The TVS Ronin debuted over three years ago and immediately positioned itself as a rather unique offering. It doesn’t fit neatly into any particular category, blending elements from neo-retro machines, cafe racers and scramblers, giving it a distinctive space in TVS’s portfolio and, in fact, the Indian motorcycle market in general. If you’re considering buying one, here are the top reasons it’s worth looking at, along with a couple of deterrents.
Reasons to buy the TVS Ronin
Smooth engine with strong low-end performance
The 225.9cc single-cylinder engine on the Ronin produces 20.4hp and 19.9Nm of torque. While these numbers aren’t groundbreaking on paper, TVS has tuned the engine for strong low- and mid-range performance, with peak torque arriving as low as 3,750rpm. This results in a highly tractable engine and effortless city riding.
TVS has also opted for relatively short gearing, allowing the bike to move smoothly at very low speeds in higher gears and pull away easily from just 3,000rpm. In our experience, you can ride in third gear at 15kph and still get a responsive, smooth throttle response.
Planted yet nimble chassis
The Ronin strikes a notable balance between stability and agility. True to cruiser design, it features a raked-out front fork that enhances straight-line stability. Typically, this setup would compromise agility, but TVS added a fork offset at the bottom that moves the rear wheel slightly inward, reducing the effective trail and improving manoeuvrability.
The 41mm Showa USD fork, borrowed from the Apache RR 310, comes with revised spring and damping settings, delivering a ride that’s both comfortable and planted. Combined with a relatively accessible seat height of 795mm and a kerb weight of 160kg, the Ronin remains a fairly easy-to-handle motorcycle.
Impressive features and value
The Ronin comes equipped with LED lighting, an offset fully digital instrument cluster reminiscent of the Ducati Scrambler, adjustable levers, a silent starter system, a slipper clutch and TVS’s Glide Through Technology (GTT). The cluster offers Bluetooth connectivity for call alerts and can be paired with the SmartXonnect app to track ride stats and location.
The bike is available in three variants – Base, Mid and Top – with dual-channel ABS standard on the last two, offering ‘Rain’ and ‘Urban’ ABS modes. Following a reduction in the GST rate on bikes below 350cc to 18 percent, the Ronin has become more affordable by up to Rs 14,330, with prices now starting at Rs 1.25 lakh and going up to Rs 1.59 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
Reasons not to buy the TVS Ronin
Design may not be for everyone
The Ronin’s design is arguably its most divisive aspect. It mixes cues from several different types of motorcycles and doesn’t really stick to a single theme. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with that, and how a bike looks is subjective, it’s worth mentioning that if you care about what others think, the Ronin might not win universal approval for its styling.
Weak top-end performance
While the Ronin is excellent for city riding, its shorter gearing and engine tuning do come at the cost of highway performance. During our time with the bike, we found that a relaxed cruise sits around 85kph, and it can comfortably hold 100kph without stress. Beyond that, however, it begins to run out of steam, and you’d likely need to crouch down to reach the claimed top speed of 120kph on the speedo. If your commute involves long highway stretches or you’re planning to tour, the Ronin might leave you wanting a bit more.
Autocar India News Desk
Rishaad Mody
Dinshaw Magol
