TVS Apache RTR 160 4v Long Term Report: August 2018

Last month I told you how TVS has redefined the RTR series from a hooligan to a more matured, all-rounded product. And I think a lot of the people mistook my take – they thought the new RTR 160 4v has gone a lot softer and isn’t fun anymore! Well, I wasn’t implying that. The TVS Apache RTR 160 4V still offers oodles of fun, but in a very polished manner. Like I said, it isn’t an outright hooligan anymore, but it can be that if you want. I particularly like its punchy powertrain. It delivers torque in a linear fashion, but it’s always raring to go. For a 160cc motorcycle it picks up speed quite briskly, and the best part about the motor is that it never feels stressed or vibey. You can wring the throttle as much as you like, the delivery is creamy even at the top of the rev-range. 

The suspension setup errs on the softer side, but the motorcycle remains planted when cornering hard. When you take tight bend at high speeds, it’s also quite apparent that it doesn’t feel twitchy or nervous like the previous iteration. Riding it in traffic is also a thoroughly enjoyable exercise. The gearbox has short ratios and much like the engine, the transmission is also silky smooth. 
 
At present, there aren’t any faults or issues to report as the RTR 160 4v is running absolutely fine. In the coming months – with monsoon hitting the deck in Delhi – we’ll soon come to know if it remains the same.