I am a bit confused about choosing between the Suzuki Access and the Honda Activa 125. I have test-ridden both, and each has a different character in terms of smoothness, pickup and comfort. Could you please suggest which one I should choose, especially if I am looking for a scooter that remains smooth, comfortable and vibration-free over long-term ownership?

autocar.india

•1d

With your very limited weekly running, the extra cost you'll pay upfront while buying an electric two-wheeler over a petrol-powered one will take quite some time to recover. While petrol today surely is costly, you will not spend much on fuel every month. Petrol-powered scooters also have wider dealer networks and easy spares, handy when you use it irregularly. One point to bear in mind will be that servicing an ICE vehicle will be slightly more expensive on a yearly basis. If you are leaning towards an EV, that is also a credible option so long as you have a socket where you park. However, you'll be buying it for the smoothness and silent running not savings at your usage. Depending on which sort of powertrain you want in your next purchase, make your decision and we've provided some of the highest rated scooters available in India today. In the ICE scooter segment, options like Honda Activa 110 / 125, TVS Jupiter 110 / 125 and Suzuki Access / Burgman Street would be our top picks. Whereas, in the electric scooter segment, options like TVS iQube, Bajaj Chetak, Ather Rizta and Vida VX2 are proven, reliable machines we'd recommend.

autocar.india

•5h

If you leave your scooter idle for many weeks at a time, then the safest option to preserve charge in your battery would be to disconnect it, remove it and keep it in storage. Another option if you don't want to go through that hassle, is to give scooter keys to a trusted friend or family member and ask them to start it once in 10 days or a fortnight and let it idle for 10-15 minutes. You should also ask your nearest authorised Suzuki dealership if they will retrofit the kick starter on your ABS-equipped Access and most likely it should be doable for a small amount. Other scooters which also don't have kick starters on the top variants have the option of fitting the kick back for a small amount. Coming to the query of an E85-compatible Access, there's no news on the horizon of a flex fuel variant of the popular scooter launching anytime soon.

autocar.india

•1d

Between the 350cc Triumph Scrambler 400 and Honda CB350RS models, the Scrambler is the more accomplished machine and therefore, the more logical purchase. However, we don't always buy motorcycles because they make more sense, and it would be prudent to take test rides of both and then decide which is the better one for you. If you can make your peace with the slower speeds that the Honda is capable of sustaining, there is an enjoyable and reliable machine underneath the good-looking bodywork of the CB350RS. Pillion comfort isn't great on the Honda, but it's not unusable; you'll just have to make some aftermarket provisions or live with it. The Triumph is the faster and more comfortable machine, but it feels a little anonymous to ride - like an appliance on two wheels. If you don't think this will be a problem for you (like the lakhs of other 350/400cc Triumph owners), then the Scrambler is a great option to check out. As we said at the start, take test rides of both machines to see which one tugs at both your sensible side as well as your heartstrings before you go ahead with your purchase.