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Count your blessings. The reason I say this is because these are days that are certainly looking good.
Why? Because unlike not too long ago, there is competition in the higher displacement motorcycle segment. And it's a fierce one at that. The Pulsar 180 DTS-I has a new avatar and there's new contender forthe 180cc crown - the Apache RTR 180. Both now have the look and engines that seem the part. It was only natural that we see who decimates whom and wheelies out with the title 'Best 180cc motorcycle' in the country.
With all of that said, and with the opponents all fueled up and raring to go, we shall get into the ring. To my left is the brawny Pulsar 180 and to my right is the shimmering white Apache RTR 180.
Fight!
TING TING! ROUND 1 - ENGINE AND PERFORMANCE
Okay, so this is going to be a very close bout. The Bajaj motor displaces 178.6cc and puts out 16.8 bhp with 1.6 kgm of torque, while the Apache's 177.4cc motor delivers 17 bhp with an identical 1.6 kgm of lugging might. Although these numbers may seem like photocopies of each other, the temperaments of the two engines are worlds apart. The Pulsar's single cylinder wonder pulls across a very wide powerband and manages to lug its 147 kg kerb weight, plus me on it, to a top whack of 120 kph. On the other hand, the Apache's mill is eerily (I like, really!) two-stroke with its antics. It's wild low down, mellows down mid-way and then wants to retire at the redline, all within a very narrow powerband. Although a blocked air vent on the petrol tank lid kept killing the engine when pushed hard, I managed to whip it to about 117 kph, in spite of it being about 10 kg lighter than the Pulsar.
The mannerisms of the Pulsar engine would make it an enjoyable motorcycle for the highway and city alike. There's power there when you want it and overtaking will seldom need any downshifting. Conversely, the Apache is a purely city slicker-engined motorcycle through and through, and pointing it towards the highway is like throwing Al Pacino in a Telly Tubby episode. It's grunty, peaky and will shoot off as soon as the red light turns green, and you'll in all probability be the first off the line by far. The Apache feels much, much quicker than the Pulsar from 0 to 60 kph and it pretty darn well is - 4.5 seconds.
An engine is nothing without a competent gearbox and in this department, the Pulsar has to cede to the Apache. The Bajaj's gearbox has the feel of an arthritic knee, and finding neutral is worthy of being included as one of the twelve tasks of Asterix. The cogs of the TVS are smoother shifting and quite precise, with a positive shift every time you use the lever.
BAJAJ PULSAR 180: 4 stars
TVS APACHE RTR 180: 4 stars
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