Friday 21 October 2011

TVS Apache RTR 160 Hyper Edge Ownership Review By Priyam

When I was in 8th standard my brother have brought tvs Apache 150 in 2006-07. When I saw this bike I love the design of the bike it was awesome. From that year onward my interest toward bike started. Then when I was in class 10th the new Apache 160 was launched with new colure i.e. yellow. On this colure bike giving a beautiful looks and cuts over its body. When I first look the advertisement of Apache 160 I fall in love with it. From that moment I made a decision when ever I go for a new bike it is tvs Apache RTR 160.

On 2010 when my 12th board exam was being going to held. Then I talk to father about my new bike he said that if I get first division in 12th board exam then only he bring me bike only. From that day I have decided to work hard and bring my Black Panther (my Apache) home.

When my result came I have got first division marks. Then my father told me to wait of 3-4 month and decide which bike you want to bring home.

I have already decided which bike I want to ride. Months passes and I can’t wait for my moment. In between those months I have surf on internet and read reviews of different bikes I regularly check the tvs Apache site regularly. Then on last week on November I have saw the Apache RTR 160 hyper edge was launched. Then I decided to take home only that bike with superb looks and style.

Then after waiting again for few months I finally got my hands on my new Apache RTR 160 hyper edge on 3rd of December 2010. It is an awesome bike to ride. When I first sit on Apache and started the engine it makes a very beautiful throttle voice and the looks on fuel tank the racing strip give it a awesome racing bike looks. It was a complete different experience on riding an
Apache.

The handling of bike is perfect but some says it leads to back pain it’s not true I ride my bike daily about 12 km I don’t suffer from any pain intact if I need a chance to ride Apache whole day I will drive it comfortably. But the tire grip of tier is little bit not satisfactory on wet roads. The breaks are good but the rear shock absorbers are not very good it give a bad sound when it gets to a big ditch.

The pickup of Apache is very good then those bike that I ride. The gear shift is problem for those who are new to Apache otherwise it is good. The average of my bike in city is approx 45 to 47 it is depend how you ride it. I am in lucknow I have got my black panther at price of 71,000. It is very good bike in compare to other bike which come in its segment as I suppose.

The vibration is still in this bike also but I treated as it is a feature of all Apache that are present. The tires are very good I found three times nail in my back tire but it never puncture till now I hope it does not happen in future also. There is a one problem in this bike is that it length the seat which is not very long in comparison to other bike except FZ.

The Split Grab Rails are very good looking it also give it a sporty look and one more unique feature is removal mud guard, the dollop attach in front of engine gives it sporty look and the unique design disc brake. The hyper edge is also come with rear disc brake with 2,000 rs extra but I have chosen with single disc brake.

Over all it is an excellent bike to drive. There are many more features present in Apache but this is all I have to say right now. And I am proud to be an owner of Apache RTR 160 hyper edge it is truly “it’s now or never”.

Regards,
Priyam Srivastava

TVS Apache RTR 160 Hyperedge Ownership Review By Mitul

After passing the 1st year of my collage I began to think to buy a bike which will suit me in looks, style, class and elegance. Many bikes came to my mind for myself. But when I saw the TVS Apache RTR 160 my search was over. It’s looks mesmerized me and I thought to take this stunning beauty for myself.

I asked my dad about purchasing me a bike which he had promised me to give sometimes earlier. He said to me to wait for sometimes and promised me to get a bike at the time of Durga Puja. I waited for the Durga puja and then finally it came. After finishing my 2nd year 1st internal on 12/10/10, I went to a TVS showroom and asked about the prices of TVS Apache RTR 160.

There I came to know about the fact that TVS has launched a new variant of TVS Apache RTR 160 named as TVS Apache RTR 160 Hyperedge. I then and there made the decision to take this bike for myself. I wanted a red variant of this bike. But there were no bikes available at that time in the showroom.

So I booked a bike with Rs 5000/- and went to my home happily expecting the bike to be delivered to me very shortly. But it was a long wait for me until I got my hands on this stunning beauty i.e. my TVS Apache RTR 160 Hyperedge. I had to wait for nearly two weeks for the delivery of my bike. In this two weeks I regularly keep calling to the TVS showroom nearly once a day.

I was being impatient. Finally on a Sunday evening on 24/10/10 I got a call from the TVS showroom that my bike had arrived at the showroom and they asked me to receive it from there. That day I was not in town so I couldn’t receive the bike that day. I was thrilled by the fact that my bike had arrived at the showroom.

That night I hardly slept due to excitement. Next day morning i.e. on 25/10/10 I along with my dad went to the TVS showroom payed rest of the money and completed all the paper works to receive the bike. It cost’s Rs 69,120/-. I was amazed by its looks. It looked so sleek and sexy that I couldn’t even describe.

Then finally I got my hand on this stunning beauty. When I first put on the key and started the bike and pulled the throttle, the sound of the new bike was like music to my ears. I think that this bike was made only for me. It has suited me a lot. My friends and family members told me that this bike is meant for me because it adds to my personality.

I had rode this stunning beauty now nearly for a year. Its performance is quite satisfying and it had never let me down. TVS says that this bike gives a mileage of 45 kmpl in local areas. But I get a mileage of nearly 55 kmpl in local areas, which is more than satisfying for me where my bike is of 160 cc. I had rode it for more than 8000 km and at a maximum speed of 100 kmph.

The time shift of the bike from 0 to 60 is great. It has stunning looks. When I ride this bike I think I am at the top of this world. I am hugely attracted towards the petal disc which this bike possesses. I don’t have any major problems with my bike. When I first rode the bike I had some problems with gear shifting. But now it is perfectly fine.

Once I had used the XTRA MILE petrol for my bike which screwed up my bike’s tuning and even hampered the speed of my bike. That was the time before the 2nd servicing of my bike. The mechanic of the TVS showroom suggested me not to use XTRA MILE petrol for my bike and I would also suggest this to all the riders and bike lovers.

Everyone who love their bikes please use Speed or the plain petrol for your bike but not XTRA MILE. I have had long drives on my bike and it is quite steady and at any time I haven’t felt that I am losing control of the bike. It’s performance is much more satisfying than other bikes available in this section in the market.

It is a happy go lucky bike and is a great deal at a phenomenal price. I am more than satisfied with my bike as it has given me wanted services and had fulfilled my expectations nicely. I love my TVS Apache RTR 160 Hyperedge very much.

Regards,
Mitul Kirtania

TVS Apache 180 Ownership Review by Akshit

My name is Akshit Saini And I belong to Hoshiarpur (the land of saints) in Punjab. I alway wanted to own different bike and wanted my bike to be a very special because for me owning a bike was me was a dream come true. And for me I had a philosophy that Four wheels move your Body Two wheels move your Soul becuse the sheer fun of riding the bike cannot be expirenced in four wheeler.

It all started when I was a small child I had a very less affection for bikes. But as I grew older My affection for bikes increased and my eagerness for owning a bike also increased. My father first owned a CD100 which I liked the most because I thought thhat riding a bike was one of the most difficult task in the whole world.

But I loved to sit on that bike all day long and in my free time I also used to clean my bike and on weekends I would go with my father for long drives on bike. First I started to learn the bike from my friend bike. And I was usally afraid from riding the bike.

Because I was confused between the clutch the brakes. But after riding it became a lot more easier and also a lot of fun than the traditional gearless scooter. And in the end I had more affection for the bikes than Scooter and my erg for owning the bike increased.

And from that day I was all day after my parents to own me my own bike but my parents refused and said you are not that young to ride a bike and said that in +2 they will get me a new bike as I was in +1 I had to wait for a whole year TO buy a bike. So I had a full whole year to decide about my bike. The first four bikes that came to mind was the Pulsar 220 dtsi, Yamaha r-15, Apache RTR 180, Hero HondaKarizma ZMR.

Comparsion Review Of The Four Top Indian Contendors

Bajaj Pulsar 220 it is the best loking bike in the market at presen with it vertical stacked projectors and the all alluminium exhaust and semi fairing. It 220 cc engine is very good and produces the highest power in it segment excluding the Honda CBR 250R and the Kawasaki Ninja.

Its engine is stress free even at top speed that helped it to became the fastest indian untill the Honda CBR 250R came and destroyed the competion. But even though every biker loved it because it was the fastest bike in under 1lacs. Even the Yamaha, TVS and herocant match the top speed of Pulsar 220.

I was in love with bike and madly fallen in love with the bike but my elder brother had also fallen in love with the bike and when I came to +2 class my brother bought a new Pulsar 220 dtsi and then I removed Pulsar 220 from my mind. And also when I searched for the bike on the internet there was a long list of problems which many Pulsar 220 owners had in their bike even my elder brother faced a lot of problems.

Next is the Yamaha r15 it is the bike in which I fell in love at first sight it was a mini R1 and it was a pocket rocket. It was just the bike which was just meant for racetrack as its short wheelbase helped in flicking the corners with ease and it aerodynamic body helped in straight line stability and less air resistace it was a perfect bike in every angle.

But the problem was that my mother dont liked the bike because at the front two headlmps she used it call it cats faced bike (please dont mind the r15 owners) and therefore she refused it to own me the R15 and even I was just againts the rear taillight and the front and the rear tyres because there just spoil the looks of the bike and the newwer version 2.0 is the best loking bike in the market and it has no cons inthe bike.

Next is the Karizma ZMR there is a nothing for which I shall had bought the bike except the looks and the reliability of the Hero Honda engine. And I was also to thin that I would so with the bike because it was the bike which was not meant for me. So I ignored the bike because it it suit me. Even though I had riden the bike and had falen in love with the bike because of engine refinement and the long crusing ability but I did not go for any long trips there fore I ignored the Karima ZMR.

Next and the last bike in my list was TVS Apache RTR 180 ever since I had seen the bike it was in the tv commercial of Apache 180 I fell in love with the bike the way the bike was shown in the commercial I fell in love with the bike when and I was eager to see the bike in flesh so I went to TVS showroom and I asked them to show the Apache RTR 180.

But they apologized that they didnt had the bike at present and you can see the Apache RTR 160 at it was available so as I had never ridden any Apache so I took a test drive of RTR 160 as soon I relesed the clutch the eagerness to move forward was a lot a lot than any other indian bike.

So I tok the bike to 25 at first gear 40 at secound gear 55 at third gear and 70 at fourth gear and didt had a chance to use the 5th gear even though I was a lot impressed with the bike and then I asked them that I wanted a test drive of RTR 180 they said they will provide me with a test frive on monday as their bike stock was coming on monday as it was saturday I had a one day gap.

So I was ever eagerly awaiting for the bike test drive as monday came I went to the showrom in the afternoon and I asked then for a test drive they smiled and said to wait for two minutes as they said the their srock came just now and after washing the bike they will provide me the test drive I was very eager to see the bike as soon as they washed the bike a TVS sevice person came to me and said that the bike is ready as soon I saw the bike my eyes widned it was just like it was shaped by angels and was powered by devils and the word that came from the bike was beautiful.

It was the best loking bike I had ever seen in the market and when I took the test drive it was far more better than RTR 160 and I fell in love with the bike and I said my parents that I wanted to own the Apache RTR 180 and also shon then the brochure and they agred but they said I had to wit for a long 4 months.

So I said them to book the bike and they agreed and the next morning my parents they gave me Rs3000 for the booking and I booked the bike in colour pearl white as there was a long 2-3 months booking on pearl white but I had to wait for along 3months for the bike after about exhat 3 months 2 days I got a call from the showroom that my bike has arived and you can come and take the bike delivery.

But there was about a month left to own the bike so I told the showroom that it would take some time for me to take the delivery and I informed them not to sell the bike and the agreed that they wont sell the bike.in the end I got my bike in feburary,2011 and a last I was very happy that I got my own bike.

About the Bike

The history of Apache starts from a 150cc bike which was the TVS Fiero. It was originally developed by Suzuki and it was basically developed at in japan and was tried and tested by the japaness. In fact it is the bike which is not like the R15 which is a scaled down version of R1.

But basically it is the engine which is tried and tested so as to develop only for the racing purpose and ever componet of the bike is tested so that it can withstard the high reving character of the bike and it can overrev in at top gear and no indian bike in the market can rev upto 12000rpm at stock onition but only Apache RTR 180 can. Here are some of the tecnologies of the TVS Apache 180.

Looks an Features

First of all when you see a Apache RTR 180 in white it looks a very different bike and because of its white colour it helps the bike to stand apart in the trafic becuse Apache 180 being the first bike to support the white colour other than that of the cops bike. Even though now the karizma R15 and others bikea had copied the Apache white colour.

But even though Apache white help him to look different. And also the commbination of the grey RTR stickers helps the bike to stand apart. Also at night the grey colour look the best and it shines like silver next diffence is in the cockpit of the bike the clip one are black in colour and same as that of 160.

But only differene is they are in black colur and the in centre plate of the bike there is the RTR 180 sticker which shines and shows that you belong to the racing tribe and there are change in the speedometer as the there is a white background and there is a huge circle with honey comb design in it and also there are thousands of derivation for the correct rpm setting next change is the blue light which looks the best and this helps it to stand apart than other bikes.

In the marketand also there are same special features in the speedomeer as it can save the top spedd and 0-60 times and it also has a service reminder so that it reminders you when to service the bike these features are not available in any other indian market. There are some minor changes it help to stand apart than RTR 160 some are golden coloured forks.

The neon white strip, the rear removable fender and the iluminted key ring also there is increse in the swing arm length and the change in the exhaust. So that delivers that same lod voice of the RTR. There is also the advantage of the handle bars as they are fully adjustable so that it can be adjusted accordingthe the riders choice.

Engine and The Performace

As I dissued you about the the technolgy used ithelps it to become the most powerfuly most torque and fastest bike in its category. The oversquare engine which helps it to produce 17.3ps of powerand 15.5nm of torque. The helps to to become the fastest bike in its segment. The bike dry weight is 127kg despite the fact the bike weight weight is 137kg with the 90% fuel and toolkkit. This help it to become 1kg heavier than RTR 160.

Therefore the power to weight ratio is the highest it category. Therefore it is not compared to Pulsar 180 but always compared to Pulsar 220. And according to the overdrive magzine it was the fastest of the three bike the Pulsar 220, Yamaha R15, Karizma ZMR to attain the fastest 0-100 times 0-60 times quater mile and even in braking test it became the fastest bike accept the top speed n which the Pulsar 220 and Yamaha R15 won. If in the comparsion of Apache and Pulsar 220 below are the figures.

Apache RTR 180

Pulsar 220 Dtsi

0-60kmph

4.45sec

4.6sec

0-100kmph13.1sec13.46sec
Dry Weight137kg152kg
Top Speed125kmph144kmph

(claimed)

When you ride the bike for the first time you will release the clutch notice that Apache it has a lot f eageness to move forward. You will love to ride a bike like that. You will not even notice when you have reached the redline as the enfgine is so rev happy and it short stoke engine helps you to each the redline very easily and then when tou put the bike in 2nd gear the same rev happy character will help you to reach the redline in every gear even in 5th gear but if you rev it you may blow the engine.

On one day I was on the highway and the road was nearly empty. So I got a chance to rev the engine and in the first gear I was able to do 45km/h and on secound gear 65 in secound gear ad 90 in third gear and and austoushing 116km/h in fourth and 136 in fifth gear I was amazed when I got at that speed.

The car drivers had their face amazed when they saw me when I was over taking them. The bike cut through speed of 128km/h like hot knife through butter. But after 128km/h it takes time to reach the top speed. I also noticed that itcan easily cruise at a speed between 115-120km/h. Also the exhaust sound it is the best in 6k rpm. The bike being the power to weight ratio low help to attain that speed very easily.

Ride and Handling

Apache they are usally famous for their handling. The way the Apache handles is that no Indian bike have this type of handling it can corner like no other india bike can corner while in city or on race track. Due to Apache RTR 180 swingarm length thus wheelbase has been increased it gives better cornering experience at race track in city and better stability at top speed.

The bike can corner so brilliantly that once in hilly roads when I coned the bike the small steel which is used at the footrest it touched the ground and got scratched with the tarmac but it didnot can any imbalance. The city ride it is very comfortable the suspension setting of the rear shock absorber has 5 setting and it can be fully adjustable for hishay road it can be set hard and on bumpy roads it can set to soft and the applied accesory is given in the toolkit to adjust the setting.

And it quite a lot easy to set the supension setting. But the factory setting it set in the middle for the normal or city purpose. The tyres in the bike in the bike are made by TVS and they are the TVS srichakra and are the best tyres by TVS so for the fron tyre is 90/90 17 at the front and 110/80 17 at the rear and it is the first TVS bike to have both front and rear tyre tubless.

The TVS tyres are made from 42 compund which consist of both the hard and the soft compound. So the tyres are a lot long lasting than other brands like mrf or ceat. The RTR has both the front and the rear disk brake and they are petal disk and these disk radiate a lot of heat than ordinary disk.the disk brake are the best in the indian market.

And if the brakes arent applied correctly there may be chances of skiding and the brake applying distribution should be 60% front and 40% rear so as to expirence the best braking. The brakes have helped me so much that to helped me from preventing from accident. And I am very greatful to TVS for develping such an ausom brakes. But if in rains the bike can fail to work and so it is dangerous to ride in rains. Even though I have never faced any bike skid RTR any problem.

Rumors

One main thing which I want to tell to all the bikers that the TVS Tyres They Are Very Good in fact have found that my brother Pulsar 220 skidding in water but didnot find any skidding of TVS tyres so what ever the rummor is spread that TVS tyres are bad I am very much against it. And also ibike dosent looks small on any person unless you are above 85 kg and height above 6foot 5 inchies. I am myself 5foot and 10inches but the bike suites on me.

Positives

  • Angine and its Performace
  • Looks
  • Handling
  • Brakes
  • Exhaust note or sound

Negatives

  • The gearbox is notchy when ever I change gear from 1st to 2nd or 2nd to 3rd the gear it slips back or get struck in the nectral. Also a problem which I fouch was that there is two neutal in the bike when I change the gear half the engine can be reved like it is neutral. I said about this problem to the service centre but they did not care about the problem and say that this problem is in every Apache.
  • Vibration in the bike are redced a lot but there occur at the speed of 65km/h to 70km/h and then they disapper. This is not usally a problem but they shall be removed for such a wonderfull bike because this has got a lot on disgrace on Apache RTR and therefore people buy other bike rather than Apache.
  • The speedometer error when ever the bike attains a speed of excess of 130km/h the hi speed is recorded as 160km/h it is usally a great confusion created by the people that their bike goes to 160km/h. I myself experied this error a lot of times.but the 0-60 recorder is correct.

Verdict

I am very much satisified a TVS product. And TVS has created a bike keeping a detail on every pary on every design. TVS being the independent company has learned so much from their older bikes that now they have developed a motorcycle without much negativities.

And in the futire TVS will make their products even better and will rise above every bike maker in India. In the end I am very lucky that I have chosen TVS Apache 180 and in the end I always think that The Truth Is That The Machine Choose Me. Becuse it the bike which chose the rider not the rider the bike.

Regards,
Akshit Saini

TVS Apache RTR 180 Ownership Review by Roanit

Hey everyone! I’m Roanit Fernandes from Hyderabad. I’m currently doing my 3rd year in Mechanical Engineering. Studying the subjects of the Mechanical discipline made me more enthusiastic and eager to learn the intricacies of engines and the automobile.

Excitement would immediately show in my body as I learnt these subjects since they helped me understand something I’m passionate about – My Bike, The Apache RTR 180. I have begun to see a lot of things in the engineering point of view and this review would contain more science to aid my review.

So I guess I’ll start off with the question why the Apache? Come to think of it, one doesn’t have a Hugh choice with a limited budget and the want for the best. So I’ll tell you why not a Bajaj Pulsar, 1st thing is, you’ll never find these machines durable. I’m not saying that they aren’t good but you’ll find low quality parts aboard a Pulsar so as to make it more affordable to the masses.

Don’t get me wrong, I love pulsars and I think their amazing but I would want something that lasted for a long time without giving me a lot of problems. Coming to a Yamaha product, an R15 would be way off my budget and a Faser/Fz/Fzs would be burning a hole in my pocket cause of its fuel consumption, Fz’s are too common anyways.

A Suzuki wouldn’t have done well with me as there was only the GS 150 R which I wasn’t too fond off. A Honda product is always exciting but the unicorn wouldn’t satisfy me. Hero Honda (as it was formerly known as) had the Karizma as the top of the line bike but that still didn’t do it for me. Then came the Apache, a TVS product which was quite hyped about.

Before my Apache RTR 180 I owned an exceptionally good moped – the Honda Dio. I loved that bike for its amazing handling and its smooth Honda engine. That bike has never given up on me but sooner or later I grew out of the stage of mopeds and decided to fuel my soul with a motorcycle which has always been a dream.

Many thanks to bikeadvice.in which really assisted me in filtering out the bikes in the market and gave me a clear view on what I had to look for in a bike. Remember, choosing a bike is not always easy, but in my case I was assisted well. Since bike advice has done a lot for me I would like to give something back in the form of a review which I hope would help readers.

I have been wanting to review my TVS Apache RTR 180 for a long time but waited till 5,000kms (just reached 5000 a couple of days before) were done to give an apt review. It has been 9 months till date (the 1st of October) that I have been a proud owner of an Apache RTR 180.

I was very fortunate to get my bike delivered to me on the 1st day of the 1st month of the year 2011. It served as a very good omen for the start of a brand new year and what better than to start a beautiful relationship with man and machine. To tell you the truth, this bike helped me cope with a lot of frustration, for instance, during my Mid-terms, when I’m frustrated and stressed out, I take a break and go for a small 15 minute ride.

Even this short ride gets me so refreshed and when I open my books again it’s like I’m re-energized and (Boom) the next day I write a terrific paper. I’m here to tell you something hoping that it would assist you in the purchase of an Apache RTR 180. I will tell you a lot of points that I feel one needs to know from an owner to go ahead to answer the big query– to buy or not to buy!?

The Review

The 1st thing I would like to say is that I give my bike for service frequently, on or way prior to the date specified by the team at TVS service. They do a brilliant job with cleaning the bike and giving it back its life. You wouldn’t want your piston grinding against the cylinder because of the lack of oil would you?

The reason I’m saying this is because I want to stress about the importance of servicing your bike. I have friends with such wonderful bikes like R 15’s, Pulsar’s, Unicorn’s, Avenger’s and many others, they take their bikes for granted and don’t service it regularly which make small things like clutch play and braking so much of a strain which infact is never supposed to be that way.

Since there are a lot of enthusiasts on this site I would expect that none of you treat your bike this way. Servicing it regularly cuts emissions to the atmosphere significantly and doubles your engines life. Coming to the main aspects of the bike, as RTR suggests it responds even to the slightest throttle at the handlebar and what I love most about the bike is the attention to detail the TVS designers have put in.

You can tell that they have put in a lot of work into bike to look the way it is with every detail so well defined, I mean who would have ever thought a bike would look so good in white?. This paved the way for other manufacturers to include their products in white. I shall now talk about the points which interest me, forgive me if I go a little off track.

The Discs

This is probably one of the things I’m most proud of. I love the way the discs are shaped (roto petal type) their beautiful to look at as well as serves its purpose brilliantly. The design is such that it really aids in stopping the bike faster than you can say Homo neanderthalensisJ. I’m exaggerating a little too much but you get my point.

Razor sharp breaking-as said on the Apache website, is guaranteed. It also doesn’t wear out the brake pads as much and too much of heat isn’t created because of the minimum yet very effective surface contact between the disc and the pads. 60 – 0 kmph can be achieved in a matter of seconds. The brakes of the apache have to be used wisely, because as with the throttle, the brakes are very responsive too. Out of the numerous Indian bikes I’ve ridden I’ll put all money on my bike in the braking segment.

The Handle Bars

Beautifully angled to meet the demands of the racer in you. Wonderful clutch play (well that depends majorly on how often service it), and I personally love the way the switches are placed (i.e. at a very good reach for the rider) their also quite big enough so you can’t miss them and they have a good tactile feel once you press them.

The handle bars are clipped on rather than being a rod attached which majorly helps in the straight line motion of the bike, the distance of the handlebars from the rider, the wheel base and the position of the center of gravity also contribute. Hence everyone can expect close to perfect stability on the Apache.

The Headlamps (rated at 35 Watts)

I always found headlights fascinating, particularly on my Apache. I love the way the lights is so perfectly made to reflect onto the road. I would say that the illumination is quite satisfactory. The only grudge I have against TVS is that the headlamps don’t run on the battery unlike some bikes of Bajaj and Yamaha which gives light even when the engine is turned off.

The headlights of the RTR 180 are halogen lamps (like in most vehicles) meaning a tungsten filament is surrounded by halogen gas. Using halogen gas like iodine or bromide etc. Increases the life of the tungsten filament and hence the headlamp by re-depositing the metal back onto the filament. The electricity supplied by a small electric generator mounted on the engine heats the tungsten filament to a very high temperature which makes it glow.

The Tail Lights

The Apache has quite a few L.E.D.’s (rated at 0.5 Watt) which really does the job smarty and efficiently. They are fantastic to look at for all those losers who challenge you for a race and are left behind.

The Tires

One of section of the bike I’m not too happy to write about. TVS tires are made from a hard compound rubber which unlike MRF tires doesn’t cling to the road that effectively. It isn’t bad on a normal day but you will see its effects on a rainy day. Well it’s not such a Hugh thing to complain about. It does its job pretty ok by these tires are not the best in the market.

The upside is that these kinds of tires last longer than the soft compound tires – MRF tires (because of the hard compound rubber used the tire doesn’t wear away easily and the tire threads are retained for a longer time). But given a choice I would definitely choose MRF tires for a safer ride. The nice part of the tires on the Apache 180 is that the TVS tires are tubeless.

Meaning these tires are safer than tires with tubes when it comes to punctures (of course every bike these days are coming out with tubeless tires right out of the factory). During the possibility of a nail or other small penetrations on the tire, the air leakage is very slow and most of the time not at all, as the rubber makes a kind of seal around the penetrating object and in most cases of a puncture the tire doesn’t have to be removed from the rim.

The Posture of the Rider

People have this false idea that if their taller than 5′ 9″an Apache is not for them. To tell you the truth I was once like most of you but then I took a test drive and proved myself wrong, and I’m 5’11”. The position of the rider is inclined which encourages you to keep your back straight. I like my back being straight while I’m riding rather than having the handlebars close to me (as in the case of a Pulsar) which makes me hunch and curve my back. With the Apache you have to get a little used to it but when u do, it feels good to be that way.

The Suspension

The suspension basically is to maximize friction between the tires and the road surface. The Apache serves this purpose well. Friction between the tires and the road affects the bikes ability to maneuver, brake and accelerate, so maneuverability on the Apache is amazing.

The coil springs operating along with MIG compressed gas and it “Bullies bumps and potholes into submission” as said on the main website. The more you compress the shocks on your bike with the special tool given, the stiffer will be your ride.

The Tank

The tank of the bike is elegantly sculptured (sleeker design) which gives it a lower drag coefficient thereby increasing the aerodynamics affect. The air scoops add to the elegance and also in directing air which prevents drag. The rubber added to the fuel inlet prevents water from entering which in turn causes bad fuel mixtures which causes the bike to jerk while riding. The tank is very curvy and gives a very muscular look when seen from the top. I’ve added a picture just to show you all how the tank along with the air scoops gives that masculine look to the bike.

Attention to detail

The Digital Speedometer

The L.C.D. on the digital Speedo has three screens, the rider can shift between

  • The standard Odometer with two trips.
  • The high speed indicator screen, which records the top speed. (This is safest approach according to me to record the top speed; of course this can’t be done on all the bikes).
  • 0-60 kmph timer, which lets you time your personal best, again this approach is the safest according to me. To use this you have to be on the third screen of the digital meter and then rip away to record.

Best part of the digital meter for me is that it shows the time which is so useful while riding.

Paint job

The team at TVS did a tremendously good job in the paint work meaning the quality of paint is top notch, it shines and speckles when light is shown upon it. I have never coated my bike with Teflon and it still seems to shine like it’s from the show room once cleaned (even after 8 months).

I have the white model and there’s always this great feeling inside me when I see that white shine. In all the pictures I’ve included I’ve tried to capture the best of the bike which is typically the paint job (Weather is one of the main enemies of your paint, try as much to protect your baby from it). The golden paint added to the shocks and the front forks look impeccable on the white body.

Foot Pegs

Another well-defined detail, the Aluminium foot pegs give a very distinct look and they retract back to their position because of spring action when disturbed. They seem quite modern and the rubber surrounding the top also gives a refreshing look and a very cushiony feel for your feet.

Silencer

The silencer is pretty standard in looks but here I’d like to point out the RTR written across the chrome plate on the silencer. I personally feel that it’s a classy addition. The exhaust note is another point to rave about.

Graphics

Detailed to perfection, I always have liked the innovative designs of the graphics on all of the models of Apaches till date. The silver RTR graphics on the side air scoops compliments the shiny white so superbly. The fluid racing stripes, as they call them, on the tank makes me feel powerful when I’m riding my bike on the road; it looks like the spine of the bike to me. It’s a good touch to a masterpiece.

Brake and Clutch Levers

Forged from aluminium metal. Gives a very sporty, distinct and modern look. The rear brake and gear shifter also have a stylish look.

The RTR 180 Logo on the Clip on

It’s shaped like a shield, which reminds us of the rich racing breed the Apache is from. TVS has done a great job in the promotions of its flagship model by holding the Apache Pro Performance (APP) shows all over India. These shows not only give the Hugh masses tons of entertainment but also establish the bike amongst youth. The shield on the clip on handlebars gives a sense of completion to the bike.

The Backlit L.C.D.

Amazing addition which without doubt lets everyone knows the difference between RTR 160 and the RTR 180. The blue glow gives me a certain reassuring comfort. I generally go for rides in the night, most of the times alone; the blue radiance calms me even in the darkest of nights.

The Rear-View Mirrors

I think every bike should carry off the mirrors with style like the Apache. This makes the rider want to have the mirrors on his bike as opposed to the normal boxy mirrors which many of the riders take off as it ruins the looks of the bike. They look brilliant from the back as they extend out quite a bit and look like horns. Do use your rear-view mirrors for your safety on roads but you can take them of when in a race.

Fuel Economy

The way you treat your bike during the run in period directly affects your fuel consumption. The run in is a very crucial part of any stock bike or vehicle for that matter. To be really frank I get about 46-48 kmpl shifting before I reach 4000 rpm on each gear and staying below 50kmph. When my adrenaline is really pumping and I let loose that racing DNA inside of me I manage to get around 42 -45.

I’m very content with my bikes efficiency and it doesn’t put a toll on my wallet either. There’s this article on bikeadvice.in on run in periods called “Bike Run-In/Break-In Period Do’s and Don’ts” which is very informative and should be referred to when you buy a new bike. Oh and another thing, the team at TVS adjusts your idling rpm to 1400rpm but u can change it to about 1100rpm, it doesn’t affect anything rather it reduces the fuel in the fuel air mixture during idling to give u a slightly better fuel economy.

Cornering with the bike is simply a joy. The tires being farther apart from each other (larger Wheel base) unlike in the RTR 160 helps in the stability while taking a turn. The aim of increasing the wheel base is to give you the freedom to bend quite a bit during cornering giving the rider quite a lot of confidence to make that sharp turn.

Flaws

A few weak points I’ve noticed over the many months my bike has been with me.

  • When the brakes are not in use I found that there is slight contact between the brake pads and the disc which hinders the free movement of the wheel there by directly influencing the fuel economy of the bike and the efficiency of the engine. For every service I went to I’ve complained about this. The problem was taken care of but in a few days of riding I encountered the problem coming back to haunt me.
  • The fuel gauge frequently shows false readings. I have only to rely on my experience with my bike to tell myself when a fuel recharge is needed.
  • Between the 2nd and 3rd gears, my bike falls into false neutrals. When I’m generally riding on the 2nd or 3rd gear I’m accelerating and out of nowhere I find the engine reving faster and I find myself in a false neutral. This can get out of hand for a beginner and is very frustrating.
  • Vibrations have always been an issue with an Apache in the mid and high ranges of RPM. I personally feel really bad because I believe I’m straining my engine when I feel the vibrations. Upshifting earlier so that I’m riding on a lower rpm helps me get rid of the problem. But when you’re in a race you have no other alternative because good and bad are the two sides of the same coin.
  • A decrease of its pick up is noticeable if there is a pillion on board because of its torque- 15.5 Nm. Everything is fine with just the rider but with a pillion on board you will notice a difference in the pickup.

Tips

These are some random tips I’ve made a note of and I wish to share them with you.

Regularly inflate your tires: Well-inflated tires have less contact with the road, they come upon less friction and the engine doesn’t have to work as hard to move your bike.

What to wear?: Wear nylon jackets/pants if you’re racing. Nylon is a lightweight material. It also offers fair enough protection against abrasions if you skid and fall.

Air Filters?: I would definitely suggest air filters (K&N) for any bike. Go for air filters rather than changing your silencer if you’re crazy about loud noises. Let’s be frank, we all want to let everyone know we’re coming right! I’d always advise air filters to a silencer change. The reason is the tiniest of dust particles are filtered away when air passes through an air filter, air also becomes a lot more turbulent which means that fuel is distributed more homogenously in the fuel air mixture guaranteeing maximum combustion of the fuel. Thus with a filter you can expect cleaner, denser air with high flow enters the combustion chamber increasing efficiency of your bike giving you a boost in torque, horsepower and mileage. Wait for a year to install a filter on your brand new bike because it will void the warrantee if installed in the warrantee period i.e. 1st year.

This and that: I wash my bike regularly because

  • The white gets dirty a little more often than other colors and
  • Because the bike is meant to stay beautiful. Remember a beautiful look plus raw power equals ENVY.

The Chain: The chain is one of the most important part of your bike which transmits power. Take care of it by lubricating it along with the sprocket. Remember moving parts of a bike require the utmost care. I use cheap but effective lubricating oil which I apply every week on my chain which is one of the things which keeps my bike running well.

Safety first: Wearing a helmet should be something you want to do, not forced to. As in Hyderabad I’ve noticed that 80% of the riders don’t wear their helmets. Choose a helmet which goes with your bike and the one you would want to wear. The helmet has to be a part of you and your bike for you to want to wear it.

Conclusion: Apart from the people, I also found that dogs love my bike (they can’t stop pissing on my tires –they do that to mark their territory ha-haJ).

Question to myself: Can I truly say that my RTR 180 does justice to my passion for riding?
Answer: Most definitely YES.

Question to myself: If money was no bar at the time I was searching for a bike would I choose another bike.
Answer: That depends on my thought process at that stage, but now as I look back, I have no regrets and I’m completely happy and satisfied with my decision.

Let the Losers Worry About Losing. (Anyone wanting a little more info about the bike, I’d love to help. Leave your comments for me to get in contact with you).

Regards,
Roanit Fernandes