TVS Apache RTX road test, review

Following our initial review of the new Apache RTX in the mountains, it was evident that TVS had come up with something special, but there were still some important questions that needed answering. Now that we’ve got the bike for a full review in Mumbai we can finally address those points.

TVS Apache RTX Engine and performance 8/10

Smoother than the previous 310 and with good city/highway performance

The biggest question was how the new 299cc liquid-cooled engine handles life in the city and copes out on the highway. Making 36hp and 28.5Nm, the power output is at a similar level to the 310cc TVS/BMW motor it replaces, but refinement has taken a big step forward. Handlebar vibrations are isolated well and you’ll only feel a tingle in the footpeg and fuel tank area at high revs. It has a gruff feel, but overall refinement is as good as, if not better than most of the big single cylinder competition and no longer a cause for concern.

Inside the city a reasonably light clutch as well as smooth fuelling for throttle on off applications keep things pleasant. An enjoyable aspect of this motor is its low end tractability and it can easily hold second or third gear at speeds below 25kph. There’s no issue with bottom end performance and the performance between 4 and 7,000rpm is enjoyably strong - you can tell that TVS has tried to make this new motor more mid-range focussed than its predecessor.

While the display has the redline marked at 9,000rpm (exactly where peak power arrives), it actually revs to a little above 10,000rpm, although there’s no point in pushing it that high. Our tests revealed a 0-100kph time of 6.95s which predictably places it ahead of the KTM 250 Adventure but also well below the Himalayan 450 and KTM 390 Adventure. Top speed is electronically limited to a speedo indicated 145kph, but the bike’s highway cruising abilities are pleasantly good.

Moving to the mid spec variant brings in a powerful LED headlamp

100kph in 6th arrives at around 6500rpm and 120kph is a little below 8,000rpm. The bike can comfortably sit at this speed range and it can even accelerate above this when needed without much struggle. That means genuinely good highway capabilities and the only thing some people won’t like is the small 12.5-litre fuel tank. You should still be able to comfortably cover over 250kph even at a brisk pace, but a bigger tank would have been nice.

In our fuel efficiency tests the RTX returned 40.6kpl and 35.8kpl in the city. Of course, these tests are conducted at gentle speeds - keeping with the general flow of traffic in the city and no higher than 80kph on the highway. Consider these numbers an indicator of what to expect and how efficient this bike is will depend on your riding style.  

TVS Apache RTX Comfort and handling 9/10

Great suspension and comfortable ergonomics

With this being the top of the line BTO edition, the suspension is adjustable at both ends

The RTX uses a brand new trellis frame along with a cast aluminium subframe. Wheel sizes are 19-inch at the front and 17 at the rear and there’s a generous 180mm of wheel travel at both ends. The handling balance is very impressive with the bike feeling lighter on its feet than you’d expect going by its sheer size. The steering feels light and it's happy to lean over to its side with good grip from the Eurogrip tyres. The result is a bike that feels easy to manage in the city but also fun to ride on a fast winding road as well as encouragingly stable at highway speeds. 

The steering feels light and it's happy to lean over

The riding position is upright, spacious and comfortable and the seats are comfy and supportive as well. The issue is that the 835mm seat  height will be a challenge for less experienced riders under around 5’8” tall.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the WP branded Endurance suspension’s ability to soak in bad roads or even reasonably high jumps off road. I find that it does a better job of isolating the rider from the road compared with the rival 250 and 390 KTMs, although they have about 20mm more travel. With this being the top of the line BTO edition, the suspension is adjustable at both ends and while it does have a firm baseline feel compared with something like a Himalayan 450, it works remarkably well on good or bad surfaces. You can just stay comfortably seated and ride the bike through rough terrain without any stress and that’s a superpower on our roads. 

Wheel sizes are 19-inch at the front and 17-inch at the rear

Off-road capabilities are quite good as well with a decent 200mm of ground clearance and the bike returning good feedback from its chassis and suspension. The only issue is that the footpegs are positioned a bit wide and don’t allow you to grip the bike with your legs very well when standing over rough terrain.

The one thing I didn’t get along with were the brakes. While the rear brake has a good feel and can be easily modulated, the front is rather wooden and requires a fair amount of effort at the lever. Both the KTMs and the Himalayan are better in this regard  

TVS Apache RTX 300 Design, quality and features 10/10

Exceptional quality and design for the price

One of the biggest things the RTX has going for it is how big it looks. This bike has the presence and silhouette of a much larger ADV and it is a handsome bike that catches a lot of attention. Quality levels are also excellent for the price point and they exceed what you would find on motorcycles that cost quite a bit more. 

This TFT dash packs in tons of features and is also legible on-the-go

The same can be said for the feature set and you get things like cruise control, riding modes, a handsome TFT display, traction control and switchable ABS as standard. Moving to the mid spec variant brings in a powerful LED headlamp Bluetooth and screen mirroring as well as a bi-directional quickshifter. The shifter does its job well with smooth up and downshifts, but we find that it can sometimes be oversensitive and cause a momentary abrupt hesitation in acceleration. Finally, there’s the top BTO variant which gives you a brass coated chain, adjustable suspension and tyre pressure monitoring

TVS Apache RTX 300 Verdict 9/10

Superb value for money and a capable all-rounder

This is one of those rare cases where each variant makes a case for itself. The base bike at Rs 1.99 lakh is an unbelievable steal and costs as little as a 350cc Royal Enfield. The mid version is worth the Rs 15,000 extra for the extra luxuries you get and even the top version is tempting because at Rs 2.29 lakh, it still costs less than a KTM 250 Adventure.

The RTX is a handsome looking thing and it looks much bigger than what it's displacement would suggest

The RTX truly shines, not just because of its aggressive price, but because it's a very nice bike even when the price isn’t under consideration. Nevertheless, this is nothing short of disruptive pricing and it's something the ADV segment in India will surely benefit from. Shots have been fired.