Need Scooter Urgently. Help Select Between Petrol vs Electric

[Nairrk]

I have been using Maestro Edge 110 (2006 model) and recently given it to my relative thinking of buying a new electric scooter.

After searching for good and branded electric scooter, I realized that there are not many branded electric scooter dealers in my area.

There are only two dealers in my area - one is Benling India and other one is Route electric. I liked the Benling Aura but not prefer because of no underseat storage space as well as a hump on the footboard. Route electric has only low speed scooters with 250W motor which is not of my liking.

Though Very much interested to own an electric scooter, but non availability of branded scooters close to my area, I have also looked into petrol scooters and shortlisted to two scooters - The Maestro Edge 125 BS6 with BT connect and Honda Grazia BS6 2021 model.

Without a two wheeler, My daily shopping needs are badly affected (though I am using the car for all small purchases, but it is very difficult to find parking space all the time, all the places and very inconvenient to take the car out for such daily shopping needs).

What you guys think - should I go for a branded low speed electric scooter or once again purchase a petrol scooter? If I go for a petrol one, then which one you guys recommend - Honda Grazia 125 or Maestro Edge 125?

For information - I use the scooter only for shopping needs which means daily running not more than 6/7 kms.

Suggestions are welcome.

 

[deville_56]

Petrol ones are any day better than the low spec ones. After sales almost non-existent even with branded ones as most of them are imported kits and cease production after a specific period as the vendor upgrades to newer model. On the other side, petrol scooter prices are skyrocketing, almost nearing a lakh and Activa crossing the bar. I always felt Honda falling in terms of fit and finish due to mass production and Hero even lower. I found Yamaha, TVS and Suzuki better than these two. This month only bought a Jupiter and an NTorq for mom/daughter duo upgrading from Pleasure and Maestro. Jupiter was 84k on-road and NTorq 1.04L.

On the other hand, wait for better electric scooters like Ather, Ola and Simple Energy. Ather is present in Calicut, so can talk with the dealer if can be delivered to Kannur. Price is 20k more than an Activa for the base model. Performance similar to or better than a 125 cc scooter. Service is also on-site per one of the reviews.

 

[Nairrk]

Thanks.
Yes, agree. I too worried about non-branded electric scooters which are flooding in the market now-a-days with 250w motor (saying 'NO Regn, No License, No Insurance etc etc) but these products will struggle carrying 2 persons and not more than 25km/h speed.

Route auto electric, who has manufacturing units in Kannur District (Taliparamba) and Ernakulam in Kerala and also in Bangalore. They are in business since last 2 years. They are introducing a new scooter with 2000w Motor with 72V/30AH Lion battery which I want to see/check before taking a final decision (Scooter is ready and waiting for RTO clearance)

Ather - expensive, comparing other scooters in similar category

Ola - I too have booked one when their booking started last month. But still no news about their delivery pattern and I feel it may take at least 2/3 months to effect delivery in village areas (I heard that delivery will start in tier 1 city and then tier 2 cities like that which means I cannot expect delivery in my place in the near future)

Simple Energy - No news when they will start delivery.

TVS Jupiter - Which variant you purchased recently?

Since I need a scooter urgently, seems I may have to consider petrol variants (I am fed up of taking my car to the market daily and keep struggling to get a place to park...)!

 

[deville_56]

Thanks.
Yes, agree. I too worried about non-branded electric scooters which are flooding in the market now-a-days with 250w motor (saying 'NO Regn, No License, No Insurance etc etc) but these products will struggle carrying 2 persons and not more than 25km/h speed.

Route auto electric, who has manufacturing units in Kannur District (Taliparamba) and Ernakulam in Kerala and also in Bangalore. They are in business since last 2 years. They are introducing a new scooter with 2000w Motor with 72V/30AH Lion battery which I want to see/check before taking a final decision (Scooter is ready and waiting for RTO clearance)

Ather - expensive, comparing other scooters in similar category

Ola - I too have booked one when their booking started last month. But still no news about their delivery pattern and I feel it may take at least 2/3 months to effect delivery in village areas (I heard that delivery will start in tier 1 city and then tier 2 cities like that which means I cannot expect delivery in my place in the near future)

Simple Energy - No news when they will start delivery.

TVS Jupiter - Which variant you purchased recently?

Since I need a scooter urgently, seems I may have to consider petrol variants (I am fed up of taking my car to the market daily and keep struggling to get a place to park...)!

Ather got the first mover advantage, all the others have to prove the reliability factor.

Jupiter normal variant with LED headlight, drum brakes and alloy wheel. There was a cheaper variant called SMW with halogen and steel wheels.

 

[Nairrk]

My idea is to wait for another couple of days and see if the Route auto guy gets clearance from RTO for the new high speed scooter so that I can go to them and take a test ride and then decide. As far as this company is concerned their manufacturing or assembling unit is close by (just 15 kms from my home and their showrooms is just 2.5 kms away), I can always get them if any problem with the scooter.

If not happening as above, then will have to finalise one petrol scooter out of Maestro Edge 125 BS6 or Honda Grazia BS6 (2021). I am also looking into Suzuki Access 125 BS6 and Yamaha Fascino Hybrid 125 Fi. (I am not fully satisfied with the Suzuki and Yamaha scooter as they do not come with an external fuel filling feature

 

[vijesh_360]

If you are in urgent need, Ather is good enough. maybe mileage is less, but the scooter doesn't disappoint. A friend owns one for 2 months and he is loving it daily. But if you can wait for few months then Simple energy will be a better option than Ola. if not then go for Suzuki Access.

 

[Nairrk]

If you are in urgent need, Ather is good enough. maybe mileage is less, but the scooter doesn't disappoint. A friend owns one for 2 months and he is loving it daily. But if you can wait for few months then Simple energy will be a better option than Ola. if not then go for Suzuki Access.

Ather is expensive (way ahead of any other scooter), so I don't want to spend that 'extra' for the Brand name.

Nobody knows when Simple energy scooter will be ready for delivery.!

 

[deville_56]

I am not fully satisfied with the Suzuki and Yamaha scooter as they do not come with an external fuel filling feature

New Access comes with external fuel lid.

 

[Nairrk]

New Access comes with external fuel lid.

Yes, I have just seen the details of the Bluetooth variant (I think previously, I was looking to the special edition). The digital instrument panel also looks interesting.

 

[VISHNUCARCRAZY]

Personally I feel Honda's fit and finish maybe lower, but is always durable. My HET model honda activa is serving me well for last 9 years, touchwood!.
TVS aftersales is a hit or miss. Their longetivity is considerably less. (Have friend's Wego, having mixed driving style, have lot of issues with it).
Yamaha is coming up pretty much good (But they don't sustain with one model , they keep on changing the models).
Suzuki(Acess is the best powerful one I have driven, but suzuki also after sales is a concern in my area).

My vote always for Honda.

If electric- you can check on TVS Icube , and also do wait for Bajaj Chetak Electric.

 

[deville_56]

Yamaha is coming up pretty much good (But they don't sustain with one model , they keep on changing the models).

Even Honda do. Six generations of Activa, 125, Activa-i, a couple of generations Dio and Aviators, Grazia, short-lived Navi and Cliq. Change is inevitable in competition. All brands do. There used to be a time when first gen Activa, Dio, Access, etc, sold for a long time when the competition was less and everyone was in sleep mode.

TVS aftersales is a hit or miss. Their longevity is considerably less. (Have friend's Wego, having mixed driving style, have lot of issues with it).

Disagree. Service is hit or miss with even Honda, especially if you know Marikar Motors . Regarding longevity, the first TVS, back in 2012, we bought was a Wego for a friend's dad, during the time Honda had 1 year waiting and Suzuki had the sarkari office attitude. It has been raped (read work horse for his shop) and hardly sees service centre and still running fine without any breakdown (of course rough and rattly till it sees service centre next time for the abuse it took). Till then, our elder generation only chose between Activa and Access and suddenly came a fanbase for Wego.

I always had issues with Heros especially Maestro and Pleasure, falling and misfit parts, breakdowns, etc. Even for brand-new ones, had to take back to dealer and tighten everything including engine mount bolts. Hero dealer was also disastrous.

Currently, there are 3 scooters at my overcrowded home excluding the Kinetic, only one I write ownership about, the others being a first gen Dio, a Suzuki Lets and a Yamaha Ray. I vouch Honda is bulletproof, if taken care by a good mechanic. Suzuki aftersales was non-existent until recently, new dealers came up and things have eased up. Ray is a lovely scooter, handles and rides well, needs less care too.

 

[Nairrk]

TVS iCube - nearest showroom is in Kochi which means about 320kms away from my place.
Bajaj Chetak - Expensive.

Honda/Hero/Suzuki are the ones on my priority list. At the moment my 1st priority is Access 125 BS6.
I heard some complaints about Honda after sale service in my area, hence am keeping Honda in 3rd place.

 

[VISHNUCARCRAZY]

@deville_56 Had heard about horrifying stories from Marikar always(Skoda too), I used to give to EVM Honda, but when twice my fuel line/fuel hose got broken (Within 100kms after fix), I changed to Ayyapan's Honda Care.

 

[Nairrk]

Visited Honda and TVS showrooms for a Test drive and quotation.

Honda Grazia

They don't have any vehicle in stock, but shown me one deluxe model Yellow colour which was kept ready for delivery to someone. No test drive vehicles at all in their showroom either it is Grazia or Activa's. So, nothing much to write about performance of the scooter.

They have minimum 2 weeks waiting period from the booking date along with preferred colour.

On road price : Rs, 105,755. No freebies except full size helmet which comes from Honda.

Accessories Rs.4200 (Mat, seat cover, steel guard etc).

TVS Ntorq Race edition

They have all variants in stock. No waiting period and only needs 4/5 days maximum to do all the paper works/Registration etc. The sales girl told me no Test drive vehicle. I asked her to call the Manager (whom I knew for many years) and when I met him, he immediately arranged a test drive vehicle.

Vehicle performance seems very good and couldnt find anything particular to complain.

On Road price - Rs,104,538 (with free helmet)

Break-up:
Ex showroom price: Rs.88,837.00
Insurance: Rs.6017 (5 years - 1st year comprehensive and balance 4 years 3rd party)
Tax: Rs.9684
Accessories: Rs.3000 (Steel guard, ladies foot rest, mat, seat cover etc)

Things I liked:
The sound of the scooter - it sounds like a bike.
Whilst switching on the ignition key, only DRL comes on (without starting the scooter)

-In Grazia both DRL and headlight switch on when ignition key is inserted and just turn right, which I don't like:unhappy

Preferred color:

If I have to go for Honda Grazia, then need to buy one without any test drive or not even seeing the colour of the scooter. Further a minimum waiting for 2 weeks is killing the interest.

Ntorq - already test driven the race model and if needed, they are ready to provide other variants (in any case engine is same in all models and only you find minor changes in features from the base model to top end model.

Grazia comes with a small glove box, but Ntorg don't have one, but TVS have got the glove box as an accessory which can be fitted, if we need one.

No decision taken as yet.

 

[deville_56]

Visited Honda and TVS showrooms for a Test drive and quotation.

Honda Grazia

They don't have any vehicle in stock, but shown me one deluxe model Yellow colour which was kept ready for delivery to someone. No test drive vehicles at all in their showroom either it is Grazia or Activa's. So, nothing much to write about performance of the scooter.

They have minimum 2 weeks waiting period from the booking date along with preferred colour.

On road price : Rs, 105,755. No freebies except full size helmet which comes from Honda.

Accessories Rs.4200 (Mat, seat cover, steel guard etc).

TVS Ntorq Race edition

They have all variants in stock. No waiting period and only needs 4/5 days maximum to do all the paper works/Registration etc. The sales girl told me no Test drive vehicle. I asked her to call the Manager (whom I knew for many years) and when I met him, he immediately arranged a test drive vehicle.

Vehicle performance seems very good and couldnt find anything particular to complain.

On Road price - Rs,104,538 (with free helmet)

Break-up:
Ex showroom price: Rs.88,837.00
Insurance: Rs.6017 (5 years - 1st year comprehensive and balance 4 years 3rd party)
Tax: Rs.9684
Accessories: Rs.3000 (Steel guard, ladies foot rest, mat, seat cover etc)

Things I liked:
The sound of the scooter - it sounds like a bike.
Whilst switching on the ignition key, only DRL comes on (without starting the scooter)

-In Grazia both DRL and headlight switch on when ignition key is inserted and just turn right, which I don't like:unhappy

Preferred color:

View attachment 289000​

If I have to go for Honda Grazia, then need to buy one without any test drive or not even seeing the colour of the scooter. Further a minimum waiting for 2 weeks is killing the interest.

Ntorq - already test driven the race model and if needed, they are ready to provide other variants (in any case engine is same in all models and only you find minor changes in features from the base model to top end model.

Grazia comes with a small glove box, but Ntorg don't have one, but TVS have got the glove box as an accessory which can be fitted, if we need one.

No decision taken as yet.

I would choose the NTorq any day. Knowing the manager personally would be an added advantage.

When I brainwashed my Chennai cousin into buying an NTorq, asked her to TD it and the Hondas back to back and just made a comment Honda floats like a boat and she agreed 100% after that .