logo
  • Home
  • Brands
      • Ampere
      • Aprilia
      • Ather
      • Bajaj
      • BMW
      • Cleveland CycleWerks
      • Benelli
      • Ducati
      • Emflux
      • Harley Davidson
      • Hero Electric
      • Hero Honda
      • Hero MotoCorp
      • Honda
      • Husqvarna
      • Hyosung
      • Indian
      • Jawa
      • Kawasaki
      • Keeway
      • Kinetic
      • KTM
      • LML
      • Mahindra
      • Moto Guzzi
      • MV Agusta
      • Vespa
      • Royal Enfield
      • Suzuki
      • Tork
      • Triumph
      • TVS
      • UM Motorcycles
      • Yamaha
      • Yezdi
      • Yo-Bykes
  • Types
      • Adventure
        Adventure
      • Classic
        Classic
      • Commuter
        Commuter
      • Cruiser
        Cruiser
      • Electric
        Electric
      • Other
        Other
      • Roadster
        Roadster
      • Scooter
        Scooter
      • Sportbikes
        Sportbikes
      • Tourer
        Tourer
  • Bike Finder
  • Compare
  • Bike Reviews
  • Submit Your Review
  • News
  • Magazine
  • Contact Us

  • Bikes /
  • Reviews /
  • TVS /
  • Apache RTR 200 4V /
  • TVS Apache RTR 200 4V Test Ride Review

TVS Apache RTR 200 4V Test Ride Review

  • Jun 5, 2016
  • |   Comments
TVS have been clinging around in the 150-200cc category with the highly successful Apache marque for almost a decade now. The RTR name is in use since 2010 which brought in features like Petal discs on both front and rear, ABS, 0-60 timer and a top speed recorder (Set at 160 by default) and we've been waiting for a new bike to be unveiled for a long time. Enter- The Apache RTR 200 4V.

TVS took the covers off the RTR 200 back in January 2016 but deliveries are stated to begin by the end of June. They seemed to have taken the Suzuki route of unveiling a bike and delivering it to the masses after a longer period of testing and scrutinizing. With state of the art features and an attractive price tag, has TVS arrived with a bang? Read on, section wise.

The Looks: TVS has worked on making the RTR to be identical to the X21 Draken concept, and they seemed to have done a good job on that. The headlamp is a symmetric one as opposed to the Draken's Asymmetric one and the frame is a conventional tubular one vs the Trellis on the concept. The tank cowls, the offset fuel filler cap and many other bits seem to be inherited directly from the concept. TVS made sure every citizen can buy this without skimping on the color choice as it is available in Seven shades (5 Matte and 2 Gloss options, No extra charges based on color selection).

The single headlamp houses two LED DRL's and a powerful 60/55W halogen bulb, with a 12V 9Ah battery providing power to the full DC electrical setup on the 4V. The Indicators and the License plate illuminator houses conventional bulbs whereas the Tail light is a LED unit. The DRL's look cool and are visible in bright sunlight as well. Turning the key on turns on the white backlit fully digital console which provides the rider with a plethora of information. It has a long list of features like a Clock, a lap timer, 0-60 timer, top speed recorder and even a shift light along with the regular information. The full system check ends with "Wear your gear- Race on" on the bottom of the screen.

Parts sharing can be seen on this bike too- The Engine guard, switchgear and the footpegs among many other minor bits are lifted directly from its predecessor.

The Engine: The engine is a 197.75cc 4 valved SOHC motor which has an oil cooler, mated to a 5 speed transmission. Surprisingly the stroke length is the same as the RTR 180- 57.8 mm which suggests that the latter has been chosen to rework and modify instead of developing one from scratch. The surprisingly smooth masterpiece produces 20.5 HP of peak power and 18 Nm of torque, with loads of grunt available on tap in the lower RPM's.

The 200cc mill no longer has the Vibey feel at idle and is smooth, with TVS' trademark roar emanating from the sound engineered double barrel exhaust, which also doubles up to reduce your carbon footprint by increasing combustion efficiency. TVS claims it improves low end while retaining the sweet roar. The clutch is smooth and progressive and the gearbox is slick with smooth upshifts. *cough cough competitors*.

Riding in the bylanes tested the 4V's superior low and mid range which is one of the major positives of this machine. But on an empty stretch of tarmac this will surely throw you at the back of the seat as the low end torque is right there at the right place, waiting to be unleashed by the rider. 18 Nm of torque is available at 7000 RPM which makes it a hoot to ride in the city. Commuters looking for a easy to ride yet torquey motorcycle can consider this machine.

Rider comfort: Ride height is pegged in at 800mm, which is on the shorter side and makes it easy for riders who are on the lower side in terms of height. The seat is very comfortable and contoured for maximum comfort. Being a smooth foam seat, it's recommended to get a seat cover as it might get damaged easily by anyone (Right from your pet cat to your arch rival). The handlebars are faux clip-ons which are almost the height of a conventional flat handlebar and the rider sits upright which reduces the stress on the arms but the lack of a windscreen shall cause problems on a highway or when a tornado approaches your town.

Front suspension duties are handled by conventional telescopic forks, which soak up minor bumps very effectively and yet offering the amount of stability required whilst hard braking or cornering. The rear has a Monoshock which is sourced from KYB (The same firm which supplies high end suspension parts to Yamaha) is adjustable according to the rider's liking, both offer a relative plush and comfortable ride and uncompromised confidence for spirited riding. Braking are handled by a 270mm petal disc at the front and a 240mm rear disc at the rear. The front brake offers exceptional stopping power and provides great feedback.

The foot pegs are positioned a tad above than those on any other naked bike but the rider's triangle is more suited for daily commutes, occasional highway blasts and the rare Trackday you dream to attend.

Variants and options to choose: TVS has provided multiple variants to choose from- Carbureted, Fuel injected, ABS and Tires. The Fi variant houses a Bosch sourced closed loop system and is BS4 compliant and costs marginally higher than the base variant which houses a simple Keihin carburetor to fuel the bike. As Indian standards mandate the presence of ABS, DRL's and BS4 emission norms from 2017, The Apache 200's Fi-ABS variant shall continue to be on sale through 2017 as it ticks all the boxes mandated by the Union Government.

TVS also provides customers with an option of having Pirelli tires straight from the factory (Sport Demon 90/90 17 and Angel GT 130/70-17), opposed to the stock TVS Remora ones. The Fully Loaded variant is the one to watch out as it's one of the best value for money package in it's segment.

Priced at about INR 92,300 (Ex-showroom, for the base variant) the new Apache seems to be the best bang for the buck packages available for sale currently. We are thankful to Mr Vijay Simha (Susheel TVS) for supporting us doing this review.

Review By: Suraj
Photographs By: Sai Charan
Bike Courtesy: Susheel TVS, Hyderabad.
See full details of TVS Apache RTR 200 4V »
Tweet


More reviews of TVS Apache RTR 200 4V

How A Motorbike Changes From Prototype To Production

Jul 7, 2018
The prototype is defined as “A first or preliminary version of a device or vehicle from which other forms are developed”. Why is it so that the product made before usually looks more advanced than the product developed after its worked upon? Let’s dive in and check probable reasons.

TVS Apache RTR 200 4V Road Test Review

Dec 4, 2016
TVS provide a wide range of variants in new Apache RTR 200 and also have promised that the vibration issues have been damped out. Let's find out whether the latest product from the TVS Motor's stable live up to the expectations and the company succeeded in keeping their promise or not.

Comparison- TVS Apache 200 4V Vs Bajaj Pulsar 200 NS/AS Vs KTM Duke 200

Jan 29, 2016
The 200cc bike category is quite the flourishing one because it is something that offers the average biker the best of both worlds with proper mileage & handling and good grunt from the engine for those spirited rides. So it is not surprise that all the companies who have bikes in this segment are doing really well.

New TVS Apache RTR 200 4V- Overview

Jan 20, 2016
TVS has finally launched its much awaited motorcycle 'Apache RTR200 4V', finally the brand Apache got a serious upgrade. Lets have an overview of the new Apache to know more about the product.

Reviews of other TVS Bikes

TVS Apache RTR 160 4V ABS– The best 160cc bike?

Feb 22, 2019
TVS always take their sweet time whenever they want to launch a new product. However, the new Apache RTR 160 4v was launched much earlier than expected. The Supreme court’s mandatory ABS rule is obviously to be given credit here.

Why TVS Apache RTR 160 is outselling every 160 cc bike

Oct 11, 2018
Recently TVS sold 1 Lakh Apache RTR 160 4v and all of this was achieved in just a span of 6 months. With such a huge accomplishment, one must wonder, what is exactly the reason behind it. If we look closely, then there are a lot of them.

Myth Buster- TVS Apache RTR 200 4v Reaches 150+ Km/h [Video]

Oct 3, 2018
I love the TVS Apache RTR 200, especially its race spec, 2.0 model. The bike is smooth, grunty and lightweight for all intents and purposes. The highway stability of the bike is also really good, thanks to the 37 mm forks. The top speed of this bike is around 130 km/h on a good day but a guy has managed to take it beyond 150 km/h in his top speed test. You can see the video-

TVS Apache RTR 160 4V First Ride Review

Sep 20, 2018
The impact of the new 4-Valve counterbalanced engine is easily visible. According to many reviewers, the bike vibrates. I, however, find this statement to be untrue. There is a clear distinction between a slight buzz and the so-called “Vibrations”, a term which people use to describe almost every single cylinder bike.

TVS Radeon Vs Hero Splendor- Comparo

Sep 11, 2018
It is the battle of the century. The fight which will make or break empires. These are the two Titans which will carry their kings to the true heights of glory. I mean kidding aside, it’s these type of motorcycles which actually bring in the sales for the company. The whole cycle of R&D depends upon these bikes, more on that some other time. Today let’s compare the TVS Radeon and Hero Splendor. But since performance isn’t the forte of these motorcycles, we will compare them on the basis of "For they will be bought". Let’s begin.
View all reviews of TVS Bikes

Reviews of other Roadster Bikes

Why Yamaha FZ Version 3.0 Is A Great 150cc Choice

Mar 1, 2019
Before I begin, let me get obvious out of the way. Yamaha FZ 3.0 has low power and torque output figures than its competitors. With this and seemingly the only flaw about the bike, out of the way, let’s discuss why the Yamaha FZ 3.0 is a great 150cc motorcycle.

2019 KTM Duke 250 Launch Soon- Your Every Question Answered

Nov 27, 2018
2019 KTM Duke 250 has been listed on the company’s website officially, indicating that a launch is nearby. So we have compiled a list of questions to answer your every query related to the updated model.

Why KTM Duke 125 Will Sell And Why It Won’t In India

Oct 22, 2018
The bookings for the Duke 125 are now open and its ex-showroom price will be around Rs 1.25 lakh, which puts it in a highly competitive zone. Still, we believe that India is the most unique market in the world where chances of anomalies are very high. That’s why we have come up with a list of reasons explaining why the Duke 390 will be a success and why it won’t be.

KTM Duke 125 Maybe Coming But Do You Want It?

Oct 16, 2018
I am sure that you guys have heard by now that the 2019 Duke 125 is allegedly coming to India but the question of its Value proposition still remains. How many people in India would want to buy a 1.5 lakh Motorcycle having a 125 cc engine? Well, let’s try to answer that.

How Different Is The Yamaha MT-03 From FZ-25

Oct 5, 2018
We all have heard about the MT-03 series from different places around the Internet. So far, most of us know two things about the bike. Number 1, it is a Naked motorcycle from Yamaha and Number 2, it is not available in India, with no plan to launch either. But exactly how different is the MT-03 from the FZ-25 which we get in India. Both bikes just have a 72 cc (249 for FZ-25 & 321 for MT-03) difference, are of the same type, and made by the same manufacturer. All of this must point to a huge number of similarities, right? well, no. Allow me to explain.
View all reviews of Roadster Bikes

Latest News

Hero MotoCorp Launches the All-New Destini 125: An Exquisite Blend of Style and Performance

Hero MotoCorp Launches the All-New Destini 125: An Exquisite Blend of Style and Performance

Jan 15, 2025
Honda CBR650R & CB650R  To Make Their Mark At The Auto Expo 2025

Honda CBR650R & CB650R To Make Their Mark At The Auto Expo 2025

Jan 15, 2025

Recently Added Bikes

  • photo

    Yamaha MT-03

    The much awaited naked roadster from the house of Yamaha is finally...

  • photo

    Honda XL750 Transalp

    The Honda XL750 Transalp is the younger sibling of Honda Africa Twin....

  • photo

    Honda SP160

    The Honda SP160 is the extension of the commuter segment and the...

Featured Brands

Ampere
Aprilia
Ather
Bajaj
BMW
Cleveland CycleWerks
Benelli
Ducati
Emflux
Harley Davidson
Hero Electric
Hero Honda
Hero MotoCorp
Honda
Husqvarna
Hyosung
Indian
Jawa
Kawasaki
Keeway
Kinetic
KTM
LML
Mahindra
Moto Guzzi
MV Agusta
Vespa
Royal Enfield
Suzuki
Tork
Triumph
TVS
UM Motorcycles
Yamaha
Yezdi
Yo-Bykes
  • About Us
  • Privacy Statement
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact Us

Copyright 2014 - All Rights Reserved