Careful before choosing an apache over competetion. Review on TVS Apache 150

I have been reading all the reviews about apache in magazines and on websites and have come to a conclusion that the best advertised products and the products carrying the best of reviews by our so called automobile/ product experts are the worst products running on the Indian roads.

Be it a Tata Indica Xeta/ TVS Apache/ Bajaj Caliber etc. all of them have proven to be the worst products. I myself own an apache and am cursing myself for the day wherein the idea of buying this bike came to my mind. I will bifurcate the review in 2 halves,

1 Pros

2Cons

Pros: - The bike has an excellent road grip and even at the speed of 100+Kms /hr, there are no shakes and vibrations. The bike is completely in control. The looks are excellent and there are no bikes on road that match the looks of this bike. The maximum power of 13.5 BHP is attained with great difficulty though. The headlights are bright though and side looks are also excellent. The mileage is excellent @ 55-58 kms per litre, no matter how u drive it.

Cons­-The TVS dealers are neither customer friendly, not tactical, get a feeling as if someone from roadside has been hired on contract for a bottle of country made liquor for a month (not only TVS but all the bike dealers hire this type of sales people only). Really was surprised by the attitude of Himgiri TVS, New Delhi. SOBitches did not even mention my name correctly on my RC.

From the very first week, there was a problem of Head leak in my bike which was rectified only after me fighting with them. As I have gone thru the rest of reviews on this site by the customers, have felt that rest all apache owners are facing the same problem of tight clutch and gear sticking. TVS completely refuses to accept this issue. The excuse that TVS gives is that since it has one down and 4 up gear box, hence the gears are hard. But I have even driven Honda unicorn, which has the same type of gear shift pattern, but the gears are silky smooth. Even after writing to the customer care and visiting the dealer N no of times, the problem has not been sorted out. Only they will wash the bike and hand over to you, they do not even mind polishing the bike. Even after driving for 7000 kms, the engine is still like an auto rickshaw. There are starting problems in the morning and the bike does not start without a Choke. Many a times, when u r competing with CBZ extreme or P150, with one person as a pillion rider, u will find that the other two competitors are way ahead and that too with two pillion riders. While on a slope, the bike will refuse to accelerate with one pillion rider, which is not there in CBZ extreme or even P150. I have written about this problem and had asked for consultation from Bike Guru (Mr. Dilip bam, u will find him on indiabike.com). He claims to have 45 bikes in his stable, but he also did not answer. What else could I ask for?

With this kind of stupid approach, the company aims to win over the top position in the market. Am forced to believe that Mr. Venu Srinivasan is dreaming and the earlier he wakes up, the better it is for him.

Believe me friends; no other bike in the market is better than Honda bikes. Be it technology or Value for money or the efficiency rate of the products. Hence if you want a complete peace of mind and do not want to loose your sleep over your 50-60 thousand bucks, go for any other bike but not TVS bike.

Till then happy riding and happy spending