TVS Ronin: What exactly is it?
Ignore the offset speedo console for a while. Ignore the short wheelbase, the on/off road tyres and everything else that makes the Ronin look anything other than a cruiser to you. Focus only on the raked out front end, the forward set footpegs, the tall handlebar and the full chain cover that looks like a belt cover. Now you'll get your answer: this is indeed a cruiser. A "well scripted" cruiser. You sit upright in that quintessentially cruiser position with your hands extended straight ahead and your feet stretched forward. Once you approach the Ronin with that mindset, everything starts making sense again. I love the front face with the round, all led headlamp. I love the golden upside down Showa forks. They look dapper. I love the paint schemes, the large, scupted fuel tank and I'm ok with the unscripted tail end too. That's because it all screams of top notch quality. There is attention to detail given to everything you touch, feel, see and hear. Be it the switchgear or the offset speedo console or the beautifully designed mirror stocks, the adjustable levers and.. yes.. that bassy exhaust note. You also get connectivity features and ABS modes in the Ronin. It may look like a small motorcycle but once you sit on it, the view that you get is that of a larger capacity motorcycle. If quality, equipment and bang for your buck is what you desire, this TVS is for you.
Start the engine using the silent ISG starter and you're greeted with the drum roll of that bass heavy exhaust note. Whether it is at idling or riding at low rpms or when pulling the engine hard, I just love the way this exhaust sounds and makes you feel. It makes you feel happy, eager and most importantly, it makes you feel alive! Pull the clutch and you realise how light this slip and assist clutch is. Slot it in gear, release half the clutch and the Ronin jumps ahead with the eagerness of a stallion released from the starting gates at the Derby. You really need to get used to that initial torque. You don't expect it and it takes you by surprise. Once you're used to it this torque, it becomes a playful thing to just wring open the throttle and surge ahead with a smile. What TVS have done with this motor is very smart. They have taken the RTR 200's engine and increased the stroke of it. In doing so, they have addressed the one big problem with the RTR 200: the lack of low end torque. The mid range is strong too but post that, the Ronin's motor progressively runs out of breath as it approaches the top end. If I have to describe this motor to you with two adjectives, it would be fun and playful.
I wish the Ronin was as fun and playful in corners as well. It is sturdy and holds its line very well once leaned in. However, quick changes of direction is something that the Ronin struggles with. That's more to do with the cruiser format of motorcycles than the Ronin in particular. The raked out front end feels disconnected from the rider. Absolutely no weight on the footpegs, leaves you little room to move around from side to side and robs you of the fun that this motor and chassis are capable of. I so pray, wish and hope that TVS makes a roadster and even a Scrambler soon on this platform. Those formats would do so much more justice to this chassis and engine than the Ronin currently does. Moving ahead. Work through the slick shifting gearbox and you're sitting in 5th gear fairly quickly and from there, a simple opening and closing of the throttle gets most of your city job done. Not to forget the sound score of that exhaust note that always makes you feel very special. Doing constant triple digit speeds on the highway also shouldn't be a task for the Ronin since this motor is extremely refined, even at higher RPMs. The brakes have good bite and progression and at no speed do you feel that the bike wouldn't stop on demand. The seat is nice and soft and the suspensions at both ends work brilliantly to take the edge off bad patches of roads. That's all thanks to that one Japanese name: Showa. However, with your feet forward and your hands upright, your entire bodyweight is sitting only on your butt all the time and that's something even Showa can't do much about.
So here's a motorcycle that is well equipped with features, looks great, feels great, rides extremely well and sounds bloody amazing! For all the kit that you get, it has been priced pretty well too. Should you buy one? Well the answer to that lies in one simple question: do you want to buy a cruiser motorcycle? And if the answer to that is yes, go for it. It will delight you more than you can imagine! If cruisers are not your thing though, you would have to look elsewhere. Don't get confused by the unscripted script. The Ronin is as cruiser as it gets. What are your options then? Yamaha have upped their game significantly with the new MT-15. If you like that platform, you may test ride it. However, the most relevant competitor to consider in this segment is of course, the Royal Enfield Hunter. Yes, if this is the top end of your budget and cruisers are not your thing, the Hunter is your best bet yet. Don't take my word for it. Take a test ride and let the motorcycle choose you.
Ride chilled and ride safe!
Pictures courtesy: tvsmotor.com
