[Indraneel Bhat]

After 12 amazing years of joining Team-BHP, this is my first proper review post. Why did I wait 12 years? Well, in a word, INTIMIDATION - The well researched and detailed articles that I have come to read and expect on this forum are of a very high standard. I was never sure if I could match up. Well, as they say, "you can't learn swimming on land", so here goes....

RONIN - a feudal japanese term for a wandering Samurai, who had no lord or master.

So the launch of the TVS Ronin came and went, I went through the usual motions of watching the launch, feeling envious of the Schumis, the Sheldekars and the rest of that reviewer gang and going back to my regular life. However, my friend and colleague, Yogesh, has been searching the 2 wheeler market for an upgrade from his Honda Shine and during discussions we both felt that the Ronin seemed to suit his needs:
- decent power
- easy to ride
- comfortable looking bike
- pillion seat on the ground floor
- well known brand
- good / decent after sales

But I always tell my friends that RIDING the bike will tell you whether the bike is for you or not. The rest is just an excel sheet.

So after a few days of stalking Century TVS of Bhandarkar Road and Wakdewadi, Pune (My TVS Wego is from here and I have a good experience of their service), Yogesh finally got a call saying that a test ride bike is available. So for the first ride he took his better half to see how she fares on the pillion. Her thumbs up, not only on the comfort of the pillion seat but also about how the bike looks and feels, won 50% of the battle in the Ronin's favour.

On the next day, both of us drove down to the Showroom. I was very excited as an idea of this post was already germinating in my mind.

At First glance -

The Ronin is a small but smart looking bike. The neo-retro Scrambler looks awesome, but nothing radical. The standout features are the headlight with a "T", the offset and high mounted display and the golden coloured USD forks. "Stargaze Black", in my opinion is my pick in the colour options because a bike can be any colour as long as it is black. (Blame that TV series called "Street Hawk" which used to air in the early 90's on DD. Ruined my bike colour choices for life!!). The bike feels well-built.

Riding experience -

I am not going to elaborate on the spec sheet, that's available easily on the net. I am just going to summarise how it feels while riding and my overall experience in the short while I had it.

We got the Base version with single channel ABS to test ride on. It was going to be a short test ride on wet roads, so I decided to use the "Rain" ride mode, not because we really got any information on it, but because, "hai toh istemal karo".

The seat height at 795mm is low and easy to mount. And WHAT A SEAT!! One of the most comfortable seats around. Well-cushioned and adequately wide. Like I mentioned earlier, Yogesh's better half gave this feature a thumbs-up. At 5'6", my feet are able to rest fully on the ground. However, if you are above 5'10", this bike will look small for you and I suggest you look at other options in the market.

The seating position is upright with forward set footpegs, a little too forward for my liking. I would have liked a rider triangle like the Jawa 42 or the Interceptor, to help complete the Scrambler vibe.

The bike fires up its 225 cc engine with a soundtrack which sounds throaty with a hint of a rasp. Nowhere in the vicinity of the the Benelli TNT 300's exhaust note (The golden standard of exhaust notes on small bikes in India), but not bad at all. The clutch lever is a little hard, but manageable. Gear shifts are quick and precise and the bike races ahead with authority. The acceleration and torque is felt from the very bottom of the rev range and seems to have a strong mid-range. I mostly rode on wet, crowded Pune roads, so really could not gun the engine for long. The engine for the most part is smooth and I did not feel any vibrations. I have hated TVS' vibey engines and this bucks the trend. Good on you TVS!!!
The Ronin feels like an "80 kmph all day" motorcycle.

The suspension (USD Showa forks at the front and gas charged mono at the back) seemed to do a good job over the bumps and speed breakers I went over, and I never really felt uncomfortable or the bike taking a beating on them. The suspension really gels with the well-cusioned seat.

The 300mm front and a 240mm rear disc brakes are great!! Since we rode the base version, it had single channel ABS, and the bike did not feel skittish under hard braking. They could have given dual channel ABS as an option on all variants at the least.

Coming to the riding modes - The Ronin has 2 riding modes - Rain and Urban. The salesperson could not elaborate on what these exactly do. But as per numerous videos on the net, these modes tweak the ABS’ sensitivity, low-rpm assist for effortless crawling in traffic etc., to enable the rider to ride the bike easily depending on the mode. The top end variant is also supposed to get adjustable levers for added versatility, but I did not get to see a top end model, and asking the sales rep was of no use.
For those of you who may have seen reviews of the riding modes on the TVS RTR 200 BS6 (Rain, Urban and Sports), will get an idea of what these modes do. I rode in the "Rain mode" primarily and the bike made me feel pretty confident. Why they have not included a "Sport mode" I do not know, nor could the salesperson elaborate.

The display is clear and well lit. You have the Speedo, odo, trip meter, tacho, fuel guage, gear indicator and ride mode indicator, all neatly laid out on 1 unit without it feeling crowded.

FINAL THOUGHTS -

I wish the sales team was better prepared to answer customers' questions. Questions on the riding modes, accessories available etc. were met with a very incredulous look and the excuse that the company has not yet trained all the staff on the bike's features . I hope this changes in the coming days.

However this should not take anything away from the product.....

With premium styling, decent power, good build quality, and an overall great riding experience, this Ronin is indeed worthy of having a good master and will serve it's master faithfully for a long time....

....And with that my short test ride came to an end, and it was time to stop playing and return home. I hope this article gives you a basic, layman understanding of what it is to ride the TVS Ronin. Please do let me know your thoughts (including constructive criticism). I will now let the pics do the rest of the talking (or typing??)

===================


These pics will give you a clear idea about the bike's size. I am 5'6" and a fairly "healthy" 83 kgs. You can see how I fill the bike. So if you are 5'10" or taller, this bike will look small on you






With a low seat height, my foot is on the floor completely, thereby increasing rider confidence




Front - Best angle of the bike. The standout features are clearly visible - The offset and high mounted display, the golden coloured USD shocks and the headlight with the "T" DRL




Side profile - The display bike is wearing the mid-variant (called Base+) Delta Blue colour. Ugly colour, if you ask me




Headlight - DRL with the "T". Nice looking design IMHO





Display - lots of information packed in a nice, compact design. Some would call it crowded. I did not feel it is.




Indicator light - Don't they remind you of the of the CB350RS' design




Rear indicators and tail lights. Tail Lights Will do their job. nothing really much to write about




RVMs - very solid design. Among the best I have seen on Indian bikes








Seat - The most comfortable seat on any of the neo-retros in the market




Saree Guard - nicely integrated unit IMHO




Rear profile - looks ordinary




The acoustic unit




The switch quality for an almost INR 2 lacs bike is not great. They will do the job, but I wasn't thrilled






EYESORE - this plasticky bit near that superb engine (Pic Courtesy - zigwheels.com)



The OTR quotation for the Base+ (mid-level) and top version in Pune (discussions on the "Incidental charges" and "Essential Acc." are still ongoing)

[Sheel]

TVS has done well to bank on the classic styling which is new modern or the new *in* thing. From what I gather, while the bike doesn't do anything exceptional, it will be a comfortable companion for those who are a bit laid back & prioritize comfort over out right power / handling.

Thanks for sharing your riding impression. More power to you .

[bblost]

That is a pretty good review. I like the name Ronin. Hope the bike sees the same kind of success the Samurai once had in India.

I especially liked the vivid blue color. Nice pics.

[supermax]

Originally Posted by bblost

That is a pretty good review. I like the name Ronin. Hope the bike sees the same kind of success the Samurai once had in India.

I especially liked the vivid blue color. Nice pics.

The Ronin are those who have run away from their masters, or those whose masters got killed. The Samurai whose masters die are supposed to commit ritualistic suicide (seppuku), and those who don't are considered without honor, so in a sense, Ronin is actually a dumb name, as it doesn't really stand for anything positive. It may be argued that a Ronin is a Samurai without a master, but that's hardly honorable. A Ronin is basically just a mercenary.

[Black_Star]

Originally Posted by supermax

Ronin is actually a dumb name, as it doesn't really stand for anything positive. It may be argued that a Ronin is a Samurai without a master, but that's hardly honorable. A Ronin is basically just a mercenary.

Not really. Forty-seven Ronin is a pretty popular tale in Japanese culture as a symbol of the loyalty, sacrifice, persistence, and honor that people should display in their daily lives. Because of this Ronin is popular in manga and anime. However as you said no Japanese manufacturer would use the nameplate Ronin because they are outlaws.

TBH I think the Ronin name comes from TVS Suzuki Samurai. TVS can't use the name Samurai so Ronin it is. Suzuki should launch the a 250cc Samurai. Time to see who wins Samurai or Ronin.

[drt_rdr]

Originally Posted by supermax

... in a sense, Ronin is actually a dumb name, as it doesn't really stand for anything positive. It may be argued that a Ronin is a Samurai without a master, but that's hardly honorable. A Ronin is basically just a mercenary.

If you think about it a bit, the TVS Ronin is an attempt at making a no-nonsense commuter, or basically, a modern Suzuki Samurai. Easygoing engine, comfortable seating and suspension, along with TVS's now typical "No Probrem!" build quality (anyone remember the ad?). Since TVS are not with Suzuki anymore, you could say the bike has spiritually lost its master, hence gone from Samurai to Ronin.

Another meaning for the word is "wanderer" which would be in line with its travel bike intent.

But anyway, I doubt TVS thought of all this when they named the bike.

[supermax]

Originally Posted by drt_rdr

If you think about it a bit, the TVS Ronin is an attempt at making a no-nonsense commuter, or basically, a modern Suzuki Samurai. Easygoing engine, comfortable seating and suspension, along with TVS's now typical "No Probrem!" build quality (anyone remember the ad?). Since TVS are not with Suzuki anymore, you could say the bike has spiritually lost its master, hence gone from Samurai to Ronin.

Another meaning for the word is "wanderer" which would be in line with its travel bike intent.

But anyway, I doubt TVS thought of all this when they named the bike.

I totally agree with you! Ironically, the name makes perfect sense, given that TVS broke up with Suzuki, leaving the Samurai without a master, and like you, I don't think they thought of all that. It's just a Japanese sounding name related to Samurai that they looked for, and Ronin was right up there, so that's it.

-S

[supermax]

Originally Posted by Black_Star

Not really. Forty-seven Ronin is a pretty popular tale in Japanese culture as a symbol of the loyalty, sacrifice, persistence, and honor that people should display in their daily lives. Because of this Ronin is popular in manga and anime. However as you said no Japanese manufacturer would use the nameplate Ronin because they are outlaws.

TBH I think the Ronin name comes from TVS Suzuki Samurai. TVS can't use the name Samurai so Ronin it is. Suzuki should launch the a 250cc Samurai. Time to see who wins Samurai or Ronin.

The 47 Ronin were an exception, and even there, after they avenged their departed leader, they committed seppuku and died, in order to not have to live with the double dishonor or not being able to defend their master in the first place, and then for committing murder, so nope. There is no honor in the very concept of being a ronin. And ironically, it makes perfect sense for this bike, as it is a kind of a renegade, given TVS' breakup with Suzuki.

-S

[shancz]

Originally Posted by drt_rdr

TVS could have taken more design cues from the Zeppelin to avoid confusion.

Got a chance to see the Ronin in flesh at a nearby showroom and what a revelation!
It hammers home the point the unless you see a bike in flesh don't form an opinion just by watching videos.
Also how apt were Sebring's and your observations.

There were two on display the base and the mid variants in red and blue respectively.
The bike looked fabulous ! Even when being aware that its a compact bike with some confusing design elements it just didn't feel so in real life.
With my 165cm stubby build it just felt complementing

Some observations :

• First Glance :
  The base model with the red paint scheme, black forks and lower half is my favourite and looks good, like Sebring already showed us.
  
• Colour Magic :
  While the rear mudguard looks a bit off in the top model, the base and mid have the lower half blacked out including the mudguard and it's doesn't look odd at all, well masked and to an extent good looking if I may.
  The mudguards are quite effective, please don't remove them.
  
• Ergonomics :
  Sitting on it and playing around with the lights and stuff it all fell easy to the hands, nothing felt weird, not even the offset console and I am not sure why.
  
• Retro Done Right :
  The front and rear mudguards, side panels, are all metal with some elegant brushed aluminium elements. These are going to age well and I am not expecting a lot of rattles.
  @drt_rdr : is that what rdr stands for ?
  
• Lighting :
  Headlights aren't directly connected to the battery, they come on with the engine and it's a good thing in my books to avoid unnecessary battery drain. The "T" DRL comes on with the ignition and looks good.
  Brilliant lighting overall.
  
• Seating :
  The seat was comfortable. Seating position is a bit different from what I am used to but it was comfortable.
  
• Specials :
  The ISG was a delight to use.
  
• Sound :
  Loved the exhaust note, suits the bike.
  A peek into the exhaust reveals that the actual exhaust ends further inside and the last bit is an empty chamber, possibly to amplify the sound and it works wonders.
  
• Feel :
  This motorcycle had that feel good air about it. So much so that I was trying out the gorgeous RR310 standing next to it but somehow I kept looking at the Ronin while seated on the RR310.

Since the TDs weren't available, that's all I could gather apart from ready availability. The black colour wasn't on display and would need a slight wait time if booked.

Let's see if/when I get to ride it.
But either way, @drt_rdr I have a feeling you are going to like it.

Originally Posted by drt_rdr

I'd love to see the fiero resurrected in totality in a modern guise though, maybe as a 250 or 300.

Ditto but the closest I think we'll get to that would be through TVS(RTR 310) rather than Suzuki.
I sincerely hope that I am wrong and Suzuki surprise us.

[amiya.c]

The Rider Triangle is one of the first things I look for in a bike. For a retro bike like this, the rider triangle should be somewhat like the Honda CB 350 RS, or the interceptor, this results in rider looking a bit aggressive and handsome
With such forward set footpegs , I do not think this bike is going to attract any customers. I am expecting that the Ronin may have the same fate as the Yamaha FZ X.

[KPR]

Late thirties and above aged person with family will mostly consider comfortable seating. For their touring they will have a car or public transport. Even if they want a comfortable bike they will settle with RE classic at few thousands more. Youngsters/unmarried need some sportiness in their bike. They will go for plethora of bikes and definitely will not prefer Ronin. Those neither here nor there type will only TD Ronin and only a few may select it. So this bike cannot bring in numbers for TVS is my prediction immaterial how good the bike maybe. I would say TVS has entered 10 years late to this segment of retro looking bikes.

[Indraneel Bhat]

Originally Posted by amiya.c

The Rider Triangle is one of the first things I look for in a bike. For a retro bike like this, the rider triangle should be somewhat like the Honda CB 350 RS, or the interceptor, this results in rider looking a bit aggressive and handsome
With such forward set footpegs , I do not think this bike is going to attract any customers. I am expecting that the Ronin may have the same fate as the Yamaha FZ X.

Yes Amiya. I totally agree. The rider triangle is very upright and doesn't really involve you in the riding of the bike. While riding, I had scooted my behind a little behind to be "on" the handlebars. But that stretched out my legs a bit. I would have preferred a more involving rider triangle.

Originally Posted by KPR

Even if they want a comfortable bike they will settle with RE classic at few thousands more. Youngsters/unmarried need some sportiness in their bike. They will go for plethora of bikes and definitely will not prefer Ronin. Those neither here nor there type will only TD Ronin and only a few may select it. So this bike cannot bring in numbers for TVS is my prediction immaterial how good the bike maybe. I would say TVS has entered 10 years late to this segment of retro looking bikes.

@KPR - I would still suggest to try this bike. It's easier to live with and is also a respected brand. It is lighter than the RE and handles well too.

[Nimz]

Originally Posted by KPR

Late thirties and above aged person with family will mostly consider comfortable seating. For their touring they will have a car or public transport. Even if they want a comfortable bike they will settle with RE classic at few thousands more. Youngsters/unmarried need some sportiness in their bike. They will go for plethora of bikes and definitely will not prefer Ronin. Those neither here nor there type will only TD Ronin and only a few may select it. So this bike cannot bring in numbers for TVS is my prediction immaterial how good the bike maybe. I would say TVS has entered 10 years late to this segment of retro looking bikes.

I guess I would qualify for this persona. But then i would prefer an easy to live with bike as am not a true blue biker (who will prefer the RE). I am therefore seriously considering this and the FZX - 25K price difference and 75cc cubic capacity difference. Both have pros and cons and it's more like which are those cons I can live with.

Waiting to see some initial ownership reviews of the Ronin (there are many on the FZX) but looks like no one on this forum has booked it.. yet.

[Gypsian]

TVS off late has never had the first mover advantage and the same implies even now. I guess its a wrong entry in this specific time period and I dont really believe TVS launching a retro styled motorcycle will sync into prospective buyers. This product should have been put up during Bajaj Avenger 220 days, thats a decade back.

[lovlyfella]

Thank you for the review. Could not have come at a better time for me. I am on the look out for a bike and did TD for a 400 metre ride and liked it. I would like to have the opinion of this esteemed group on my use case and whether Ronin is a good bike for me.

My Profile:- 50 years, 'healthy', 5 foot five incher, non-muscular.

Automobile ownership:-
Hero Honda Splendor:- 1999-present. 1,25,000 kms on odo.
Santro (2003-2020)
Nexon (2017-present)-- I selected Nexon based on Team-BHP reviews and forum comments, specially ones from @Sebring.

Usage of the bike would be around 700-1000km per month.

My requirements for the bike:-
1. Seat height <800mm
2. Not overweight, considering my age and non-muscular frame
3. Easy to drive
4. Should have a zing factor.

Bikes considered at various points of time but droped
1. FZ-X;- Loved the bike, but fails seat height test.
2. Xpulse:- Height is a problem
3. Honda Hornet:- This is the default option, if nothing else works out
4. Jawa/RE/Honda H'ness: Too bulky for my comfort
5. Bajaj Avengers:- Fails the zing factor test.

Ronin satisfies almost all my requirements, except the weight. It felt easy to drive. Engine was very smooth. Was pretty agile on the road. But moving the bike physically (putting the stand etc.) was a bit of challenge.

How big a challenge is this going to be? Is it something that I can adjust over a period of time? Any other factrs/bikes to be considered?

PS:- This is almost my first thread in T-BHP, though I have been following the forum almost daily for the past 10+ years.