The Annual Polk County SnowBlow Championships are just around the corner, and brothers Dougie and Donny are struggling with unreliable machinery and very limited mechanical skills (and tools). What are they to do? They must keep Grandpa Sparky’s legend alive … but how??
I first thank and congratulate bikeadvice.in for its wonderful effort in bringing in so much info at one place which helps buyers to make their buying decision and also keeping us updated on the latest happenings on the Indian bike scene. This isn’t a “My bike is the best” kind of review. Rather, its a “What’s best in my bike” kind. Every bike is unique in its own way which gives the rider/buyer ample choice in the market for what they need in a bike. Some may want power, some may want mileage the most, some may want the most comfortable bike and some may need the most stylish one. Buying my first bike was really a very awesome experience. The first need in mind is Power and killer looks (along with a budget of 70k actually).
The choices were Galore, Bajaj Pulsar 150/180, Honda Unicorn, Yamaha FZ 16, Hero Honda karizma, Hero Honda CBZ Extreme, Hero Honda Hunk etc. Karizma would obviously be the ultimate choice, but it was 15k off my budget and Pulsars had already taken over every ‘Gully’ in India and are such a common sight. Least was on my mind the Apache RTR 160 because of the not so good reputation of TVS service.
The Decision: All it took was One Ride to change my mind, Just one ride. I borrowed my friend’s Apache RTR 160 one day in college and hit the highway. The bike zoomed past 60 in no time. It went past 90 in a jiffy. Even doing 100 was a breeze. The best part was the instant throttle response, true to its name of Racing Throttle Response (RTR). I totally fell in love with it. Even the handling and cornering (like a racer with the knee scraping around the corners) were fantastic. All other things like mileage, vibes, and service became secondary as the adrenaline rush was more than you can ask for from any bike in this segment. After a month long wait I finally laid hands on my brand new Titanium Grey Apache RTR 160 which is my monster. Just couldn’t wait to ride it. But I was told not to cross 50 kmph for the first 1000 kms for the engine to run-in properly. It was worth the wait though. I had not bought the EFI as it was new on Indian roads and needed more time on testing (though boasts of higher mileage and power).
Specs and Performance: 15.2 bhp of power was more than enough for our present road conditions. The disc brakes on the Apache RTR 160 (roto petal discs) are the best in its class giving more superior stopping power and shorter stopping distance than any other bike. TVS claims a top speed of 120km/h, but I managed to do a top whack of 129km/h. Wonder how much it was more than the actual speed though. The shortest time recorder (0 to 60 timer) shows my record of 4.5 seconds. The bike can go on par with a pulsar 180 initially and can also beat it, but the greater pull on the pulsar gradually makes it go further than the apache. The vibrations on the bike are negligible for someone who needs nothing but power in a bike and ride at high speed, but you can’t expect the refinement of a unicorn in an apache. The tyres are a bit slippery not only on wet roads but also on slightly muddy surface too. This makes corners very scary. TVS must have provided wider rear tyres at least of the Apache 180’s. Wonder what reasons TVS has got for such tyres. Just wish that the racing kits of the apache which increases the power by more than 3 bhp are available in the market. As of now they are not available to commuters but only to TVS track racers.
Looks: The looks of the bike are pretty amazing with mean Headlamps and split grab-rails. The rear set foot-pegs too are a boon to youngsters giving a more sporty seating position. The pillion seating is a little uncomfortable due to its raised position. The open chain needs more maintenance and regular oiling/greasing than closed drive chains. The instrumentation of the bike is the best in the segment and is good enough for touring and high speed highway riding. The LED tail lamps are sure attention grabbers. I had got stickers like the Apache 180 on the front air scoops and it surely gets head turns wherever I go. People can easily mistake it for a 180 unless they give a very close look.
Mileage and Maintenance: My bike has now done more than 12000 kms and I have enjoyed every bit of it. I experienced both the extremities of mileage. I once got a meaner 43 (due to driving on the highway at speeds of about 80-100) and also good mileage of about 54 kmpl (speeds of about 50-60). This was a mixture of both highway and city driving. As I live on the outskirts, I need to take the highways to reach the city. So I can average out the mileage of RTR 160 in general at about 48. Not a bad price to be paid for the awesome power. The only cribbing about is the poor quality service provided by TVS. Though the bike seems to be performing good after a service, the negativities crop back up within a few days or weeks of riding. After having offered such a wonderful bike from its racing stable, TVS should seriously look into the proper servicing of these bikes to add another reason to but the bike on the road.
Conclusion: Hope this review helps in choosing the right bike for you and my take is that if you want a bike that is fun to ride and that makes your friends go Greeeeeen, Apache RTR 160 is the call. It’s truly “Now or Never”. Do remember to wear safety gear while riding.
- Anand
This is an article from from: BikeAdvice.in - The Indian Bike Blog
TVS Apache RTR 160 Review by Anand
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I’m guessing for all you scooter folk out there, things are a little slow right now. Between the snow and cold temps, it’s probably not quite as thrilling cruising the streets (or rural roads). I definitely give props to those brave souls who are enjoying the odd “brisk” ride …..
Thankfully, spring is not far off. Despite ol’ Wiarton Willie popping out of his hole and seeing his shadow (signaling another 6 weeks of winter), IMO, I think warm weather is around the corner. So why not create a little hype and excitement for the coming riding season?!?
Believe it or not, a young Canadian couple (you’ll read about below), rode this cute, little C3 scooter from Vancouver to Barrie.
Recently, one of our Ontario DSM’s, Dave McDougall, passed along this note from Garnet Kinch of Brantford Motorcycle:
Hi Dave,
You got to take a look at this web site (http:/scootercanada.weebly.com). It is a super testimonial to Yamaha. An 11-day, 4500 km trip across Canada, Vancouver to Barrie, not one but 2 people, plus camping supplies and food, all on a Yamaha C3. We sold one yesterday because of this!
If you haven’t done so already, click on the link and read/look at the details from Mike and Keri’s cross-country scooter run. It’s impressive – and motivating! My experience riding scooters spans the length of our parking lot, but after reading their story, I can’t help but feel a little envious. I’ve traveled across Canada a few times, but always by truck and trailer. While my adventures will remain with me forever (like when Chuck Mesley and I ran out of fuel in Southern Alberta and were stuck in the middle of nowhere for 5 hours!), it’s not quite comparable to hopping onto a scooter with only a bagful of supplies and going for it. (Harry and Lloyd would concur …)
Mike and Keri began their cross country trip in Vancouver on Sept 2, 2008. It took them 11 days, 4,486 km, and $153.76 (115.68L) of fuel to reach their final destination in Barrie, ON.
Mike and Keri did a great job keeping friends and family informed of their trip with their website, but we wanted a little more …. so I emailed them for some extra info. As it turns out, Mike is on another adventure! He’s currently working onboard Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas as an entertainer, while Keri is at home in Barrie, ON.
Mike was kind enough to take some time away from entertaining and answer a few questions about their 5,000 km scooter trip, right here on Bike Blog. We’ll be sure to contact Keri as well, and get her take on the trip. Word has it they have another crazy trip in the works!
Bike Blog: Mike, how did you and Keri decide to travel across Canada on a scooter? Are you nuts??
Mike Craigmyle: I love the freedom riding a scooter gives … the whole “Go anywhere, do anything, nobody to stop you” attitude is me in a nutshell. And after I brought it up at a party and endured my friends making fun of me, I HAD to prove them wrong
Why did you choose the C3?
I’ve always been a fan of anything motorized … a fan but never an owner. So after years of dragging Keri to all the “Toy” shops in our travels, and spending hours on the Internet learning as much as I could, I made the plunge and bought a C3. The final straw was when the company I worked for offered to pay me for every kilometre travelled. I did the math and had the C3 being paid for in a matter of months! Also, I loved the boxy retro style, the storage, and the ride comfort. Oh … and the fact that it is the most fuel efficient, and reliable 49cc scooter you can buy helped, too!
What’s your background with motorcycling?
None. I was one of those kids that spent my entire childhood terrorizing the neighbourhood on my bicycle. The closest thing I had to a motor was when I put cardboard strips in the spokes.
Why Vancouver to Barrie?
Vancouver is my hometown. Barrie is Keri’s hometown. We were headed to Barrie for a visit with Keri’s family before heading off to backpack around Europe and then onto Australia.
Any breakdowns? Travel troubles?
Only breakdown we had was about 2-hours outside of Barrie. It scared both of us. We were positive that we wouldn’t make it! After 10 minutes of sitting at the side of the road, wondering how much a tow truck would charge, I noticed the engine kill switch had been nudged by my glove. A couple seconds later and we were just eating up the km’s!
Best places you visited?
There is quite a few to choose from. Most scenic was definitely the BC/Alberta border. We’d be crossing our fingers hoping we’d make it up the mountains, and then hooting and hollering on the way down! We met a really nice couple very late at night at a gas station in Raymond, AB. They offered us a place to stay in their home and we had a great evening with them. She even packed us a little lunch to take with us the next day!
Memorable moments?
There are MANY. Day 4 when we were lost in Southern Alberta/Saskatchewan will forever stay with me. It was hell. I could hear Keri crying behind me, as I struggled to keep the scooter on the muddy gravel road. We were very nearly out of gas, and it was pitch black. I detail the full story on the website. Day 11 was great. We ran into other bikers waiting for a ferry, and when they found out we had done 560+ kms the previous day, we were treated like celebrities. Once the ferry docked we led the procession of bikers off the ferry, and watched as people’s jaws dropped.
Did you meet any characters along the way?
When you’re speeding along at 12-55km/hr, you don’t have time for conversation [laughs]!
Worst thing about trip? Best thing?
We were nearly hit by a semi in the canyons of BC. He passed by and I could have put out my hand and touched the trailer. The wind draft pushed us over into the gravel at the side of the road and it was a miracle we didn’t end up under the trailer wheels or over the long drop to the river. The best thing is that the entire experience as a whole will stay with Keri and I forever. I wanted a story that my future grandkids will tell to friends at school about how “cool” their grandparents are. Hopefully we achieved that … if not, I have loads of other ideas.
Plans to do it again?
In a heartbeat! My next idea involves crossing the States East to West on the Trans American Trail (TAT) via Yamaha Rhino, then getting on the Great Western Trail (GWT) and heading down to Mexico. I think life is all about adventure, that means doing things normally thought of as outside the boundaries of everyday life.
What were people’s reactions when you told them what you were doing?
Complete and utter laughter. And we just laughed along with them! It was ridiculous. We spent hours in Saskatchewan feeling like we were going nowhere, and then I’d hear Keri singing the entire 99 bottles of beer on a wall song – twice. The third time I joined in. We’d pull into gas stations, put our 4 or 5 bucks into the tank and have a small crowd around us by the time we pulled out.
Worst road? Best/most scenic road?
“Highway” 501 in Southern Alberta and then into Saskatchewan. Do not take this road! [laughs] It may look nice and pretty and a solid line on your map, but it is utter garbage. There are cows all over it, and the odd buffalo, and if you’re lucky maybe a crazy couple on a scooter. Avoid at all costs. Without a doubt the best road was the driveway into Keri’s parents place.
What kind of affect did it have on your relationship? Strengthened the bond? Or were you left nipping at each other’s throat [laughs]?
We’ve received a lot of questions or comments regarding this. In all honesty, it basically sealed the deal for me. We have a stronger bond than ever before. As cheesy as it sounds, she’s my soul mate. Our friends say that we’ll be the old couple finishing each others sentences…
Anything you’d like to add?
Hopefully our trip inspires more people to just get out there and ride … and of course choose Yamaha. I still can’t believe the little scoot never died! If you could pass on my thanks to the engineers at Yamaha I would be very grateful. They created the perfect machine with which to fullfill our dreams.
What do you think? Does Mike and Keri’s story inspire you to get up and go for it? If you have any questions for them, feel free to comment, we’ll forward it on and then post here. Stay tuned for Keri’s side of the story!
DanBro
Spam. For desk-jockeys, is there anything more annoying than your inbox overflowing with spam emails each morning? They keep telling me I’m too fat, too small, too short, or that I need to send money to some dude in Russia, and for that he’ll award me a million bucks in his will. And if it’s not that, it’s my colleagues forwarding me the latest Newfie or in-law jokes….
Ouch.
Oddly enough, today I received some spam that was actually relevant to motorsports. It’s from LIFE.com, a link to a gallery of rare and unpublished photos from the 1948 Daytona 200.
If you’re a racing fan, or even someone who appreciates good photography, I suggest you take a few minutes and flip through the images.
That’s it … just thought I’d share.
If you have some old school pics of your own, feel free to send them over, we’ll take a boo and post some here on the Blog. Thanks!
DanBro
Welcome the Can-Am Spyder, a series of three wheeled motorcycles from a Canadian manufacturer that is more practical for touring and for street use than any other motorcycle excluding the Honda Gold wing the world reknown tourer. The Can-am Spyder was first introduced in the year 2007 on February 9th after an official word by the company to the press and media. In September 2007 the first full-production spyder was made from the fully functional assembly line in Valcourt, Quebec. The first ever official Spyder serial numbered as 001 was officially delivered to Jay Leno at Leno’s garage in Burbank, California.
Although there are quite a lot of models in Spyder series, lets look into Spyder RS-S that attracted me the most and which was practical too. Before going into the detailed specs of this sweet monster, let’s hear to some of it’s features:
Let’s dive into the details now:
Engine: The engine is a V-Twin 990, liquid cooled, two cylinder, DOHC4 998cc BRP-ROTAX unit that mills out 106hp @ 8500rpm with a torque of 104.3Nm @6250rpm which is plentiful and healthy on papers. The engine is powered by a Multi-Point EFI unit that houses 57mm diameter throttle bodies. All this are housed in a low center of gravity surrounding spar technology steel frame. That gives the best of both the worlds, power and handling.
Transmission: The gear box in the spyder RS-S is a five speed manual with transmission based reverse. The final drive ratio is 28/79 with kevlar-reinforced drive belt. The clutch which syncs with the gearbox is a wet, multiplate, manual operated one that works through a hydraulic piston arrangement.
Suspension: As the Can-am Spyder is a three wheeled motorcycle, the suspension plays a very important role here as if it misbehaves, that could lead to toppling! This again is disastrous like the ATV’s. The suspension set-up has been carefully designed to avoid all those mishaps and here is what the spyder carries; the front suspension is a double A-Arm with anti roll bar that travels 145mm shocks. The rear suspension is a monoshock that comes with a adjustable cam that is coupled with a Surrounding Spar Technology frame and the state-of-the art dynamic power steering (DPS) that makes every drive a pleasure.
Braking: The Can-am Spyder RS-S is equipped with a foot actuated, fully integrated hydraulic three wheel braking system that is purely functional in all kinds of situations. The front brakes houses two 260 mm discs on either side mounted with floating 4 piston calipers. The rear wheel consists of a single piston caliper mounted onto a 260mm disc plate. Further the braking is well improved by Electronic brake distribution system that carefully listens to all the sensors mounted and so does the ABS that comes as a standard fitment. The parking brake is a mechanical, foot actuated that contacts the rear caliper for the same.
Safety and security: Further to all the above mentioned, Can-am spyder RS-S is equipped with the best state-of-the art safety and security features that follows;
The Can-am Spyder RS-S weighs a whooping 317Kg dry that keeps this monster planted onto the road and has a fuel capacity of 25l that is a boon for tourers. Wait! There’s more, the Can-am Spyder RS-S also has a front boot space of 44l that can take up all the necessary things for touring. All one has to do is just to hop onto the bike and say a bye!
Ram
This is an article from from: BikeAdvice.in - The Indian Bike Blog
Can-Am Spyder – The Three Wheeled Motorcycle
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