ROUND 5 - RIDE QUALITY
I decided that this last showdown between the two has to be a dirty one. And with that in mind, Kartik and myself thought it was time to take the bikes off road. The way the two bikes behaved in the gravel and the dust made the differences glaringly apparent. Bajaj's heavier and longer wheelbased Pulsar seemed planted and the shocks took everything that was thrown at them. Riding over ruts and stones on the Pulsar didn't shake it one bit. With 10 kg less bulk than the Bajaj and its shorter wheelbase (by about 20 mm), the Apache rode like a headless chicken - this way and that. The bumps felt harsher on the TVS, which makes it known that the Apache loves its tarmac firm and blemish free. This motorcycle's suspension is set up up to make it an all-conquering asphalt burner, but off the superslab, it fights like the French.
BAJAJ PULSAR 180: 4 stars
TVS APACHE RTR 180: 3 stars
AND THE WINNER IS ....
The Bajaj Pulsar 180. Yes, the Pulsar still retains the 180cc champion's belt, but by a whisker. The Apache 180 has been too worthy an opponent for the Pulsar's own good and too fierce for the Bajaj to take lightly. The Pulsar 180 needs to evolve into something else, as it seems like its development has gone nearly as far as it could, or should. There is a need for it to be a whole new motorcycle and for it create an entirely new bloodline.
Although the Apache is much more fun to ride than the Pulsar, not to mention that it demands more involvement from the rider, it does tend to exhaust its box of tricks somewhat quickly. But there's no way you will regret plonking your money on for the TVS, because it's a pretty good motorcycle and there's the whole exclusivity thing - there aren't as many RTR's on the road as there are Pulsars.
Speaking of the green bucks, the DTS-I will cost you around
Rs 64,800, while the RTR 180 is priced at about Rs 64,900, both being ex-showroom figures in Mumbai. The 100 bucks extra for the Apache will get you a show-stopping rear disc brake, which is money well spent, really!
For now, I am a happy man. Why? Well, its about bloody time that we saw action in the larger displacement segment and being the optimist that I am, I shall wait and watch intently to catch the jostle for the crown of the best 600cc motorcycle in the country. I must admit that I would love that much more, but this one time, I'm being realistic as well!
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