Tvs Apache Rtr Fi Rt

  

Tvs Apache Rtr Fi Rt

Another new premium bike hits the road. TVS’s RTR already touches the hearts of many motorcycle enthusiasts. Can a good thing get still better?

Good Fierce brake bite, good power delivery
Bad Side-stand interferes with foot, ill-fitting mirror boots

The sporty Apache RTR only just showed us the TVS Motor Company aren’t just in our market to make economy bikes the like of the Victor and StaR, and the exciting new fuel injected RTR proves their brave new philosophy is here to stay.

Injection promises to permeate the Indian biking scene. Undoubtedly the next big thing already happening, the technology offers easier starts, greener emission laundering, crisp throttle response as well as Shylock (or uncle Scrooge)-friendly fuel economy that will eventually demote old school carbureted motorcycles to the scrap yard. We ride the pants of the new TVS flagship to find out just how good this motorcycle is.
 
Design & Engineering

9 stars
TVS’s Apache RTR FI looks a twin of its predecessor, but those with an eye for detail won’t miss the new FI decal clinging to the tail fairing. It’s a mobike that looks really dashing in a sunny yellow shade and one that uses black to colour much including its six spoke rims, engine side panels and exhaust can. Pleasant touches that shout out the FI’s sporty focus are a daring Ford GT style stripe bisecting the bike, belly pan, exposed chain as well as racy pin stripes running the circumference of its wheels.
The new RTR retains an excellent headlight, as well as an exquisitely detailed triple clamp section with sweetly turned out clip on handlebars. Smart digital instrumentation is the order of the day, with blue backlighting as well as an illuminated tachometer needle in place.

Clever features engineered to hold an enthusiast’s attention come in the form of a top speed and 0-60kph acceleration time recorder, these in addition to the earlier experienced digital speedometer with twin trip facility, clock and even a due-for-service light. We noted the FI shares curiously large diameter palm grips and ill-fitting mirror boots with the old Apache, both of which are not to our taste. Yet, the bike mirrors are nice and broad and this is among the only Indian bikes to show off really smart buffed alloy levers. The FI also enjoys a really well chiseled fuel-tank, this stunning to behold when viewed from every angle. The RTR FI continues to excite with tasteful flank panels, and does well to deploy an alloy brake pedal and footrests. An easily rectified disappointment on our test bike was a poorly positioned side stand fouling with the gearshift foot. And we feel TVS can do better with styling of the LED equipped tail light section.

The RTR FI comes with a fantastic level of attention to detail, good paint quality and adequate fit-finish, rubber and plastic quality.

Engine, Gearbox & Performance

9 stars

There’s little chance of riders returning to a carbureted bike after experiencing the magic of fuel injection, this precisely what places the FI version a clear notch above the earlier RTR.

Easy starts are to be taken for granted on the RTR FI, with its fuel pump audibly whirring to life and tachometer stylishly rotating a diagnostic cycle each time the bike is cold-started. The RTR uses the same willing and short-stroke, 159.7cc, single-cylinder and air-cooled motor as first found on the Apache RTR. Its alloy engine casing looks smart with fine detailing and a muscular air. The bike uses a twin-valve and single spark-plug head. It also contracts friction murdering roller bearings for its rocker arms. And while power (15.7bhp at 8500rpm) and torque (1.33kgm at 6500rpm) output as well as performance on the new bike stay sadly near identical to the carburettor equipped cousin, power delivery feels clearly linear and smoother thanks to the new found injection. The FI shows the way forward for Indian bikes thanks to use of an exposed O’ring sealed drive chain.

It retains all the exciting short stroke rev happy nature of the RTR but riding feel has improved leaps and bounds thanks to the peppy engine adding on a useful helping of refinement as also lightning throttle response that rides hand-in-hand with fuel injection. There’s a new found smoothness to keep vibe levels at acceptable levels throughout a wide power band that peaks at a true 10500rpm. Our fastest 0-60kph run on the FI was 5.02 seconds, while top speed achieved was 119kph. A disappointment on the new TVS is a heavy speedometer error that we spotted on the test data.

The RTR FI enjoys a well sorted five-speed transmission box, as well as precise and well weighted clutch. It’s effortless to select gears via the sporty toe-shift lever, while another FI delight is its distinct and rorty exhaust note that strums out from the exhaust.  

Ride, Handling & Braking

9 stars

The latest Apache makes a surefire recipe to enchant riders that yearn the feel of a true sports motorcycle. Low slung clip-on bars, rear-set riding pegs and a compact feel are all a part of this sporty model. The FI uses a twin downtube frame with a rectangle section swingarm, telescopic front fork suspension and top spec gas charged twin shocks at the rear. Rim sizes are a blend of 17 inch in front and 18 at rear while the bike uses TVS’s very own tyres. And while enthusiasts will take to this bikes weight forward riding position like ducks to water, the unduly tall and those looking for commuter bikes will be well advised to steer clear towards more conservative and mundane bikes available in India by the droves.

The RTR FI enjoys a comfortable riding saddle, with ride quality leaning a little to the firm side. Handling is sharp and sporty, just a wee bit heavy at low speeds thanks to the aggressive and radical riding stance, but just as the doctor ordered really stable and well planted in high speed situations. Cornering manners are equally well sorted, as are the brilliant set of brakes on this machine. The FI uses a top class 270mm petal type disc in front that offers fierce bite, also adding on a 200mm petal disc to the rear. While our test bike pictured here came with the rear drum brake option, we have ridden the rear disc brake version and can confirm this offers the right kind of progressive stopping power required from a rear brake. Our best stop on the FI had the bike coming to rest from 60kph in 17.76 meters.

Fuel Economy

7 stars
The RTR series are bikes built squarely to enthrall riding enthusiasts, yet fuel injection accords the FI a noticeable mileage advantage over its carburettor equipped relative. While negotiating a grueling city test route the fuel injected model delivered us 43kpl. The RTR FI also performed suitably on its highway run returning us 47.7kpl.

Verdict

8 stars
The Apache RTR FI looks a treat, comes with ample frills and features and enjoys a sporty niche it can rightfully claim its very own. This flagship proves the TVS Motor Company bold enough to introduce the future in the present, with proven fuel injection technology bolted onto an enthusiastically tuned and rev-hungry power plant.
Don’t consider the FI if looking for a boring commuter bike, but there’s little doubt the RTR FI makes a sporty thoroughbred that is a must have for every motorcycle devotee looking at a bike in the vicinity of a 150.