[Sutripta]

Originally Posted by kutlee

can this brake distribution be called EBD?

No, not really. AFAICanTell.

Originally Posted by safari_lover

I am just waiting for TVS to launch their 2xx CC bike. I am sure it won't be long before they do that.

One year after Yamaha brings out their 2xx bike. (TVS seems to focus only on dethroning Yamaha from the performance pedestal. Shogun was the RX killer. Menace the R15 killer.)

Regards
Sutripta

[justwheels]

Originally Posted by safari_lover

I am just waiting for TVS to launch their 2xx CC bike. I am sure it won't be long before they do that.

A 2xx cc Bike from the TVS stable will surely create tremors in the competition camp. R15 is "only youth" bike. In India, a lot of people want to buy high CC bikes and still use it to drive their family on it. That's me for example. A good 2xx cc from TVS can be affordable yet stylish. And more so not too youthful to limit it to only girlfriends as pillion.

Just my two cents.

[tejus.s]

Hi arvi86, first of all, thanks for the review on T-BHP. I think after the Ninja 650R, the enthusiasm to test ride bikes kind of died out here.

Coming to the bike, well it's brilliant no doubt but for someone who is larger than the average Indian ('me' ), the Apache and the R15 are too puny. This is one reason I'd to consider a ZMA-R this year.

Keep this thread alive with your ownership review

[arvi86]

Originally Posted by tejus.s

Hi arvi86, first of all, thanks for the review on T-BHP. I think after the Ninja 650R, the enthusiasm to test ride bikes kind of died out here.
Keep this thread alive with your ownership review

A small calrification here tejus. I do not own this Apache RTR180 ABS. I just took the responsibility on behalf of the moderators and came up with this review trying to match the official Team-BHP standards. Of course, it would have fallen way short, but I am glad that most liked it. The only objective was that such a good effort from an Indian manufacturer shouldn't go unnoticed in a popular forum like ours. As a result, after the Ninja 650R, now we also have a review of the Apache RTR180 ABS in Team-BHP. That was the motive and it was achieved.

Originally Posted by tejus.s

Coming to the bike, well it's brilliant no doubt but for someone who is larger than the average Indian ('me' ), the Apache and the R15 are too puny.

Even I am on the fatter side and I can very well relate to this. Unlike the Pulsar and Karizma, both the Apache and the R15 are too small for stout people.

[tejus.s]

You've done a great job arvi and we all appreciate it.

Yes, we indeed have to recognize such technical strides made by home grown manufacturers.

[90BHP]

Very well done arvi, great job on the review & i would say an even better job on the photographs. Awesome stuff !

By the way don't know maybe you've an answer for this or not but, will up sizing the rear tyre make a difference to the ABS performance ? I am thinking not but, still curious to know your opinion.

[idofsuresh]

Thank you for the review. I was thinking about getting a bike with ABS as my top most priority. After your experience with ABS would you consider ABS as a mandatory feature if you ever buy a bike again ? - just trying to understand how much significance you attribute to the ABS after your experience.

[arvi86]

Originally Posted by 90BHP

Very well done arvi, great job on the review & i would say an even better job on the photographs. Awesome stuff !

Thanks for your compliments 90BHP. Comments like these really make me feel good. Most of the credits for the photographs should go, as I already stated, to my cousin. He has a really top class clicking talent.

Originally Posted by 90BHP

By the way don't know maybe you've an answer for this or not but, will up sizing the rear tyre make a difference to the ABS performance ? I am thinking not but, still curious to know your opinion.

I am no expert on this but I think upsizing would not change the ABS performance. But, if you are inclined to improve the handling or the cornering grip of the bike, then definitely 'yes'.

Originally Posted by idofsuresh

Thank you for the review. I was thinking about getting a bike with ABS as my top most priority. After your experience with ABS would you consider ABS as a mandatory feature if you ever buy a bike again ? - just trying to understand how much significance you attribute to the ABS after your experience.

As I already said, I am no expert tester but I really had a couple of instances in this Apache RTR180 ABS drive that really proved the significance of ABS. One was a muddy patch on a badly ravaged road. A non-ABS bike would have skidded like hell if I had braked, but the Apache RTR180 ABS really maintained its poise when I was forced to brake really hard. And the other one is coming to a stop from a high speed. You apply the discs and the ABS ensures that the bike comes to a stop quickly and in a straight line. No skidding and 'heart in your mouth' moments with the ABS.

In a nutshell, if I am in the market for a new bike, I would definitely pay the 11000 odd rupees more and get the ABS equipped version.

[anup7649]

Originally Posted by arvi86

The last line had me in splits. Jokes apart, TVS needs to do something about these vibrations. IMO, it spoils the overall experience of riding this bike.

Thats one reason generally if you have anybody as a pillion, their first comment would be that "oh this bike is no good, it vibrates a lot".

But for sure, driving the RTR is a bliss and wondeful. I did 32000 kms on RTR 160 (from the 1st lot) and the bike was just wonderful in acceleration and it surely lives upto its name "Rapid Throttle Response". Just sold it to upgrade myself and figuring out what next

Cheers,
Anup

[arvi86]

Originally Posted by anup7649

Thats one reason generally if you have anybody as a pillion, their first comment would be that "oh this bike is no good, it vibrates a lot".

Very true. All the versions of Apache vibrates a lot.

Originally Posted by anup7649

it surely lives upto its name "Rapid Throttle Response"

Again, can't agree more. It feels really quick off the line and it handles like a dream in congested city conditions.

On a different note, I just heard from the owner of this particular Apache RTR 180 ABS that was reviewed here that the stitches in the seats have come off for the second time in 2 months. The build quality as such is not on par with the competition in a few areas. That is really bad for a bike in this modern era. Just for the sake of comparison, my Pulsar's seats are still intact even after 5 years of ownership.

[abhinav.s]

Originally Posted by arvi86

Very true. All the versions of Apache vibrates a lot.

Well, my RTR180 has done around 1750kms so far. The vibes were very apparent in the 4k RPM range before. Now it does not vibrate as harshly till it reaches 5k RPM. From 5k to 6k is the botheration. Once you cross 6k, there is no vibration till 110kmph on the speedo (Did not observe the tacho). So seems like the vibes are slowly being ironed out with more miles on the bike. I know for sure the 5k-6k RPM range will continue to be a bother but optimistically assuming that it will get lesser than what it is now!

[anup7649]

Originally Posted by abhinav.s

Well, my RTR180 has done around 1750kms so far. The vibes were very apparent in the 4k RPM range before. Now it does not vibrate as harshly till it reaches 5k RPM. From 5k to 6k is the botheration. Once you cross 6k, there is no vibration till 110kmph on the speedo (Did not observe the tacho). So seems like the vibes are slowly being ironed out with more miles on the bike. I know for sure the 5k-6k RPM range will continue to be a bother but optimistically assuming that it will get lesser than what it is now!

I doubt very much whether the vibrations would completely go off. Yes, when you are between 60-80, vibration is high, and from 80-115, it goes smooth. When I say vibration, the pillion can feel at the foot rest.
Even after driving for 32k kms, my RTR never gave up the vibration in that zone .
Nevertheless enjoy your ride.

[abhinav.s]

Originally Posted by anup7649

I doubt very much whether the vibrations would completely go off.

Oh no! That will never happen. RTR and vibes are a life long relation. By nature, since its an over square engine, the vibes will be omnipresent. But everything is relative. Like my RTR160 was having vibes which could be felt a lot in the handlebars and foot pegs. The 180 is a tad better where the vibes are not as apparent as in the RTR160.

Originally Posted by anup7649

Yes, when you are between 60-80, vibration is high, and from 80-115, it goes smooth.

In the RTR180, till 68-70kmph the vibes are not that much. From 70-80kmph is when you are in for some free foot and palm massage

Originally Posted by anup7649

Nevertheless enjoy your ride.

Thanks a lot! Enjoying every moment on the saddle!!

[gopinathann]

Is there any other bike with ABS < 1 Lakh.

[arvi86]

Originally Posted by abhinav.s

From 5k to 6k is the botheration. Once you cross 6k, there is no vibration till 110kmph on the speedo (Did not observe the tacho). So seems like the vibes are slowly being ironed out with more miles on the bike. I know for sure the 5k-6k RPM range will continue to be a bother but optimistically assuming that it will get lesser than what it is now!

As you rightly said, the vibrations get really annoying once past 5000 rpm. More than anything else, its the wildly vibrating footrest that causes all the troubles, atleast for me. Whatever may be the reason, it's nice to hear that the situation has improved in your bike.

Originally Posted by anup7649

When I say vibration, the pillion can feel at the foot rest.

Not only the pillion rider, but the driver also can very well feel it.

Originally Posted by anup7649

my RTR never gave up the vibration in that zone .
Nevertheless enjoy your ride.

But, the Apache RTR has a lot of other things going for it. I generally find the owners of the Apache RTR series to be a very happy lot. And, I am not at all surprised. The sweet handling, the supremely-confident braking (in the case of RTR 180 ABS), the responsive engine and the sporty exhaust note make sure that you are hardly bothered by these niggles.

Originally Posted by gopinathann

Is there any other bike with ABS < 1 Lakh.

Sadly, to the best of my knowledge, no. The Apache is the first bike in India that has the ABS technology for a price less than 1 Lac. In that way, it has brought this much-needed tech within the reach of thousands of people in the country.

As far as I know, the next bike with ABS tech is the Honda CBR250 R that is priced at around 1.6 Lacs. Correct me, if I am wrong.