TVS Motor Company has a number of products lined up for launch. The company recently expanded its 125cc portfolio while updating the Apache range. The manufacturer’s product onslaught is expected to continue next year as well with more electric vehicles, bikes and scooters hitting the market. And now we have seen spy shots of a new retro-styled commuter that could be one of the launches in 2020. The test mule comes from Hosur in Tamil Nadu, which is also home to TVS and the bike looks like a retro-classic motorcycle on the same lines as the Yamaha FZ-X. The upcoming offering appears quite similar to the TVS Apache RTR 160 and could be a retro take from the manufacturer.
While details remain scarce at the moment, the possibility is that this could be called the TVS Retron, a name that was trademarked sometime last year. The new Retron is expected to share the same underpinnings as the Apache RTR 160 4V but is likely to be more commuter-oriented than sporty. Details including the single-piece grab rail, a single-piece saddle, and an upswept exhaust muffler were visible on the test bike. We could also see the LED taillight and an extended rear fender.
The bike will also come with alloy wheels with wider tyres that could also have cross-section patterns. The model appears to get minimal body panels while the front design remains a mystery, at least new spy shots do not emerge. The test bike also appears to get a circular instrument pod with a digital readout but we will have to see if the same unit makes it on the final bike too. Other details to note include the circular rearview mirrors. Expect telescopic forks at the front and a monoshock at the rear, with an optional front disc brake.
The new TVS Retron is most likely to get the 159.7c single-cylinder, air-cooled engine from the Apache RTR 160. It needs to be seen if TVS will offer the 4-valve tech or lower it to 2-valve in a bid to make the model more affordable. At present, the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V is the segment benchmark and packs 17.63PS and 14.63Nm of peak torque in the Sport mode. The company recently updated the bike to get three riding modes.
However, this does leave room for an entry-level motorcycle in the 160cc segment. The upcoming retro-classic motorcycle is likely to be priced around the Rs. 1 lakh mark (ex-showroom), which will be positioned between the Raider 125 and the Apache RTR 160 4V. This is not the first time TVS has experimented with its commuter range and succeeded. The TVS Raider 110 also arrived as an entry-level retro-styled commuter and has done fairly well for the manufacturer. We do think the new Retron is still some time away from launch and it will be a while before the motorcycle hits the showrooms.
