TVS Apache RTX 300

The long wait for the TVS adventure bike comes to an end. But is it just that – an end, or a bright new beginning?

These days, everyone wants an ADV. And if you too are part of this craze, then surely the TVS Apache RTX 300 has been on your radar. With TVS’s brilliant engineering and its Dakar legacy, the expectations are high with this motorcycle. Can it finally be an alternative to the famed Hero XPulse to be your first ADV by being more beginner friendly while keeping some headroom to hone your skills off-road and become a better rider? The objective is set – time to find out how the much-awaited Apache RTX 300 is to ride.

This is a good-looking motorcycle. The Apache RTX looks quite substantial, and it is the sheer size of this motorcycle which commands presence. Where the XPulse 200 is a slimmer, more athletic motorcycle, the RTX uses its height and width to look more touring-focused. The headlamp cluster is massive with 4 LEDs and a smartly made DRL. The flyscreen on top is again big, and with the accessory knuckle guards, beak, and crash guards, the bike looks muscular. Adding a touch of premiumness is the golden upside-down fork and the LED indicators which are shared with other TVS products.

While the bike means business from the front, the side looks a bit more athletic. The side fenders flow neatly into the 12.5-litre fuel tank, making for one big chunky unit. But the rest of the bike is rather lean. The seats, though large, are flat, and the exposed frame is also well packaged. The grab rails look really big and sturdy, which gives this bike a tough look. The tail section is kept clean, but there is no lack of muscle from the rear angle with the large exhaust and block-pattern tyres. While the KTM 250 Adventure definitely looks sportier and more ready for a challenge, the RTX does look bigger and commands a better presence than the Suzuki V-Strom 250.

Colours

You get 5 colour options with the Apache RTX 300 – Lightning Black, Pearl White, Metallic Blue, Viper Green, and Tarn Bronze. Out of all these, I personally like the white because it enhances the size of the motorcycle. And if I had to choose a second colour option, then I would choose Blue because it is glossy and looks really cool. I did not like the matte colour options as they make the bike look dull.

Wheels

TVS has opted for a more conservative tyre setup with the RTX to make it more touring-oriented. It comes with a 110/80 - 19-inch front and a 150/70 - 17-inch rear tyre. Keep in mind that these are dual-purpose tyres which offer better grip on trails or off-road but don’t perform well on tarmac, especially in wet conditions.

Quality

The overall build of the RTX feels sturdy and well put together. It could be one of the best-built TVS models on sale, and that is saying something! All panels feel solid and interlock well without irregular gaps. The quality of the switchgear, handlebar, and other elements is top-notch.

Safety features

The bike comes packed with electronic aids. It gets dual-channel ABS with the option to switch the rear one off, switchable traction control which remains off even when you restart the ignition (thank you TVS), slip and assist clutch, and adjustable clutch and brake levers. Plus, the top variant also gets a tyre pressure monitoring system.

Convenience features

TVS has a history of offering benchmark-setting features and they have done it again. At the centre of it all is the 5-inch TFT cluster from the RTR 310 and the NTorq 150. This is an excellent cluster with lots of information being displayed very clearly. Plus, new features have also been added to it like Google Maps mirroring. It is brilliantly executed on the display, but your phone has to remain on for them to work. It gets ride-by-wire throttle with 4 ride modes (Urban, Rain, Tour, Rally), a bi-directional quickshifter, a multi-level traction control system, automatic and dynamic headlamps, and cruise control. Opt for the top BTO variant and you also get adjustable front and rear suspension, and tyre pressure monitoring, which is a big deal at this price point. All of these features work as intended, which adds a layer of premiumness to this motorcycle.

Rider comfort

With a seat height of 835mm, the RTX is a tall motorcycle. This means shorter riders will feel nervous getting up on the saddle. But once you get on this bike, confidence starts to build. My height is 5 feet 7 inches, and I can only get my toes to the ground. In fact, even if your height is more than 6 feet, the bike will not feel cramped. This bike feels very neutral and natural.

If you can manage a tall bike, the rest of the package is excellent. The riding posture is very comfortable. The wide handlebar, tall seating, and mid-set footpegs put you in a very commanding position. This is a very touring-friendly posture and will be comfortable for hours in the saddle. The seat itself is also large, giving you the freedom to easily adjust your position on the go.

Pillion comfort

Your pillion also gets a bigger and slightly higher seat. This is also a large seat, and with the massive grab rails on the side, they too will have no complaints on the journey.

Another reason why this bike was highly anticipated is because it debuts TVS’s new 300cc engine. This new engine will eventually replace the older 310cc engine and will also find use on other upcoming motorcycles. This 299.1cc, liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine makes 36PS, 28.5Nm, and comes with a 6-speed gearbox.

City performance

The refinement of this engine is good. At city speeds, the engine barely creates a buzz, which helps you feel relaxed while commuting. However, it does become buzzy while pushing at higher RPMs. But that too is acceptable and never gets uncomfortable.

The initial engine response is good. The bike feels effortless to get off the line and is very tractable too. 3rd gear will manage most of your city duties, and you don’t have to shift gears too often. Open the throttle a little more and the engine starts to feel more alive. While it never feels outright powerful or sporty, the acceleration is linear and predictable, which helps this bike feel easy to ride. Overtakes don’t take much effort and the bike feels better suited for relaxed cruising than outright sporty performance.

You also get 4 riding modes with it, which control the throttle map, power map, ABS, and traction control. The two top modes — Tour and Rally — have the same throttle response and feel very energetic. Whether you are riding it on the highway or overtaking someone in the city, you will not feel underpowered. Yes, as I said, it is not very fast, but you will not have any problem while overtaking or picking up speed.

However, we did encounter an issue with the fueling. When you open the throttle fully after shifting into 2nd or 3rd gear, there is a gap where you don’t get any drive. This spoils the fun a bit. I hope when TVS finally brings this bike to the market, this fueling issue is solved.

Highway performance

This same character is present on the highways as well. While we could not test the touring ability of the bike on Shimla roads, the sense was that it inclines more towards relaxed touring than fast-paced riding.

Gearbox

The bi-directional quickshifter makes shifting a breeze. It works well, eliminating the need for a clutch altogether. In my time riding the motorcycle, I barely used the clutch, and even in the city, you won’t need it often.

Mileage

Riding comfortably in the city can return up to 50kmpl. Go faster and the efficiency can drop to about 32kmpl.

The TVS Apache RTX 300 is an all-new motorcycle. This means that the engineers had full freedom to design a motorcycle from the ground up, which helps with ride and handling.

Brakes

The RTX comes with a 320mm disc with a radial caliper in the front and a 240mm disc with a floating caliper at the back. The brakes feel confident and progressive.

City handling

When you move it on your feet, its weight definitely feels a little heavy. The kerb weight stands at 180kg, which surely isn’t light. In comparison, the Hero XPulse 210 has a kerb weight of 170kg and the KTM 250 Adventure weighs in at 177kg. This can be felt in the way it rides in the city as well. It doesn’t feel very agile and it does require some effort to quickly change directions too. While this is not an issue and the bike never feels heavy, cutting through traffic will require some work.

Highway handling

This is where the RTX shines. The bike feels stable and confident on open roads. We had a very limited stretch of straight open roads, so can’t comment much here. But the bike shows positive signs of stability whenever we did find an open patch.

Cornering

It handles corners smoothly and naturally without requiring much input, maintaining composure even on twisty roads. Leaning it into corners feels natural, and it offers a lot of confidence. Despite the block-pattern tyres, the grip offered on dry tarmac is good, and you will enjoy this motorcycle on open roads and on some tight turns alike.

Ride quality

The one highlight about this motorcycle is definitely the ride quality. This is a very comfortable motorcycle. It absorbs bumps and bad roads very easily, and the rider remains insulated from the rough parts of the surface. It also handles sharp impacts well and keeps the rider comfortable. In fact, we never had the need to stand up and ride the motorcycle even when the surface got very bad – and that is a massive compliment to the setup. This is where TVS’s Dakar legacy shows.

After riding the Apache RTX 300 for over 100 km in Shimla, the first impressions are indeed very positive. This is a great motorcycle if you are looking for your first ADV. This is because it feels very friendly to ride. The ergonomics feel very neutral and commanding, the suspension and comfort are on point, and it comes packed with segment-leading features.

But you have to keep in mind that this bike is more of a relaxed, effortless, comfortable tourer than an outright energetic or sporty motorcycle. This mainly comes down to the engine. It likes to build speeds in a linear manner and doesn’t offer a punch in performance. So if you are looking for a motorcycle that is fun to push hard, fun to flick, then you may not enjoy this as much. But if you want your first ADV that you can easily take to a hill station, attack trails effortlessly, and even if you are new to off-roading, then definitely consider the RTX.

What makes the bike even more tempting is the price. With an entry-level price of under Rs 2 lakh and the top-loaded BTO variant coming in at Rs 2.29 lakh ex-showroom, this motorcycle offers excellent value.

A slightly sad news for those who are planning to buy the BTO Viper Green colour variant though, as its price has just been hiked.