Dec 08, 2009 03:56 PM
8677 Views
(Updated Jul 21, 2010 01:08 PM)
I am planning to buy a 150 cc bike, all of a sudden my brother left his apache rtr(1 year old) at me as he is going states. So I had a chance to use it for 3 months. I am using 6 yr old fiero, so iam quite familiar how TVS bikes behave.
1] The bike attracts you immediately. You cant resist ur self putting your thumb on the self start to listen how this beast roar. Well, You give her 95/100 for the engine beat, It gives you a manly feel.
2] After starting the bike when I laid my hands on it, I felt that the bike is tall enough to accommodate a guy of 5"10 inches(cant do further, guys above 5"11 forget Apache), the bike is not at all commuter friendly, more a racist
3] Put the first gear, I am not impressed, It has taken very very less power to do so, but still, I felt that gear box is not completely sophisticated.
4] Revvvv! The bike zoomed into the traffic! Wow, the pulsar is a piece of crap infornt of RTR. Damn! We kept thinking that pulsar is the best powered bike, now I am 100% surprised with RTR! The name RTR is dead right!
5] RTR gives you the full control, unlike a HH glamor which controls the rider. So at corners you don't bother to cut at a higher angle, RTR is ok at cornering. But with a lady sitting as pillion RTR shows you hell, It is not at all good for cornering with ladies sitting in the back in traffic. Not a family bike, racist
6] I went for a 150 km drive, I came to know how sporty bikes damages your back. Yes, RTR is not suitable for long drives. My fiero is a sofa for a drive of 200 kms
7] During city drive, with a speed between 40 - 50, I got a mileage of 60 which is excellent. I don't think any 150/160 bike can beat this mileage, on high way at 70+ I got 65, which is well over reasonable range.
8] My yellow RTR caught many eyes at a traffic signal, with me sitting on it in a racist posture.
9] Service is good, the bikes break cable tared, Sprockets are not up to the mark of quality, head light bea m is super and super
10] Resale, oops! I dont know why such a nice bike is carrying such low resale price! For me RTR is a 160cc bike coming in 150 price range and 100cc mileage figures! What else do you want from an indian bike? Apart from that, TVS chain sprockets are Rs.450 Hero Honda Rs.850 and Honda more than that. So all this comes in to matter after 4 years when your bike starts asking more for maintenance. So if U want to use your bike for 4 years go for a HH, which offers u good resale value, but if u want ur bike die at your feet only, then go for TVS brand. Even Over haul of an apache might end at Rs.8, 000
All and all verdict is: Go for RTR blindly if u dont bother about Resale.Sure
11] For mileage, break behavior etc etc, log in to indiabike.com
update 1: after 21, 000 kms
no spare parts changed. only one break rubber.
no problem at all with mileage. still 55 in the hyderabad traffic
had one long drive, after the drive mileage dropped, checked the fuel+ air mixture screw, now mileage is back on song
all digital equipment working up to mark.
handling is tough with the TVS tyres. planning to go for MRF
so far so good. the 2 year period is completed and the bike gets out of all services provided in the book. Now we have to see and check the reliability of TVS engines.
let's hope for the best
