ABS is said to be a little unpredictable where the road conditions are not good

Friends,
Thanks all for your responses for the 1st post of mine.

In Erode,Tamilnadu the OTR road prices of Apache are:

RTR 180 - Rs.79K
RTR 180 with ABS - Rs.89K
and RTR 160 about 70K.

I have a few doubts:

1. The ABS costs approx 10K over the 180 RTR. Is it worth? Will the ABS by TVS be reliable? (asking because I read about 160FI problems here in XBhp) Will ABS (being a new tech in Indian Bikes) require maintenance/ costly spares or any major disadvantage?

Reliable, it should be YES. Because I own a RTR 160 FI and I did not face single problem with respect to FI unit even after 2yr 5 months (approx 16k kms). Also there is a warranty period of 2ys they will replace the part if it needs to be. Believe me in during my last service they changed the coil under warranty even after 2 yrs. Regular service and chain maintenance should be fine.


2. If you do think that the ABS is not worth for 10K, should I go for Apache 160 or 180? Specifically, does Apache 180 has anything superior to 160 version other than the increase in CC?

The difference which I observed with 160 FI and 180( my friends bike) is the spread of torque. Less gear shifts would be needed in 180 when compared to 160. At any gear 180 will have the torque to pull. In 160 you can feel after 5k rpm. Any day 180 ABS is best over 160.

3. As suggested by @aargee, using bike selector in 60K to 90K price band the following Bikes come other than Apache series (omitted Avenger,etc):

Honda Dazzler
Karizma R
Pulsar 220F
Yamaha Fazer (forgetting the fairing/pillion requirement)

Does Apache 180 ABS offer VFM when we take these bikes into consideration?

Yes, Apache RTR 180 ABS is a real VFM product. you will get lots of goodies along with the safer technology.

4. Does Apache 180 have any major undue problems to date that I should bear in mind?

I'm not sure about the major problems but there was a problem with one way clutch with some of the batches. Now they have rectified and the newer ones are coming from made in Germany I think. You can see the images in 160/180 thread.

I'll take a test ride of Apache very soon in a few days.. and find if it suits me..

Test Ride, You will surely love it. Ride safe.

Thanks again for your help!

Can you help me understand this pls

I should change my statement to " it is unpredictable ". Where there is sand/gravel on the road i felt more insecure than without abs. Specially on hilly roads with alternate patches of sand/gravel it was becoming a pain to take the turns, sometimes the bike was going out of the trajectory too much and sometimes a little too close to the inside edge of the road, at times it felt like the bike would never actually stop, also i felt the rear a little wobbly. I am not sure how to explain but i feel more safer on r15 without abs and not putting it on the handling because rtr is almost up there. Perhaps it may take some getting used to.

P.S. Strictly my opinion. ABS is widely accepted as a safer and a better braking option.

Haxor - Err...I guess Abhi is talking in favor of ABS

Have you ridden the ABS version of the bike? on sand gravel that you are talking about.

I guess the Ceeber owners are paying a premium of 30k for ABS they I guess its reasonable to pay 10k for ABS in Apache.You should see the video link given by drifty,it'll surely open your eyes.

Best of luck.