Two years of development and 35 years of experience in racing has given form to the new TVS Apache RR 310, the most anticipated motorcycle of the year. When you have a company like TVS, who have experience not just on the road but also on the track, collaborate with the experts of industry in terms of design, engineering, ride and handling, the product will undoubtedly set several benchmarks.
Apache RR 310 has several firsts riding on it. The bike is the first bike from TVS in the super-premium segment and first fully faired bike from the brand. It is also the first bike to be launched in India from the TVS-BMW Motorrad partnership. The Apache RR 310 has big expectations and bigger competition. How will it fair?
Is it just a BMW G 310 R inside a TVS skin? Not at all. The RR 310 may have come from the collaboration and both the bikes have the same engine, but the similarities end there. TVS has worked overtime to make this motorbike as much TVS as possible without any compromise. The design of the bike is functional and the angles of the bike have been sculpted by the wind flow as the company has tested the bike extensively in a wind tunnel. From the face to the gills on the fairing, TVS design team has based the profile of the bike off a shark (no sharks were harmed during the process!).
The overall design of the RR 310 stays true to the original Akula concept the bike is based on. Twin projector headlamps, clip on handle bars, sculpted fuel tank, high-rise tail section, USD forks and rear mono shock all come together for a bike that looks amazing. The tail lamp is inspired by the Omega symbol but it also looks like the horns of a bull. TVS has made another first of sorts by fitting the Apache RR 310 with a race inspired fully-digital vertical layout display. It helps in offering a wide array of information along with racing features like lap-timer, top speed recorder, launch-time recorder and race diagnostics.
From the side, the RR 310 comes off a much bigger looking bike than it is. Another talking point of the bike is its build quality. Every component, switch and joint looks premium and neatly put together.
Sitting inside the Apache RR 310’s fairing is the same 312 cc engine that powers the G 310 R.
But TVS has made major decisions in terms of development and technology. The liquid-cooled engine is reverse-inclined (a first for India) and has the intake in the front and the exhaust towards the rear, opposed to the regular intake-rear and exhaust-front setup. This layout not just allows for better air flow, it also offers better mass centralisation that in turn aids in handling. Another advantage of the reverse inclined engine is, as it sits closer to the front wheel, the swing-arm can be extended without disturbing the wheelbase.
The engine makes a maximum power of 34 PS at 9,700 rpm and a peak torque of 27.3 Nm at 7,700 rpm, figures that are identical to the BMW counterpart. TVS claims that the Apache RR 310 can do 0 to 60 km/h in just 2.93 seconds, on to a top speed of 160 km/h and we believe it can, too. The engine feels at home as soon as you slot the gears and keeps up the momentum well over the three-digit threshold. Gear changes work smoothly and only when you redline the engine, the vibrations start bothering you but nothing that will hinder the riding experience.
TVS Motors has developed the bike to strike a perfect balance between normal commuting days and track days. The bike may not be as aggressive as its orange rival in power delivery, but comes out on the top in handling. The Apache RR 310 loves to change direction at the rider’s behest and doesn’t complain much about in mid-corner decision changes. The softer suspension setup and not-so-aggressive seating position helps it to don the everyday commuter role, too, without any frowns. Power delivery is smooth and linear with TVS opting to use its own ECU with the fuel injection system developed by Bosch.
The bike gets Kayaba suspension all around with 41 mm upside down cartridge telescopic forks to the front and mono shocks to the rear. TVS and Kayaba have worked together to further the sporty characteristics of the RR 310. On the straight lines, the aerodynamics of the bike shines bright, thanks to extensive hours spent in the wind tunnel. TVS says that the Apache RR 310 has the best-in-class coefficient of drag (0.26 Cd). 17-inch Michelin Pilot Street tyres come as standard with 110/70 profile at the front and a 150/60 at the rear. Braking duties are excellently handled by single 300 mm disc at the front and single 240 mm at the rear, both with ABS. There is ample amount of bite from the brakes but the feedback from the tyres could have been better.
With the Apache RR 310, TVS has made a successful entry into the super premium segment. The bike perfectly satisfies both the commuter and the enthusiast in you without losing much. Priced from Rs 2.05 lakhs ex-showroom, the TVS Apache RR 310 will surely set the roads on fire.
