TVS Apache RR310 Review, Road Test (Video & Text)

TVS Apache RR310 Review: Road testing the RR310 over 800 plus kilometers gives us a great idea and we list every single detail for you to make the right decision

Enchanting –

• One of a kind aesthetics
• Superlative chassis, brakes, engine
• High quality and feature loaded motorcycle
• A true all-rounder

Unsatisfying –

• No pillion comfort
• No slipper clutch

There has never been such a good time to be a motorcycle enthusiast in the Indian market. Manufacturer from around the world and are coming and making motorcycles with the domestic manufacturer and providing them with a great price, specification and offer a new perspective to the world. We saw that Bajaj and KTM and something similar happened with TVS and BMW. We waited since 2015 for this day to come as TVS said their joint venture would roll out a motorcycle in the year next 2-3 years.

December 2017, we saw the bike given to us at the MMRT and today TVS has sent the bike to us for a road test. Back then, we said that the Apache RR310 is a great bike, but it would be far more superior motorcycle on the road. Time to put in some kilometers then, which we already did and as we write this test, we are done riding it for 800 kms to give you the ultimate big bad road test of the motorcycle which has been highly awaited. Start digging the information written below!

Design

The aesthetics of a motorcycle have never been this good in a long while from a domestic manufacturer. TVS has clearly taken the game to the next level with the front-end which is inspired by a shark and hence it got it pre-production name, Akula 310. The non-led turn-indicator mounted outside look a bit old-school on this very modern bike.

Headlight and cowl resemble the face of a shark, the fairing has gills in them and large puffed up to give substance and stance on the road far more superior than anything that is already available out there. O-shaped LED Lamps are very Italian manufacturer inspired. The alloy wheels look pressed and bland to a certain extent though.

The red frame and golden forks brighten the motorcycle up and is certainly looks great with a matte black paint scheme our test bike had. The large subframe houses a big tail-piece cowl which gets split seats and has faux vents in them to make it look racier.

The nose down and tail-up design with all the elements done right makes it a stand out motorcycle never seen on the road in this displacement category. The plastics used all around, the way the bolt placement and the right bolts used everywhere which are also high quality make this motorcycle’s every part, aspect and angle stand out and doesn’t look like a budget motorcycle in any regard.

Speedo and Switches

The cluster has everything you would ever need from a bike in 2018. The speedo has all fuel efficiency parameters on offer, lap time, lap information, date, time, distance to empty, service indicator, engine temperature in degree and a gauge. There is a small digital tachometer, a gear shift indicator, a hazard light button on the outside and all the tell-tale lights at the top and bottom.

What we do not like is switchgear button for the turn-indicator which isn’t intuitive and the pass light button is very small. Overall, be it any panel, button, switch, lever or palm grips, everything is of the highest quality ever seen at this price point.

Ergonomics

Ergonomics are that of a supersport bike where you get a relatively lower clip-on handlebar, but the seat is high enough to match the ratio of seating position and handlebar reach on offer to provide a comfortable riding position for a good amount of time. Seat cushioning is just about adequate and after extremely long ride your derriere can feel the pain let it be any type of rider.

The rear seat is useless as you have nothing to do hold on to and cushioning is very flat. Rear view mirror is mounted far ahead and show you a good view behind if you are crouched to a certain extent. There is a lot of legroom on offer so taller riders should be comfortable as well.

Engine and Gearbox

The 313cc engine makes 34 PS of power and 27.6 Nm of torque from its 4-valve single-cylinder engine. The engine is free revving and make good mid-range punch, low-end torque is adequate. The motorcycle has a 165 km/hr top-speed but there is no genuine top-end rush. The power keeps building progressively as the lightweight body and aerodynamics squeeze the 34 PS on offer. This is a supersport, not a sports motorcycle. Power delivery is linear and throttle response is spot on. There are vibrations at the handlebar, a bit at the tank and pegs. We got 23 km/l in our overall testing. 0-100 km/hr was done in 7 seconds flat.

The six-speed gearbox is a bit clunky with the clutch being used. However, it did work really well with clutchless upshifts and downshifts surprisingly. Clutch is hard and it does make your fingers ache in traffic. The overall riding characteristic is of a thumper engine with loads of torque everywhere in torque band.

The gearing also is not entirely tall but the overdrive gear is short enough to squeeze the mid-range and top-end power that the motor has to offer. The heating is well controlled with the vents that are patented by TVS. In the worst of traffic and high-temperature weather situation, the heat did not get to us. Overall, the engine supports sport touring, commuting and sport riding on the track and the road.

Dynamics

Ride and Handling balance on the motorcycle is really good. The Michelin tyres and suspension damping give an experience unseen ever before. The front is almost quick to react when you turn-in. The long swingarm- short wheelbase combination with a taut chassis gives this bike stability never seen before.

A very stable ride at any given speed, the motorcycle doesn’t get upset in mid-corner while riding in the twisties. The ride quality, in particular, is so good despite stiff damping, that you can turn-up the suspension and enjoy more agility it can offer as you stiffen it up by using the preload.

The tyres play an important role in the way everything works when it comes to ride and handling. Sticky enough with enough comfort-oriented nature that they do not play spoil-sport the dynamics. Braking on the bike is good with a lot of progressive power after a good initial bite on offer.

The feedback is a bit wooden though. The rear brakes lock the wheel quite often as they react very quickly and apply a lot of power with very little force on the lever. ABS works really well and the pulsing is very low on the lever.

TVS Apache RR310 Review, Verdict

The Apache RR310 road test was the most awaited part and it is finally done. The RR310 comes across a bike with quirks. The motorcycle isn’t flawless. NVH level could better, the slipper clutch was necessary and the pricing could be a bit lower (the recent hike in April 2018) makes it a proposition not very high on value.

However, exclusivity is very high with the RR310. The motorcycle carves a new segment of supersport in the 300cc category which was unheard until today. The design is the most eye-catchy part, the quality is unquestionable and ride and handling balance is simply phenomenal.

The customer will pay for more for passive features and slightly less for active features, which makes it a slightly less potent idea on paper. The conclusion to all of this is a test ride which should make you believe that this the motorcycle you will ever need for all your intended purposes. Till then, Apache RR310 is ready to carve its niche, which should leave an indelible mark in the Indian motorcycling scenario.