgear lock, stock, and barrel.
Not completely a bad thing given that Apache’s sculpted front mudguard, bikini faring, side panels and the muscular tank still look contemporary. We would have nevertheless liked to see a more innovative tail piece design. RTR, in addition, gets a belly pan, which adds to the racy appeal of
the bike.
Also new for the bike is the instrumentation featuring a yellow glow LCD screen displaying the speedo, odo, two trip meters, fuel gauge and clock. The tachometer continues to be an analogue one and houses telltale lights indicating low battery charge, service due and low fuel while weary looking indicators for high beam, turn indication and gearbox neutral reside separately. Meanwhile, the silver finish for the console as shown at the bike’s preview has been dumped for a complete black affair. LED tail lamps, which have become a norm of sorts for this product category with the Pulsar and CBZ X-Treme already sporting the same, make their way on to the RTR as well.
However, unique to the new Apache are the clip-on handlebars complete with nice looking alloy finished levers and meaty but comfortable grips. Not only do the adjustable bars add to the bike’s sporty demeanour, these along with the impressive looking alloy rearset footpegs, and a supportive seat make for a sporty but comfortable riding position as well. The bike also sports the most attractive and user-friendly set of split grab rails we have seen on an Indian bike.
The RTR leaves a little to be desired in the fit and finish area though. The LCD console doesn’t fit flush within the plastic shroud around the former revealing uneven gaps towards the lower side. Also, given the bike’s out-an-out sporty character we would have liked smaller things like the side-stand design to reflect the same. In terms of build quality, the bike held together very well over a week of hard riding with no rattles or squeaks cropping up, and if it weren’t for a dislodged clutch cable, the left side parking bulb conking off, and the fuel gauge of the LCD display behaving erratically, we’d have nothing to crib about at all
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