TVS had earlier launched the TVS Akula in the 2016 Auto Expo. It had attracted a lot of eye balls and had many drooling over it. Recently, a production version of the TVS Akula has been spotted by an X-bhp reader without any camouflage indicating that the launch of the bike is very near. The name Akula in Russian language stands for shark. TVS might drop the pre-production name though and make the bike the biggest one of the Apache series.
The bike has been the result of the joint collaboration between TVS and BMW where in while BMW shares it technological prowess with TVS, it uses the TVS’s state of the art bike manufacturing unit in Hosur, Tamil Nadu. That is the reason why the TVS Akula shares some of its bits and pieces with the more premium BMW G310R which is produced in the Hosur factory. Built on the new TVS-BMW platform, the bike is powered by a 310 cc single cylinder engine. Peak power is rated at 34 PS while the pulling capacity is 28 Nm. A 6 speed tranny does the transmission duties. TVS claims that the engine is race tuned and has put in a lots of improvements with its successful knowledge of race tracks. Race spec Aluminium Trellis sub frame has been incorporated to assist you in those quick maneuvers while additional gill vents have been provided so that the engine retains its cool even after a hard track day. ABS should be available at the least as an option. TVS calls the bike a shark, no wonder they have incorporated vents designed like gills.
When the bike was showcased in the 2016 Auto Expo a lot of carbon fibre and aluminium bits were seen. Though it would have looked great, it would also add to the cost. Hence it looks like TVS has gone with the more conventional plastic materials. The USD (UpSide Down) forks finished in gold with the contrasting black body color looks stunning while the headlamps and DRLS add to the sporty character of the bike. It does look like LED but we reserve our thought till the bike is officially launched.
The exhaust looks very similar to the one in BMW G310R and it would be great if the note sounds the same too. The tail light with the looks of a bull horn looks wicked and menacing and should definitely instill a sense of submission to any rider overtaken by the bike. Clip on handle bars, a forward riding position and a raised pillion seat complete the sporty definition of the bike.
The bike is expected to be launched by July 2017 at around Rs.2 lakh, ex-showroom.
[photo credits:x-bhp.com]