Beast of a bike!

The new TVS Apache RTR 200 is faster than its smaller siblings and more comfortable too. The bike is a well-engineered complete package and is offered with an attractive price, says Indian automobile website MotorBeam.

The Indian motorcycle giant TVS is known for taking its own sweet time to develop and launch its products. But the bikes offered by the company have a vast and loyal fanbase which knows that when TVS delivers, it does not falter on the performance and fun factor side of the bike. Now, after a long wait for a bigger-engined Apache, TVS has finally released the new RTR 200 performance bike.

The smaller sibling of this new bike, the Apache RTR 180, has been a long favourite of MotorBeam. Thus, when TVS invited us to their Hosur test track in Bangalore to test ride the motorcycle, we decided to shun the airplane and hit the highway on our RTR 180 itself, so that we can properly judge the improvements.

Styling

The new TVS Apache RTR 200 is inspired by the Draken Concept motorcycle, which was showcased way back at the 2014 Auto Expo. The bike looks beautiful and attractive from all angles and it looks like TVS has used distinct parts which are different from its other offerings: a nice touch.

The bike has some unmistakable Apache resemblances which harkens back to its TVS lineage such as the big and bold graphics and other elements. The new alloy wheel design is really impressive, and so is the sculpted muscular fuel tank that gets an offset cap. Split seats and sporty grab rails complete the package with high quality switch gear being used here.

At the front, the headlamp cluster might look small at first glance but has got LED daytime running elements in them. This gives the bike a classy and sporty look along with added convenience. What is missing are the LED indicators which have been there in its competitors for a long time.

Instrument cluster

The bike is equipped with a new fully-digital instrument cluster which is a first for TVS. The panel has a white backlit display and shows a 'Race On' (cheekily inspired from KTM's 'Ready TO Race') upon powering up. Start the bike and everything on the the cluster lights up and does a system check.

The speedometer is placed in the centre, flanked by gear indicator and clock on the left and twin trip meters, lap time recorder and acceleration time recorder on the right.

The tachometer is placed on the top of the speedometer, with a big shift light placed on the top right corner. The bottom of the cluster shows the fuel meter and selected mode. All in all, the instrumentation looks beautiful and easily legible.