Priced from Rs 1.49 lakh, the TVS Apache RTR 200 4V is the most affordable bike of the lot.
TVS has updated the Apache RTR 200 4V for 2025, and while it doesn’t have any direct rivals, we’ve compared it to two similarly positioned motorcycles. First is the Bajaj Pulsar NS200, which features a more powerful liquid-cooled engine but is priced in the same ballpark. Second is the Yamaha MT-15, which has a smaller 150cc liquid-cooled engine but delivers comparable performance. Here’s how the Apache stacks up against the two.
2025 TVS Apache RTR 200 4V vs rivals: engine and output
| Engine and output | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TVS Apache RTR 200 4V | Bajaj Pulsar NS200 | Yamaha MT-15 | ||
| Engine | 197cc, single-cylinder, oil-cooled | 199.5cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled | 155cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled | |
| Power | 20.8hp at 9,000rpm | 24.5hp at 9,750rpm | 18.4hp at 10,000rpm | |
| Torque | 17.2Nm at 7,250rpm | 18.7Nm at 8,000rpm | 14.1Nm at 7,500rpm | |
| Gearbox | 5-speed | 6-speed | 6-speed | |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 137.7hp/tonne | 155hp/tonne | 130.4hp/tonne | |
The Pulsar NS200 has the highest peak output
Right off the bat, it’s the Pulsar NS200, with its liquid-cooled engine, that produces the most power. Expectedly, the Yamaha makes the least, but it’s only 2hp lower than the TVS, which slots right between the two. Both the Pulsar and the MT-15 get an additional 6th gear, giving them longer legs on the highway. While the TVS doesn’t have a leading power figure here, it does have the best-sounding exhaust.
2025 TVS Apache RTR 200 4V vs rivals: weight and dimensions
| Weight and dimensions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TVS Apache RTR 200 4V | Bajaj Pulsar NS200 | Yamaha MT-15 | ||
| Kerb weight | 151kg | 158kg | 141kg | |
| Seat height | 800mm | 805mm | 810mm | |
| Ground clearance | 180mm | 168mm | 170mm | |
| Fuel tank capacity | 12 litres | 12 litres | 10 litres | |
| Wheelbase | 1353mm | 1363mm | 1325mm | |
The MT-15 is the lightest of the lot
Thanks to its smaller engine and compact footprint, the MT-15 has a substantial advantage in terms of kerb weight, making it the most agile and flickable handler here. However, it also has the smallest fuel tank. That said, at 12 litres, neither the TVS nor the Bajaj is particularly generous in this regard either. At 151kg, the Apache RTR 200 4V also has a 2kg higher kerb weight compared to the outgoing model with a telescopic fork.
2025 TVS Apache RTR 200 4V vs rivals: suspension, brakes and tyres
| Suspension, brakes and tyres | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TVS Apache RTR 200 4V | Bajaj Pulsar NS200 | Yamaha MT-15 | ||
| Suspension (F/R) | USD fork / monoshock | USD fork / monoshock | USD fork / monoshock | |
| Brakes (F/R) | 270mm disc / 240mm disc | 300mm disc / 230mm disc | 282mm disc / 220mm disc | |
| Tyres (F/R) | 90/90-17 / 130/70-17 | 100/80-17 / 130/70-17 | 100/80-17 / 140/70 R17 / 100/80-17 / 140/70 R17 | |
The MT-15 offers a wider 140-section radial tyre
For 2025, TVS has updated the Apache RTR 200 4V with a USD fork, bringing it in line with its competition. Alongside this, the brand has also introduced a hydroformed handlebar. TVS claims these updates should positively impact handling – something we’re yet to verify.
Among the three, the MT-15 is the only one to offer a radial rear tyre, which is also the widest here. On the other hand, the TVS is the only one with a narrower 90-section front tyre.
2025 TVS Apache RTR 200 4V vs rivals: features
The Apache RTR 200 4V is the only one with bulb indicators
All three motorcycles feature a fully digital LCD dash with Bluetooth connectivity, capable of displaying instantaneous fuel economy, turn-by-turn navigation and call/SMS alerts. They also come equipped with LED headlights and DRLs, but the Yamaha MT-15 goes a step further with a projector-style LED headlight, which is generally more effective than the reflector-based units on the other two. The TVS is the only one that uses bulb-type indicators, while the other two offer all-LED lighting.
2025 TVS Apache RTR 200 4V vs rivals: price
| Price | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| TVS Apache RTR 200 4V | Bajaj Pulsar NS200 | Yamaha MT-15 | |
| Price | Rs 1.49 – 1.54 lakh | Rs 1.58 lakh | Rs 1.70 – 1.74 lakh |
The MT-15 is the most expensive bike of the lot
Priced between Rs 1.49 lakh and Rs 1.54 lakh, the TVS Apache RTR 200 4V is the most affordable of the lot. With the 2025 update, TVS has introduced a new top-spec variant that costs Rs 5,000 more than the RSU fork one. In our books, spending Rs 5,000 more for a USD fork is well justified – especially when it still manages to undercut its rivals.
That said, it’s worth noting that the Apache is also the only one with an oil/air-cooled engine, while its competition uses more sophisticated liquid-cooled, higher-compression setups. The Pulsar NS200 sits between the two in terms of pricing, offering more power but also carrying a higher kerb weight. The Yamaha, on the other hand, produces the least power and belongs to a lower segment but makes up for it with higher-quality components and a reputation for quality and reliability.
The MT-15’s 155cc motor also powers the R15 – a bike that has been on sale in our market for over a decade and has earned a cult following.
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