I’m hunkered down on one of India’s best-selling 150s. Throttle rolled to the stop, chin nearly on the tank and the brain screaming for more power. The scenery is a blazing quick streak heading the other way and like a doomed character in a horror film, I’m trying to run away from the glowing orange object in the rear view mirror. I say doomed, and not the hero character, because I’m not going fast enough. Within moments, the blur has passed me and is now pulling away steadily leaving to ponder the rather pretty butt-end on TVS’ new 150, the Apache.
It is a nice name. Far better than the suddenly explosion of really lurid monikers. Yes, doubting Thomas’ point out that ‘apuchhi’ means grandfather’s sister in malayalam, but to me, the Apache is the ugliest, and therefore (automatically) the most effective attack gunship ever built. And a warlike Indian tribe in the US which quickly built up a reputation for skillful strategy in battle and their fierce warriors. I don’t hear a age-faded ‘beta.’ I hear the ominous, thundering beat of two Rolls-Royce turboshaft engines, a clipped ‘Fox two,’ the whoosh of a Hellfire missile and a loud explosion signifying that the enemy just lost something important. The name is the first clue that the Apache is far from the usual TVS norm. Words like refinement, sober and civil, which have come to be the normal representation of TVS’ bikes were not uttered in the entire day I spent at the Hosur factory!
The new mantra for the 150 is aggression. And that is obvious in the looks. The inhouse design package takes cues from a whole range of sportsbikes from around the world, and where-ever I look, there are details that would not be out of place on a naked Benelli, cutting-edge Yamaha or slinky Aprilia. In a word, the Apache is a visually striking, aggressive, perfectly with-it motorcycle. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that my skills with the camera don’t allow me to do justice to how muscular and stylish the Apache really looks.
And they’ve thought of it all. The tank is sculpted. Not a line is out of place, there is no slack. The same theme carries on in the sidepanels and in the tailpiece. While the bike we shot was delightfully sticker free, we’re told a small piece of text will take its place on the downward facing plane of the tailpiece. Two standout details are the matte black triple strake on the sidepanel (did some one say, mirror image on apachE?) and the way the painted panel meets under the tail lamp properly. Then there is the slickness imparted by thoughtfully placed allen bolts, the matte black saree guard, the slick two-finish (spokes are textured, the outer rims are smooth) black alloys...
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