TVS Ronin Review: Retro Goes Modern!

The steady pitter patter of the raindrops on my helmet started increasing in intensity, but just about, as the rain gods seemed to change their mind every second minute. The new TVS Ronin I'm astride purred along happily along the narrow twisty roads, and the intermittent drizzle was soon forgotten. Comfort and relaxed easy rideability seem to be the almost perfect recipe on two wheels for a rather wet outing like the one I'm indulging in now. Earlier that morning, we woke up to a downpour, which had somewhat faded out by the time we rolled out of our digs and onto the wet roads of South Goa. But the intermittent drizzle continued, with bouts of heavy rain, as we spent the better part of the day with the Ronin, the latest motorcycle from TVS Motor Company.

Also Read: Everything You Need To Know About TVS Ronin

The new TVS Ronin has a relaxed vibe to it, but with a smooth and refined engine, with strong low-end torque, and great road manners.

The Ronin started life as the TVS Zeppelin concept shown at the Auto Expo a few years ago, but the production model seems to have taken a road less travelled than what the designers of the original concept had envisioned. Nevertheless, it's here now, something of a first for TVS, which only has commuter motorcycles, entry-level sporty nakeds and its flagship entry-level sportbike, the RR 310. Whether internal discussions, feedback from multiple brand, strategy and product teams resulted in what the Ronin is, we will never know, but it seems to have undergone a lot of brainstorming to finally become what it is.

Also Read: TVS Ronin Launched; Prices Begin At Rs. 1.49 Lakh

According to TVS Motor Company, the Ronin has been designed to address a new range of young riders, looking for a motorcycle with easy rideability, and built for both the daily commute and occasional long rides.

Now, according to TVS, the company wants to target an entirely new breed of riders. And as I chugged along at a leisurely pace, with the smooth four-valve engine belting out a burbly exhaust note, it all seemed to make sense. Easy rideability, leisure riding, new breed of riders, women riders, and even beginners, anyone can swing a leg over the Ronin and not feel intimidated. But does it have all the qualities to make it a successful product for TVS, a company known for making dynamically-sound, well-engineered two-wheelers? Now, that's the more pertinent question, and something which we intend to find some answers, and possibly some hints and revelations about TVS Motor Company's future product strategy as well.

The 225 cc, single-cylinder, four-valve engine has a perfect square design, with identical bore and stroke of 66 mm. The difference is, it doesn't have the trademark thump of a long-stroke engine. In numbers, the Ronin's 225 cc engine makes 20.1 bhp at 7,750 rpm and 19.93 Nm at 3,750 rpm.

Engine & Performance

The Ronin cranks to life silently, thanks to the integrated started generator (ISG), which was first seen in scooters and then in smaller commuter motorcycles as well. The engine, a 225 cc, single-cylinder, four-valve, single overhead cam unit, has a perfect square design, with identical bore and stroke of 66 mm. The difference is, it doesn't have the trademark thump of a long-stroke engine of say, a Royal Enfield Classic 350, or a Honda H'ness CB 350, but has higher revs. The four-valves also aid in better refinement, and although high-end performance isn't in the league of short-stroke or over-square engines, the "perfect square" engine helps achieve a balance between speed and pulling ability.

Low and mid-range tractability is where the Ronin excels at. In fifth gear, you can pull cleanly from 35 kmph without any knocking from the engine, and for riders looking to stay in one gear without too many downshifts in the city, the Ronin will be a boon.

In numbers, the Ronin's 225 cc engine makes 20.1 bhp at 7,750 rpm and 19.93 Nm at 3,750 rpm. The numbers may look like a long-stroke unit of one of the most popular modern classic models, but in character, the Ronin feels a lot more refined, is eager to rev freely and is complemented by a bassy and burbly soundtrack from the exhaust. The assist and slipper clutch offers a light and easy feel on the clutch lever, and the 5-speed gearbox offers precise shifts. The gearbox internals are the same as the Apache 200's, but the gearing has been changed to be shorter, to aid in more tractability at low speeds at higher gears.

The four-valve engine is smooth, the 5-speed gearbox slick, and the clutch lever light with the assist and slipper clutch. Overall, engine feel is quite refined and well-engineered, but top-end performance is a little lacking, if that is a consideration.

Acceleration isn't back-slapping, but it revs freely close to 8,000 rpm and the speedo shows 100 kmph and beyond when prodded. We saw a speedo-indicated top speed of around 107 kmph, before we ran out of a closed road during a test run. But low and mid-range tractability is where the Ronin excels at. In fifth gear, you can pull cleanly from 35 kmph without any knocking from the engine, and for riders looking to stay in one gear without too many downshifts in the city, the Ronin will be a boon. On the flip side though, better acceleration would have certainly made a stronger impression, as would have better top-end performance.

The TVS Ronin excels in its dynamics. Front-end feel is very planted, ride quality is plush, and even in the wet, the Ronin offers a sure-footed planted feel.

Ride & Handling

Where the Ronin makes a very strong impression is in its dynamics. The chassis, a double-cradle, split steel frame, offers a stable feeling, but it's also light and easy on its feet with its 160 kg kerb weight. The front end feels planted and sure-footed, even in the wet, and the 41 mm Showa forks certainly aren't there just for premium appeal! Show it a corner or two, the Ronin, even in the wet, is up for some hustling, and offers very good confidence to the rider. Even the gas-charged monoshock offers a plush ride quality, which just glides over road imperfections.

The TVS Ronin comes with ABS with two modes in the top-end variant, with Urban and Rain modes. Brakes are quite effective, even in the wet, but what stands out is the excellent ride quality and superb handling.

The brakes, with dual-channel ABS in the top-spec variant, offer good bite and progression, and complement the tyres in grip and stopping power. And of course, TVS offers two ABS modes, Urban and Rain, so there's an added layer of confidence and safety in the braking system as well. The block-pattern tyres hint at some rough riding ability, although the Ronin is no off-roader (not that TVS is lacking in any experience in MX events, and even reputed international rally raid events, including the Dakar). The Ronin though, has good grip, and the tyres help in tackling surfaces with less traction, as we found out during our first ride in mostly rain drenched surfaces. The ABS modes will prove a boon to new riders, especially in low traction conditions.

Also Read: TVS Ronin Price Comparison

The TVS Ronin is a well-built motorcycle; quality levels are good, fit and finish is quite good. The design is unique, and feels like a mixture of several different types of motorcycles.

Design & Features

The Ronin may have its origins in the TVS Zeppelin concept shown at the 2018 Auto Expo, but in production form, the Ronin is a lot different, in design, stance, and positioning. Its design seems to have been inspired by several different genres of motorcycles, so it's difficult to pinpoint if it's a roadster, scrambler, cruiser or something else. There's a little tinge of what TVS calls a "modern retro" motorcycle, something like a modern classic or a neo-retro, but with visible scrambler influences as well. In fact, it seems to be many motorcycle styles rolled into one.

The 14-litre tank is somewhat of a classic tear-drop shape, while the gold-finished 41 mm Showa upside down forks add premium appeal and offer great handling. The block pattern tyres, as well as the plastic bash plate hint at an influence of scrambler styling.

There are the scrambler-styled block pattern tyres, but mounted on 17-inch alloy wheels, and there's an engine bash plate, but made of plastic. The fuel tank has that classic, almost tear-drop shape, but the twist and flip up lid is more modern than retro. And with 14 litres of capacity, you can expect to go a long way between refills. The side panels are somewhat of a nod to the '80s, and the ribbed flat seat, again with a hint of retro appeal. The block pattern tyres have been designed specifically for the Ronin by TVS Remora.

Also Read: TVS Ronin Launch Highlights

The Ronin looks best from the front three-quarters; the fat upside down forks, LED headlight, wide and slightly pulled back handlebar and the offset speedometer console offer a striking stance.

Up front, things are interesting. There's a wide and slightly swept back handlebar, with a single-pod, offset instrument console, but with a long list of features. The offset speedometer is also turned at an angle towards the rider, so it offers good visibility, even on the go. And there's a long list of information, including the standard speedometer, odometer, fuel gauge, distance to empty, low fuel warning, gear position indicator, service reminder and even ABS mode indicator.

The single-pod, digital instrument console offers a long list of information, and has features like Bluetooth connectivity, with the TVS SmartXonnect system and also offers voice assist through an aftermarket helmet mounted headset.

There's smartphone connectivity through the TVS SmartXonnect Bluetooth system and mobile app, and it offers turn-by-turn navigation, incoming call alerts, SMS alerts, and even a voice command system, but you'll need a helmet mounted aftermarket Bluetooth communication system to use the voice commands.

To me, the front half of the design strikes as handsome and universally appealing. It's the rear half that will have polarised opinions and probably find criticism in the Ronin's overall design. The front half and the rear somehow don't seem to gel together.

Overall, the design looks quite nice from the front, with the 41 mm Showa gold-finished upside-down forks on the higher variants giving the bike a premium stance, along with the LED headlight and turn indicators. But if you look at the Ronin from the rear angle, it's a bit of a hit and miss. The rear half of the bike doesn't quite gel with the design of the front half, with the rear fender overhang feeling a little too long. The LED taillight looks nice when viewed alone but could have been extended to give some aesthetic appeal to the tail section, which, now looks chopped from the seat downwards to the protruding fender, topped by a rather odd-looking grabrail.

Overall build quality, fit and finish is quite nice, and the Ronin will certainly find favour with consumers looking for something different. The engine refinement and superb dynamics will only add to its appeal.

In a way, the Ronin seems to have a slightly confused design at first glance, but overall fit and finish is quite nice, build quality is what you'd expect from any TVS motorcycle. And despite the nit-picking, the Ronin overall is a neat-looking motorcycle, and it does begin to grow on you with more time spent with it, if you can come to terms and get over the rather unfamiliar and "different" design.

The TVS Ronin has a very attractive price tag, and its engine refinement, with strong low-end torque, as well as superb dynamics make it a very likeable motorcycle.

Verdict

The new TVS Ronin is indeed a likeable motorcycle. The biggest strengths of the Ronin are its price, easy rideability, and excellent ride and handling, all traits which make it an easy recommendation. With prices starting at Rs. 1.49 lakh (Ex-showroom), going up to Rs. 1.70 lakh (Ex-showroom), the Ronin is at a price point which also makes it affordable and attractive for the budget conscious customer. In terms of rivals, you can slot it against the Royal Enfield Classic 350, Honda CB350RS and even the Jawa 42 in terms of appeal, but it also goes up against other 250 cc motorcycles. While the Ronin may lack top-end performance and acceleration, it does have the features and a very attractive price point.

There are hardly any faults or negatives about the TVS Ronin. Slightly better performance could have really made it exceptional, but what will continue to be a point of discussion is the design, particularly the tail section.

For new riders, or even first-time riders, the Ronin has un-intimidating performance, with easy rideability, and has superb dynamics which ensures a fair degree of sense of control. In a way, there are little negatives to find about the Ronin, except the tail section design, which again is subjective, and something personal. It doesn't feel like any long-stroke single-cylinder thumper, and the Ronin's engine refinement and tractability certainly outdoes other entry-level modern classics in the market.
 

The top-spec variants feature span-adjustable brake and clutch levers.

Whether or not, it goes on to become a successful product is yet to be seen, and it will require consumer acceptability as well, something we will look forward with curiosity. For anyone who wants to look different, isn't stuck on outright performance, and wants a motorcycle which is built well, loaded with features, and wants to look different, the Ronin certainly makes for a good case.
 

The Ronin has all the qualities to make it quite a likeable product; refined engine, strong low-end grunt, comfortable ergonomics and superb ride and handling.

On the way back to base, it was a torrential downpour, and I started appreciating the Ronin for all its qualities. Refined performance, very tractable engine, comfortable ergonomics, and superb ride quality; after all what else does anyone need in a motorcycle for everyday use? As for performance, it won't be a surprise, if TVS does manage to tweak the Ronin to extract even better performance. After all, updates and facelifts with significant improvements are what TVS excels in, across its product range coming at regular and frequent intervals.
 

The Ronin makes a strong statement from TVS, that it can make a well-engineered retro-styled roadster which doesn't have to replicate the traditional long-stroke format. It's perhaps the beginning of more exciing things to come from TVS in this very popular segment of motorcycles.

In the end though, I feel the TVS Ronin is a statement, a "modern retro" statement, if you will, that TVS may be known for sporty motorcycles, but it can very capably play in the retro segment, with completely different engine character and refinement. And the Ronin could well be the beginning of more retro-styled products from TVS, to shake things up in one of the most popular motorcycle segments, both at home, and across the world.
 

(Photography: Prashant Chaudhary)