TVS Ronin vs Yamaha FZ-X: Photo Comparison

These are the only neo-retro motorcycles in the respective bikemaker’s portfolio and let’s see who pulled it off better

Neo-retro motorcycles have been garnering a lot of attention, and the latest to join the club is the TVS Ronin. But, the Yamaha FZ-X has been in the market for quite a while now. So, if you are on the lookout for an attention-grabbing retro-themed motorcycle, these two are your most affordable options. But who does it better? We take a closer look through these detailed images:

The TVS Ronin and the Yamaha FZ-X are oddballs, not really fitting into any genre. But, both follow the retro theme. That said, the Yamaha FZ-X doesn’t look as proportionate as the Ronin. And even though the individual parts look interesting, they don’t look like they belong on one motorcycle.

Both motorcycles have a circular headlight like you’d expect from a retro motorcycle. However, these units are modern LEDs with LED DRL in addition. The headlights of both motorcycles are polarising, and may not appeal to someone who is looking for something subtle.

The Yamaha FZ-X and the TVS Ronin have wide and beefy fuel tanks. However, while the FZ-X’s fuel reservoir can hold 10-litres of petrol, the Ronin’s tank boasts of a 14-litre capacity.

TVS and Yamaha have equipped their bikes with LCD instrument consoles with Bluetooth connectivity. However, the Ronin packs more features like a gear position indicator, voice assistance and navigation. Bits like app connectivity, call and SMS alerts are common for both.

The Yamaha FZ-X uses the tried and tested 149cc air-cooled mill from the FZ-Fi range and it produces a measly 12.4PS and 13.3Nm. Meanwhile, TVS has used a new 225cc air/oil-cooled single-cylinder engine producing 20.4PS and 19.93Nm for the Ronin. Though both bikes use a 5-speed gearbox, the Ronin benefits from a slipper clutch as well.

The Yamaha FZ-X borrows the same telescopic fork from the FZ, while the Ronin flaunts a 41mm Showa Big Piston USD fork. TVS has even used a link-type monoshock to handle rough roads better. Whereas the FZ uses a swingarm-attached monoshock.

The FZ-X and the Ronin use disc brakes at both ends. However, while the Yamaha is backed by a single-channel ABS unit, the Ronin not only gets a dual-channel ABS system, but also coms with two modes – Rain and Urban – for it. Both motorcycles run on 17-inch alloy wheels shod with dual-purpose tyres.