The Indian-made TVS Ronin is still a relatively fresh face on the scene, but it’s already found favor amongst customizers. This custom TVS Ronin from Smoked Garage shows just how much potential the plucky little 225 cc single has.
It isn’t Smoked Garage’s first custom TVS Ronin either. Their first one was a stripped-down, balloon-tired, neo-retro beach tracker. So this time around, they thought they’d go with a classic street scrambler style.
The inspiration behind this scrambler was Sakamoto Ryōma, a legendary Japanese samurai who advocated for the abolishment of feudalism while embracing modernization and industrialization (amongst other things). What better way to honor the shishi than by building a modern, industrial-grade machine?
The TVS Ronin is a handsome bike to begin with, but it does look a little awkward from certain angles. Smoked took on the challenge by stripping away everything unnecessary to reveal the bike’s sleek underpinnings. From there, they built it back up through some deft metalwork.
The fuel tank is new (complete with a recessed fuel cap), as are the radiator shrouds that tie into the front of the bike. The arrangement is so sleek it that could be an OEM feature, with Smoked designing it to push air down onto the engine and oil cooler, even at slow speed. The silver injector covers were carried over from the stock bike, but they now sit in front of custom side covers.
A handmade exhaust system snakes through the side covers and exits up high. The tracker-style tailpiece is bespoke too, with an integrated muffler heatshield on the right side. Trace a line from the front of the bike to the back, and it’s remarkable how well each part fits into the next.
The seat is finished in waterproof leather, embossed with a pattern that repeats the TVS logo. The embossing also helps with grip, and the seat can be removed by inserting the bike’s key into the slot near the rear shock. Peak around the back of the tail, and you’ll spot a pair of taillights and a rear-facing camera.
That’s right; in place of mirrors, Smoked installed a tiny camera that feeds visuals to the bike’s TFT display. The display is mounted atop a set of custom-made risers, which were designed to mimic the hilt of a Japanese katana. Black low-rise bars are adorned with black MotoGP-style buttons, new grips, and controls for the rear-view camera.
Chunky 170-section tires were spooned onto new 17” laced wheels, squeezed in between the forks and swingarm. The new front tire left no room for a fender, but Smoked cut down the stock unit to retain some protection for the fork sliders. They also integrated a pair of LED running lights into the new fork protectors; a neat detail that’s easy to miss.
The brakes got a whopping upgrade with a full suite of Brembo parts, while the forks were upgraded with new internals.
The headlight was kept in place—but Smoked opened it up and bolted in a laser-cut perforated panel that still lets some light through while highlighting the distinctive ‘T’ daytime running light. Finishing touches include a heavy-duty bash plate, a set of off-road footpegs, and a healthy dose of black paint. Accentuated by the orange details on the forks, engine, and seat, it sure is a looker.
Upon completion, Smoked founder Nicko Eigert took the samurai-inspired scrambler for a spirited test ride through Jakarta’s bustling streets. It turned heads wherever it went and even caught the eye of TVS, who shipped it to Goa, India to show it off at the TVS MotoSoul festival.
The only question that remains, is whether this custom TVS Ronin will inspire the Indian factory’s future designs. We sure hope so.
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