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.
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 tail-light. The RTX’s design subtly echoes some of the more iconic adventure bikes out there, giving it a mature and premium look. It’s available in five colours, with the Viper Green being my favourite of the lot. I really like the way the RTX looks — its forward stance, striking fascia, and impressive attention to detail definitely make it a looker, and it also has solid road presence. Being a TVS product, it’s no surprise the RTX is loaded to the brim with features. It has a 5-inch TFT colour screen with Bluetooth connectivity, map mirroring, GoPro control, hands-free music and call control. Then there’s cruise control, and even a tyre pressure monitoring system.
Fit and finish on the RTX is fantastic, with consistent panel gaps, quality paintwork, and only a few exposed screws. It feels solid and built to last. TVS is also offering a whole host of accessories including a front beak (highly recommended), bash plate, engine guard, knuckle guards, a USB port and pannier boxes — all made by Givi — if you plan to dress up your RTX in a touring avatar.
Powering the Apache RTX is a new, ground-up 299.1cc liquid-cooled mill, called the ‘RT-XD4’, that produces 35.5bhp at 9,000rpm and 28.5Nm of peak torque at 7,000rpm. TVS has equipped this engine with several innovations, including a dual oil pump, dual-jacket cooling, dual-separator breather, and dual overhead cams — all designed to keep temperatures in check and ensure the engine performs optimally, especially when you're wringing it out. The bike also features four riding modes — Urban, Rain, Tour and Rally — each offering different maps for the engine, ABS and traction control. First impressions of the RT-XD4 engine? It needs to be revved to get a move on, and you often find yourself downshifting and revving it harder to get the best out of it. It picks up pace gradually — not quite as quickly as I expected — and only really comes alive once you’re past the 4,500rpm mark. That said, it is surprisingly tractable — you can stay in fourth gear at speeds as low as 30kmph. Where the engine really shines is in the mid-range and top-end. It revs cleanly all the way to the redline and feels thoroughly enjoyable when ridden spiritedly. It also sounds great at higher revs. Vibrations are non-existent at lower speeds, but they begin to creep in through the footpegs once you cross 4000rpm. It isn’t uncomfortable at all though — and is a big step up over the older TVS 310cc engines, which were plagued by this issue. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to test how the RTX feels at triple-digit speeds on a smooth, straight stretch, as most of our ride took place on twisty mountain roads. That’s something I’m genuinely keen to try, because if there’s one area where the RTX clearly outshines its rivals, it’s in the ergonomics, seat comfort, and its incredible suspension setup. More on that in a bit. The engine is paired with a six-speed gearbox, which is buttery smooth and assisted by a slipper clutch and a bi-directional quickshifter that works really well — both at high and low speeds. The clutch on the RTX is neither too light, nor too heavy, and I’ll need more time in real-world traffic to see how it fares in daily use.
Braking duties are handled by a 320mm petal disc up front and a 240mm disc at the rear, supported by dual-channel ABS. The setup suits the bike well, offering superb bite and feedback. I did notice some fade after a stint of hard riding, but overall, the brakes do a solid job of slowing the bike down.
You might assume the RTX borrows its underpinnings from the BMW G 310 GS, but you'd be wrong. The RTX uses a completely new chassis — a steel trellis main frame and subframe, with a die-cast aluminium swingarm. It gets 200mm of ground clearance and an 835mm seat height, which might seem a tad tall — especially for shorter riders — but the bike’s excellent weight balance ensures it never feels top-heavy. It’s surprisingly easy to manage, even if you can’t flat-foot both feet completely. The large, roomy split seat is extremely well-cushioned and provides excellent support. Even after a long day in the saddle, you don’t walk away with a sore back. Combine that with the plush suspension and upright ergonomics, and the RTX becomes one of the comfiest bikes you’ll ride — period. It features a wide, upright handlebar and centre-set footpegs, which together offer a very natural riding posture. The sculpted tank also allows you to grip the bike easily with your thighs, helping it feel lighter and more agile. Despite weighing 180kg, the RTX hides its mass beautifully from the moment you get moving. Thanks to good weight distribution and that wide handlebar, it’s easy to steer at low speeds and feels fairly flickable. It handles corners confidently, holds a line well, and what impressed me more was how planted it feels off-road. On tarmac, the 41mm USD front fork and rear monoshock — made by Endurance under the WP brand — do an excellent job of ironing out imperfections. But off the beaten path, the suspension setup truly shines and inspires serious confidence. The bike boasts 180mm of suspension travel at both ends, and on the top-end BTO model, it’s fully adjustable — allowing you to tailor it to your weight, riding style, and terrain. Even in stock form, though, the suspension feels sublime. The stock TVS EuroGrip Explo-R Plus tyres, while respectable, feel a bit vague at first. But once they warm up, they manage a fairly good job on both tarmac and trails.
TVS has priced the RTX rather well — even though these are still introductory figures. It’s available in three variants: the base model starts at ₹1.99 lakh (ex-showroom), while the top variant — which adds a quickshifter and screen mirroring — costs ₹2.14 lakh. It’s a worthy upgrade. The BTO model, with adjustable suspension, is priced at ₹2.29 lakh and still offers very good value. That makes it around ₹40,000 more affordable than the KTM 250 Adventure, and on par with the Suzuki V-Strom SX — which has less power and significantly fewer features. The RTX, therefore, brings phenomenal value and is definitely going to bring in numbers for TVS. It’s a supremely comfortable bike that’s easy to ride, performs well despite leaning more towards the touring side, and offers a generous list of features. Its only real gripes are the fairly relaxed low-end performance, a slightly taller seat height, and a smaller fuel tank that limits range to around 250km — but none of these are deal-breakers. As an everyday companion that can handle rough terrain with ease, looks fantastic, is well-built, feels premium, and is genuinely fun to ride — the Apache RTX truly shines.
