EASY RIDERS

The clash of the relaxed motorcycling duo

- HALLEY PRABAHAKAR

Very few motorcycles until today were unique or one of a kind. The Royal Enfield did stand out but over the years, there has been stiff competition and a sudden burst of modern retro motorcycles that aim at capturing the rider's emotion. I have never been interested in such motorcycle genres but there's a point in time when almost all riders like yours truly fall for a retro-modern motorcycle. One that's not just about performance or features but one that moves the soul a lot more than your supersport or streetfighter did. The two motorcycles you see here are manufactured by two leading motorcycle makers in India who usually don't feature models that go up against one another.

Both of these models are however, targeted at a buyer looking for a similar experience. The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 and TVS Ronin are as similar as they are different so we decided to bring them together and find out if one can edge out the other.

Think retro classic for the street and you'll think of British classic design. The Hunter 350 comes closest in this regard. It offers the best of classic motorcycle design and combines it well with modern touches.

The Ronin on the other hand is a busy design and looks great only from certain angles. When viewed from the front head-on, the TVS looks a lot more premium, thanks to the gold USD forks from Showa and the well-designed LED headlamp. The Ronin is also slightly larger than the Hunter, the fuel tank and seat being the obvious differences in terms of size. The Ronin's rear-end is quirky and the large rear fender and sleek LED lamp stand out. The fit and finish are exceptional on both but it's the TVS that pays more attention to detail despite Royal Enfield's focus on improved quality over the years.

TVS RONIN

Engine: 225.9cc, air and oil cooled single-cylinder

Power: 20.4PS @ 7,750rpm