ADVENTURE, SIMPLIFIED

TVS APACHE RTX

- Mandar Sawant

THE MUCH-ANTICIPATED TVS ADVENTURE BIKE HAS ARRIVED – 46 years after the brand rolled out its first two-wheeler.

Dubbed the Apache RTX, not only is it TVS' first foray into the entry-level ADV scene, but it also debuts a brand-new engine and, as you'd expect from TVS, a generous helping of features. With super-competitive pricing, starting at ₹1.99 lakh (ex-showroom, introductory), it looks like the RTX is here to shake up the segment. It's a key product for TVS, which is why the brand chose the picturesque hills of Shimla for its launch — after which I got the chance to ride it on some pretty gnarly terrain. And I have to say, the bike left me rather impressed. Here are my first impressions of the TVS Apache RTX.

STYLING AND FEATURES

We had a basic idea of what the RTX would look like, courtesy of a leaked image earlier this year. Save for the rear, that front three-quarter shot revealed almost everything about the bike – so most people already had a fair idea of its styling. But when the wraps finally came off, we were genuinely taken aback. For starters, it's well-proportioned — with a substantial front end that neatly integrates a semi-fairing, a wraparound quad-LED headlight setup with nicely detailed DRLs, and a tall visor.

There's a sculpted 12.5-litre fuel tank, a perfectly sized upswept exhaust, and 10-spoke alloys at both ends: a 19-inch unit at the front and a 17-incher at the rear. The bike gets a slim tail section with a chunky rear grab rail that doubles as a pannier mount, along with a compact LED taillight. The RTX's design subtly echoes some of the more iconic adventure bikes out there, giving it a mature and premium look.