TVS Apache RTX 300 vs Yezdi Adventure: Which 300cc ADV Should You Get?

What a time to be a motorcycle enthusiast in India! A year ago when the Hero XPulse 210 came out for Rs 1.76 lakh ex-showroom (now lower because of the GST cut), we thought it was fantastic value for money for a 210cc bike with a liquid-cooled engine. And now, for just a bit more than the XPulse 210’s top variant, we have 2 competent 300cc bikes: the TVS Apache RTX 300 and the Yezdi Adventure. 

To celebrate this, we thought of putting both the adventure bikes against each other to see which bike is the one to get in the sub Rs 2.5 lakh space.  

Price & Variants

• The RTX 300’s prices begin from Rs 1.99 lakh. If you want the one with the quickshifter (which is excellent, by the way), it’ll cost you Rs 2.14 lakh. Going for the top variant might be an overkill for most users, so the mid variant is the one we recommend the most. 

• The Yezdi Adventure, too, costs Rs 1.98 lakh for the base variant. Interestingly, the bike’s two variants have two different design languages. The Dual Headlight variant, as the name suggests, has a twin LED headlight setup which, funnily, resembles a bike from a brand that has been TVS’ partner for quite a while now. As far as pricing is concerned, we can call it a tie as both bikes are competitively priced. 

• Both bikes have some lovely paint schemes on offer. The Metallic Blue on the RTX 300 looks bold and attractive without being shouty. 

• The Glacier White on the Yezdi Adventure looks classy and while white colours on adventure bikes can be a pain to maintain, it looks beautiful for sure. 

Dimensions & Design 

• On paper, there’s not a big difference in the bikes’ dimensions but in the real world, most people will find the TVS Apache RTX 300 more approachable. 

• The 180kg kerb weight is just 7kg less than the Yezdi on paper but in real conditions, the RTX 300 feels very light and easy to ride around, even at slow, crawling speeds. 

• The Yezdi Adventure, like many big, tall adventure bikes, can feel a bit top heavy, especially at slow speeds. 

• While the RTX 300’s 835mm seat height (vs the Yezdi’s 815mm seat height) sounds intimidating, it’s a slim bike, so even shorter riders will be able to put at least one foot on the ground firmly without much effort. So don’t let the seat height mentioned in the spec sheet be a dealbreaker for you, get a test ride and test things out for yourself. 

Features & Safety

• Both bikes have the basics: switchable dual-channel ABS and switchable traction control. So both have the electronics to keep you safe in case things go wrong on our unpredictable roads. 
• Where the TVS Apache RTX 300 edges ahead is with the cruise control and optional quickshifter. Our roads are getting better and having cruise control on a touring bike is very nice. And a quickshifter…well that’s just for the pure fun of shifting without a clutch, and this one will put a big smile on your face, to say the least. Spending the extra Rs 15,000 for the quickshifter on the RTX 300 is a no-brainer. 

Engines

• The Yezdi Adventure has the bigger engine but still makes a lot less power than the RTX 300: that’s something everyone who’ll read the brochure will think about. But that in itself is not something you should worry about. 

• The Apache RTX 300 feels gentle, linear and unintimidating to ride throughout its rev range. Its power surges in a friendly way and the engine is very tractable at low speeds. 

• While the Yezdi Adventure has been re-tuned a fair bit over the years, it still feels a little bit flat at low speeds. Let go of the clutch and it won’t roll ahead as easily as the RTX 300. The upside is that its mid range feels a lot stronger - that’s when the bike comes alive. It’s still an engine that enjoys being ridden hard. If you enjoy revving your bikes out, the Yezdi bike will feel the more rewarding of the two. 

• That said, both bikes can hold 100-105kmph out on the highway without much fuss, and both can get a bit buzzy if you want to cruise at speeds higher than that. 

Verdict 

While this battle turned out to be closer than many thought, it’s still the TVS Apache RTX 300 that comes out on top. It has more usable features, its engine is easier to ride and on the whole, it’s the more approachable bike of the 2. And while looks are subjective, there’s no doubt that the RTX 300 feels like the more premium bike of the two thanks to its better finish levels. So if a 300cc adventure bike is what you’re looking for, the Apache RTX 300 might impress you more than the Yezdi Adventure. 

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