*I bought a Brand New Black TVS Apache RTR180 on 2009
August 28th from Cochin Motors, Ernakulam(Kochin).**Bike was Not Easily
available ex-stock except this Main Dealer Although I would have
bought it if Available in My Home town Muvattupuzha, Kerala. The Bike
has just covered 1400kms and first free service was done at
600kms.Please Don’t take it as a Complete review in All Aspects. Now
it is Only One Month past I bought this Bike. I Hope this Review Will
Help those Who are considering to Buy this Bike. I will Update this
Review Occasionally.
I was looking for a City Bike Which can
Occasionally used as a touring machine as well**. I Almost Finalized on
2009 Pulsar 180 UGIII V4 or UGIV , But Once Compared to Apache RTR 180
, as well as a test ride of RTR180 along with Pulsar180 Confirmed My
Decision to Buy My RTR180.
I took the Delivery of the Bike and
Next day came to Know that Even though PDI was done by Cochin Motors
, The Bike’s Toolkit is Missing the Rubber Band which Secures the Tool
Kit. All RTR180 came there in that Batch does not have the Rubber
Band!I Got it later though.
Few Things I noticed on the New
Bike is the Idle rpm is set around 1400rpm when cold and If I rode
around 10kms , the Idle rpm rises to around 2000-2200 rpm and When
Bike Cools Down, Rests in 1300-1400mark!Later , I adjusted it
Myself(Idle screw) to Fix it When Engine is at Working Temperature
with Head Lights ON(1300-1400rpm range as recommended).
Main
Features of Apache RTR180 Includes Self Starter, Clip-ON Handle
Bars, Tubeless Tyres. Front and Rear Disc Brakes, Engine Guard, Digital
Speedo Console, Analogue Tachometer, Removable Rear Fender. Engine is
the R&D work on Suzuki Fiero(Which I owned in 2002) with the
Benefit of TVS Racings Whose Experience comes in Making this Bike and
it is truly Race bred as their Ad shows.
My RTR180 Starts on the
Slight Press of Self Starter. It got a Kicker Lever as well(In
case..).RTR180 is Very Responsive to throttle. It can reach
90-100kmph in no time. Engine is a Gem(Derived from Suzuki Fiero
).Build Quality is Better than Competitor(Err.. :D).Bike can Keep Up
Good Speeds Constantly in Highway Conditions as Well , Although it is
Great to Ride in City Conditions. Brakes are Excellent, Rear Brakes
Helps to Make the Stoppages fast.
Head Light is not
Direct Current(Like Pulsar’s) , But Good. Bike’s
Sporty Seating Needs to be Accustomed. But , those having back pain
and all, You May Try it to Confirm it is OK to Ride One.
Bike’s
Digital Speedo Console(A Pleasant Blue Back ground Light When Lights
are ON) carries Many useful things like
for Bike Racers, Minimum time to Reach 0-60kmph can be recorded. Top
Speed Achieved by the Bike also can be seen(Mine is at 112kmph as of
now).Then , Fuel Gauge, Odometer, two trip meters are available. there
is a Analogue Tachometer, Low Fuel
indicator, Service Reminder Indicator(Which flashes to remind of
service intervals , totally depend on Kms covered), Battery Health
Monitor on Tacho Console.
Tank Scoops and Total Sticker Job is
Very Nice. Rear Mudguard got a Adjustment , where by You can Remove
the Full Covered Mudguard when Rainy Season goes Away to Reveal a
stylish Super Bike Like Fender. But use it Only During
Summer!Otherwise dirt muck is sprayed on others. There is a Engine
Guard Which is also a great addition preventing Dust and Mud from
settling on Engine Cooling Fine , Doing a Good Job in Cooling
Engine.
Bike Comes With A golden colour painted Front and Rear
Shocks Which Really Absorbs bumps(Speed Breakers) and Potholes Very
Well. Rear Shocks are adjustable Nitrox Shocks. Fuel Tank Got a
Sporty Semi Fairing on Each Sides. Rear Brake Lever is Sporty. Has A Half Chain Cover With O-Ring Chain. Don’t want to
really argue whether these are Superior to Normal Chains with full
covered chain boxes.
*Sore
Points**:
1)Gears are Slightly Notchy. Although if Idle rpm is
reduced(not recommended) , Notchiness goes Away. not a Big
Issue.
2)Engine when starts from Cold is Very Fine. But , Once got
Heated or Overheated , The Engine Refineness is Gone, **Tappet
Noises**(Tick Tick..Noise) Comes up after first Few 100 kms , Which Can
be Adjusted Every 2000kms .Bike’s Vibration is not that Much an Issue
for Me;BUT, Bike Vibrates at around 60-70Kmph Range.Some Vibrations
Comes Up to the Handles as Well as Front and Rear Foot Pegs.
3)Sporty
Riding Position May not Be Liked By All. I have put a lightly
cushioned Ready Made seat cover Which is doing good. My Experience
is, Riding the Bike in Relaxed Position is not so Possible in RTR 180.
4)In
My case , Front Shocks Makes a "Thud" Noise When Ride fast
over Potholes or Speed Breakers. I have Steering Cone(Cone Set)
Adjusted 3-4 times as well as tightened;But Still I feel Slight Thud
Sound. I Saw this Problem in Biker Forums As well. TVS Service Says
, If Cone Set is Tightened , There will Be a Right Side Leaning for
Handle. Still, I Will ask Them to Open Cone Set As Well as Front
Shocks in case they are defective.
5)Open
O-Ring Chain Needs Regular Maintenance with Gear Oil or Expensive
Chain Lubes or Chain Sprays.
6)Feels
the Bike’s Height is Low Compared to Bajaj Pulsar 180 I had. Hey , Am
not a 6 footer. Just 5ft9inch and I felt So.
7)**TVS
Service**. It is Not Up to the Mark , I know from My 2002 Suzuki Fiero
Days. I Stayed away from Cochin Motors to a TVS Dealer Near to Me -
Athickal Motors, Thodupuzha. Authorized Service Centre of TVS in My
Town is Appalling!Seriously!Mundu(Lungi) Clad Men Casually Working
With disinterest is What I saw. I read that the TVS Service
dealership/service Coverage except South India is not Much. I am yet
to experience a Good Service. I would Like to See TVS Conducting
Regular Service/Free Check-up camps with their trained Mechanics from
Hosur/Mysore Visiting Major Cities At least.
*Coming to
Performance** , RTR180 is Great in Acceleration and is Easy to Ride
inside City Traffic. On Highways , Bike can cruise comfortably at
80-90kmph or Higher and like a superbike , You can corner confidently
in this Bike. no issues with the TVS Srichakra Tubeless Tyres came
with My RTR180.Top Speed I took the Bike till now is 112kmph. Can go
Much More and a Real True Speed of 125kmph is supposed to be its top
whack.
I Had Done Only Short Trips to Kochin etc of
40kms distance and as well as Riding on Evening in Congested
Muvattupuzha town as of now. Fuel Economy I
got is 40-45kmpl at Speeds 60-65kmph.
*So, Whom I Will Suggest
TVS Apache RTR180?*
In My Humble Opinion, This Bike is Good For Who are More into Performance Biking
rather than Basic daily commuter , Mileage Bikes. My Experience With
TVS Bikes is , these are long lasting and Engine is Always Better
, although not refined Enough. I kept My 2002 brand New Suzuki Fiero
for 6.5 years. Check for the Service Support If You are going to Buy
One, Be Sure that the Sporty Riding Position Does Not Cause You Back
Pain.
Conclusion is , RTR180 is a Value For Money Power Bike
Which Can Give You Many Happier Moments With Some Agony As Well(When
You think about Service!). Overall it is Very Good. At Rs71700 On
The Road(OTR) price Here in Cochin it is Almost Rs10500 < than pulsar 220 dts-i.