Tag: 180cc

Bajaj Pulsar 180 vs. TVS Apache RTR 180 / ABS

There are not too many 180cc bike models in the Indian bike industry at the moment. The two most extremely popular models are the Bajaj Pulsar 180cc and the TVS Apache RTR 180 (and its ABS variant). We have already reviewed all three bikes separately here, here and here. We have indepth study of the mileage as well as specs for each of these bikes in the links above. Anyway, I will try to be as comprehensive as possible while comparing all these three bikes together in this article.

Tech Specs Comparison

First up, let’s compare the technical specifications of the Pulsar and put it against the two RTR 180 models.The Pulsar is built with an engine that is just slightly bigger than the RTR 180. This again gives the bike a very slight advantage over the Apache bikes in terms of power. The max power on the Pulsar 180 is 17.02 PS whereas the corresponding figure for the Apache is 17 PS. The RTR scores in terms of torque though. You can expect a max torque of close to 15.5Nm @ 6500 RPM whereas the Pulsar only delivers close to 14.22 Nm at the same rev.

The TVS model has other advantages too like better navigation under rough terrain considering a ground clearance of nearly 15mm over what’s offered on Pulsar. But then, Pulsar is a little more easier on the wallet being available around 3000 bucks lower than RTR 180 and nearly 14,000 lower than the RTR 180 ABS. I’ve tabulated all the major specs and price (ex-showroom, Delhi) here below.

Spec Pulsar 180 Apache RTR 180 Apache RTR 180 ABS
Displacement 178.6cc 177.4cc 177.4cc
Max Power 17.02PS @8500 17PS @8500 17PS @8500
Max Torque 14.22Nm @6500 15.5Nm @6500 15.5Nm @6500
Wheelbase 1345mm 1300mm 1326mm
Kerb weight 147kg 139kg 139kg
Ground clearance 150mm 165mm 165mm
Price (ex-Delhi) Rs. 70321 Rs. 73365 Rs. 84180

Mileage Comparison

Frankly I think you should not be paying much heed to this section of the article. Bikes in the 180cc or above are purchased for their power and style and not for the economy. In any case, if you are having trouble deciding among the three based on the specs, features and price alone, maybe a fuel economy comparison could do the tie-breaker.

Let us first look into what the manufacturer claim is. According to Bajaj Auto, the Pulsar 180 should deliver 58.1 kmpl under standard testing conditions. As I have often observed in the past, these tests are conducted under extremely favourable road conditions and so if anything, the actual economy that you notice on city roads would be lower than this. But for a perspective, the corresponding figure quoted by TVS Motors for both the Apache RTR 180 and RTR 180 ABS is around 56 kmpl.

MaxAbout has comprehensively reviewed all three of these bikes. In their review of the Pulsar 180, MaxAbout calls the bike “well-built with a lot of bulk”. Their test reported an FE of around 38 kmpl on city roads that can go as high as 45-50 kmpl on highways. For the Apache RTR 180, MaxAbout says it’s basically a ‘carbon copy’ of the RTR 160 with a terrific pickup from 0-60 kmph. The mileage reported by their review for both the RTR 180 and the ABS variant is 38-40 kmpl on city roads but on the highways, while the ABS variant delivered 39 kmpl, the non-ABS model reported 42-46 kmpl.

BikeAdvice has been one of our other favourite sources. In their review, they note that the Pulsar delivers a much better economy on their 180cc compared to the Apache alternative. For city roads, the reported mileage for the Pulsar 180 and Apache RTR 180 are 41-46 kmpl and 39-44 kmpl respectively. However given the wide range, I still think there is no one winner to pick from the review. On highways though, the Pulsar wins with a reported 46-51 kmpl figure as compared to 43-48 kmpl on the RTR 180.

Let us now look at the reviews from BikeDekho. On this website, the reviewer calls the latest variant of the Pulsar 180 a ‘perfect blend’ of the vibrant contours of the older variant and the muscular build of the 2009 model. If you compare the reported mileage of all the bikes, you find the Pulsar to be a clear winner. The reported number for this bike is 43.4 kmpl while the corresponding number for RTR 180 is 35-40 kmpl.

On MouthShut again, there is much more love for the Pulsar compared to the Apache. While both bikes have got a 4/5 rating for fuel consumption overall, with respected to the reported fuel economy, the figure for Pulsar is between 43-50 kmpl while the same for Apache RTR 180 is around 40-45 kmpl.

So there you go. I have tabulated all the reported mileage on city roads for the three bikes (actually two, since both the RTR 180 and RTR 180 ABS have the same reported numbers) for you to pick. What’s your choice between the two bikes? Tell us in the comments.

Source Bajaj Pulsar 180 Apache RTR 180 (ABS)
Official 58.1 56
MaxAbout 38 38-40
BikeDekho 43.4 35-40
BikeAdvice 41-46 39-44
MouthShut 43-50 40-45

TVS Apache RTR 180 ABS

TVS Motors launched the Apache RTR 180 with Anti-brake locking system exactly two years ago in March 2011. The bike has mostly the same specifications as we noted with the Apache RTR 180 yesterday with this facelift. The ABS technology has sensors that continuously monitors an impending wheel lock and when it does so, enables a smooth deceleration that allows the biker to stay in control of their vehicle even under sudden braking.

TVS Apache RTR 180 ABS

Although this is very similar to the Apache RTR 180, we will still take you through the specs one more time. This bike again comes equips with a 4 stroke single cylinder engine with a 177.4cc displacement. The larger displacement ensures a better power that maxes out at 17.3 PS @ 8500RPM. The torque can go up to 15.5 Nm at 6500RPM. The RTR 180 ABS can reach a maximum speed of 124kmph and comes with telescopic fork suspension on the front tyres along with monotube inverted gas filled shox with spring aid on the rear tyres. The bike has a wheelbase of 1326mm and ground clearance of 165mm. The RTR 180 ABS comes with a kerb weight of 139kg at a price of Rs. 84,180 ex-Delhi.

Test Ride and Customer Reviews
The engine and ignition systems on the RTR 180 ABS is not very different from what is available on the regular RTR 180 and so the manufacturer’s claim on fuel consumption has not been different. According to TVS, the RTR 180 ABS can deliver around 56kmpl under standard test road conditions.

However, this is expected to come down on regular city roads, as pointed out by MaxAbout. In their test ride, the website reports a city road economy of 39kmpl that goes as high as 47kmpl on the highways. The reviewer commends the bike on its aggressive styling although points out that the price is on the higher side given that even the Pulsar 220cc comes cheaper than this.

On ProDease, the reviewer calls the RTR 180 ABS a “commuter bike” which I don’t agree with. Their test ride though yields a mileage that cannot be called commuter friendly and understandably so for a 180cc bike. They report 38kmpl overall on their test.

ZigWheels doesn’t seem to have done a test ride of the bike (or maybe I missed it), and so I am not sure if the fuel economy they report was tested by their own staff or through third party reports. They note 44-45 kmpl on the RTR ABS.

There is not a great deal of reviews available on MouthShut for the RTR 180 ABS. The couple of reviews on the site rate the bike 4/5 on fuel consumption. Of the two reviews, one reviewer has not mentioned the mileage while the other reports 40-43 kmpl under city roads.

I have tabulated all mileages as reported by the various sources below. I’ve also put in the numbers for Apache RTR 180 side-by-side for your comparison. Is it worth spending an additional 11,000 for the ABS? You make the decision.

Source RTR 180 RTR 180 ABS
Official 56 56
BikeAdvice 39-44 —
BikeDekho 35-40 —
MaxAbout 38-40 39
ProDease – 38
TeamBHP 40 —
ZigWheels – 44-45
MouthShut 40-45 40-43

TVS Apache RTR 180

The Apache is one of the most successful motorcycle brands created by TVS Motors. One reason why this is significant is because this helped TVS push its own market positioning from one that targeted just the budget conscious customer to a brand that also has got style. The first Apache rolled out of the factory back in 2007 and today there are three variants of TVS Apache. We have already discussed the RTR 160. Today, we will check out the Apache RTR 180.

TVS Apache RTR 180

The 180cc variant of Apache was launched in 2009. The bike comes equipped with a 177.4cc 4 stroke single cylinder engine that can crank out a maximum power of close to 17PS at 8500RPM and torque maxing out at 15.5Nm at 6500RPM. The RTR 180 has a kerb weight of 139kg with a framework that allows a wheelbase of 1300mm and ground clearance of 165mm. You can hit a maximum speed of 124kmph with the RTR 180. You can buy an Apache RTR 180 at just a couple of thousands over the RTR 160. The ex-showroom price in Delhi is around Rs. 73365.

Manufacturer Mileage Claim
As I’ve often said in my earlier blog posts, if you are someone who is planning to buy a high power bike like RTR 180, you shouldn’t be concerned about the mileage at all. The selling point of most bikes in the category are the power that they offer and this is often at a compromise of the fuel economy. According to TVS Motors, the Apache RTR 180 would return close to 56 kmpl economy under standard testing conditions. As the general disclaimer often goes, these conditions are extremely different from what you are used to on city roads and so that actual mileage you could see on your bike could be pretty lower than this. Let us check out consumer and test ride reviews to see what one could expect from the RTR 180.

Customer Reviews

Let us start with our favourite review place – MaxAbout. The website calls the RTR 180 a “carbon copy” of the RTR 160 with very slight visible changes. However, one aspect where it stands out very visibly is in the ability to go from 0-60 km/hr in just 4.15 seconds. The reviewer pits the mileage of the bike at 38-40 kmpl on city roads and 42-46 kmpl on highways.

BikeAdvice in their comparison of the RTR 180 against Pulsar 180 note that there is little to choose between the two. However, their tests reveal the fuel consumption under city conditions to be in the range of 39-44 kmpl which can increase to 43-48 kmpl on highway roads.

BikeDekho calls the bike ‘unmatchable’ in its segment when it comes to performance. However the review reports a lower mileage as a direct result of this high performance. The average fuel consumption reported by the website is around 35-40 kmpl.

On Team-BHP, one of the largest Indianmotorcycle enthusiasts forum, a user reports that the RTR 180 could deliver around 2kmpl lower than the RTR 160 on city conditions. The user reports 40 kmpl on city roads that goes up to 46-47kmpl on highways.

There are close to 34 reviews of the RTR 180 on the user reviews site, MouthShut.com. These users have together rated the bike 4 out of 5 in terms of fuel consumption. The reviews have been pretty consistent on the mileage front. Most customers report a fuel efficiency of around 40-45 kmpl under city road conditions that reaches 48-53 kmpl on the highways.

Overall, this is how the bike fares on fuel according to the reviews from various sources.

Source City Roads (kmpl) Highways (kmpl)
Official – 56
MaxAbout 38-40 42-46
BikeAdvice 39-44 43-48
BikeDekho 35-40 —
Team BHP 40 46-47
MouthShut 40-45 48-53

The reported numbers are pretty reasonable for a 180cc bike. As I said earlier, you shouldn’t be looking at this page if you are contemplating a high power machine like the RTR 180 which is expected to have a lower fuel efficiency. In any case, the RTR 180 is a win on the fuel front and definitely gets a thumbs-up from our side.

Bajaj Pulsar 180

The Bajaj Pulsar is available in 5 different engine variants. We have already seen the lower end 135cc and 150cc bikes. Today, we will see how good the mileage delivered by the 180cc DTS-i variant of Bajaj Pulsar is. Pulsar 180 is one of the original models being first introduced way back in 2001 along with the 150cc variant.

Bajaj Pulsar 180cc

Let’s talk specifications. The Bajaj Pulsar 180 comes equipped with a 178.6cc 4-stroke single cylinder engine that can crank up 17.02 PS power and 14.22 Nm of torque (at 6500 rpm). The bike has a 15 liter capacity fuel tank that also has a 3.2 liters reserve capacity of which 2 liters is usable. Other important specs of the bike include a 150mm ground clearance, 147 kg kerb weight and a 260mm frontal disc/130mm rear drum brake. The Bajaj Pulsar 180 is available at a price of Rs. 70,321 ex-showroom in Delhi.

Official Fuel Efficiency Claim

As oft-quoted on this blog, with great power comes lower mileage. In our previous reviews, we have noted that the official mileage as quoted by the company for the 135cc and 150cc variants of the bike are 68.1kmpl and 64kmpl respectively. Now, the fuel consumption for the 180cc variant is expected to be lower than this, and it is. According to Bajaj, the Pulsar 180 delivers 58.1kmpl under standard conditions.

Customer Feedback

AutomobileUpdates has reviewed the revamped version of the Pulsar that includes equipment more modern than the ones they originally came with a decade back. They report a city consumption of 43 kmpl and on highways this appears to notch up as much as 51 kmpl.

MaxAbout calls the redesigned 2009 variant a ‘well-built vehicle with a lot of bulk’. In their test ride, the websites reports having seen between 45-50 kmpl on highways that falls down to 38kmpl on city roads. As they rightfully note, under these running cost conditions, the bike no longer remains an option to consider for those on a budget.

The reported numbers seem to hover around the 40+ mark across reviews. On BikeDekho, the reviewers call the new bike a ‘perfect blend of the vibrant contours of the older 180 and the muscular build of the 2009 model’. The fuel economy tests derive 43.4 kmpl under city traffic conditions that goes up to 46 kmpl on highways.

BikeAdvice in their comparison of the Pulsar against Apache RTR 180 note the better performance of the Pulsar in the fuel department reporting 41-46 kmpl on city roads and 46-51 kmpl on highways.

Let us next check out what the reviewers on MouthShut.com have got to say. There are over 150 reviews for the 180cc Pulsar and as rated by these users, the bike gets a 4/5 as far as fuel consumption is concerned. Most reviewers seem to get a mileage of around 45 kmpl which is definitely a good return from a 180cc bike. If you are looking for a range, then be rest assured, you should expect something between 43-50 kmpl. Only one user claims to be seeing around 40 kmpl on Mumbai roads.

Things are not very different on Olx, the classifieds website. A whole chunk of customers who have put their Pulsar 180 up for sale claim to see a fuel economy of between 40-45 kmpl on their bike.

So there you have it. The 180cc variant of the Pulsar is a pretty good bargain on the fuel front considering that except for a couple of sources, most of them report a 45kmpl economy which is a pretty decent expectation from this high power bike. Here is a snapshot of numbers as reported by various sources. From our side, we give this bike a thumbs-up!

Source City kmpl Highways kmpl
Official – 58.1
AutomobileUpdates 43 51
MaxAbout 38 45-50
BikeDekho 43.4 46
BikeAdvice 41-46 46-51
MouthShut 43-50 —
Olx 45 —