Re: TVS Apache RTR 180

Hello guys!,

I just joined this awesome group, though I have been a avid rider of my apache 180rtr since 2010 . I have a issue I needed help with but I first cant help but write my views on this bike !! (Read through last 100 pages or so without reading any, but that is expected given its a old bike in the market now).

I bought my white toddler monster in Gurgaon in Aug 2010 after rejecting the pulsar in a 10 min test drive :P

Pros:
1) Acceleration!!! - I dont care how much faster it actually is in a drag or so, riding experience is pure thrill because of the single cylinder! It expldoes from the red light. And I am a fan of singles.

2) Exhaust sound - No other bike sounds better to me in the under 300 category. Awesomeness!

3) Braking - I am still very impressed by the breaking skills, specially when combined with engine braking of the single cylinder (havent tried the r15 though)

4) Seating position - I love the racing inspired seating position and handle bars. Love it.

5) Reliability - the bike us c3.5 old, without even having a single engine or any other major problem. This is when I have ridden it everyday to office and I am everyday the 1st one to dissapaear from the red light (unless the KTMs etc are around). Also toured it but but not more than 350kms at a stretch, and just about 5 times if I remember correctly.

6) Attention -The white colour and looks, the exhaust note and because it wasn't a very popular bike up north in 2010-11 I got all the attention on the road . Its not so now that I moved to chennai where there are so many RTRs and other bikes in the market, but I had more than my share

Cons- Tyres -we all know that now, dont we.

My bike is 100% stock, always goes to svc for service and uses no parts/oils other than the svc ones. And stand alone it has been a super smooth ride with performance maintained at 22k kms now (only the top speed earlier used to be 135 on the odo, now its more like 125) .



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Re: TVS Apache RTR 180

Okay. Now the issue . I moved to chennai in sept 2013 and have had services done at vee-gee service in Adyar (I stay in adyar so works goood for me) . Though early service expperience was good , I am more skeptic now that -

1) I had a accident last week and the poor baby broke side-lamps , saree gaurd , leg gaurd, both foot pegs (pillion and rider), chain cover . It saved me completely though except a few knee scratches (and thaks to the helmet).

I went to Vee-gee service and had a below par experience. They changed the parts etc but both my tires are wobbling!! Apart from strange noises from the front while accelerating betweek 4-5 rpm..... it is damn scary now and svc said the wheels are bent and they cannot help it. They say either change both tires or I could go to some workshops that can rectify the bent.

Question- How can I be certain that the tyres wobble is due to bent spokes? And its not a alignment or some other issue? Leave the handle bar and it vibrates like crazy (like it would if I didnt get it serviced for a year!). Also I would need help of finding a good mechanic where this can be rectified. Anywhere in chennai will work but I really want a good ans honest one.

I want to return to my perfect riding experience for the past 3 years but honestly dont want to spend too much as I will be in the race to book the 1st RC390 when bookings start (IMO no other bike is a upgrade for me :P ...I dont want super smooth twins...I like the raw singles... not even a ninja650 which I was planning to book earlier when no other options were avail. (ninja300 is a no-no for me given its price and performance v/s duke 390).

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Re: TVS Apache RTR 180

Actually I went to an emission test centre and got the co checked for free :P he kept the instrument in the exhaust for around 8seconds and saw the computer and said that the co level was 1.6. :O I read somewhere that ideally co level should be kept at around 2 to obtain a proper a/f ratio. But after this I cleaned an old spark plug and put it instead of the current one and rode for around 25km by keeping rpms on the higher side.. the colour was a mix of light and dark brown. Going by this the a/f ratio seems to be right. But still I am facing uneven idling even when i set the idling to 1.4k when the engine is hot :O what may be the reason? Something to do with tuning right?

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Re: TVS Apache RTR 180

Uneven acceleration & uneven idle indicates a slightly lean AF.. You can increase the fuel a bit, it should make the idle even.. If it does not help, get the carb. cleaned..

Re: TVS Apache RTR 180

Hey guys
Can anyone tell me where I can find osram night racer plus and shell ax7 in kolkata, if not then can I get those online from a reliable website?

Re: TVS Apache RTR 180

All the new apaches have a slight uneven idle, all the new apache I have seen till now idle uneven or maybe the mechs at SVC dont tune it right.

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Re: TVS Apache RTR 180

I will make it a bit richer and see.
Also I will check the mileage today which shud give me a better indication

The osram night racer plus was ordered online by one of the users. (Aditya Iyer) you can use the search button to search for the post He had to pay 100 extra for delivery if im not wrong.



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Re: TVS Apache RTR 180

Congrats Bhai. Perfect choice.
Do keep the RTR. For at least a month. Else you will seriously miss the bike. Now the problem is, you wont use it more often now. In my case, in last 5 months, after getting my CBR, my RTR has done around 1.5K only(51K-52.5K kms). More over CBR is a pain in the city, hence I use the RTR for small commutes. But with D390, you wont need it more often.

Re: TVS Apache RTR 180

Thanks
I dont mind paying a lil' extra
The stock light doesnt have much power, I cant see the pot holes at nights because of low power of the stock bulb

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Re: TVS Apache RTR 180

Congratulations [MENTION=47593]Adarsh_Bk[/MENTION] happy for you for getting a proper upgrade. I thought you were getting the N650. Some where I feel the D390 is a proper upgrade for RTR owners who are looking for more power & similar feeling. Will be looking for a comparo from you side. [MENTION=32054]sambit[/MENTION] totally agreed with you, its very hard to abandon this almost all rounder bike. We upgrade only for our greed for more power & may be for a little more comfort (CBR250R).

Re: TVS Apache RTR 180


Thanks a lot guys

Yes, RTR is a very good all rounder and you were right, its only our greed which makes us upgrade And I remember you (@sambit) saying again and again how a cbr250 (though being a good bike no doubt) is not a perfect upgrade for RTR The 390 has same characteristics as RTR (albeit different gearing) but its like an RTR on some serious steroids with much better handling. I will surely try to make a comparo [MENTION=50589]Traveller01[/MENTION]

Re: TVS Apache RTR 180

Congrats on the D390..!!
But the 390 is an exact opposite to the RTR when it comes to the exhaust note..

Can you think of anything that TVS SVC can do correctly..??

Yes, if you get too much F.E, then the A/F ratio is lean..

Re: TVS Apache RTR 180






i haven't got it ported by any of the tuning houses. Got it done at a lathe workshop with the help of my mechanic. FFE is a local company. Plan on keeping her forever. I am sure i wont have any problems and extra maintenance because of the hot rodding.








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Re: TVS Apache RTR 180

All the best bro! I do hope you have thousands of (s)miles with the souped up bike.

Re: TVS Apache RTR 180

Yup! It sounds like tractor/rickshaw/generator in lower rpms but as a rider you dont hear it that much, only people around you hear that But once the rpm crosses 4k, thats when the real sound system starts playing

And there is no doubt RTR has one of the best sounding exhaust in Indian bike till date.