The motorcycling world got a jolt of pure custom aggression at the TVS MotoSoul 5.0 festival with the reveal of the TVS Ronin Kensai.
TVS Ronin Kensai, a collaborative masterpiece crafted by TVS and the renowned Indonesian custom house Smoked Garage, is far more than just a paint job. It’s an extensive overhaul of the original Ronin platform, pushing its technical and aesthetic boundaries to the extreme.
To truly appreciate the transformation, we must first confirm the robust foundation upon which the TVS Ronin Kensai is built. The standard TVS Ronin is known for its accessible performance and modern features, which provide an excellent, stable starting point for radical customisation.
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TVS Ronin Kensai Specifications:
| Category | Standard TVS Ronin Detail (Top Variant) |
| Engine | Single Cylinder, 4-Stroke, 4-Valve, SOHC, Oil-Cooled |
| Displacement | 225.9cc |
| Max Power | 20.4PS @ 7750rpm |
| Max Torque | 19.93 Nm @ 3750rpm |
| Transmission | 5-Speed Gearbox with Assist & Slipper Clutch |
| Frame | Double Cradle Split Synchro Stiff Frame |
| Front Suspension | 41mm Upside Down (USD) Fork |
| Rear Suspension | Mono-Shock with 7-Step Adjustable Preload |
| Braking System | Dual-Channel ABS (in top variant) |
| Tyres | 110/70-17 (Front), 130/70-17 (Rear) |
| Kerb Weight | 160 kg (Top Variant) |
The standard Ronin’s key asset for customization is its torque delivery at low RPM 19.93 Nm @ 3750rpm, which provides immediate, usable power, perfectly suited for the city and the aggressive pull of a bobber-style machine. Its USD fork setup also ensures a capable chassis right from the factory (Source: TVS Motor Company official specifications).
The TVS Ronin Kensai retains the heart of the engine but comprehensively transforms nearly every other component, particularly the chassis, suspension, and ergonomics. This demonstrates the technical intent of Smoked Garage to create a showstopper focused on performance aesthetics and dynamic control.
The fundamental changes focus on lowering the profile and increasing the visual aggression, demanding sharp, focused handling.
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Custom CNC-Machined Triple Tree: This is a crucial upgrade. The custom triple T (top clamp) likely alters the rake and trail parameters slightly from the stock configuration. While specific angles are proprietary to the builder, the goal is enhanced front-end agility and precise steering feedback, aligning with the café racer persona (Source: Press Release TVS MotoSoul 5.0). This change allows the use of a more committed handlebar position.
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Low-Slung Ergonomics: The standard upright handlebars and mid-set footpegs are replaced with low-placed clip-on handlebars and rear-set footpegs. This forces a dramatically committed, forward-leaning riding posture, essential for high-speed control and café racer aesthetics.
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Floating Subframe and Seat: The rear subframe is drastically shortened and simplified to support a floating industrial-style single seat. This creates the clean, minimalist ‘bobber’ tail section and significantly reduces visual bulk at the rear.
The most technically ambitious feature of the TVS Ronin Kensai is its fully adjustable suspension, which fundamentally changes the bike’s capability and stance.
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Fully Adjustable Air Suspension: This high-end system replaces the stock USD forks and rear monoshock (though the monoshock swingarm location is retained). Air suspension allows the rider to electronically or manually adjust the ride height on demand. This dual functionality means the bike can be slammed low for static display (the bobber look) or raised for optimal ground clearance and cornering clearance during spirited riding (the café racer function).
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Performance-Focused Wheel Arrangement: The wheel setup uses custom, performance-focused alloys or spoked wheels (depending on the final build variant) and is fitted with aggressive, high-grip tyres. This moves away from the Ronin’s stock block-tread tyres, signaling a preference for tarmac performance and track-style aesthetics.
While the core engine remains the proven 225.9cc unit, Smoked Garage ensures it looks and sounds the part, hinting at marginal performance gains through better breathing.
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Aftermarket Free-Flow Exhaust System: The upright exhaust setup is visually dominant and is confirmed to be an aftermarket free-flow system. This modification allows the engine to exhale more efficiently, which typically results in a sharper throttle response and a distinct, throatier exhaust note, providing a subtle bump in mid-range power over the stock unit (Source: BikeDekho MotoSoul Coverage).
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Retained Engine Specifications (Base): Importantly, the core mechanicals the 225.9cc oil-cooled engine, 4-valve SOHC head, and 5-speed gearbox are structurally retained, preserving the Ronin’s celebrated reliability.
The transformation is completed through radical body reshaping and advanced lighting integration.
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Custom Body Panels: The TVS Ronin Kensai features bespoke bodywork, including a slimmer fuel tank profile and custom side panels. These parts are likely crafted from lightweight materials to reduce the overall kerb weight from the stock 160 kg, which further aids agility and performance.
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Enlarged LED Headlight: The bike sports a larger, custom-built round LED headlight unit, maintaining the retro theme while significantly increasing illumination and road presence.
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Ambient Lighting Accents: Subtly integrated ambient lighting accents provide a modern, high-tech flourish, contrasting sharply with the raw metal and custom paint scheme. This detail connects the concept back to the digital, SmartXonnect-enabled nature of the original Ronin.
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Paint and Graphics: The custom finish typically involves a bespoke colour palette, often featuring dark, elegant tones (like dark green or gunmetal) complemented by bronze or gold graphics, reinforcing the premium, high-craft image.
The detailed specifications of the TVS Ronin Kensai reveal a clear intent: to create a platform capable of drag-strip performance aesthetics and razor-sharp handling. The extended swingarm configuration, often noted in initial analysis, suggests a machine designed for maximum straight-line stability under hard acceleration, giving the rear wheel a better leverage point against the road (Source: BikeDekho MotoSoul Coverage).
This custom build serves as TVS’s boldest statement yet: the Ronin is not merely a lifestyle cruiser. With the right technical investments and design vision—as demonstrated by the TVS Ronin Kensai—it transforms into a potent, technically sophisticated, and visually commanding machine ready to challenge any preconceived notions about the segment.
The detailed engineering choices, from the CNC-machined Triple T to the revolutionary air suspension, elevate the TVS Ronin Kensai from a mere cosmetic custom to a genuine high-performance concept, showcasing the mechanical versatility of the Ronin platform for a global custom audience. This is how TVS expertly blends reliable production data with aspirational custom engineering.