It looks like TVS Motors is all set to enter the US market with its motorcycle, Apache RTR (Racing Throttle Technology), and no I’m not kidding with the name. After Tata and Mahindra, TVS will be third company to sell in the recent past, talking about seeling its wares outside India. Bike enthusiasts would remember that Enfield has long been a staple of the American motorcycle scene.
According to the Economic Times
The Chennai-based two-wheeler company has cleared the mandatory technical and emission tests for its bike and plans to launch it later this year.
TVS Motor president (marketing & sales) HS Goindi told ET: “We are in the launching mode, and finalising our entry into the US market. Our bike has met all stringent technical norms in the US and we have also appointed distributor to sell our products in the market.”
For the uninitiated, TVS motors has had a lon g standing partnership with Suzuki motors. Most Indians will remember the co-branded TVS Suzuki bikes from a decade ago.
The RTR has decent specs for India, but it will be a slow and very basic entry bike into the US. It has a 174 CC single cylinder air cooled engine mated to a 5 speed gearbox. Disk brakes on both ends that stop a kerb weight of 300 pounds. More details on the bike can be found here.
There is a long (about 5 mts.) youtube video from the company after the break that explains the RTR acronym and everything else about the bike. I’m not sure if this is a great idea, but combined with higher fuel costs and people tired of trying to find parking in the cities, this just might work. What do you think?
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