Sibling Rivalry: Go Sporty Or Go Chill, Here Is The Answer

TVS bikes rarely disappoint, though of late the brand has restricted itself to just commuters and sporty motorcycles. However, the new Ronin is looking to change that with its focus on lifestyle motoring. Powered by a 225.9cc single-cylinder air-/oil-cooled 4-valve motor derived from its sibling, the Apache RTR 200 4V, its core proposition is versatility over thrill. Hence, we ran some real-world tests to help you determine the best option for you – versatility or outright focus on fun.      

Acceleration

Keeping with its more mellow, squared-out engine, the Ronin is marginally slower than its sporty sibling when it comes to acceleration times. However, the main difference between the two motorcycles is where the power is delivered. Thanks to the RTR’s riding modes, power is found at two levels: ‘Sport’- 20.82PS at 9000rpm, and ‘Urban’/’Rain’- 17.32 at 7800rpm. On the other hand, the Ronin makes all of its 20.4PS at 7750rpm without any riding modes. Hence, with a bigger engine, TVS has managed to extract almost as much performance from the Ronin without having to rev the bike as much. Therefore, while the Ronin may not seem as exciting off the line, it is almost as fast as the RTR.      

Roll-on

Moreover it can be observed that the Ronin takes the edge with its super tractable engine which makes for brisk urban commuting. In our roll-on acceleration test, the Ronin’s max torque of 19.93Nm at 3750rpm comes to its aid as the RTR 200’s torque spread in ‘Sport’ mode - 17.25Nm at 7,250rpm and ‘Urban’/’ Rain’ mode - 16.51Nm at 6,5750 rpm demands working the gearbox a bit more. Winner - Ronin!

Mileage

It may come as a surprise, but yes, the sporty sibling is also the most fuel-efficient, with the Apache’s fuel efficiency figures significantly better than the Ronin’s. One of the reasons for this could be its smaller displacement. On the highway it’s almost 10kmpl more efficient than the Ronin. With both tanks full, the Ronin will offer a highway riding range of approximately 570km and despite its smaller tank, the Apache will return almost 600km of range. Impressive!     

Braking

The Apache’s sporty proposition shines through the brightest in our braking test. Despite the Ronin’s bigger 300mm front disc, the Apache’s 270mm front disc (both sport a 240mm rear), the Apache manages to shed speed considerably better. A reason for this could be the Apache’s lighter 152kg (kerb) weight, which is 8kg less than the Ronin. Both bikes can be had with span-adjustable levers and dual-channel ABS, but if going fast and stopping just as quickly is critical to your riding style, the Apache is the way to go.

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Verdict

Prices for base variants (with single-channel ABS) of both motorcycles fall roughly in the ballpark. The Ronin’s prices begin from Rs 1,49,000, whereas the Apache 200 4V starts at Rs 1,39,690 (both prices ex-showroom Delhi). However, that divide becomes wider between their top variants. Hence, all things considered, the Ronin certainly offers something unique but fails to deliver in two very critical areas like fuel efficiency and braking, which cannot be overlooked. Hence, on paper, the winner of this test is TVS Apache RTR 200 4V.