TVS Apache
{{Short description|Motorcycle}}
{{Infobox Motorcycle|image=File:The Apache RTR 180 V2.jpg|caption=2012 Apache RTR 180|name=TVS Apache|manufacturer=TVS Motor Company|production=2005–present|class=Standard, Sport bike |engine=150 cm³, 159.7 cm³, 177.4 cm³, 197.75 cm³, 312.2 cm³, Single Cylinder, SI, 4-stroke, 2 valves, 4 valves, Air-cooled, Oil-cooled, Liquid Cooled|website=[https://www.tvsapache.com/]}}
The TVS Apache ({{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|p|æ|tʃ|i}} {{respell|ə|PATCH|ee}}) is a brand of motorcycle made by TVS Motors since 2005. As of 2020, more than 4 million Apaches are on the road.{{cite web|url=https://auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/two-wheelers/motorcycles/tvs-motors-apache-crosses-40-lakh-global-sales-milestone/78616248 |title=TVS Motors' Apache crosses 40 lakh global sales milestone |date=12 October 2020 |newspaper=The Economic Times}} Currently the company sells six variants of the TVS Apache. The differences between each variant being the engine displacement, the options on offer and performance characteristics. The abbreviation 'RTR' in the names of the motorcycles refer to 'Racing Throttle Response'.{{Cite web|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/team-tvs-racing-on-a-fast-track-to-product-development/353312/|title=Team TVS Racing : On a fast track to product development |date=August 22, 2016|website=The Financial Express (India)|access-date=May 16, 2018}}
History
TVS which partnered with Suzuki for 19 years had brought out several two-stroke motorcycles in India. When the emission norms in the country changed, a need for more fuel efficient and less polluting four-stroke motorcycles suddenly came into being. However Suzuki at the time was globally known to produce two-stroke motorcycles and did not have strong R&D in the four-stroke department. All this led to the late introduction of the TVS-Suzuki Fiero in 2000 which was specifically developed for the Indian market.{{Cite web|url=http://archives.digitaltoday.in/businesstoday/20001206/feature1.html|title=TVS-SUZUKI : The Third Coming |date=December 6, 2000|website=Business Today (India)|access-date=May 15, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2000/01/07/stories/190702ts.htm|title=TVS Suzuki hits the road with 4-stroke Fiero |date=January 7, 2000|website=Business Line|access-date=May 15, 2018}}
At the time there was also an upcoming market for the low displacement performance motorcycles in India which can be related to the success of the Hero Honda CBZ.{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/business/india/5-motorcycles-which-revolutionized-the-indian-sport-bikes-market-20533.html|title=5 Motorcycles which revolutionized the Indian sport bikes market |date=November 18, 2015|website=India TV|access-date=May 16, 2018}} The Suzuki Fiero being a relatively powerful motorcycle in the segment, was well received.{{Cite web|url=http://www.afaqs.com/news/story/1737_Suzuki-Fiero-sales-cross-the-50000-mark|title=Suzuki Fiero sales cross the 50,000 mark |date=February 2, 2001 |access-date=May 16, 2018}} After the separation of TVS and Suzuki in 2001, TVS continued the production of the Fiero and its iterations under the name TVS Fiero, TVS Fiero FX.{{Cite web|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/archive/tvs-launches-fiero-fx/101557/|title=TVS Launches Fiero FX |date=March 23, 2004|website=The Financial Express (India)|access-date=May 15, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/TVS-launches-upgraded-Fiero-FX/articleshow/575442.cms|title=TVS launches upgraded Fiero FX |date=Mar 22, 2004|website=The Times of India|access-date=May 16, 2018}}
In 2005, to enter the 150 cm3 engine displacement category of performance motorcycles which was then dominated by the Bajaj Pulsar, TVS introduced the TVS Apache 150 IE-Surge,{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvsmotor.com/news.aspx?news_id=113|title=TVS APACHE, the all new 150 cc bike makes a debut |date=December 19, 2005|website=TVS Motor Company|access-date=May 15, 2018}} the first of the TVS Apache series of Motorcycles. It was a product of TVS' own R&D which included many changes on their existing Fiero 147 cm3 Engine and as a result had an increased power output of 13.5 bhp from 12 bhp and better efficiency. There were also major improvements in design, suspension, brakes, frame and styling. The company claimed that the Apache had the highest power to weight ratio in its class and was the quickest for that reason.
The successors and current variants of the TVS Apache have engines based on the same platform but have significant design improvements such as an oversquare engine,{{Cite web|url=http://bikeindia.in/tvs-launch-new-apache-rtr-200-victor/|title=TVS launch new Apache RTR 200, Victor |date=January 20, 2016|website=Bike India|access-date=May 16, 2018}} 4- valves,{{Cite web|url=https://www.autocarindia.com/bike-reviews/2018-tvs-apache-rtr-160-4v-review-test-ride-407776|title=2018 TVS Apache RTR 160 4V review, test ride |date=March 17, 2018|website=Autocar|access-date=May 16, 2018}} balance shaft;{{Cite web|url=https://www.autocarindia.com/bike-reviews/2016-tvs-apache-rtr-200-review-test-ride-399735|title=2016 TVS Apache RTR 200 review, test ride |date=January 20, 2016|website=Autocar magazine|access-date=May 16, 2018}} technical advancements such as oil cooling, ram-air assist cooling{{Cite web|url=http://overdrive.in/reviews/2016-tvs-apache-rtr-200-4v-first-ride-review/|title=2016 TVS Apache RTR 200 4V first ride review |date=January 25, 2016|website=Overdrive|access-date=May 16, 2018}} (not to be confused with ram-air intake), fuel injection and performance improvements.{{Cite web|url=https://www.autocarindia.com/bike-news/2018-tvs-apache-rtr-160-4v-vs-rivals-specifications-comparison-407748|title=2018 TVS Apache RTR 160 4V vs rivals: Specifications comparison |date=March 15, 2018|website=Autocar magazine|access-date=May 16, 2018}} However the TVS Apache RR 310 and TVS Apache RTR 310 are an exception and are based on the same engine and technology of BMW G310R.{{Cite web|url=http://overdrive.in/news-cars-auto/features/bmw-g310r-and-tvs-apache-rr-310-whats-different/|title=BMW G310R and TVS Apache RR 310: What's different? |date=December 7, 2017|website=Overdrive|access-date=May 16, 2018}}
In February 2019, an ABS equipped variant of the Apache RTR 160 4V was announced and on February 28, the ABS equipped version of the older Apache RTR 160 was launched.{{Cite web|url=https://gaadiwaadi.com/tvs-apache-rtr-160-abs-launched-in-india-at-rs-84710/|title=TVS Apache RTR 160 ABS Launched In India At Rs. 84,710|last=Vijay|first=Vibin P.|date=2019-02-28|website=Gaadiwaadi.com - Car News, Bike News, Reviews|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-28}}
In January 2020, a revision of the TVS Apache RR 310 was launched in India powered by a BSVI-compliant Engine.{{Cite web|url=https://www.askmeauto.com/new-launches/tvs-apache-rr-310-bs6-launch-tvs-apache-rr-310-bs6-price-specifications-in-india|title=2020 TVS Apache RR 310 BS-6 launched at Rs 2.40 lakh|website=Ask Me Auto|access-date=2020-02-01}}
Models
File:TVS Apache RTR 180 ABS 2011 model parked .jpg
File:TVS Apache RTR 200 4v.png
- {{colorbox|lightgrey}}{{nbsp}}Discontinued
Design and styling
The Apache was the first bike in India with a petal disc brake, which offers better heat dispersion thereby allowing fewer brake fades. The same bike introduced ABS in a 2 wheeler for the first time in India.{{cite web|url=http://www.bikeindia.in/reviews/roadtest/Road-Test---TVS-Apache-RTR-160/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100223215923/http://www.bikeindia.in/reviews/roadtest/Road-Test---TVS-Apache-RTR-160/|archive-date=2010-02-23|title=TVS Apache RTR 160|work=Bike India|date=15 August 2007|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.overdrive.in/article/TVS-APACHE-RTR-EFi-vs-BAJAJ-PULASAR-200-DTS-Fi/page1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222225050/http://www.overdrive.in/article/TVS-APACHE-RTR-EFi-vs-BAJAJ-PULASAR-200-DTS-Fi/page1.html|archive-date=December 22, 2008|date=25 December 2007 |title=TVS APACHE RTR EFi vs BAJAJ PULASAR 200 DTS Fi (page 1) }}
Comfort and handling
According to a 2007 review, since the bike was optimized for handling, the ride quality was on the stiff side. Previous versions of Apache had a wheelbase of {{convert|1260|mm|abbr=in}} which resulted in better turning in at the expense of stability.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}} [https://taajasamy.in/tvs-raider-125-flex-fuel-launch-date-in-india-price/ TVS] increased the wheelbase by {{convert|40|mm|abbr=in}} to improve the stability.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}} The Apache RTR 180 ABS introduced Dual Channel ABS to the lineup as well as the country in 2011.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/business/companies/TVS-Motor-launches-Apache-RTR-180-with-ABS/article14943318.ece|title=TVS Motor launches Apache RTR 180 with ABS |date=March 12, 2011|website=The Hindu|access-date=May 16, 2018}}
In 2020, BS6 compliant engines were released in all their line up which saw significant improvements in RTR 200 4V and RR 310 models in terms of riding, handling and integrated tech.
Awards
TVS Apache RTR 180 won Performance Bike Of The Year (2009) from Business Standard Motoring Awards.{{cite web|url=http://www.bsmotoring.com/bsm/wcms/en/home/events/awards/BSM-Bike-Of-The-Year-2008-080102.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914063853/http://www.bsmotoring.com/bsm/wcms/en/home/events/awards/BSM-Bike-Of-The-Year-2008-080102.html|website=overdrive.in |archive-date=September 14, 2008|date=29 December 2007|title=BSM Bike Of The Year 2008}} The TVS Apache RTR 200 4V has been awarded the NDTV Motorcycle of the Year up to 250cc for 2017.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|TVS Apache}}{{Official Website|https://www.tvsmotor.com/tvs-apache}}{{Two wheelers in India}}