I am a 47-year-old male (5 ft 9 in, 85 kg) looking to buy a long-term, reliable, strong and powerful scooter. My daily city commute is about 15-20 km, and my budget is up to ₹1.5 lakh. I am currently considering the TVS Ntorq 150, TVS Jupiter 125, Suzuki Access 125 and Honda Activa 125. Are there any other scooters I should consider? Please advise.

autocar.india

•4d

With your monthly budget for fuel, you can definitely purchase a petrol scooter, and with gentle riding, you may even be able to come under that mark. If you want the typical strengths of a family scooter combined with peppy performance, then the Suzuki Access is to be considered over the 110cc TVS Jupiter and Honda Activa, otherwise the 110s will perform just fine. If you really want the lowest running cost and have home charging, an electric scooter like the TVS iQube, Bajaj Chetak, Ather Rizta, and Vida VX2 will cut your monthly running costs quite significantly, and maintenance, too, is minimal. Given your low usage, the fuel savings over a petrol-powered scooter will take some time to recoup. And in case of a spontaneous situation presenting itself, fuelling up a petrol-powered scooter is a much faster process than juicing up an e-scooter's battery. Take a call between the two based on your usage pattern and then make your decision.

autocar.india

•2d

The Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 is a sporty roadster that is good fun daily, and it's reasonably practical and comfortable for commuting duties too. Whether this is the right choice for you is a question only you can answer, and the way we'd recommend you go about it is to take a test ride of the bike and see if it fits into your orbit. Some points to bear in mind in traffic: the Guerrilla's clutch is a little heavy, and its engine's bottom end is a little weak. But on the flip side, it has a punchy mid and top-end and its handling is very engaging and surefooted too. If you want to consider a more commuter-friendly alternative to the Guerrilla, try out the 350cc Triumph Speed 400, which doesn't have as much outright performance, but it's better suited to commute on and is also more comfortable. A test ride of these two should help you determine which is the better fit for you. Do write back if you think neither is a good fit, and we'll be happy to recommend different options!

autocar.india

•2d

Since your daily running is quite low, we'd recommend the TVS iQube 2.2 for your usage. The base iQube is anything but base in the way it rides, and it has zippy performance, reliable range, a spacious underseat boot and even a pretty quick 650W charger. All of this means that while you are essentially buying the entry-level model in the iQube range, you aren't getting an entry-level end-user experience. In our tests, we found that the iQube returned pretty much the exact range that was shown on the display in both its modes (Power and Eco). And unlike other EVs, which feel painfully hamstrung in big-city traffic in Eco mode, the iQube can comfortably do 40-45kph in its lower mode, meaning you don't have to really compromise on the performance front for more range. This variant of the iQube will also fit in under the Rs 1.20 lakh mark on-road in your city. Take a test ride of the iQube 2.2 to be sure that you and your spouse are comfortable with it, and then make your decision.