Motor sharing--TVS Apache RTR

For a long time, TVS has been a strong name in Indian motorsport. The company maintains a works squad in practically every type of motorcycle racing in the nation, and its racing ideas have gradually trickled down into its road motorcycles over time. To be accurate, fifteen years. TVS has added another gem to the Apache series to commemorate this achievement. The Apache RTR 165 RP is their greatest effort yet at bridging the gap between their racing heritage and their road bikes.

The RTR 165 RP is the first model in TVS' new "Race Performance" line in Motor TVS 2022, and its distinctive look sets it apart from the others. Despite sharing the same body as the RTR 160 4V, the RP has its own paint scheme, which includes "limited edition" stickers, a customized seat cover, and red wheels. This motorbike is aesthetically as near as it gets to K Jagan's GP 165R race machine, thanks to this one-of-a-kind combination of colors and stickers. Only 200 bikes were available to buyers, and they were all sold out by the time I rode the RP in the photos. Nonetheless, it is definitely worth mine and your time to learn more about this motorbike.

The instrument cluster is identical to that of the RTR 160 4V. The all-digital console keeps the critical information readily displayed while keeping features like the lap timer and recorded peak speed, among others. Although the RP appears to be a racing machine, TVS has assured that it is far from that. The 160 4V's rider triangle is identical. Users of the RTR 160 4V swear by the riding posture, which has a broad handlebar, upright seating position, and well-placed footpegs. The manufacturer has also included adjustable brake and clutch levers to sweeten the bargain. If I may say so, because it is a first in this category. On our roads, though, it rattles quite a bit.

The cylinder head has been altered, according to TVS. It boasts a 35 percent greater flow via the intake port, a twin-electrode spark plug, and 15 percent larger valves, according to reports. They also stated that they employed a high lift and duration cam, as well as a high-compression piston, to keep the engine as close to the racing engine as possible.

All of this is amazing on paper, but what really amazed me was how well it translated to concrete performance. The RP was just as courteous as its mild-mannered sister while riding around the city at a decent speed, and it was just as comfortable, too, because it isn't one of those stiffly sprung racetrack-only motorcycles. That's a major bonus for everyday usage. The shift light in stock form pushes you to upshift at 7,000 rpm, but with a safe, closed road or track nearby, you may ignore it. The RP revs past 10,000 rpm, with an indicated red-line about 11,000 rpm, and the power spread is greatest between 7,000 and 10,000 rpm. The RP, on the other hand, exhales more easily and is ready to be pushed through the gears. TVS has enhanced this natural ability with competent suspension components, especially race-tuned Showa units. I'm delighted to report that the setup allows for aggressive cornering and easily absorbs bumps, which is the holy grail of a one-bike garage.

Because new machines are no longer available, the TVS Apache RTR 165 RP is priced at Rs 1.45 lakh (ex-showroom). There is nothing that directly competes with this motorbike in terms of competitiveness because no one else has created a street version of a racing motorcycle in this class yet. If you've ever ridden one of these bikes, you'll understand why I'm disappointed that this one is sold out, but there is a silver lining. This is only the first motorbike in the RP series, so we have every cause to anticipate and be thrilled about future models from this stable.