BREAKING: TVS Makes The RTR 160 More Powerful Than The Yamaha YZF-R15!

TVS has launched the new Apache RTR 165 RP, the first bike spawned under the brand’s new performance-oriented Race Performance sub-brand. This news comes just a day after the Hosur-based bikemaker released the first teaser of the bike. Interestingly, the new TVS Apache RTR 165 RP will be limited to 200 examples only.

What’s The Price? Who Are Its Rivals?

The TVS Apache RTR 165 RP has been priced at Rs 1.45 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), making it Rs 23,550 more expensive than the 2022 TVS Apache RTR 160 4V Special Edition. While its natural rivals are the Hero Xtreme 160R, Bajaj Pulsar NS160 and the Yamaha FZ-Fi, TVS has managed to obliterate its rivals, and even make its bike more powerful than the Yamaha MT-15 that retails at Rs 1,46,900 (ex-showroom Delhi) onwards.

What’s New?

The RP moniker means serious business, and TVS has used its motorsport prowess to build the most powerful motorcycle in this segment. The engine from the RTR 160 has now been armed with a new cylinder head with 35 percent increase in intake, 15 percent bigger valves with different cams and dual spring actuators for punchier performance.

This has resulted in a new 164.9cc engine that belts out 19.2PS at 10,000rpm and 14.2Nm 8750rpm. That’s a boost of 1.5PS but the torque has gone down by 0.5Nm and also kicks in 1,500rpm later. Topping that is the new slipper clutch, unique to the RP variant only.

Other changes on the bike includes a 240mm rear disc, instead of the 200mm unit on the standard models, a brass-coated chain and sprocket (like the optional bit on the Apache RR310), and new TVS Racing livery. However, all the changes have made the bike heavier by 2kg compared to the standard bike’s top-shelf disc variant.

What’s Unchanged?

The TVS Apache RTR 165 RP shares most of its components with the recently launched TVS Apache RTR 160 4V Special Edition. This includes the span-adjustable clutch and brake levers, new TVS Remora tyres, dual-tone seats and the red alloy wheels.

The new bike also benefits from the updated bi-LED headlight with the horizontal LED DRL that made its debut with the 2022 TVS Apache RTR 160 4V a couple of months ago.

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What Should Have Been Changed?

Though all the updates are interesting and push the envelope of what we have been expecting from bikes of this segment, the bike doesn’t feature a preload-adjustable fork. Given the exclusivity of this bike, TVS’ intent of giving a glimpse of what a thoroughbred race machine is, we would have love to see suspension upgrades on the RTR 165 RP.

ZigSays

TVS is one of the few brands in India that has been nurturing and promoting motorsports. The introduction of the new Apache RTR 165 RP not only shows the bikemaker’s four decades of racing prowess, but also makes performance motorcycling accessible. Though this bike is limited to 200 examples, TVS has mentioned that this is just the first product under the Race Performance series. Given how this bike has turned out, we can’t wait to see how the RP variants of the Apache RTR 200 4V and Apache RR 310 turn out. But before that, stay tuned for our review of the TVS Apache RTR 165 RP.