TVS Apache

TVS Apache
2012 Apache RTR 180
Manufacturer TVS Motor Company
Production 2006–
Class Standard, Sport bike (TVS Apache RR 310)
Engine 150 cm³, 159.7 cm³, 177.4 cm³, 197.75 cm³, 312.2 cm³, Single Cylinder, SI, 4-stroke, 2 valves, 4 valves, Air-cooled, Oil-cooled, Liquid Cooled

The TVS Apache is a brand of motorcycle made by TVS Motors since 2006. In 2008 the company claimed that more than 2.5 million Apaches were on the road.[1]Currently the company sells five variants of the TVS Apache. The differences between each variant being the engine displacement, the options on offer and performance characteristics. The abbreviation 'RTR' in the names of the motorcycles refer to 'Racing Throttle Response'.[2]

History

TVS which partnered with Suzuki for 19 years had brought out several two-stroke motorcycles in India. When the emission norms in the country changed, a need for more fuel efficient and less polluting four-stroke motorcycles suddenly came into being. However Suzuki at the time was globally known to produce two-stroke motorcycles and did not have strong R&D in the four-stroke department. All this led to the late introduction of the TVS-Suzuki Fiero in 2000 which was specifically developed for the Indian market.[3][4]

At the time there was also an upcoming market for the performance motorcycles in India which can be related to the success of the Hero Honda CBZ.[5]The Suzuki Fiero being a powerful performance oriented motorcycle, was well received[6]. After the separation of TVS and Suzuki in 2001, TVS continued the production of the Fiero and its iterations under the name TVS Fiero, TVS Fiero FX[7][8]

In 2005, to enter the 150 cm3 engine displacement category of performance motorcycles in India which was then dominated by the Bajaj Pulsar, TVS introduced the TVS Apache 150 IE-Surge[9], the first of the TVS Apache series of Motorcycles. It was a product of TVS' own R&D which included many changes on their existing Fiero 147 cm3 Engine and as a result had an increased power output of 13.5 bhp from 12 bhp and better efficiency. There were also major improvements in design, suspension, brakes, frame and styling. The company claimed that the Apache had the highest power to weight ratio in its class and was the quickest for that reason.[9]

The successors and current variants of the TVS Apache have engines based on the same platform but have significant design improvements such as an oversquare engine[10], 4- valves[11], balance shaft[12]; technical advancements such as oil cooling[12], ram-air assist cooling[13] (not to be confused with ram-air intake), fuel injection[11][13] and performance improvements.[14] However the TVS Apache RR 310 is an exception and is based on the BMW G310R.[15]

Current models

Former models

  • TVS Apache 150 IE-Surge [9]

Design and styling

The Apache was the first bike in India with a petal disc brake, which offers better heat dispersion thereby allowing fewer brake fades.[16][22]

Comfort and handling

According to a 2007 review, since the bike was optimized for handling, the ride quality was on the stiff side.[16] Previous versions of Apache had a wheelbase of 1,260 mm (50 inches) which resulted in better turning in at the expense of stability. TVS increased the wheelbase by 40 mm (1.6 inches) to improve the stability. The Apache 180 introduced ABS to the lineup in 2011.[23]

Awards

TVS Apache won Performance Bike Of The Year (2008) from Business Standard Motoring Awards.[24]

References

  1. ↑ "TVS Motor Company posts 19% growth in September 2008". TVS Motor Company. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21.
  2. ↑ "Team TVS Racing : On a fast track to product development". The Financial Express (India). August 22, 2016. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  3. ↑ "TVS-SUZUKI : The Third Coming". Business Today (India). December 6, 2000. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  4. ↑ "TVS Suzuki hits the road with 4-stroke Fiero". Business Line. January 7, 2000. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  5. ↑ "5 Motorcycles which revolutionized the Indian sport bikes market". India TV. November 18, 2015. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Suzuki Fiero sales cross the 50,000 mark". February 2, 2001. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  7. ↑ "TVS Launches Fiero FX". The Financial Express (India). March 23, 2004. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  8. ↑ "TVS launches upgraded Fiero FX". The Times of India. Mar 22, 2004. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  9. 1 2 3 "TVS APACHE, the all new 150 cc bike makes a debut". TVS Motor Company. December 19, 2005. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  10. ↑ "TVS launch new Apache RTR 200, Victor". Bike India. January 20, 2016. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  11. 1 2 "2018 TVS Apache RTR 160 4V review, test ride". Autocar (magazine). March 17, 2018. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  12. 1 2 "2016 TVS Apache RTR 200 review, test ride". Autocar magazine. January 20, 2016. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  13. 1 2 "2016 TVS Apache RTR 200 4V first ride review". Overdrive (magazine). January 25, 2016. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  14. ↑ "2018 TVS Apache RTR 160 4V vs rivals: Specifications comparison". Autocar magazine. March 15, 2018. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  15. ↑ "BMW G310R and TVS Apache RR 310: What's different?". Overdrive (magazine). December 7, 2017. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  16. 1 2 3 "TVS Apache RTR 160". Bike India. 15 August 2007. Archived from the original on 2010-02-23.
  17. ↑ "TVS Apache RTR 180 launched and first ride review". Autocar (magazine). June 15, 2009. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  18. ↑ TVS Apache ABS, Bike India, 5 January 2011, retrieved 2011-09-29
  19. ↑ "TVS Apache RTR 200 4V released, First ride review". Overdrive (magazine). January 25, 2016. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  20. ↑ "TVS Apache RTR 200 to be launched in India on January 20". Overdrive (magazine). January 8, 2016. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  21. ↑ "TVS Motor Company launches the new 2018 TVS Apache RTR 160 4V". Overdrive (magazine). March 14, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  22. ↑ "TVS APACHE RTR EFi vs BAJAJ PULASAR 200 DTS Fi (page 1)". 25 December 2007. Archived from the original on December 22, 2008.
  23. ↑ "TVS Motor launches Apache RTR 180 with ABS". The Hindu. March 12, 2011. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  24. ↑ "BSM Bike Of The Year 2008". overdrive.in. 29 December 2007. Archived from the original on September 14, 2008.
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