Our Flat Track Experience at the TVS Ronin Drift R School

TVS gave us the specially customised Ronin Flat Tracker for the slide school, without a front brake

We attended the first-ever TVS Ronin Drift R Slide School at the ProDirt Adventure’s flat track in Pune last Sunday, on November 17, 2024. TVS provided us with the specially customised Ronin Flat Tracker with all the necessary modifications for the slide school.

What’s different in the TVS Ronin Flat Tracker?

The fully customised TVS Ronin looked sick as a Flat Tracker. Here’s what changes it has as compared to the standard Ronin:

• Being a flat tracker, it did not have a front brake lever, and the front disc
• The headlight and instrument console have also been removed
• The front fork gets 40mm of extra suspension travel
• Repositioned footrest and ODI performance handlebar to provide correct riding posture and confidence
• A reworked tail section and a special flat tracker seat, provide comfort while flat-tracking
• A new sweet-sounding custom exhaust, which is made in India
• A bigger rear sprocket for more low-end torque
• It get two different colours: Blue and Black
• The Blue bike has a white ‘TVS’ decal on the fuel tank and the Black bike has a ‘TVS horse’ logo on the tank
• New Block pattern TVS tyres for better grip
• A chrome bash plate

How was the Experience?

We were first briefed by TVS officials who introduced the TVS Ronin DriftR School. Then the coaches from Prodirt Adventure gave a brief of what flat tracking is all about, they also emphasised rider safety, by ensuring we were in full riding gear and providing whatever gear was missing. 

Fitness is an important aspect of motorcycling and we started off with warm-up exercises, which got us pumped up and ready for the track action. There were special instructors for us who focused on different aspects such as body posture, correct lines, throttle and brake control, and vision. 

I consider myself a beginner in flat tracking since it was only my second time. I was nervous to ride without a front brake as that is what we use the most to control the bike on the road or the racetrack. But, I was still excited and thrilled to learn new things.

The first drill given to us involved being in first gear around the track, which helped me understand the throttle control, lines and where or when I have to tap on the rear brakes to control the slide. And MANN! It was amazing! The sensation of the rear tyre sliding out and you being able to control it is a different feeling altogether. It is a feeling of accomplishment, the joy of learning something new, knowing that you are looking super cool while doing so and in the end knowing that you are getting better with every single lap.

Flat tracking, like any motorsport, comes with its risks. Sliding the rear too much can lead to a low-side crash while opening the throttle excessively might cause a high-side, where the bike throws you off. We were also taught the correct way to fall in case such situations occur. The coaches also gave us constant feedback on our mistakes as well as on what we were doing right.

Then, in the 2nd round, we were given the freedom to level up and play around in the 1st and 2nd gear. This gave me better control while downshifting and entering a corner, making the bike slide even more, and giving me more speed when coming out of the corners, which also resulted in better powerslides. 

The TVS Ronin also performed impressively well, being super light and easy to change directions, it boosted my confidence and gradually I got used to the bike as well. Previously, I did a flat track on the Royal Enfield Scram 411-based flat tracker which was fairly heavy, however, the TVS Ronin Flat Tracker was lighter and easier to manage as compared to the Royal Enfield one. 

There have been instances where the rear tyre slid a little too much and I had to tap my leg to control the bike, resisting the fall. This is why, after the end of the 2nd round, I was even more confident and my nervousness was gone. And I knew that I could push a little more and even if anything happened, I would be able to control it.

In the end, we were given 30 minutes of track time to ride freely and practise what we learned, to enhance our lines and techniques. This was the time when I felt the most confident, focused, and comfortable on the bike, as I gradually developed a connection with the Ronin Flat Tracker in the previous two sessions and knew how the bike would behave according to my input. This was the time I had an absolute blast and had the most fun on the flat track. 

Although I was tired by the end, I still wanted to do it all over again—that’s how fun and addictive it is! If you’re a biking enthusiast, attending the TVS Ronin Drift R Slide School is a must-try experience. TVS also has something exciting planned for bikers, which will be revealed soon. Stay tuned as we’ll bring you all the latest updates first!