If you have been reading the xBhp Magazine, especially the past 3 or 4 issues, you will know that we are documenting our journey with the Freestyler… the TVS Apache RTR 310. It is a journey the seed for which was planted during the launch event in Thailand. Then, it became a part of the xBhp Garage, happily twinning with the RR 310. Since then, we have been taking it out on adventures that emphasize the spirit of Freestyling and how TVS intends the Apache RTR 310 to be more than just a motorcycle.
You can watch the video here…
It started the moment the promotional material and the teasers arrived. TVS have been at the forefront of not just motorcycles but propagating motorcycling as a culture. While the Apache RR 310 represents racetrack precision, the Apache RTR 310 is aimed at showing how art flows when you Freestyle. The launch event was evidence of this. From skateboarding to graffiti and more; TVS went to great lengths to draw parallels between the Freestyler and Freestyling, or as we call it, art!
We have done graffiti. We have done stunting. We’ll talk about these a bit more but before that, let us tell you a bit about the idea this time. Skateboarding, a seemingly simple pastime, has become a sport where competition is not about who arrives first but who arrives in the most style. The tricks involved are developed with a lot of hard work and practice but most importantly, everyone has their own and hence… the freestyling. This is augmented by a rap song which is perhaps the definition of freestyling and you’ll agree if you are aware of the rap scene.
Our first Freestyling stint with the Apache RTR 310 in Lodhi Colony also known as the Lodhi Art District. Full of graffiti made by passionate artists, it embodied the spirit of letting your thoughts flow freely and letting them take colour and shape. Similarly, the Apache RTR 310’s design is refreshing. From the dual-LED headlights and the unmistakable DRLs to the step-up seat and the white trellis frame with the first-in-class aluminium subframe; they all reek of free-flowing style and panache. The graffiti in Lodhi Art District was perfectly complemented by the artistic design and execution that turned into the Freestyler!
Our next outing had not one but two art forms representing and complementing the spirit of the TVS Apache RTR 310- sketching and stunting. While sketching is a bit like graffiti, stunt riding is something entirely different. But just like any of the aforementioned art forms, stunting is also made great by the thoughts of the rider. The next trick, the next jump, the next slide or a spellbinding combo, stunt riding is a manifestation of the rider’s free-flowing thoughts.
The stunt riding aspect also proved further what we already know- the fact that the TVS Apache RTR 310 is a motorcycle that not only looks good but performs phenomenally as well. It has everything one can ask for in a motorcycle and then some. It stands out in terms of engine performance, its dynamic capabilities are exceptional and it is a class apart in terms of technology. The engine is the same as the TVS Apache RR 310 but it has been reworked extensively. A little more power, a little more torque and a little more poke in how it delivers that power to the rear wheel.
The chassis is stellar and complemented by the on-point suspension and brakes. Even in the case of our stunt riding stint, it performed well even when it was bone-stock. The way it communicates everything to the rider is an indispensable part of being able to control the motorcycle and put it on the exact line you want… or off it, all while being in complete control. On the highway, on winding roads, or in the hands of someone who makes a motorcycle dance- the Apache RTR 310 feels at home everywhere.
As you already know, for this project we had skateboarding and rap. Whether you have played Tony Hawk or have seen skateboarding on TV or online, you already know that it is a heck of a skill to possess. The kind of control one needs to have to perform it and excel at it is beyond imagination for a lot of people. Exactly the kind of control one needs to have to extract the best out of a motorcycle like the TVS Apache RTR 310. The motorcycle’s capabilities are so high that even seasoned riders need time to put it through its paces.
In terms of rap, whether you like Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Divine or KRSNA- you cannot dispute the fact that freestyle rap is a skill that only some special people possess. The kind of quick vocabulary you need and the kind of sense of rhythm you need to have is exceedingly rare and that just elevates the status of this particular art. That coincides with the quick reactions and sense to judge what the motorcycle is doing when compared to riding. So there is a clear parallel between the Freestyler that the TVS Apache RTR 310 is and the kind of Freestyling you need to rap and do it well.
This is one of the reasons why we like The Freestyler so much is because of that free flow that you find in all art. From the design to the performance, with the TVS Apache RTR 310 everything flows and yet, it is not a restrictive flow. What you can do with this motorcycle is limited by your imagination. You can have it right beside a painting or a drawing. You can ride it like a bat out of hell to your favourite rap song. Or you can match the tricks of a skateboarder with some of your own… or a dancer maybe. That was probably a spoiler.
This is the Axor Street Marvel Wolverine helmet, the pinnacle of head-protection technology combined with a design inspired by one of our favourite superheroes.
On that note, we will let you enjoy the lyrics of the rap song that was written and sung by our talented Shuttervedi or Dr Manan Chaturvedi. You can check out the video in the beginning. Also, always wear full riding gear, and ride safely and within the limits of your skill.
Here are some more photos from this fun day out…
