BS6 TVS Apache RTR 200 4V Road Test Review

The Apache RTR 200 4V has always been one of the top contenders in the 200cc class. And that was courtesy the combination of good performance, aggressive styling and right feature packaging. And as a cherry on top, it was priced quite well too. But now, it is 2020 and that means it has to meet the super stringent BS6 emission norms. So TVS went back to its R&D team and got us something that isn’t just cleaner, but also looks meaner and gets some fun features. 

TVS has been known to offer great quality over the last few years and it’s the same story with the BS6 Apache RTR 200 4V. The body work along with chassis welds looks neat and doesn’t feel flimsy. The paint quality is quite good too. The plastics around the cluster and the switchgear also have a bit of premiumness to it. Overall, the bike has been put together well. 

The previous gen Apache RTR 200 4V was one of the easiest motorcycles to ride. Accessible seat height, upright handlebar positon, slightly-rear seat footpegs and wide seat were the best traits of the bike. These aspects continue to be seen on the BS6 model. However, there’s one thing that plays a spoilsport on this bike and that is the placement of the new LED position lamps which TVS likes to call ‘Claw lamps’. Those lamps are quite visible from the saddle and because these lamps are so bright, it hampers the vision while riding in dark. 

TVS Apache RTR 200 4V

• 197.75 cc
• 20.21 bhp
• 153 kg
;

Avg. Ex-showroom price

₹ 1,28,124

4 more TVS Apache bikes - ₹ 1,02,272 onwards

The BS6 200cc air-cooled motor gets fuel-injection. The power output of 20bhp still peaks at 8500rpm, but the torque has gone down marginally and now makes 16.8Nm at 7500rpm. The interesting bit here is that TVS has managed to make this engine more refined. It still has a bit of crudeness but it manages to exhibit some respectable smoothness as well. The power delivery continues to be linear and with a strong mid-range, the bike behaves well on the highways. The vibes on the bike have reduced drastically. It becomes prominent post 8000rpm and could be felt on the pegs and the handlebar.

No changes have been done to the five-speed gearbox. The gear ratios are the same and so is its usage experience.  The suspension setup on the new Apache RTR 200 4V is slightly on the sportier side. But the Kayaba units don’t break anyone’s back nor does the bike struggle when ridden over some potholes. It looks like TVS wanted to keep the race DNA intact even though the bike will majorly be used for commuting. 

TVS has introduced a radial tyre at the rear and it is not an ordinary one. It’s the Protorq which Vikrant loved when he raced it on a race track. It performed extremely well in city roads too, especially during the rains.  Like most of the other aspects of the bike, the brakes have gotten better too. The power and bite are really good. The feel on the lever, however, continues to lack a bit. The ABS system works flawlessly. There was a panic brake moment, but the bike simply took care of it without any drama. 

The tech equipment list on this Apache has gotten better too. The most aspirational one is the new Bluetooth-enabled instrument cluster. A smartphone app needs to be installed to connect to this system. Once connected, the rider gets to experience a host of practical and fun features. The app supports things like lean angle, average speed, total distance covered and also shows call/sms notifications.  

There’s another interesting addition in the form of GTT (glide through tech). Here, the rider doesn’t need to use throttle while riding through slow moving traffic. Just release the clutch and the first gear will take you upto 7kmph. The second and third gears can attain upto 12kmph and 17kmph. These speeds will vary depending on the weight of the rider.  

Dual-channel ABS with real wheel lift-off protection is standard. 

The BS6 Apache RTR 200 4V has gained some weight but also gets a better and cleaner engine. As a result, the bike returned 39.6kmpl fuel efficiency in city riding which is decent. So with a fuel tank capacity of 12 litres, expect a riding range of 400kms before needing a fuel up.

The Apache brand was always positioned as a race bike with lots of sporty aspects to it. While it does that job quite well (as tested on a track), it manages to put a big smile every time you ride it in the city or highways too. The bike is practical as well as aspirational, something that is difficult to find on a motorcycle these days.  

The 2020 Apache RTR 200 4V is almost Rs 10,000 more expensive now. So that takes the on-road price to Rs 1.49 lakh in New Delhi and which might look quite a bit. But with the kind of features, styling and performance it offers, it’s a decent deal to go for. Plus, with the new Bluetooth-connectivity, there’s more bragging rights – something the target audience would like to have.   

Photography by Kapil Angane