MotoSoul 2025: Legacy and loyalty

Five years ago, I walked around Hilltop in Vagator, taking in the sights and sounds of the inaugural edition of TVS MotoSoul – an event that had sufficient promise to become a worthwhile annual gathering of the brand’s most passionate ambassadors. Five years later, I’m happy to report that MotoSoul has lived up to that promise.

This year’s edition did face some unexpected turbulence, though. The event coincided with a weekend when stricter pilot rest rules led to massive flight delays and cancellations across the country. Several expected attendees couldn’t make it, but despite the chaos, hundreds of TVS owners still showed up. And that says a lot about the community that TVS has built. 

Twenty years of Apache

For TVS, 2025 also marks two decades since the Apache brand came into existence, and this milestone formed the backbone of MotoSoul’s theme this year. The brand had also put together a showcase of all the notable creations from its history, from the humble TVS 50 moped it first went racing with, through the multiple Apache RTR iterations we’ve experienced over the years, right up to the RTR 450 rally bikes that have competed at the Dakar.

As tradition dictates with events like this, we also got some new reveals. TVS unveiled a limited-edition colourway for the Apache RTX 300 and a new colour for the Ronin called the Agonda edition, named after the calm, laid-back village in South Goa.

A lazy Goan Saturday

The Ronin Agonda edition is an ode to the village it’s named after, and the bike’s relaxed riding nature is supposed to mirror its vibe. TVS gave us the opportunity to experience this firsthand through a scavenger hunt around Goa. We were split into small groups, and at every location, we’d receive a card with a clue to solve before heading to the next spot.

The clues were quite simple because this wasn’t meant to be an actual challenge. Plus, I suspect TVS didn’t want us wandering off course into the Goan hinterlands. Not that it would’ve been possible anyway, considering we had a company-assigned rider with us ensuring we stayed on track. But semantics aside, we got to ride the Ronin Agonda around Goa on a lazy Saturday morning, and it was my first experience with this bike. The engine is tractable and fun, and it suits the kind of laid-back riding and lifestyle you’d typically engage with while in Goa.

Eye candy

Also on showcase were a couple of custom bikes built by Indonesia-based Smoked Garage. The Ronin ‘Kensai’ edition was a sleek, minimalist café-racer-like build with a party trick of an air suspension system that lets you raise or lower the rear with the click of a button. The RR 310 Speed Line, on the other hand, was intended to be a track weapon, and the builders didn’t hold back with facilitating that transformation. It featured Öhlins suspension and Brembo hardware, along with slick tyres and a new swingarm.

Helmets and hijinks

With most of the major reveals happening on Day 1, the second day kicked off at a more relaxed pace. I signed up for a helmet-painting workshop, where we were handed white half-faced TVS helmets and told to unleash our inner artists. This experience taught me that there’s a rather substantial divide between my creative intentions and my actual artistic ability. But I guess the pursuit of bridging that gap is what makes mastering any craft worthwhile.

After that cathartic (and rather humbling) experience, we were introduced to helmets that people would actually want to wear. TVS announced a new partnership with MT Helmets, which were on display alongside gear from their existing tie-up with Alpinestars. The brand also showcased the Aegis VR helmet that was previously unveiled at EICMA 2025.

Over the two days, there was plenty for those who wanted to get their hands dirty. A dirt track, flat track sessions, obstacle courses that included balance beams and pushing a barrel past the finish line while on your bike, and push-up challenges all saw healthy participation. If you’d rather spectate, there was no shortage of entertainment either, with an enclosed velodrome, an FMX showcase and stunt shows. And as always, both evenings wrapped up with live music, featuring performances by Badshah, Nucleya and Lagori.

The fifth edition of MotoSoul proved that despite unexpected logistical nightmares, loyal TVS owners will find a way to show up and celebrate a brand with a genuinely rich legacy. If you’ve been contemplating making the trip to one, consider this your nudge.