November 2008 | BikeAdvice - Latest Bike News, Motorcycle Reviews, Electric Vehicle Updates

TVS was once known all over India for a small motorcycle named TVS 50 and then came the Scooty and Scooty Pep which dominated the entire women two-wheeler population. Now TVS is back with a mission to conquer the hearts of young men. The TVS Apache RTR is an awesome 160cc bike with great performance and sporty looks. The priority for most of the young bikers in India starts with style, size, mileage, cost, power and finally features. TVS could have easily launched a 250cc bike and crowned itself as the manufacturer of the bike with the biggest engine in India. But engineers at TVS knew the Indian needs and came out with Apache RTR. Right now, the new Apache RTR Refresh edition seems to be the best looking bike in the 150cc segment, but except for Yamaha FZ16 which some people consider more stylish. So the first priority is well take care of. The size of the bike is adequate. Even though it is not as majestic as the Karizma and Pulsar 220, it does a good job of making a 6 feet tall man satisfied with the bike. According to the customer reviews of Apache RTR that we collected, it seems that a mileage figure of 46-48 kmpl can be labeled to this bike. A price tag of a little over Rs.65,000 for makes this bike affordable for many. Performance: When I took it for a drive, the first word that came to my mind is WOW. I did not expect such a pickup from a bike in this segment. The throttle response is great and the bike comes to life with the slightest twist. You can easily reach 100kmph within a few seconds and still think that you are in 80kmph. The riding posture is sporty. You have to extend your arms fully to reach the handle bars and lean forward a little which makes riding at high speed more comfortable because of better aerodynamics. One thing which I can't prevent myself from mentioning is that there is noticeable vibration which could be the only reason that you are not satisfied by Apache. Other customers have also noted this. Apache owner Prateek says - "Driving the bike is really a pleasure, but vibrations are there which distract your mind, but they will disappear if you will drive at a constant speed" The dashboard has some nice digital display which includes the speedometer, fuel gauge, ODO Meter & time indicator. The tachometer dial at the side blends with the display and makes a good looking panel overall. Final Verdict: This bike is a great buy if you are a fan of TVS, want good pickup, descent mileage and sporty looks. The bike may not satisfy you if you want to use it for touring in the highways because of the vibrations. Comparing this with the other bikes in 150cc segment, Yamaha FZ16 makes a better buy because of international branding and latest technology, but only if you are ready to shell out an extra ten thousand. Apache RTR Specifications: Engine: EFi 4 stroke Displacement: 159.7 cc Maximum Power: 11.5 KW (15.7 BHP) @ 8500 RPM Maximal Torque: 13.1 N-m @ 6500 RPM Gear Box: 5 Speed Brakes: 270mm Front Disc and 130 mm Rear Drum (Optional Rear Disc Break) Tires: Front: 90 x 90 - 17, Rear: 100 x 80 x 17 Fuel Capacity: 16 Litres Interesting Things to do: Visit Apache RTR Photo Gallery Read & Post Customer Reviews of Apache RTR Read other bike reviews Read my first review of Apache RTR

Monthly Archives: November 2008

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