TVS Apache RTR 200 4V with LED headlamp spied

A test mule of a refreshed TVS Apache RTR 200 4V has been spied at Hosur, which is where TVS manufactures its motorcycles. Only one grainy image is available so far, but it is enough to see that the RTR 200 now gets a full LED headlamp. From a distance, the headlamp looks slightly reminiscent of the angular unit on the Honda X-Blade, but it is likely to follow a similar design theme to what’s already on the RTR series. The headlamp appears to use a split design, with low beam at the bottom and high beam on top. Not much else can be gleaned from this image, except that the fuel tank and front fender appear to be the same units. 

The source article claims that the bike spied had split seats, which means that we are looking at an RTR 200 and not the 160. Whether this update eventually makes it to the Apache RTR 160 4V as well is something we’ll only find out further down the road. If this update is reserved for just the 200, it will help further differentiate the bike from its nearly identical younger sibling.

TVS gave the RTR 200 a slipper clutch about a year ago and this new update now appears to be lined up for the upcoming switch to BS6 emissions norms. Like most manufacturers, TVS is probably going to have to hike the prices of its larger motorcycles quite significantly as a switch to fuel injection seems unavoidable. TVS already sells an FI variant of the Apache RTR 200 4V, and at the moment, the price difference over the similarly specced carb version is substantial at nearly Rs 13,000. That price gap may reduce with scale, but a big jump in price is to be expected, and that’s probably why TVS is looking at not just injecting fuel, but value as well, into this motorcycle.

The deadline for the shift to BS6 emissions norms is April 1 2020, but many manufacturers have revealed that they will begin sales of the BS6 models well before that. This is in an effort to smooth out the transition process and avoid a messy situation like the one that occurred with the transition to BS4 a couple of years ago. So it’s possible that we could see this updated TVS Apache RTR 200 go on sale by year end, or in early 2020.

Source

from Autocar India - News https://ift.tt/2LHHNXq