Re: TVS Apache RTR 180

Buddy 16kmph is too low for 3rd gear. Try to keep that in mind and shift down or up accordingly. You will get used to the throttle inputs in a couple of days.
Ride safe!

Re: TVS Apache RTR 180

Now I am really afraid guys. Have I damaged the engine already? Since this is my first real riding experience in a bike, I was little afraid to rev as the speeds were little too much in the initial days. And my bike was revving very fast, so it was little difficult to handle at that time for me. Now I have got the hang of the acceleration of RTR a little bit. But now for the past few days, after listening to the sound from the engine I am really worried. Could the sound be due to riding in low speeds in higher gears?

Re: TVS Apache RTR 180

Low speed in high gears will heat up the engine fast which might effect the tappets. But I still dont think that you would have damaged the engine just because of that.
So relax and enjoy the ride & always keep in mind to shift down to lower gears when you are slowing down. I guess this is your first bike with a gear. So the first job is to get used with the gear shifting and stuffs.

Re: TVS Apache RTR 180

Yes, the engine really did heat up. Does RTR have any engine check light?
This is my first bike. Before this I had ridden a splendor for about 40 kms and pulsar 135 for about 10 kms intermittently. So, yes this is my first real riding experience.

Re: TVS Apache RTR 180

There is no such engine check light.

Re: TVS Apache RTR 180

Andy a simple information regarding " which gear at what speed during run in"
1( 0-12)
2 (12-22)
3 (22-32)
4 (32-42)
5 (>42)
I hope this is helpfull.
Enjoy the ride.

Re: TVS Apache RTR 180

[MENTION=72998]andy0104[/MENTION] welcome to the tribe. Don't worry, you just need a bit more practice. Try to shift around 4000rpm for smooth shifting & good fuel efficiency.

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Update on the use of system G: I am using this fuel additive for past ~1000km regularly. I got this additive because it claims to clean the fuel line, carburettor & intake valve thus giving better performance & efficiency. After riding for 1000km I won't say there is any vast difference. Only difference I find is that the throttle feels more crisp. Earlier I use to feel a small pause/jerk around 3-4k rpm which is now gone. Next update will be on fuel fuel efficiency. When last checked I used to get around 40kmpl when ridden around 75kmph with short burst of 80kmph (on highway). On maintaining 95kmph-105kmph the F.E drops to 33-35kmph.

Re: TVS Apache RTR 180

@andy0104 : First and foremost, you are thinking too much. I do understand that this is your first bike and you are attached to it, but more you think in the negative part, the less you will enjoy the ride.
Now coming to the issues, that speed is very low for 3rd gear. Go with the sound of the engine, you might take some time, but you will eventually know when to change gear.
Yes RTR heats up fast and being new bike it will heat up more and will be better after 1st and 2nd services.
Regarding the sound I am guessing that its just our normal tappet noise, this might be frequent in your case because of two factors : new bike and the engine heating up quickly because of low speeds in high gear.
People here have helped you with rpm and speeds, follow those. Get the bike serviced at around 700-800kms, gear shifts will be much more easier and by that time you will get the hang on time.

Re: TVS Apache RTR 180

Thanks to all of you guys @prateek2210; @Traveller01; @Mr_Many_Places; @susheelkumar; for taking time and answering my queries.

I guess being a first time buyer and rider got me a little more worried than necessary. Now I have got the run in shift rpms and I will follow them. As I rode a splendor during my starter lessons I guess I shifted like that in my RTR as well. But now I know that both are differently tuned and breed. But I guess the more I practice the better I will get at shifts and riding.

Regarding the tappet noise do I need to get it adjusted at SVC right now or I can ride like this till 1st service?

Re: TVS Apache RTR 180

If you can get it fixed do at the first instant. Tappets are a small but integral part of your engine's running mechanism, viz, fueling. There wont be too much of a difference, but it will cause meaningless and unnecessary wear and tear. So yes, do it immediately.

Like Prateek said, please do not think so much. Trust your gut. Listen to your bike(meaning the engine, the way your gear box reacts to gear shifts, the way your exhaust responds to throttling, the way your throttle pushes the bike, etc). It is a learning. And it is incredibly fun and satisfying to have a bike as a companion. Enjoy. It is a bike. Not glass. You learn with it. You can afford a few mistakes but learn from them. Focus on enjoying the ride. Worry is not an emotion associated with biking, at least not for me.

Now, I know you have been given numbers and you probably will benefit from them. But remember to keep your eyes on the road and not on the speedometer. Train your ears to know when the bike purrs in happiness and when it roars in aggression. In simpler words, there is a way the engine will sound in different situations. When you are riding relaxed there's an easy soothing music to the sound of your revving. You can hear the exhaust. This is the range where you will get most mileage and harm your engine the least. Then there's the time when you go WOT and the engine screams so loud that you cant hear the exhaust. Here is where you will feel a lot of power and finally top out at the highest part of your power band. Not so good for the engine to be here for too long.

EDIT: There is also the range when your engine feels stressed at low speeds. This is what you seem to have been doing. This is called lugging. You don't want to ride at low speeds on higher gears. Contrary to popular belief, this is more harmful than riding at the higher revs. With this kind of action you are managing to damage a wide array of moving parts in your bike(Your gear box, crank, chain and sprocket to start with). Optimum range to keep the engine is 3.5K rpm to around 5.5k rpm.

IMHO, use your eyes to focus on the road. Use your ears and the general feeling you get to throttle and gear shift. Riding a bike is like writing poetry when done right. It's beautiful, has great meaning and is heart touching. I hope you enjoy riding your bike.

EDIT: I know there may be a lot of doubt coming form all this. Ask and we will do our best to answer.

Re: TVS Apache RTR 180

Change your riding style and see if it happens. You can get things done during first service itself, but make sure you tell them about this and ask them specifically to take care about it. Normally the SVC guys are damn lazy & all they do is wash, change oil & lube chain and deliver for first service. You need to insist on things to do (like tappet adjustment, wheel alignment & stuffs like that), on which they will mention in their job card under to-do list.

Re: TVS Apache RTR 180

Sure thing. I will check with the SVC about the tappets issue and if it is possible to get it fixed I will do that. And thanks for the pointers I will surely keep them in mind while riding.

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Thanks @susheelkumar; Surely I will do that and check if it happens. I will surely check with the SVC about the tappets adjustments.

Re: TVS Apache RTR 180

I am scouting for another bike. Being someone who values efficient braking, I am quite interested in the ABS version. So I am curious, what are the common problems associated with the bike other than the engine vibration? And how much maintenance do the ABS brakes need?

Re: TVS Apache RTR 180

What is the stock size of apache 180's pilot jet and main jet??

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Re: TVS Apache RTR 180

Switching to bmc high performance air filter
Jst need some rejetting

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