TVS Apache RR310 Long Term Report 5: Highway run

Luggage compatibility

The RR has a tiny rear seat. It has no grab rails. And, it has a plastic tank cover. So, one must choose specific motorcycle luggage to actually go touring on the bike. I used Kriega's US-5 and US-20 dry bags.

The US-5 went on the tank (along with a tank adaptor) and it held the air pump, the tubeless repair kit, and all the camera equipment. The US-20 filled up the rear seat and then some. It held everything from clothes to an extra pair of slippers and the Garage52 tool roll.

Rider compatibility

With the luggage in place, the RR's rider seat is a tight squeeze. The bike's also not the easiest to mount with the tail and tank bag in place.

But, once you get on the bike, it's a comfortable place to be. And, not just by sportsbike standards. The seat is cushy. And, even though the handlebars are low set and the footpegs are high and rearset, the riding position isn't exactly extreme.

And then, after hours of riding you realise that the Apache hasn't battered your 'sedate-lifestyle' body. Sure, your behind aches a bit. And, the right wrist can hurt especially if you have had a slow run through villages or over broken roads. But, your lower back, your arms, and the calf and neck muscles feel as fresh as a soft and fluffy Mangalore bun.

Then there's the ride quality. Now, we have always praised the suspension setup on the RR310. It strikes a wonderful balance between a plush ride, and quick and predictive handling. And believe me, after a long day of riding, the last thing you want is for the final 20-odd kilometre home stretch to be broken. It can completely ruin it for your back and behind. But, as I realised on day 3, I just sailed through it all on the Apache.

Cruising compatibility

In fact, covering distances comes easy to the RR. It might be a race-replica, but its heart pounds more than it races. There's so much usable torque in the low and mid- range that I was comfortably cruising at 60kmph in 6th. And then, I just rolled on the throttle to take on changes in elevation, make quick overtakes, and to make the scenery go by at a higher clip. And not once did i feel the need to downshift.

But, you don't have to be at 60. You can cruise at 100kmph all day long and the Apache will oblige. And, where the law permits, it will allow for even higher cruising speeds without breaking into a sweat. The only catch are the vibrations and the engine noise. And the RR struggles with both. At 100kmph in 6th, the engine doesn't sound nice. It sounds unrefined, busy and coarse. There are vibrations to be dealt with here too. You feel them on the handlebars, the tank and even on the seat.

But, here's the saving grace. The RR310 might not be the smoothest, but clearly the vibrations aren't severe either. After all, over the five long riding days, not once did I walk away from the RR with numb body parts or even buzzing hands courtesy the vibes. 

The headlamps work well too. The throw of light is long and wide, and both the low and high beam can be effectively used. These are most effective when riding between 60-70kmph. Ride faster though, and the lights start losing their sheen. But overall, I was both surprised and pleased with the RR's appetite for consuming miles. And did I mention it has a genuine range of over 350km on a full tank? Well, it does. 

And yes, I did bring back some coffee from its birth place in India. It meant rearranging the luggage, but once I tasted what Chikmagalur had to offer, leaving it behind would have been criminal.

Bike stats

Odometer: 5688km

Kilometres this month: 2730km

Average Efficiency: 28.6kmpl