The Yamaha MT-15 heavily dominated the 150-160cc naked streetfighter segment. However, recently, a new player joined the segment and has become the talk of the town
Hosur-based Indian two-wheeler manufacturer TVS recently launched the TVS Apache RTR 165RP. The spec-sheet of the motorcycle shook the 150-160cc naked streetfighter segment because of its power output, which is the maximum in the said segment; an area that was earlier covered by the Yamaha MT-15 in terms of maximum power and torque figure. Now, the question is; which at present is a better motorcycle?
Why is this article relevant to you?
If you were planning to purchase the Yamaha MT-15, this article is a must-read for you because there is a new player in town who could prove to be better than the MT. If you are looking forward to buying a motorcycle in the mentioned segment, the comparison between the two motorcycles could help you understand where other motorcycles (Gixxer, Pulsar, FZ and more) stand at the moment.
The RTR 165RP is powerful than the MT-15
The newly launched RTR 165RP is powered by a 164.9cc, single-cylinder, air/oil-cooled, four-valve engine that is tuned to produce a peak power of 19.2PS at 10,000rpm and a maximum torque figure of 14.2Nm at 8,750rpm. Compared to the RP, the MT makes 18.5PS at 10,000rpm of power and 13.9Nm at 8,500rpm of torque from a 155cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, four-valve engine. Clearly, the RP is more powerful, but there is a catch.
And the catch is that the MT-15 is much lighter than the RTR
The MT-15 is less powerful than the RTR 165RP but it is also 10 kilograms lighter than the RP. The difference in the weight allows the MT-15 to churn out a better power-to-weight ratio of 0.104 kW/kg compared to RTR 165RP’s 0.095 kW/kg. Not to forget, the MT-15 is equipped with a variable valve actuation system that ensures a higher low-end grunt without disturbing the top-end performance of the motorcycle.
The RTR 165RP may not be within your reach
By the time you finish reading this article, the RP may not be available for purchase because unfortunately, TVS has announced to produce only 200 units in the country. However, if it is still available and you are wondering which one to choose, our money is on both motorcycles. Reason: the RP165 packs slightly better hardware and is lighter on the pocket, whereas the MT-15 feels a bit more premium and composed.
