Introduction
It has been three months and three thousand kilometres since the Apache RR310 joined our long term fleet. In that time, we have reported on its city commuting and track handling capabilities, not to mention the general design and build quality levels.
Now, we did mention in our previous report that we will bring you the touring report on the RR310 this time round. But, the truth is, we haven't gotten around to riding the bike into the sunset just yet.
Instead, the RR's keys have changed quite a few hands this month. And so, we decided to draw up a 'hits and misses' list based on the experiences of all those riders. The thing to note is that these riders otherwise enjoy completely different types of motorcycles, right otherwise from RCs and Unicorns to FZs and bullets, and in one peculiar case, an old smoke machine like the RX100 even.
Here then is a quick pros and cons list if you are still sitting on the fence regarding the RR.
Hits
Quality. That's one thing TVS has completely surprised us with, and they have got it spot on in the case of, on the RR. In During three months of usage, there was's no rattle, no rusting, and no sensor related issues. And none of the riders complained about anything else being amiss either.
Comfort. The seat, and the space for the rider, is surprisingly good. And, not just for a race replica which was pointed out and acknowledged. The seat doesn't end up touching the base even after hours of riding, and if you have the right pants, well, you won't have a sore bottom either. Then there's the ride; quiet, absorbent, and even over unexpected potholes, it doesn't threaten to break apart.
Brakes. I remember not being completely happy with the RR's brakes. But, not everyone prefers an aggressive, more direct setup. Which was made clear by the majority of the riders who rode the bike. They liked the progression, the bite, and the play the front brake offered. Plus, the grip from the tyres were appreciated too.
Ride-ability. But, the one thing that stood out - and it was unanimous - was the Apache's engine's tractibility. The 310 motor pulls enthusiastically in the low and mid- range, making it effortless to ride in the city. And even though there's no ride-by-wire, the throttle response is still crisp and intiutive.
Design. From it being mistaken for a much larger capacity motorcycle to a Ducati, the Apache has gotten its share of appreciation from the general onlookers. But, even among our sample group, there has never been a moment when someone hasn't mentioned how good the bike looks every time it rolls into the garage or for a ride meet. This was another unanimous thumbs up for the TVS.
Misses
Vibrations. If there's one big negative about the RR, it has to be vibrations. The vibes aren't severe. So, your hands will tingle but not itch after a long ride. But, given the quality of the bike, and the refinement on the more recent TVS products, everyone expected, and wanted more from the RR. The expectation was of a more refined, freer-revving and smoother performer.
Engine noise. Add a noisy engine to vibrations, and things feel a lot worse than they are. This too was something everyone who rode the Apache 310 noticed and was unhappy about. Like the vibrations, the engine noise isn't all that bad, and one does get used to it. But, for first time RR users, and those who would only ride the bike occasionally, the noise and vibes will always be an issue.
No rear grab rail. Not having a grab rail was always going to make it to this list. Especially, when it came to moving the bike around. Everyone complained that the lack of grab rails made it tedious to move the bike around when parking. And, though not many complained about the pillion having to hang on to the rider for dear life thanks to the lack of grab rails, those ferrying around male colleagues, were clearly not happy.
Par for the course
Apart from the good and not-so-good bits, the Apache RR310 also manages to deliver some par-for-the-course stuff. For starters, the fuel economy of around 30kmpl is what you'd expect from a bike displacing around 300cc. The outright performance won't blow your mind, like the RC390 for instance, but the RR is still fast and involving. And, it's not a bike you'd want to ferry a pillion around on; much like every other supersports bikes in and around the Apache's class.
Next time, it will be touring time. Hopefully. That's, of course, if I can get myself to battle the rain, and the potholes, jams, and perpetual wet feet that come with it. Monsoons are here.
Bike Stats
Odometer: 2958km
Kilometres this month: 1618km
Fuel Efficiency: 30.3kmpl
Gallery
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TVS Apache RR310 Action
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