TVS Apache RTR 200 4V Expert Reviews

It’s got proper head and tail lamps, it runs a temporary number, and it is allowed to run on public roads, albeit under special circumstances like a rally. But, sadly it isn’t on sale. And that makes me miserable because I am in love with the TVS RTR 450 FX. It’s light, fast, controllable and an absolute hoot in the dirt. 

This is the battle of the 200cc nakeds - the Bajaj Pulsar NS200 and the TVS Apache RTR 200 4V. 

Motorcycles are more than just machines, they are almost human in some aspects. They have their strengths and weaknesses, a few assets and a few flaws. And just like humans, when it comes to deciding whether you like a motorcycle or not, all that matters is whether the compromises you have to make are worth the happiness you derive out of it. At the end of the day, it’s simple arithmetic.

Popular myth suggests that a touring motorcycle is supposed to have a fairing for wind deflection, abundant space to accommodate luggage and an engine capable of maintaining triple digit speeds effortlessly. The TVS Apache RTR 200 4V FI has none of these. And yet, more than two thirds of the 9,000 kilometres that I have put up were amassed on highways. So what made me choose the Apache RTR 200 4V FI for these long hauls?

Power is a good starting point for any debate. Power is what makes the Kawasaki H2R the favourite card in a game of top trumps, and the factor that made the Ducati MotoGP bikes shoot past the Hondas and Yamahas on straights as if they were taking a stroll in a park. However, one look at the 2016 MotoGP championship standings will tell you that these same Honda and Yamaha bikes have been more successful than the Ducatis. After all the bike’s suitability to the circuit influenced by factors like the rider skills, chassis dynamics and technology also plays a big role in making it successful. But, what about the real world? 

The streetfighter segment of motorcycles has a very interesting origin. In the early 1980s when manufacturers started bringing out ridiculously powerful fully-faired sportbikes, a streetfighter was a way for riders to flaunt their ‘battle scars’. Basically, riders who had crashed their motorcycles and couldn’t afford to get a new fairing started riding these bikes in their naked avatar, inspiring other riders to rip out their fairings and showcase the bike’s raw character. The trend quickly picked up momentum and manufacturers began to see potential in this new genre of motorcycling.

Let’s start with a little background about the TVS Apache. The year 2006 saw the motorcycling fraternity get divided into two factions - ones who decided to stay loyal to the Bajaj Pulsar and the others who fell in love with the new naked from Hosur. It might not have tasted the kind of success that the Pulsar has, but the Apache has always had an ardent following. It has always been on par, if not ahead of the competition when it comes to technology and the Apache RTR 200 4V is no different. Take a look at any older generation Apaches and you will see the bike give a testament of the way things were done at the time. In this report, we will see how this newest entrant in the 200cc segment fares in terms of technology and creature comforts.

Since the new TVS Apache RTR 200 4V joined our long term fleet, I have only been using it to go around the city and for commuting. And even in this brief span, I must say that I have developed a soft spot for this delightful yellow pocket rocket. The Apache RTR 200 4V might have narrowly lost out to the Bajaj Pulsar RS200 in our comparison test, but it nevertheless made a good case for itself... 

What we have here are two obvious players in the affordable and performance centric commuter class, and one outsider of sorts. The TVS Apache 200 4V – one of the obvious players, given it has nearly 20bhp – is the newest entrant. And though it is available both with fuel injection and carburetion, we have the latter for it is lesser priced.

Two bikes. Two different body styles yet we’re doing a comparison test. Why? Because, both get almost the same set of features, technology and also the same set of buyers. And these bikes are easily the most accessible and affordable performance motorcycles under Rs 1.5 lakh.