South pole

The new 150 from TVS is... the Apache RTR160!

One of the most impressive motorcycles I have ever stood next to is the Aprilia RS125, a learner-legal bottom of the barrel motorcycle. Admittedly the barrel is Italian, but still. What impressed me, performance aside, was the styling. Every little nook and cranny has been designed, and not just in terms of shapes. The RS125 is a lovely thing to run your finger along.

There are textures, colours and decals... the RS didn't get dismissed as a tiny bike for newbies. Why am I going on and on about this? Because when they first unwrapped the new TVS Apache RTR 160, I was busy taking in all the details.

The designers have crafted all of the ignored, functional bits into consciously designed articles. It's no Aprilia RS125, granted, but I can't think of any Indian bike that comes closer.

The unchanged tank and tail piece will come in a superb yellow, red, matte grey, silver and black. Notice the new, nifty engine cowl. A neat racing stripe runs all the way from the top of the tail lamp to the tip of the front fender and also appears on the tacho.

Everything "" levers, pedals, grips, bar-end dampers, lights, dash "" has received conscious design upgrades. The effect is one of effortless style. The Apache still looks compact and focussed, and now it has pizzaz. There will even be wheel pinstriping.

But, as I said, these are only part of the story. The other parts are RTR and 160. RTR stands for Racing Throttle Response. The engine has grown to 159.7cc and it's more than an overbore. The motor's stroke was cut down to 52.9 mm and then the bore grew to 62 mm.

TVS says the extra displacement allowed them to raise the torque while boosting power on top as well. By how much? The RTR is rated at 15.2 bhp (at 8500 rpm) and 1.31 kgm (at 6000 rpm). That's a two kg heavier bike (still seven kg less than either the Bajaj Pulsar 150 or the Hero Honda CBZ X-Treme) making a little more power and same torque than the first-gen Pulsar 180.

On the track, the RTR proves to be a crisp flyer. Throttle response is immediate and the Apache loves revs. With useable power almost off idle, the 160 will blow through 60 kph in 4.8 seconds, 100 kph in 17.69 seconds (all-figures claimed) and reach a top speed of 118 kph. The gearbox is the same as the old Apache, which is no bad thing.

However, the full chain cover now looks a bit odd. One of the journalists at the launch suggested an open chain cover with an integrated hugger. That's a nice thought...

On the chassis side, the big change is a whopping 40 mm longer swingarm that brings the wheelbase up to 1300 mm. This is a huge jump for the Apache, but still 25 mm less than the Hero Honda CBZ X-Treme. TVS wanted to improve stability without losing the Apache's agility. Suspension was retuned and that was basically it.

The RTR feels planted and very accurate. Even when bumps have to be handled at full lean, the bike doesn't run astray. Later, I tried the RTR on the Belgian pave and TVS have ironed out the harsh/bumpy patch in the ride quality. The new RTR still feels firm, but is compliant and will deal with most of the bad stuff.

Now note what's bolted on the front axle. Yes, that's India's first petal disc (the extra surface area of the leading edge improves cooling). It's a full 270 mm "" the same size as a Karizma. The disc is powerful and it produces seriously quick stopping action. What you've got is a styling, powerful machine with a great chassis as well.

In addition, TVS has given the bike everything it needs to battle the competing 150s. Like the split grab rail, a stylish dash with a LCD speedo, two trips, clock, odo and fuel gauge and an analog tachometer.

The RTR also has two-way adjustable clip-on handlebars, LED tail lamp (the sole styling detail that I think could have been better), rearset aluminium pegs and aluminium levers.

TVS says the Apache will go on sale in May and will be available all across the country at the same time. The current Apache will continue but don't be tempted to buy the cheaper one. The 150 Apache is among the cheapest of the 150s, so we expect the 160 to slot in at roughly the same price as the CBZ X-Treme "" about Rs 59,000 ex-showroom Mumbai.

For those of you who are wondering about the 'unfairness' of having a 160 running amuck in the 150s, why not? More power for the same money is always welcome. And as the Americans repeat ad nauseum, there's no replacement for displacement. The upshot? Coming in the middle of a whirl of re-stickered bikes, the comprehensively upgraded Apache certainly comes as a breath of fresh air.

What remains to be seen is whether, in one month's time, it will topple the CBZX, our Bike Of The Year, from its current place at the top of our 150 charts.