TVS

Commuter motorcycles are...well…used to commute basically. But for many folks in Africa and India, carry anything and everything under the sun on these puny little machines. Free from stuff like a roof, windows or doors, you can carry some surprisingly tall, long or wide objects on a motorcycle.

How about long poles for drying fish?? Weird right? Not according to Richard Hammond.

For the season finale, the chaps of the motoring show Grand Tour have embarked on a journey to end world hunger (Just the small village of Bingo in Mozambique they mean). And Richard Hammond has opted to travel 200 miles transporting fish on a 99cc TVS Star HLX across Mozambique.

Check the video to see how much fun they both had.

India’s third largest two-wheeler manufacturer, TVS Motors, is having a ball back home in India. It might not be a world player yet, but don’t fool yourself from having your doubts about it. It is the same firm that BMW Motorrad tied up with to make their G 310R, and those bikes are selling like hot cakes everywhere. Then came the Apache RR 310 fully-faired sportsbike that carries over the powertrain, suspension unit, chassis, brakes, radials and the exhaust from the entry-level naked German.

For a company whose strength lies in its goal of designing and development of new products that are a continuous source of inspiration, it showcased its future products at the recently concluded Indian Auto Expo. It was the TVS Zeppelin hybrid gas-electric cruiser concept that made all the noise at the TVS stalls. It not only sounds interesting (just like the band) but also looks like a proper well-made motorcycle.

Back in 2013, BMW teamed up with TVS Motors in a Euro 20 million partnership to support them with the manufacturing and distribution of smaller capacity motorcycles, starting with the G 310R. TVS also benefitted from this venture by bringing in investments and expertise to further broaden their R&D capability to improve on existing projects and bring in innovations across their product lineup.

The Apache RR 310 is the first fruit of the venture, and it sure promises big to the Indian market. It was showcased as the Akula concept a year ago, and TVS has made justice with the transformation of the production-ready bike.

How much does the Apache sportsbike have in common with the naked G 310 R?
Let’s find out.

TVS Motor Company is the third largest two-wheeler manufacturer in India, and the Apache has been the company’s flagship brand since its launch in 2006. The nameplate, which started with the unveiling of a 150cc motorcycle, has spawned into a variety of streetfighters, which somewhat have managed to create new benchmarks when it comes to delivering raw power in a relatively affordable package.

Now, a brand new fully-faired 310 cc sports bike has arrived for the big party and will replace the flagship Apache RTR200 4V. It’s called the Apache RR 310 and has been co-developed with BMW Motorrad.

Based on the G310 platform, the Apache RR 310 carries over the powertrain, suspension unit, chassis, brakes, radials and the exhaust from the entry-level naked German. Wearing a full fairing silhouette, first ever at TVS, it might as well make it off as the next BMW G310 RR.

Expect BMW to get it to our shores since TVS has no plans to cater other than the huge Indian market for now.

Indian bike maker TVS has a product for all kinds of consumers. Yes, that even counts the ladies. Their latest offering to the female market is called the TVS Scooty Teenz, an electric scooter that’s fixing to get some lady love in the Indian market.

In an effort to attract the market, TVS went with a style over substance approach, opting to dress up the Scotty Teenz in a number of color options and aesthetic refinements, including new body panels, rear view mirrors, grab rails, and plenty of other comfort features. The e-scooter also has puncture resistance tires and an auto choke system that allows the bike to start effortlessly in less than ideal weather conditions.

More than just the design details, the Scooty Teenz is also a scooter that performs pretty well relative to its market. The bike’s class-leading suspension system and the twin telescopic forks in the front side increases the already comfortable ride. There’s also a single shocker that has been added at the rear side so as to gain better rigidity of chassis and riding comfort.

With power not being all that of a necessity, TVS went with an approach that highlights looks and comfortable riding for the Scooty Teenz, two qualities that women hold in high order in their list of scooter requirements.

Hit the jump to read more about the TVS Scooty Teenz.

Riding scooters isn’t just a "boy thing," the fairer gender has as much right to enjoy scooters as the men do. That’s why TVS has no problem building scooters exclusively targeted to the female demographic, starting with the Scooty Pep+.

When style meets chic taste, the TVS Scooty Pep+ is born. It’s not going to promote powerful performance because doing so would be misguided. But where it lacks in unbridled power, it more than makes up for in usefulness.

Quite simply, the TVS Scooty Pep+ combines an impressive looking scooter with enough performance credentials to make it worth your money.

The lightweight body makes it easily maneuverable while a hydraulic shock absorber ensures a smooth ride on a lot of road surfaces. Combine that with a contoured seating with high-density MDI polyurethane foam and you have a scooter that’s easy on the eyes and comfortable on the body.

As far as the powertrain is concerned, the TVS Scooty Pep+ is powered by a 4-stroke single cylinder forced air-cooled engine that produces 3.68 kW at 6,500 rpm and 5.4 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm.

Find out more about the TVS Scooty Pep+ after the jump.

TVS’ line of female-targeted Scooty scooters comes with a variety that few bike makers can compete with. One of these models is called the Scooty Streak, and true to its name, it’s got quite an impressive streak of looks and performance wrapped up in one body.

The fresh look of the Scooty Streak lends itself a refreshing vibe, including the rear LED lamp that makes the scooter look more up to the times. On top of that, the scooter now has a relocated fuel tank lid on the back of the seat, allowing riders easier access to the fuel tank whenever they need to refill the Streak. As a modern scooter, it’s important for the Streak to carry modern amenities, none more so than a new handphone charger that can be found just beneath the handlebar at the console.

At the heart of the TVS Scooty Streak isn’t the most powerful engine on the planet, but it does pack enough to make the ride very enjoyable. The Streak is powered by an 87.8cc four-stroke single cylinder forced air-cooled engine that produces 3.68 KW @ 6,500 RPM and 5.8 Nm of peak torque at 4,000 RPM.

There’s a certain level of realism that buyers have to understand with a scooter like the Scooty Streak. But if you understand what you’re getting into with the scooter, then you won’t find a whole lot of scooters that are worth your bucks more than TVS’ line of Scooty scooters.

Find out more about the TVS Scooty Streak after the jump.

Not everybody in India’s growing motorcycle market wants a bike that’s more powerful than they can handle. That’s good because TVS’ new bike, the Sport, isn’t cut out for the extreme mongers. Where it lies is in the hearts of those that enjoy a stylish motorbike with enough power to impress your peers.

As far as its looks are concerned, the TVS Sport has been dressed in dual tone color graphics. Meanwhile, the fuel tank of the TVS Sport is slight and the dual toned-side panel offers an attractive look. Moving on to the lights, the TVS Sport has been fitted with a multi-reflector clear headlamp and taillights that come with a clearer profile. The all-black style of the Sport also adds a look of aggression, and when combined with the graphics, makes for a bike that’s as eye-catching as it is mechanically capable.

Speaking of its performance, the TVS Sport is powered by 100cc, four-stroke engine that produces 7.8 horsepower at 7,500 RPM and 7.5 Nm of peak torque at 5,000 RPM. Combine that with a 4-speed constant mesh transmission, a front telescopic hydraulic fork, a rear suspension with 5 stage adjustable shockers, and standard drum type brakes with alloy wheels and you have a motorbike that not only looks the part of winner, but performs like one too.

Find out more about the TVS Sport after the jump

Indian bike maker TVS knows the value of introducing new models, especially in a market as big as India. That’s why for their 2012 line-up, TVS has developed a new variant of their sports bike range, called the Star City.

Don’t mistake it for a Honda or a Yamaha, despite what the overall look of the bike shows you. The Star City stands proud, thanks to a dual tone body color, a new headlamp, new indicators, and a choice of six different color options, ranging from Blue, Green, Red, Crimson, Gold, and Silver.

More than just its distinctive looks, the Star City also packs an impressive powertrain that features a 110cc CVTi engine and produces 8.2 horsepower at 7,500 RPM and 8.1 Nm of peak torque at 5,000 RPM. Power from the engine courses through a four-speed transmission, with the fuel consumption rated at an impressive 83.9km/liter. Rounding out the features for the TVS Star City is an econometer, which gives the riders information about the fuel consumption, enabling them to be aware of how much gas is left on the tank.

Find out more about the TVS Star City after the jump.

For the longest time, the utility motorcycle category didn’t exist in India. But all that appears to be changing with TVS, who is set to introduce a new line of utility bikes to a market long in need of one.

One of TVS’ new offerings is the Max 4R, which neither looks the part of a road runner nor does it perform like one. This bike actually serves a variety of purposes at a fraction of the price other bikes would have fetched. Hence, the word "utility."

Powering the Max 4R is a 109.7 cc 4 Stroke, Single Cylinder air-cooled engine with 53.5 mm Cylinder Bore and 48.8 mm Stoke. The engine offers an expected eloquent power of 8.4 horsepower @ 7,500 rpm and a torque of 8.3 Nm @ 5500 rpm.

While not exactly the type of bike that will blast off on the roads, the Max 4R can be served for business activities, include loading items such as vegetable, milk, and the like.

Find out more about the TVS Max 4R after the jump.

Nothing evokes images of hotness more than anything associated with the word ’fire.’ So when TVS introduced the Flame SR 125, it did so knowing that it was going to generate some serious heat in the Indian market.

The futuristic styling of the Flame SR 125 is complemented by a special headlamp set-up that produces clear and powerful lighting. Add that to a body that’s beset with stunning graphics and you have a bike that totally makes a new style statement.

On top of that, the Flame SR 125 is also as light as a feather, boasting a weight of just 123 kg/271 lbs. Combine that with a 3 valve CCVTI engine that was co-developed with AVL Austria and you have a powertrain that not only produces ample power, but has also been tuned to the ideal tumble-swirl port combination. Hi-tumble gives you a smooth city ride with lesser gear shifting while the swirl port returns stunning mileage in any riding condition.

Find out more about the TVS Flame SR 125 after the jump.

Despite carrying a rather long name, the TVS Apache RTR 160 Hyper Edge performs just like its name - with an edge.

First released in 2007, the Apache RTR 160 has received a number of upgrades leading up to its current state. And in the five years that it’s been in existence, it’s chalked an impressive list of features that certainly bears noticing.

In terms of styling, the Apache RTR 160 Hyper Edge was designed to reek of attitude, thanks in large part to the fluid racing stripes, the luminous rims, and the race crouch mirrors that epitomize its RTR racing pedigree. Smart-looking aluminum foot pegs also add a touch of class to the bike while the new look silencer canister makes a bold statement to anyone who sees it out on the road. The clip-on handlebars also allows you to be able to bank the bike better, allowing you to play with the curves like nobody’s business.

As far as the engine is concerned, the Apache RTR 160 Hyper Edge comes powered by a 4 stroke, 159.7 cc, single that produces 15.2 horsepower at 8,500 rpm and 13.1 Nm at 6,000 rpm. It may not look like much, but those numbers are more than enough to get you where you need to go in style.

Find out more about the TVS Apache RTR 160 Hyper Edge after the jump.

The TVS Scooty Wego will go where you go. Play on words notwithstanding, TVS’ latest scooter matic is set to launch in the Indian market with the hopes of competing against heavyweights, Honda and Yamaha.

So does the TVS Scooty Wego have what it takes to be a contender in the market? To answer that, you need to understand what this scooter has to offer.

In terms of styling, the Scooty Wego offers the kind of look that makes it a worthy contender to the joint title of Honda and Yamaha. It comes with a Balance Technology Body that not only offers unique styling, but also makes for better riding, handling, and maneuverability. The lighting configuration of the Wego features a multi-reflector halogen headlamp and an LED set-up on the rear. Moreover, aluminum materials were also used on the engine while the Wego’s 12" velg matches up well with its Japanese rivals, which uses 14-16" velg.

At the heart of the Scotty Wego is a 100cc, one-cylinder OHC engine that produces a respectable 8 horsepower at 8,000 RPM and 8Nm of peak torque at 5,500 RPM. This engine is mated to a Vmatic transmission.

For all intents and purposes, the TVS Scooty Wego will not have the same recognition as its counterparts from Honda and Yamaha. But when it comes to straight up value, the Indian scooter is as good an option as you can have.

Find out more about the TVS Scooty Wego after the jump

TVS has a certain panache for building some very interesting bikes and it’s no more evident than their new Jive sports bike.

The styling of Jive is pretty impressive and it certainly belongs to the current generation bikes out on the market. The sleek, aerodynamic look adds some attitude to its profile while the added graphics, the dual stitch cover, and the black alloy wheels all make for a saucy road runner.

More than just its looks, the TVS Jive is also the embodiment of a people-friendly bike. Its simple controls allow even novice riders to enjoy it. The Jive is also powered by an impressive 110cc engine that comes with an innovative T-Matic technology and an automatic clutch that allows for easy drivability.

The most distinguishable feature of the Jive is the absence of the clutch lever, which gives a hands free gear shift experience. This motorbike can be ridden by almost all people who have a sense of balance since there is no need for manual clutch-gear coordination while they are shifting.

All told, the TVS Jive’s combination of looks, reasonable power, and drivability makes for a perfect recipe to satisfy its owners.

Find out more about the TVS Jive after the jump.

When the controversy between Bajaj and TVS came to an end with the new judgment and the agreement from the Madras high court for allowing the re-launch of the TVS Flame DS 125, it marked the first step in bringing the bike out on the Indian roads.

The TVS Flame DS 125 comes with a similar design and look of its predecessor with some modifications in the form of a new elegant black theme. But with its own styling cue, the TVS Flame DS 125 still carries a few features similar to its elder brother, the Apachi, including the design of the headlamp, fender, rear view mirrors, body colored shock absorber springs, and the special engine cowl.

Despite all that, the TVS Flame DS 125 is still as unique a bike as you can get on the Indian market, particularly because it’s the first motorbike in India that comes powered with a 3 valve CC VTi (controlled combustion variable timing intelligent) engine.

Other features of the TVS Flame DS 125 include a 240mm front disc brake, which is complemented with a unique triangular delta edge exhaust that delivers the smoothest sounds, lowest emissions, and also the most excellent performance. The TVS Flame DS 125 also supported by neatly – lockable storage, a water-bottled-sized storage in front of the tank, which will be useful for a rider’s everyday use.

Find out more about the TVS Flame DS 125 after the jump.

Some people prefer bikes that are just oozing horsepower. Others prefer a bike that looks like a stunner without carrying all that output. The TVS Apache RTR F1 160 is part of the latter.

And that’s a good thing.

The Apache RTR FI 160 is clearly a head turner that comes with magnificent features and a fuel injection technology that gives the bike better fuel efficiency. In terms of design, the bike offers plenty of new features, including bull-horn grab rails, sporty rear set foot pegs, petal disc brakes, and a digital speedometer that allows the rider to experience a truly exceptional ride.

To attract even more attention, the Apache RTR FI 160 has an absolutely perfect seating position and well positioned rear sets. The Apache RTR FI 160 also offers two seating positions for both roads and tracks.

Inside the heart of the Apache RTR F1 160 is a 159.7-cc fuel injected engine that produces a maximum power of 15.7 horsepower @ 8,500 rpm and a maximum torque of 13.1 Nm at 6,000 rpm.

All told, the Apache RTR F1 160 is a bike that may not carry all the performance credentials, but it does look spicy, which is half the battle.

Find out more about the TVS Apache RTR F1 160 after the jump.

Big things are in store for the Indian motorcycle market, thanks to Indian bike maker TVS. That’s because the company is launching its new product, the TVS Apache RTR 180 ABS.

TVS claims that the Apache RTR 180 ABS is the first bike in the Indian market to come equipped with Anti-Lock Braking System, a technology that will now allow its customers to take advantage of the new technology.

But more than just being ABS-ready, the Apache RTR 180 was designed to be a looker, and for all intents and purposes, it is one. For starters, racing GT graphics adorn the bike, providing a look that exudes racing sophistication. The luminous rims and the race crouch mirrors are also part of the bike’s set-up, highlighting the bike’s RTR racing pedigree. Bull horn grab rails have been ergonomically designed to aid the pillion rider in holding on tight while a superbike-style rear fender comes with a replaceable and functional mud flap and a dual texture seat to provide a comfortable seating arrangement.

Powering the Apache RTR 180 is a 177.4 cc 4-stroke engine that produces 17 horsepower @ 8,500 rpm and 15.5 Nm @ 6,500 rpm.

Find out more about the TVS Apache RTR 180 ABS after the jump.

You don’t have to believe everything you see in this motorcycle TV ad, but it is nicely done and so the TVS Flame motorcycle manages to find space on our website, between ZX-R and CBR models. In fact, if the video wasn’t about the bike, I bet nobody would have guessed the maker’s name, but we do have to give it credit for the nice finishing touches and the aggressive looks.