JACK OF ALL TRADES
TVS’S CONTENDER IN THE NEO-RETRO SEGMENT, THE RONIN, PACKS IN A LOT OF TECH AND PROMISES TO BE A GOOD RIDE. WE TRY THE BIKE OUT IN RAINY GOA
The neo-retro segment is trending big these days and TVS has joined in with the Ronin bearing a silhouette that shouts retro. Cropped fenders, sporty 17-inch alloy wheels shod with block pattern tyres, 41mm Showa USD forks, all-LED lighting and a muscular 14-litre fuel tank all come together to make the Ronin look attractive. An offset instrument pod mounted on the handlebar is the first to offer voice commands along with navigation and Bluetooth connectivity. The Ronin also offers a comfortable, upright rider’s triangle thus making it good for long rides.
TVS has deployed a brand new double-cradle chassis for the 225.9cc engine which essentially comes from the Apache. The engine has been heavily reworked with changes like an enlarged cylinder fin area, slip and assist clutch, bigger oil cooler and so on. The engine now offers 20.4 bhp and 19.93 Nm of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels using a 5-speed gearbox and then there is a slipand-assist clutch as well. TVS has also added an ISG system which offers a smoother start. As far as suspension goes, the Ronin uses 41 mm USD forks from Showa upfront and a gas-charged monoshock at the back.
The Ronin starts with a unique ‘chug’ thanks to the new silent start system. At idle, the custom-tuned exhaust is barely audible but twist the throttle and you do get a rorty soundtrack as the revs rise. The Ronin takes off easy and settles down into a cruise almost instantly. The riding position is comfy and one gets to the top gear of the 5-speed box relatively quick. Thanks to the brilliant mid-range, the Ronin effortlessly cruises in town without needing frequent downshifts. The ride quality too impressed us as the suspension soaked up the rough roads with ease.
TVS has launched the Ronin at a rather inviting price point. The range starts from Rs 1.49 lakh and goes all the way up to Rs 1.71 lakh (ex-showroom). The motorcycle, in a typical TVS way, is extremely well sorted as far as performance goes. It also offers many firstin-segment features which should impress those who are looking out for technology in their ride. The catch is that the Ronin needs to create its own identity in the segment which will have to be based on its technology and performance.