TVS Apache RR310
One of the most anticipated motorcycles ridden
While reading Nick Ienatsch’s column about the popular two part series, The Pace, I couldn’t help but ponder over a few things. Ienatsch is a former racer who has spent most part of his later years as a riding instructor. He describes the importance of leaving behind aggressive, competitive track riding to the racetrack but adapting its finer points for the road. This
not just makes rid- ing safer but also more enjoyable to live another day. After putting down a few laps at the Madras Motor Race Track in Chennai on the brand new Apache RR310, it seemed that TVS has incorporated the same philosophy to create a motorcycle for this very purpose.
In essence the RR310 is a motorcycle that’s a culmination of TVS’ meticulous learnings over 35 years of successful racing. Rewind to 2013, the TVS-BMW joint-venture fuelled dreams for both manufacturers entering the quarter-litre to sub-500cc segment and dominating it. Come 2016 and the Akula concept breaks cover—a shark-inspired, track-
bred racer. A year later, we have the keys to the final product, the Apache RR310. And boy does it look mega!
The Pace emphasises on the importance of separating racing from riding when it comes to the streets. It’s a vital point given the sheer amount of variables on the road and especially in a country handicapped with basic road manners and knowledge. So for a motorcycle bred on the racetrack, it becomes essential for it to justify its purpose on the road.
Due to the fact that this racer boy will have to make office and college commutes as well as long-distance highway trips comfortable; the rider’s triangle is closer to that of a street-naked. With absolutely no hints of a committed riding position of a racebike, the pegs are low and not as rearward set. The clip-ons are placed high and the seat provides enough space for the rider. The result is a comfortable riding position that doesn’t stress the upper body at all.
That said, it’s fairly easy to duck inside the
IN ESSENCE THE RR310 IS A MOTORCYCLE THAT’S A CULMINATION OF TVS’ METICULOUS LEARNINGS OVER 35 YEARS OF SUCCESSFUL RACING
aero-optimised windscreen for the main straight on a track. While aiming to achieve straight-line speed the massive fairing of the RR310 also displays the engineering behind it. Hours of wind tunnel testing has resulting in every curve and crease that the fairing has on it to boast of the lowest coefficient of drag in the segment.
They say anything between accelerating or braking is not racing, you’re never coasting on the track. But back on the road, there are many occasions when you’re coasting through slow moving traffic, not racing. That’s when the wind-tunnel developed fins inside the fairing will come in handy. They deflect hot air from the radiator, downward through a shaft then channel it out and away from the rider’s legs through a duct in the
lower fairing. Did I mention how smashing the fairing itself looks, making the RR310 stand out as nearly a bigger supersport machine?
On track performance translates to quick build up of revs with a strong mid-range that comes alive as low as 4,000rpm. A more peaky power delivery was expected but it’s easy to forget the real world application of this motorcycle at the track with all the racing tech and development behind it. Thus the linear build up of power through the rev range is ideal for the roads while offering enough go on the track. As single-cylinder engines grow in capacity, vibrations are a by-product that manufacturers have to deal with. The RR310’s motor does transmit vibrations to the footpegs at low speed rpms but this is a factor that depends on how well the engine has been run in. We were riding brand new machines on the racetrack at full clip with barely enough kilometres on the clock. Thus the vibrations can be explained and it varied from motorcycle to motorcycle. Nevertheless, the crisp throttle response and tractability of the engine in higher gears at slower speeds versus high rpm usage displayed the versatility of the engine’s usage. Performance figures quoted by TVS are definitely believable as the RR310 accelerated to upwards of 145kmph on track with a gear to spare of the smooth-shifting 6-speed gearbox. The fuelling too is spot-on with absolutely no hiccups or flat-spots across the rev-range in any gear. TVS has also optimised the cooling jacket for the RR310’s liquidcooling system while an oil-cooler is also used to maximise heat management.
A track pushes engineering limits of the chassis and that’s where TVS’ immense experience in racing shines through. Front and rear suspension developed by KYB had the perfect
balance between good ride quality and
adequate stiffness for cornering. The fast and bumpy C1 at the MMRT in Chennai was handled with ease as the RR310 remained poised, holding true to its line through that section. Never once did we feel the motorcycle unsettle or throw the rider around in the saddle. The tighter sections after the back straight displayed the RR310’s ability to quickly switch from side-to-side despite its 170kg kerb weight, with counter-steering inputs to the clip-on being responded with an intuitive urgency of a lighter motorcycle. The trellis frame aides much in the motorcycle’s agility while the engine architecture helps place it forward for better mass centralisation. The swingarm thus could be lengthened to offer the required stability without lengthening the wheelbase. The handling is sublime and as far as the track is concerned, it’s a winner for knee sliding, apex hunting riders looking to up their skills.
To drop the anchors after hitting top-speed on the straight were 300mm petal discs at the front gripped by Bybre callipers and assisted with a dual channel ABS by Continental. Together with the 240mm rear disc brake, the RR310 offers great feel and feedback from the lever and ample stopping power from the front and enough from the rear to correct lines and overshot apexes.
TIGHTER SECTIONS ON TRACK DISPLAYED THE RR310’S AGILITY DESPITE ITS 170KG KERB WEIGHT, WITH COUNTER-STEERING INPUTS BEING RESPONDED WITH AN INTUITIVE URGENCY