TVS Ronin

TVS loves to experiment with some of its expensive motorcycle and scooter brands. It did a few cool things with the Apache, and then decided to explore the world of superheroes with the Ntorq by launching some excellent paint schemes for it. Such strategies help the brand stay connected with its younger customer base and make it look aspirational.

The Hosur-based company has decided to continue this trend with the Ronin 225. At the MotoSoul 2023, the company unveiled a custom motorcycle designed and developed to participate in flat tracking – making it the second Indian company to do so, with Royal Enfield being the first.

TVS is calling its flat-track sport – Drift R Cup and is planning to use this custom Ronin for multiple events planned by the company. At the MotoSoul 2023, the company handed us the Ronin flat tracker, and we decided to have some fun.

From a city bike to a flat tracker, this custom Ronin has undoubtedly managed to turn heads. TVS has achieved this feat by removing many cycle parts and installing some to make the motorcycle dirt ready. Firstly, many big components like the headlight, instrument cluster, stock seat setup, and exhaust have been removed. Even the side panels have been removed, and lighter ones have been installed.

Then, a few components were installed to make it track-ready. The front suspension is new and gets long travel; a broader handlebar and a flatter and a more extended single seat have been incorporated. This Ronin gets a race exhaust that is extremely loud and does the job of keeping spectators entertained. There’s also a broader and more extended bash plate, in case the bike needs to go through some stones. The tyres are from Timsun and are off-road focused. But the essential modification on the bike – the front disc brake – has been removed. 

The goal was to ride around the 200 metres flat-track with style, hoping to avoid tasting the dirt. But things don’t always go as planned. The first few laps were consumed in getting used to the overall ergonomics of this custom Ronin. Then, that large cushionless seat made things a bit difficult, but eventually, I got used to that setting. Now, with the custom Ronin, I was in no mood to do a few laps. I wanted more, got more, and put up a good show, all thanks to that agile and light feeling that Ronin churned out.

Ronin’s 225cc motor always had the low-end grunt to keep things fun and active in the city limits. On the flat track, the same performance helped me get out of the corner with some amateur slides. While my left leg was busy acting as the last balance point of the tripod, my wrist made sure to gas out the moment I found the right line of the track. 

The custom Ronin was running shorter ratios in the first gear, due to which shifting to second gear was inevitable. But that’s where the fun lies because even on such a fast track, it allowed me to begin my slide by downshifting, just a few metres before my turn-in point. Here, the transition is super smooth – some credit also goes to the chassis and the Timsun tyres which allowed some comfortable slides.

I had a few falls due to target fixation, and thankfully there are no front brakes on such bikes because that could have resulted in some nasty falls. The rear brake, however, was used quite a bit to slow down my aggressive straight runs. But just before entering the straights, the clutchless upshifts resulted in the rear shift tailing aggressively. That said, not even for a moment I felt I was losing control.

It is clear from this custom Ronin that TVS will continue to innovate with its motorcycles. The Ronin flat-tracker showed us the brand’s ability to enter a new sport and get more people into such races. The bike wasn’t just a temporary show. Much effort and time were put into making it dirt ready, which indeed took care of the dirt quite well. But more importantly, the concept of the Drift R Cup looks fun, and if expanded to various cities, TVS could see a profound change in brand perception. It will allow many Indian consumers to experience this new and addictive motorsport; maybe some would like to take it professionally. Well, I would have tried if the custom Ronin and a flat-track were easily accessible in my city. 

Photography by Kapil Angane