My Apache RR310 completes 25,000 km: Pros, cons & ownership verdict

The fuel efficiency has dipped slightly but remains excellent at 34 km/l.

BHPian RPRIME95 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

25,000 km update!!

So it has been a while since I have updated this thread. A lot of stuff has happened over the last 3 years, a job change included. Hence I would like to give a proper likes and dislikes list at the start here.

Likes:

• The bike remains as stable as ever. No problems at high speed and on curvy roads.
• The fuel economy has dipped slightly but remains excellent at 34 km/l.
• The stock Road 5 tyres have outlasted expectations by a country mile.
• Ride comfort is stellar for the type of bike it is over broken roads.
• Vibrations are minimal now. The next oil change should reduce those even further.

Dislikes:

• Stock air filters are NOT good enough to take on Pune's dusty climate. Acceleration has become sluggish and I use an HP Power95 so fuel should not be an issue.
• City roads have brought out the worst of the bike. It hates city traffic speeds. Wrist pain has started.
• Steering is very stiff for slow speeds and becomes a hassle when navigating the maze that is Pune traffic.
• The Road5 tyres cannot take a beating from evil speedbreakers and have become flat over just 1 year of city riding.
• Headlights remain useless as ever at high speeds and have slowly drifted out of alignment due to shocks and vibrations.

The Road5 tyres were swapped for a set of Apollo Alpha H1s last week. The surface has become flat and I could see visible cracking on the grippy portion of the tire. The total cost was Rs.10500 for the set including installation charges. The ride has improved slightly and the grip has returned to full force, prompting a quick re-evaluation of my riding style. Also got some round blind-spot mirrors installed a while back for suddenly manifesting traffic over my shoulder.

Verdict

Up until the end of 2023, I sort of had tunnel vision about this bike since it suited my particular use case quite well. I mainly rode on highways with very little city riding and hence my riding pattern and skill was accustomed to that path. Shifting to a metropolis like Pune has dramatically changed that view. While this has not changed my opinion about the RR310 as a product, I do see it with a wider perspective than before. So while it can commute daily, it is NOT the bike to do it with. Lola not enjoying the 5km daily round trip just confirms my observations. It is still a hoot to ride on highways and twisty roads and my only wish is to be doing that all the time.

So what does the future hold? For now, I am going to keep enjoying the bike with its fresh rubber. But there is a feeling that my time with this machine is not as long as I thought it would be. The bike will be 5 years old next September and some exciting upcoming launches in the 600cc class could potentially sway me to make a switch. Will I continue with the sport/supersport body style? Perhaps not. If it was possible to keep Lola and get a commuter like an electric scooter, I would. But it does not make sense both financially and logistically right now, so an upgrade is the only logical path. If only Aprillia could somehow localize the Tuono 660

Cheers, and happy riding to all !!!

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