Great Expectations
We managed to get our hands on the TVS Apache RR 310, which has become the latest member of our long-term fleet. As of now, the bike is with me, and I’ve just completed a 500km road trip with it. There’s a lot that I’d like to say about the RR 310. I’m going to start with the good bits about the bike because there are so many plus points about the RR 310. But at the same time there’re some things that I am not happy about. However, the good does outweigh the bad.
The first thing about the Apache that I really love is the way the bike looks. It’s beautiful, and it looks like a proper super sports bike. It’s got great dimensions, an aggressive silhouette and a strong design with great graphics. We have the black-coloured variant, which I prefer over the red. The bike looks big and also feels big. That’s the second thing I like about the TVS Apache RR 310. It’s a very comfortable motorcycle, even for someone with my height and weight. The seat is also very comfortable, and the ergonomics are really perfect. On my road trip to Jaipur, I never once felt any pain in my arms or legs or back. It’s got a great riding position that makes it easy for track use, city use or as a sports tourer.
The best thing about the Apache RR 310, though, is that it handles like a dream. Also, its suspension setup is perfect for all kinds of riding. In the city or on crowded roads, the bike is super easy to manage, and its very flickable through traffic. The suspension setup is also soft enough for any kind of broken roads, which means that no pothole, dip or speed breaker will bother you at all. On the highway, the bike feels very comfortable at high speeds and the suspension absorbs everything that comes in your path with surprising ease, keeping you in control all the time. The handling gets even more enjoyable when you get to hit some curves or twisty roads. It gives you the power to attack corners very comfortably while having plenty of fun.
Finally, I also like the brakes. The ABS system works very well. Brakes on this bike have got great stopping power and will prevent you from slipping the front tyre and sliding the rear tyre.
Now, let’s get to the most important part about the bike – the engine. The engine is a bit disappointing. It does have a decent power kick that I would expect from a 310cc motor, but it’s incredibly rough and noisy. The initial power surge from the engine at low revs is good, but not exciting, and the mid-range is lacking a bit. It does do decently higher up in the spread, but in the city or on the track I think many people will not be happy with the amount of power available. The vibrations are also too much, and while riding on the highway I felt prickly sensations in my hands. This is, however, something you have to get familiar with. I do think that after a while, once I get accustomed to the engine, I will be okay with it. But, in terms of the competition, the TVS doesn’t have a good enough engine, and that’s a little surprising, considering that BMW developed this unit. The engine aside, the bike exceeds my expectations in every other department.
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