Racing spirit, touring soul

WE PUSHED THE APACHE RTX TO THE BREAKING POINT — RIDING IT OVER BROKEN ROADS, SLUSH, HIGHWAYS, AND UP THE HILLS

- VIKRAM CHAUDHARY

ONCE IN A while, a motorcycle comes along that amazes even the most hardcore riders. The new Apache RTX appears to be one such bike. We rode it in the Himalayas - over broken roads, through slush, and on winding highways.

What is it?

The first adventure bike by TVS, the Apache RTX is powered by the 299.1-cc engine (36 PS, 28.5 Nm).

The bike has good road presence - park it next to a Triumph Tiger and it will still attract eyeballs. Fit & finish is good — paint quality is neat and there are no loose wires anywhere. But the 5-inch TFT screen looks small relative to the size of the bike, and the seat (at 835 mm) is quite high.

How does it ride?