They’re a motorcycle company so big they produce more than three million bikes a year and have an annual revenue in the billions, and yet we’ve never had a single TVS motorcycle come across our desk until now. The Indian firm is aware of its need to capture the imagination of new audiences. So what better way than to have some of the world’s best custom builders go to town on their latest bike and who better than Cologne-based outfit JvB-moto. Jens Vom Brauck has a unique ability to create a stunning custom machine with an OEM level of fit and finish, and his reimagining of the new TVS Ronin called ‘Agonda’ is sure to get tongues wagging in all the right ways.
“When TVS asked me to build a custom based on their new Ronin I was instantly keen on the project. I travelled on a bike in southern India a couple of years ago and I felt like I knew exactly how the bike should look,” Jens said, who is currently in India for the unveiling of ‘Agonda’. Jens of course is no stranger to working with the world’s biggest motorcycle manufacturers to get the best out of their products, with two decades of experience building and consulting. His work on Yamaha’s Yard Built program was a standout, and the parts he creates for motorcycles come with the perfect combination of his incredible signature style and first-class quality.
The TVS Ronin is a sweet little ride from the big Indian company, 20.4PS and 19.93Nm of torque from the punchy 225cc single-cylinder engine make it perfect for hooning through the subcontinents streets. For its makeover, Jens formulated a simple and yet effective plan, “Besides the cool minimalist look and the custom appeal, this is the bike I would like to ride in India with. A bike made for the toughest roads (and the roughest traffic) in the world.” The stock bike is actually not a bad looker, with TVS giving it a big bike appeal that makes it seem large in scale than it really is, a demand of many customers of all small bikes globally.
But Jens could see that its strength lay in the quality chassis, punchy engine and excellent suspension and brakes for what is a low-cost motorcycle. And with it tipping the scales at 159kg ready to roll, this was a chance to strip things right back and save even more weight to elevate the fun factor to ten. That process starts with the first of the JvB custom parts created for the Ronin, which is a beautifully shaped Carbon/Kevlar fuel tank with a pop-up cap.
The tank serves to give the Ronin an unmistakenly classic scrambler style and the theme keeps flowing with the rest of the changes. With Jens having ditched the big rear fender, stock seat and grab rail, it opened up a chance to give the remainder of the bike a super clean look. The redesigned subframe is the perfect match of simplified style and functionality, while the smaller JvB seat ties the major changes nicely together. A new set of side covers have been made, and fill out the frame gaps and help to shield some of the bike’s functional components.
In his usual style, Jens has tackled the front headlight surround brilliantly, utilising the signature TVS headlight with his mask-like design, that gives a factory-like finish. With a seriously chopped down and customised front alloy fender, it was time to pick a colour. The flat white finish is an inspired choice and makes an even more significant impact by being flowed over the frame and swingarm, helping to tie in the new parts with the factory components for a very cohesive look.
It’s a look that Jens describes as “emotional, yet industrial, modern design language, yet retro vibes.” And that process continues with the change to the wheels which now feature a set of carbon fibre covers for a bold appearance, before being wrapped up in Pirelli Scorpion STR rubber, an excellent choice for the ever-changing Indian roads. Then there are the little touches that improve the riding experience, like the addition of tapered bars kitted out with a host of modern goodies, and modified foot controls for improved ergonomics.
The brilliant little engine doesn’t miss out either, with some all-important alloy protection and a full stainless steel exhaust. The remainder of the mechanical package has deliberately been left standard to help show off its bang for buck value and Showa USD forks on a bike like this is seriously good kit.
The name Agonda comes from a beautiful beach in the southern state of Goa, and it was in India’s southwest where JvB-moto’s creation was joined by two other custom Ronins at the TVS MotoSoul festival held last weekend.
From a land where anything is possible, the big brand and one of Europe’s best builders have shown that TVS could have a surprisingly strong future in the custom scene.