Dec 02, 2006 11:07 PM
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I bought my TVS Apache about 3 weeks ago and just got itback from its first servicing.
I have done a round 600 kilometers on this bike and amreally impressed!
Why Apache
After riding a friend’s Bajaj Pulsar 150 on a short trip inthe Konkan region, I decided to go for a more powerful bike for myself (My otherbike is a TVS Suzuki Samurai, which I have used over the past 10 years.) Thechoices I had looked at were the new Bajaj Pulsar 180 DTSI and 150 DTSI, theHonda Unicorn, the Hero Honda CBZ Xtreme and of course the TVS Apache. I didn’teven consider the Hero Honda Achiever or any of the Yamaha, Kinetic or LMLbikes. I ruled out the Pulsar because of the known gearbox issue and itspopularity. The Unicorn just seemed too bland and the CBZ Xtreme didn’t look asgreat as the Apache to me! Besides, being a satisfied TVS customer for 10years, and having only heard good reports about the Apache, helped me make mymind.
About the Apache
I will not go into the tech. specs. of the bike, and willonly say that all the 150cc bikes in the market are more or less equallymatched. The Apache feels good to ride and handles well. The brakes are goodand the suspension is excellent. The design is great and a lot of attention hasbeen given to the small details. The seat is comfortable. On the whole the bikefeels great and I’m struggling to keep my speed under 50 kmph. I just can’twait to finish the running in period and go for a long ride on a nice openroad! Till now, I have got an average of 52 kmpl.
The Good and the Bad
TVS has got a range of accessories for the Apache, most ofwhich I bought with the bike. The accessories are: Helmet (Vega), Tank bag, RidingGloves, Security System (Autocop), Bike Cover and Seat Cover (the onlyaccessory I didn’t buy!). The autocop proved effective on the second day itselfwhen someone tried to move the bike from the stand! Which brings me to the badpart of the bike, because the Apache is not a very commonly seen bike, manypeople are curious about it and want to see how it feels. Even when parked, itgets a lot of attention, sometimes more than I would feel comfortable with! TheTVS horse logo on the handle bar looked so great, some ase decided to takeit of my bike and scratched my bike in the process.
Comparison with theBajaj Pulsar
The Pulsar is the only other 150cc bike I’ve ridden for afair amount of time / distance (about 400 km. including a long non-stop stretchof about 200 kms.) make any sort of comparison. I found the handling of theApache better and the seating more comfortable. I felt no noticeable differencein the pick-up or the braking in both bikes. The only reasons I preferred theApache over the Pulsars was the gearbox trouble I was told about by my mechanicand some users, and it’s popularity. The amount of Pulsars seen anywhere ismore than enough for me, and I’d rather be different! Unfortunately, with thenews of the Pulsars becoming more expensive, that might change, and the Apachemight become more common.
