TVS Ronin Trademarked. Is It The Upcoming Zeppelin?

Upcoming TVS Ronin could be a cruiser or an adventure motorcycle

The trademark was filed earlier this year.  It applies to the two-wheeler category.  TVS could launch the Ronin early-next year. 

TVS had registered the name ‘Ronin’ for its upcoming two-wheeler in February this year. The Hosur-based bikemaker had revealed plans to launch new products by 2021 and the Ronin could be one of them. The big question is what is it? There are quite a few possibilities that we can think of. 

It could be a cruiser based on the TVS Zeppelin concept shown at Auto Expo 2018. The Zeppelin cruiser concept came with a host of features like full-LED lighting, bio key, action cam, and an electric motor assist. While most of these features might not make it to the production version, it is expected to get a 220cc motor derived from the Apache RTR 200 4V. If the upcoming Ronin is a scooter, TVS could price it around Rs 1.2 lakh wherein it would compete with the Bajaj Avenger Cruise 220. 

The other possibility could be a naked 300cc motorcycle based on the Apache RR 310. Ronin means a type of Samurai warrior. In the 90s, TVS sold the Samurai naked motorcycle in collaboration with Suzuki. It is highly unlikely that TVS would want to deviate from the Apache brand name and call it the Ronin. Our best guess is that the naked bike would be called the Apache RTR 310. The motorcycle is expected to use the Apache RR 310’s underpinnings, features and powertrain. TVS though could come with a retro iteration of the Apache RTR 310 and name it the Ronin. That would help it take the fight to the Jawa, Benelli Imperiale, and even the Honda CB300R.

TVS has a wide range of two-wheelers in its portfolio ranging from a moped to an electric cruiser. It doesn’t have an adventure motorcycle though which is surprising given TVS’ dominance in rallying and more recently, Dakar. Given the TVS-BMW collaboration, the Ronin could be an adventure motorcycle with parts borrowed from the BMW G 310 R. It could be the perfect rival to the Royal Enfield Himalayan BS6.