Track Attack
Pros: Easy turn-in, tyres, confidence inspiring
Cons: Brake fade, engine vibes, gearshifts
Let me begin by stating the obvious. The Apache RR310 is a supersport. And, not taking a supersport to a racetrack is like dating a comedian for her weaving skills.
And so, when it was time to attend the California Superbike School in February, the RR310 is what I went with. CSS isn’t a flat-out, do-your-thing, ride-close-to-your-limit kind of track outing. It’s a school, a place to learn, and come out a better rider. Naturally, I didn’t push the RR as hard as I would have liked.
This wasn’t the first time I rode a RR310 at the track though. I had done so at the launch ride. You can read about it HERE. But even then, since there were limited bikes and other journalists who hadn’t yet had a go, I didn’t do anything silly.
But, last month, we had our own track day. No restrictions, no baggage, and nothing much to learn really, apart from the RR’s on-the-limit handling capability. And here’s what I learned.
First the tyres. If you think Metzelers are the be-all-and-end-all for track use, the Michelins will surprise you. They are feedback rich; they have grip; and they never threw any ugly surprises on the limit.
Then there’s the RR’s steering. The Apache might not feel as alert as a Rat Terrier in game mode when turning into a corner. But, it has the bite, the predictability, and the feel to give the rider enough confidence to just tip into bends with vigour.
And when leaned over, the suspension and the chassis work so well; the bike never feels loose or wallowy. Even on the bumpy section, there’s rarely a skip or slide. What’s more, it feels so natural and effortless, around a race track, it doesn’t tire you out as early as you’d think.
There are two things though that doesn’t work as well on the track. The brake bite, to begin with, isn’t great on the RR310. And on the track, after braking hard on a couple of instances, the brake fade is quite significant. That means one has to roll off the gas sooner, brake earlier, and never too hard.
The other thing is the gearshift quality. The upshifts are hard and the downshifts are accompanied with false neutrals more often than not. The RR also isn’t very happy about aggressive clutchless upshifts. And yes, the engine vibes that can be felt via the tank and seat can get you short shifting at most corner exits.
But, one thing is for certain: If you own an RR, a track day is a must to properly appreciate how fast and friendly the bike really is.
Next time, the Apache RR310 goes touring.
Bike Stats
Odometer: 1340km
Kilometres this month: 257km
Fuel Efficiency: 36.1kmpl
Gallery
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TVS Apache RR310 Long Term Report 3
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