How does the Apache RTR 310 fare for a non-experienced rider: 13 points

For someone who learned to ride bikes at 27, the TVS Apache RTR 310 is a super-friendly motorcycle. Here is why.

BHPian doomketu recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Appucha - My 2024 RTR 310

A story of how I got back to riding bikes after a 7-year hiatus

As with the majority of families, bikes were considered death incarnate in my home. I was urged by parents from the get-go to save up for a car, one that has all bells and whistles, rather than buying a 2-wheeler. Oh, how the tables turned when they themselves were invested in my hunt for a 2 wheeler 20 years later. (Hi mum n dad from the early 2000's).

As with kids of my generation, we learnt to ride 2 wheeler on our neighbor's Kinetic Honda and my uncle's TVS 50. My older cousin would pedal the TVS 50 and would let me handle the throttle and turning (albeit in a controlled manner). A geared two-wheeler was out of the equation for most of my childhood and adult life due to the taboo associated with it and it was reinforced when dad’s colleague lost their son to an accident.

Being a Mumbaikar, the abundance of trains, buses and autos helped move the population in a cheap efficient manner. I would commute 30 km one way to college via all 3 modes of transport, each feeding the next. Friends who came to college on their brand new Karizma were looked at with awe.

I finally learnt how to ride a Bike at the young age of 27 thanks to an old school friend (thanks Viv), whom I call guruji to this day. He patiently let me take his Pulsar 150 out for a spin and saw me fail miserably with the clutch controls. He would then sit on the pillion and guide me step by step through the open and empty roads of Powai, where we worked at the time. After a few days of practice, I could at least ride it on those interior roads.

Later I got a chance to ride a colleague’s Bullet regularly back from the office, as we lived nearby and I was smitten by it. Alas, that was not meant to last. While overseas for work, I broke my right hand badly and had to get surgery done. Unfortunately, it was shoddily done and I had to return to India and get it done again. This shattered all the hopes I had of riding again (along with most of my right arm), as my hand was in a cast for the better part of a year.

I restricted myself to riding a scooty and something in the same weight range for short trips as I could feel the stress on the hand. I did try to ride the Bullet again but it was a bit cumbersome.

Late last year the bug to ride bit again wherein I wanted a proper 2 wheeler and the 2023 Bullet had caught my eye with Himalayan as a potential backup. Long story short, it didn't work out and I went back into hibernation till TVS launched the RTR 310 and some time passed.

While on a hunt to replace the scooty with a Jupiter, I got a chance to test-ride one and was floored. No bike felt so approachable yet so raw. My mind was made after 2 more test rides the same week. I took the inputs written on this thread, a massive thanks to Neil, and also saw Strell (a YouTuber) had uploaded on the same week. It provided me with an extensive list of what to expect and what to watch out for.

The Sales associate was patient but the guy in charge of the test rides was an absolute treasure trove of information (Vaishnav, you are a champ!). I got the finances in order and got the base Arsenal Black with Quick-shifter. Did not opt for any packages.

Booking experience

To the point and no extras added.

Pre Delivery Inspection

Went to the yard with my SA and inspected the bike. It was a brand new specimen that was in fact manufactured and cleared just 10 days back. No issues with the bike.

Delivery experience

Stellar. I opted for a fuss-free 9 am delivery. Bike was ready to go 2 days after PDI. I got the usual kits and a fantastic helmet. Got a key chain, pin and a mug with TVS branding as a gift inside a TVS branded bag.

The above bits are just ramblings of a man, who just wanted to ride his bike and share it to the forum. Coming to the matter at hand, as someone who is not by any means an experienced rider how does this bike fair? Let's break it down point by point before I get sidetracked.

1. Weight: At 169 kg (add another 10 for wet weight) it's very easy to manage. The pillion grab rails are sturdy and quite grippy.
2. Engine and Power Delivery: It is super friendly, just twist it slowly. It has a tendency to race a lot if you give slightly more throttle in Urban or rain modes, making it buck ahead. The 312cc, 27 hp (in urban and rain modes. 35.6 in other 3 modes) under you is not wild. Sub 2.5k feels a bit lethargic but the next point talks about a solution for that. Top end is fine and I can quickly climb from 30 kph 3rd gear to 80 kph 6th gear with just a flick of a wrist and 4 seconds. The engine sounds rough, but let me assure you, it's smooth. Shift within the rev band and watch the magic happen.
3. GTT: What TVS calls GTT is basically creep mode. Let go of the clutch slightly and much like the AMT vehicles, the bike will creep ahead and then slowly gain speed. I have tested this till 3rd gear 25 kph, after which it's better that you start giving input. This is a godsend in Bangalore traffic.
4. Braking: Rear brake lacks bite, it does the job well but you may want to taper expectations. Front brake is nippy, use it with caution.
5. Suspension: Tuned to a slightly stiff setup, I love the crisp ride quality. It handles the undulations well and I am able to go through the poor excuse of roads with relatively little discomfort. But make no mistake, take it slowly and done charge over potholes like one would in an Xpulse or Himalayan. I don't get adjustable suspensions as I opted for the base package.
6. Quick-shifter: Truly a marvelous addition that makes the bike that much more approachable for newer riders. As it's bi-directional, with Slip and assist clutch, upshift and downshift when in motion are *chef’s kiss* butter smooth. Please use these preferable over 4.5k RPM as shifting in lower RPM is better done manually.
7. Tyre: Grippy and does its job well. Tubeless, meaning no worries in case of a flat.
8. Handling: It's perfect for the urban jungle. Handles well and has a shorter turning radius. It can zip between traffic and filter through quite easily. It's truly a bike for urban settings.
9. Economy: I do a bit of spirited driving if the roads permit it but I usually prefer to stick to sub 55kph. The tank-to-tank showed 28 for the latest refill. This was for the office commutes where I spent 10 -15 minutes praying to the gods of Tin factory and Beniganahalli Lake to give me quick and safe passage. For the refill before that, it showed 33 as I had ridden it in the night on open roads quite sedately. Not much to complain about here. I am sure it will improve after the first service.
10. Cruise Control: For folks who do highway riding, this is a boon. I used it once and loved it, but setting it can be a bit intimidating. Maybe with practice, will get easier.
11. Seat: For someone who is +6ft, the seat is comfortable. The front of the Pillion has a cushion exactly where my lower back rests, thus cradling the lumbar area with much-needed support. Pillion Seat is NOT FRIENDLY. I got it for the sole purpose of solo riding, so for me, this is a non-issue.
12. Headlights: DRL is a sleek strip at the lower end of the headlight. Dynamic headlight setting is ON by default, in case it's dark, lights immediately switch on. The sensors take care of it completely. High beam is super bright and has a good throw.
13. Vibration: Yup it's a vibey single. Is it a free prostate examination? No. Is it like a wall drilling that is happening 5 floors away? Sure. At the lower end, the foot pegs have a slight buzz. The fuel tank and the handlebar too buzz at speeds up to 80. I have not crossed 80, so I cannot see firsthand how it behaves at higher speeds where the vibrations minimize drastically (apparently).

All of the points mentioned above, especially the GTT, Quick-shifter and the rather linear initial power delivery make it a super-friendly bike. I can slowly creep to a start when the signal turns green and within 5 seconds hit 40kph on 3rd and then quickly shift my way to escape the rash driving Tempo traveler anna who is honking so that you can make way for his dumb ass, despite the fact that you both will stop at the same signal down the road.

To any other new rider who wants a decent bike loaded to the eyes with features that can make your commute fun, you can consider this bike.

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