2021 Hero Xtreme 160R vs TVS Apache RTR 160 4V BS6 - Is The Apache Still The King?

The 160cc premium sporty commuter segment is currently the most sought-after motorcycle segment in the Indian market. That's because they look good, are very feature-loaded, offer punchy performance, a decent mileage and are pretty affordable too. Now, we have a lot of motorcycles in this 160cc segment, ranging from the much-loved TVS Apache RTR 160 4V to the Bajaj Pulsar Pulsar NS 160 and also the Japanese folks like the Suzuki Gixxer, Yamaha FZ-S V3, Honda X-Blade 160, etc. The Hero Xtreme 160R is the latest entrant in this segment and on-paper this new kid seems really good. But, how good is it to ride in real-world conditions and how does it stack up against the segment-king, the Apache RTR 160 4V? That's what we are gonna find in our today's article. So, here we have for you a detailed comparison of the New 2021 Hero Xtreme 160R vs the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V BS6!

Reader's Note - This isn't a full-proof comparison review as I am not yet capable of reviewing a machine. This comparo article is just based on my short test ride experience. I rode both these motorcycles for just around 1.2-1.5 kms on an open stretch of road with very minimal traffic. Happy Reading :)

Xtreme 160R vs Apache RTR 160 4V - Looks and Colour Options

Looks are subjective and so it completely depends on you, which one looks better to you, however, I'll still be talking in-general about their appearance. So, both these motorcycles look very handsome and have a striking appeal. Both of them get an all-LED headlamp, LED DRLs and LED taillamp, but the Xtreme 160R gets LED turn indicators too. I couldn't test the headlight performance as I was riding in the daytime but a closer look will give you a hint that the Apache's headlamp has better illumination as it's a bigger unit with more throw. From the front, both these sporty commuters look very striking. 

The side profile shows their sharp, edgy design and both of them get fuel-tank extensions along with a single-piece seat, however, the Apache gets an engine cowl too. All in all, they both look good. Now, talking about the colour options on offer, so the Xtreme 160R is available in Pearl Silver White, Sports Red and Vibrant Blue colour shades. The TVS Apache RTR 160 4V is also available in three colour variants and they are Racing Red, Metallic Blue and Knight Black. Which one looks better to you? Ping us in the comments section below!

Xtreme 160R vs Apache RTR 160 4V - Engine Performance, Specs and Mileage 

Let me first quickly run you through the specs of these motorcycles. So, the new Hero Xtreme 160R is powered by a BS6 compliant 163cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine and it gets Hero's XSens fuel-injection technology too. This motor churns out 15.2 PS of power and 8000 RPM and 14 Nm of peak torque at 6500 RPM and the engine comes mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. The TVS Apache RTR 160 4V, on the other hand, gets a BS6 compliant 159.7cc, single-cylinder, oil-cooled motor that pumps out 16.02 PS of power at 8250 RPM and 14.12 Nm of peak torque at 7250 RPM. The engine comes mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox and it also gets TVS' Race-Tuned Fuel-injection technology (RT-Fi) along with GTT or Glide Through Technology feature for low-speed smooth urban riding. Also, in terms of fuel-efficiency, one can expect both these motorcycles to deliver around 40-50 kmpl of mileage in real-world riding conditions.

Now, let me talk about my test ride experience of both these motorcycles. So, I first rode the new Hero Xtreme 160R. It was a test ride unit of an authorised Hero dealership in Guwahati with around 2,625 kms on the odometer but in a pathetic condition. The left rear-view mirror of the motorcycle was broken and it seemed that its service was also due. Leaving those minute niggles aside, I really enjoyed riding the Xtreme 160R. The Hero Xtreme 160R has a great pick-up and it feels very quick, all thanks to its lightweight character as it weighs just 139.5 kgs. Also, since the Xtreme 160R develops the peak power and torque output at slightly lower RPMs than the Apache, it's a great city bike. The gearshifts are easy, has a light clutch action and it feels nimble, agile, confidence-inspiring, has a smaller turning radius and overall an excellent motorcycle for the city. The seating comfort is good for the rider but the only major down-side is the pillion comfort. The pillion seat is raised quite high for my liking, it doesn't have much room and also the under-seat grab rails are hard to locate.

Now, I will be talking about my test ride experience of the BS6 compliant TVS Apache RTR 160 4V. So, the motorcycle I rode wasn't exactly a test ride unit, but the salesman of the TVS dealership was kind enough to give me a brand new motorcycle for a 'short' test ride. The motorcycle didn't even have 1 km on the odometer. I took it for a short test ride in a nearby lane and the first thing I noticed as soon as I got onto the saddle was the weight! The BS6 Apache RTR 160 4V at 149 kgs weighs around 10 kgs more when you compare it with the Xtreme 160R and it is quite evident at lower speeds. As the Apache 160 4V makes peak power and torque output at slightly higher RPMs, you have to rev it a bit more to get into the sweet spot. At lower RPMs, it isn't dull but you don't enjoy as much as you do the Xtreme 160R. The Apache RTR 160 4V also has a light clutch with easy gearshifts, it is easy to ride but while making U-turns, you will feel that it has a wider turning radius. Talking about the seating comfort, so here it isn't a problem as it is very comfy and spacious both for the rider as well as the pillion.

Xtreme 160R vs Apache RTR 160 4V - Riding Ergonomics and Dimensions 

The riding ergonomics of the new Hero Xtreme 160R are very well-sorted. It has a seat height of just 790 mm, thus perfectly fine for both tall as well as short riders. The new Xtreme 160R has an upright seating posture, the handlebars are perfectly raised high and the footpegs are though slightly rear-set, you sit very comfortably. Now, talking about the riding ergonomics of the Apache RTR 160 4V, so its ergonomics are also brilliant. It has a seat height of 800 mm, you get an upright seating posture, the handlebars are again perfectly raised high but I have a wee bit of issue with the positioning of the footpegs. Here also the footpegs are slightly rear-set to give you a sporty riding stance but they are raised a bit higher than my liking which I guess will be a problem for the tall riders. It isn't a major issue or ergonomic flaw but one will need some time to get used to it, apart from this, all good.

The dimensions of these motorcycles are mentioned in the table below:

Specification	Xtreme 160R	Apache 160 4V
Length	2040 mm	2035 mm
Width	802 mm	790 mm
Height	1010 mm	1050 mm
Seat Height	790 mm	800 mm
Wheelbase	1334 mm	1357 mm
Ground Clearance	170 mm	180 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity	12L	12L
Weight	138.5 kgs (drum) 139.5 kgs (disc)	147 kgs (drum) 149 kgs (disc)

Xtreme 160R vs Apache RTR 160 4V - Braking Performance, Tyres and Suspension

Both these motorcycles get a disc brake at the front and the option of choosing a drum or a disc at the rear with the additional safety aid of a single-channel ABS (anti-lock braking system). The Xtreme 160R gets a 276 mm disc at the front while the Apache 160 4V gets a 270 mm front disc. Both of them get 220 mm disc / 130 mm drum unit at the rear. The motorcycles I rode were equipped with disc units at both ends and the braking performance was really good on both of them. However, the Hero Xtreme 160R felt slightly better as it has instant feedback while the Apache RTR 160 4V takes a fraction of a second. For disc versions, both these motorcycles get a 130/70-17 tyre at the rear (Xtreme gets radial unit) and at the front, the Xtreme 160R gets 100/80-17 tyre while the Apache 160 4V has a 90/90-17 tyre. The suspension on both these motorcycles are performed by telescopic forks at the front and they get a mono-shock absorber at the rear and I felt both of them to be fairly good. It is worth mentioning that I didn't ride either of them on rough or bad patches of roads to judge properly how the suspension performs in varied conditions.

Xtreme 160R vs Apache RTR 160 4V - Features on Offer 

Talking about the features, so both these motorcycles are fairly loaded with goodies. They get an all-digital instrument cluster that displays a ton of information. However, it's worth mentioning that the Xtreme 160R gets a small cluster with a negative display which is hard to read under direct sunlight but it looks fab at night, whereas the Apache RTR 160 4V gets a bigger cluster with orange backlit and is much more easy to read, even under direct sunlight. Both of them display a digital speedometer, tachometer, odometer, twin trip meters, fuel gauge, clock, etc. The Apache 160 4V also gets a 0-60 timer, lap timer and top speed recorder. However, both of them misses out on a gear-position indicator, which I personally feel the bikemakers should offer on all the motorcycles. The Xtreme 160R gets a hazard light switch too.

2021 Hero Xtreme 160R vs TVS Apache RTR 160 4V BS6 - Price and Conclusion

Finally, talking about the price, so the dual disc variant of the new Hero Xtreme 160R BS6 is currently priced at Rs. 1.11 lakhs, Ex-showroom and Rs. 1.30 lakhs, On-road Guwahati. The TVS Apache RTR 160 4V BS6's dual disc variant, on the other hand, is currently priced at Rs. 1.13 lakhs, Ex-showroom and Rs. 1.32 lakhs, On-road Guwahati. So, in the end, I would say that if you are someone who mostly rides in the city and want a feature-loaded, funky & stylish motorcycle with punchy performance and good mileage at a relatively lesser price, then you should consider buying the new Hero Xtreme 160R. But, if you are someone, who has mix usage of city roads and highways, the latter being ridden more and want a feature-loaded, handsome 160cc sports motorcycle, one that looks good, rides really well and offers great performance with good mileage and is practical too, then you should consider buying the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V BS6. And yes, the Apache is still the King but the Xtreme 160R has just got there, it's just as good as the Apache RTR 160 4V if not better than it, and so the Hero is here to disrupt the 160cc sporty commuter segment!

This was our comparison story of the new 2021 Hero Xtreme 160R vs the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V BS6 based on my first ride impressions. What do you think about it and which motorcycle will be your personal pick? Do let us know in the comments section below. Thanks for reading it till here :)