TVS Apache RR 310

“Is this an imported bike?” many passersby asked when we first took the RR 310 out on to the streets in 2018. The same level of excitement (and even a little bit of lust) still remains when you lay eyes on the supersport. The shark-inspired design sees no changes in 2020 retaining the bi-LED projector headlamps and ‘snake fangs’ tail light.

The gloss black/matte grey colour option looks rather handsome, with just a little bit of red sprinkled in the mix in the form of its exposed trellis frame. The paint finish, especially the metallic flake-ish bits of the matte grey panels, is top drawer. My personal choice though remains the Racing Red colour scheme with its white racing stripe down the centre of the bike. 

While you will not notice from afar, the windshield has been affixed differently. Earlier, its mounting was tucked beneath the front fairing panel and bolted on as one. As a result, you were met with unpleasant chattering when riding the bike spiritedly, due to the poorly isolated engine vibrations. TVS fixed that problem for the existing owners with thick rubber piping to isolate said vibrations. That is no longer the case on this bike. The windshield gets four dedicated bolts, which are not directly connected to the fairing. This has reduced the chattering sound to a great extent. Good job, TVS.

Oh, and TVS has also introduced the ‘Built To Order’ initiative, which lets prospective customers  load their motorcycle with a bevy of functional as well as aesthetic accessories right from the factory itself. Under this programme, users can opt for either a Dynamic Kit or a Race kit. The former includes fully adjustable KYB front and rear suspension, and a brass coated drive chain - all for a sum of Rs 12,000. On the other hand, the Race Kit costs Rs 5,000, and comes with a lower set of clip-on handlebars, knurled, and raised footpegs. Apart from these two kits, you can also opt for Race Replica graphics as well as a personalised race number on the windshield.

Performance outputs from the BMW-engineered 312cc motor remain the same. And with the inclusion of ride-by-wire and rider modes, the fuelling has become more precise. Are these updates enough to overcome the 4kg increase in kerb weight?

The TVS Apache RR 310 is one of the sweetest handling machines in the affordable performance segment. It is sharp and predictable, with enough poise not to scare you witless, like maybe the RC 390. If you are stepping up from the Yamaha R15 v3 or even the TVS Apache RTR 200 4V, you will appreciate its friendly demeanour. In the real world, the RR 310 soaks in mid-corner bumps, allowing you to carry your lines through corners with little to no adjustment. And if you have to make any adjustments, its quick steering allows you to dodge around potholes that just crept up on your favourite set of twisties.

Not only is it one of the best educational tools for sport riding but also an equally capable commuting companion. The raised clip-ons don’t force you to put your entire body weight onto your wrists, allowing enough leverage and room to move your upper body to slip past slow moving traffic. Speed humps and road imperfections are dealt with ease. The ride is rarely unsettled, even when going over sharp bumps with slight gusto. And you needn’t worry about scraping its belly either, the 180mm ground clearance is pretty good for a supersport.

TVS has to be commended with its choice of rubber for the new RR 310. The company claims it is the first bike in the world to get Michelin Road 5 rubber as standard. The new tyres are a marked improvement over the old Pilot Sports, which failed to inspire much confidence and were easily fazed when going through standing water. Michelin claims the new tyres dispel water much efficiently. They provide great cornering feedback and even when there was a bit of washed over dirt on the roads, they showed little to no signs of letting traction go. 

But when you do run these tyres into the ground, the replacement tyres will not be available at TVS service centres. You will have to contact a Michelin dealer in your city and avail of the same tyres which retail for Rs 4,800/Rs 6,800 (front/rear). The pricing is on par with the Metzeler Sportec M5 H-rated rubber (Rs 12,500 for a pair) that is found on the RC 390 and 390 Duke but these particular set of German tyres aren’t as grippy as their French counterparts. 

One of the biggest changes on the BS6 Apache RR 310 is the small but useful suite of electronic aids. TVS has introduced ride-by-wire, giving birth to four rider modes: Rain, Urban, Sport and Track. Each one of these modes has its own dedicated throttle response, torque map and ABS calibration. You can toggle through the modes by simply shutting the throttle and pressing the up button on the new control cube. How different is the sensation in each one of these modes? Check out the next section.

Another key update is the new 5-inch vertically stacked TFT colour dash. It is equipped with TVS’ SmartXonnect Bluetooth module, narrating call and SMS alerts, and turn-by-turn navigation on the screen. Each riding mode gets a dedicated screen layout with dark and bright options that can either be changed manually or automatically depending on the time of day. Each one of the layouts is clean with legible data. If there’s one hiccup it could be that shorter riders might not get a clear view of the turn-by-turn navigation section on the dash. 

At the end of every ride, a report is generated, which along with the regular ride-related data also shows lean angles and G-forces. There is no IMU on-board to record this, so it uses your phone’s accelerometer.