TVS Apache RTR 200 4V BS6: Road Test In Images

One of our primary concerns with the TVS Apache RTR 200 4V BS6 was the significant drop in engine output as a result of cleaner emission norms. Now that we have got our hands on the BS6 bike at our HQ in Pune, we set about finding how the updates have affected the overall experience.

TVS has heavily reworked the internals of the engine. It gets new asymmetrical piston rings, a new intake system, revised valve timings, and a new exhaust manifold. The motor has lost out marginally on torque, now putting out just 16.8Nm instead of 18.1Nm. Thankfully, the engine still manages to produce 20.5PS at 8500rpm.

Off the line, there is absolutely nothing separating the old and the new RTR 200s. It is only when you start chasing triple-digit speeds that the BS6 Apache starts lagging behind. The engine packs a lot of grunt in the mid-range. Right from 3000rpm to around 8000rpm, there is a strong pull from the motor. It is only beyond that that the power starts tapering off.

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 Part of the list of updates on the BS6 RTR 200 4V is a new feature called Glide Through Traffic or GTT. It increases the revs ever so slightly that you do not need to give any throttle input to set off the line. The bike manages to do around 7kmph in first gear, 12kmph in second, and 17kmph in third. You have got to shift smoothly and ease off the clutch. But once you are rolling, it just keeps chugging along.

TVS has also given the bike a bit of a design makeover with a new LED headlight and LED DRLs. It lights up dimly lit roads quite well at night, providing a large field of view of the road ahead. It is certainly one of the better ones available in the lower capacity motorcycle segment.

There have been no changes to the split-cradle frame of the Apache RTR 200 and that is a great thing. It remains an able handler. It loves to lean over and is quick while changing directions too. The KYB suspension units are set up on the sportier side but aren’t by any means stiff.

Another update is the use of new TVS Tyres. The front is a bias-ply Remora but the rear rubber is now a radial unit from its new range called Protorq. I can tell you they are quite grippy on the race track, and the same can be said about its performance in the real world too. The tyres are unfazed even in wet conditions.

TVS has taken major strides in improving the braking performance of the RTR 200 4V. The earlier bike lacked ferocity and consistency, both of which have been solved in this iteration. One small hiccup that we continued to face with the system is the lack of lever feedback, but it isn’t a deal-breaker. We must commend the calibration of the dual-channel ABS system.

The RTR 200 also continues to get SmartXonnect Bluetooth capabilities. The turn-by-turn navigation system works well, unlike on the NTorq 125 where it used to shut off quite abruptly. You just have to leave the location settings on ‘Always On’ for the application for it to be seamless. You also get call and SMS alerts as well as few other notifications. The mobile application also stores your post-ride statistics.

The BS6 iteration of the RTR 200 is around Rs 13,000 more expensive than its BS4 predecessor. For the additional moolah, you now get a motorcycle that is not only cleaner in terms of emissions but also more fuel efficient. It is almost as quick in daily runabout scenarios as the old bike but more importantly, it packs better brakes and grippier tyres. Sounds like a good deal? We think so.