TVS Apache RTR 180

The TVS Apache RTR 180 shares the same design language as the TVS Apache RTR 160. Both come with an aggressive design with a large LED headlight. The fuel tank is designed in a way that the rider’s legs are tucked in and the engine cowl is muscular, enhancing the bike’s road presence.

TVS says that the overall design of the tank extensions allows for greater airflow towards the engine for better cooling. It has a single-piece seat with a split grab rail. The tail section is sleek and sporty. The bike also comes with small details like the gold finish on the front fork and brake callipers which adds a premium feel to the motorcycle.

The Apache RTR 180 is powered by a 177.4cc air-/oil-cooled two-valve single-cylinder engine which produces a peak output of 17.02PS at 9000rpm and 15.5Nm at 7000rpm in Sport mode, while in Urban and Rain mode, it makes 14.55PS at 8200rpm and 14.2Nm at 6000rpm. Mated to a 5-speed gearbox, the 180cc engine is quite smooth at low revs, but there are vibrations in the higher rev range which are quite annoying. The bike has sufficient power and performs well in the city, making it a good commuter. But the downside is that the engine refinement isn't up to the mark as compared to other TVS bikes.

The Apache RTR 180 handles quite well and the low kerb weight of 140kg makes it quite easy to ride through city traffic. The suspension setup includes a telescopic fork at the front and gas-charged dual shock absorbers at the rear. It is able to handle most bumps and potholes quite easily so broken roads won’t be an issue.

Braking duties are handled by a 270mm petal disc at the front and a 200mm petal disc at the rear with single-channel ABS as standard. The overall braking is strong but the RTR 180 suffers from the same issue that all other Apaches have, which is the lack of feel from the brake lever when precise braking is needed.

The bike rides on 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in a 90-section front and a 110-section rear tubeless tyre. The tyres provide adequate grip and inspire confidence when cornering.

The TVS Apache RTR 180 comes with a well-padded single seat. The seat isn’t too hard or too soft and keeps both the rider and the pillion comfortable, even on long rides. The 790mm seat height makes the bike accessible to riders of all heights. The riding posture is a bit towards the sporty side but it is not too extreme and doesn’t become uncomfortable even when riding for a long period.

The TVS Apache RTR 180 comes equipped with an LED headlight and taillight. It is feature-loaded and comes with a fully digital instrument cluster with smartphone connectivity via TVS SmartXonnect. This has given the bike features like voice assist, turn-by-turn navigation and ride stats. It gets single-channel ABS and 3 riding modes: Sport, Urban and Rain which modulate power delivery and ABS sensitivity.

Another feature TVS has added in the Apache RTR 180, is the ‘Glide Through Technology’, a low-speed assist (also known as low-rpm assist) which allows the bike to be ridden through city traffic by just modulating the clutch, without throttle input. 

The TVS Apache RTR 180 is a good bike and has a lot of features which make it a value-for-money package at first glance. But the lack of engine refinement and a now-dated design could be a dealbreaker to many. When compared to other options from TVS such as the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V which is close to the RTR 180 in both price and performance, it is clear that the bike falls a bit short in today’s day and age.