TVS Ronin Road Test Review: Likes and Dislikes

How well does TVS’ first retro bike perform in the real world?

When we first rode the TVS Ronin in Goa, we came away suitably impressed with TVS’ all-new product. However, the short time we spent with the bike, as well as the rain-soaked riding conditions at the time, meant we needed a longer, more extensive ride to get better acquainted with it. And now that we’ve finally had the chance, here’s all that we liked, and a few things we didn’t, about the TVS Ronin.

Likes - 

Fit and finish 

Enough and more has been said about the Ronin’s design. But not enough attention has been brought to the really important bit - the quality of the materials used, and how well they gel into a well-built – if polarising-looking – product. 

The headlight looks upmarket and works adequately, though a wider beam spread would have been appreciated. The Apache RTR 200 4V-derived switches fall to hand easily. The low seat feels plush enough for daily commutes and the plastics feel solid to the touch. 

In fact, even the disparate bits can’t be faulted: the offset single-pod cluster gives quite a lot of info and yet is easy to read, and even the tube-type grabrail feels well-made, with no unsightly welds.

Tractable engine

The Ronin’s engine is just a mildly tweaked unit from the Apache RTR 200 4V, and gets the same light slip-and-assist clutch, and smooth gearbox. This is supplemented by the GTT (Glide Through Traffic) tech, which means it’s more than content to chug along in rush-hour traffic. In fact, we even saw an indicated 16kmph in fourth gear!

And yet, the Ronin is more than just a gingerly commuter: it boasts strong bottom- and mid-range grunt. Hence, you don’t always need to be in the “right” gear when you’re out and about. In fact, during our testing we were able to accelerate right from 30kmph all the way to 70kmph – in fifth gear – without a hint of protest from the engine. 

And the cherry on top is the engine’s frugal behaviour, as with the 14-litre tank capacity and our tested fuel efficiency figures, the Ronin could very well take you from Delhi to Dharamshala, or Pune to Goa, without needing to pause for a tank-up.

That said, there is a side effect to the engine’s behaviour, which you’ll get to know about soon enough.

Light And Competent Handing

Another highlight of the Ronin is its neutral handling. Given the raked-out front end, the Ronin is remarkably light on its feet, with minimal effort required to filter through traffic. 

The low seat, relaxed riding position and wide handlebars help the Ronin snake its way through traffic surprisingly easily. And this confidence is reinforced even as the speed rises, since the long wheelbase and grippy TVS Remora tyres ensure stability throughout the corner. 

Moreover, the Ronin’s suspension setup is another big plus. The inherent plushness of the components allow you to ride over any form of road imperfection with little to no care. It glides over smaller bumps and doesn’t even toss you off over the prominent ones.

Feature-packed

Along with the usual speedo, tacho, fuel gauge, odometer and time readout, the Ronin’s easy-to-read offset single pod instrument cluster also shows ABS modes. Additionally, there’s Bluetooth connectivity via the TVS SmartXonnect app, which also allows for call and message alerts, turn-by-turn navigation, voice assist, and post-ride stats. The top-trim TD model that we have here also comes with span-adjustable levers as standard.

While these features are more or less developed and borrowed from the Apache RTR 200 4V, the Ronin’s trump card is its first-in-segment silent start. It not only gives off a hint of premiumness, but is also leagues ahead of the competition in this regard.

Dislikes

More of a city slicker

Thus far we have established how commendably the Ronin’s engine handles the daily grind. However, its confidence wavers when on the open road. 

As mentioned before, the engine feels the most eager under about 6000rpm which roughly translates to 80kmph in fifth gear. Beyond this, forward progress will be accompanied by harsh vibrations kicking in from the footpegs, handlebar and even the tank till the 100kmph mark. Engine refinement is a concern at lower speeds as well, since unlike other recent TVS bikes, the Ronin doesn’t come off as polished, and could even be characterised as gruff.

Besides, the seemingly accessible torque curve, which ensures prompt response at city speeds, seems a bit lacking in the higher reaches. As a result, you will need to keep the throttle pinned to maintain a healthy clip. But in doing so, the engine ends up sounding unnecessarily harsh as well.

Lacklustre brake feel

Another facet which will be a tad more of a bother during high-speed touring than in your daily commute, is the lack of immediate response from the brakes. Don’t get me wrong here: the Ronin’s brakes do most of what is asked of them. However, to shed serious speed means to grab onto a handful of brakes, which may feel disconcerting to newer riders, or in unfamiliar surroundings.  

Quality Issues

Now keeping apart the praise the Ronin gets for the overall build quality, there were still a few chinks in its armour. 

Within the 200 or so kilometres we rode our review unit, we had to face more than one instance of a malfunctioning fuse which shut off the headlight, taillight and instrument console. 

And once that was fixed, the fasteners on the engine belly cowl popped off, though we spotted it before it would have become a hazard to others on the road.  

Quirky Oddball

And before we move on to the final word, we do need to revisit the enduring issue with the Ronin: it’s near-incoherent design.

Yes, we know looks are subjective, but the Ronin seems to have its feet in not two, but multiple boats. Is it a cruiser? Well, the raked-out fork and feet-forward riding stance seem to suggest so. Is it a scrambler? Well, the flat-ish handlebar and chunky tank point to it.

And then there’s the tail which, even in isolation, gives off a kind of garage-built vibe with the high, extended fender, and gap it shows off over the rear wheel. 

All in all, we reckon TVS should have started off from a clean slate, rather than taking half-hearted cues from its cruiser-based Zeppelin concept. 

Verdict - 

TVS’ brave new attempt packs the necessary hardware, and yet cannot quite be called a jack-of-all-trades. Its engine has a sort of achievable performance for 99 percent of your everyday needs, and it’s only on the open roads that you may feel a bit out of your depth. 

All things considered, then, the Ronin’s element is the city commute. The combo of easy handling, peppy acceleration and the breadth of features on offer seems almost incomparable. 

What does seem to be a bit hard to digest, though, is the asking price that's a bit on the higher side for what is essentially a city slicker. Paying that much moolah for only playing in the urban jungle is not what a buyer of this segment would aspire for, and you could get motorcycles from other brands — with far more capabilities and better brand value — for the same price.