2025 River Indie: Incremental updates

The Indie is River's - a bangalore based startup - first product that has been on sale since 2023. For 2025, River has updated the Indie and changed its final-drive that has resulted in weight reduction. While at it, River has also increased the ground clearance and swapped the earlier handlebar for a narrower one. Let see if these changes have affected the Indie positively? 

2025 River Indie design - 9/10

The Indie grabs a lot of positive attention for its quirky design

I would’ve never expected a scooter to be the centre of attraction at a signal

I doubt a River Indie review could start without talking about its design. It takes the usual family-scooter template and smashes it to smithereens. For example, I’ve been asked about its make, model and price three times on just a single commute! People have even overtaken me just to slow down and look at it and every reaction has been an inquisitive smile. I would’ve never expected a scooter to be the centre of attraction at a signal, especially when today’s E-2W scene already has an array of choices that a passer-by couldn’t care less about. All of this shows that the Indie looks different, but in a way people genuinely respond to. That’s despite River clearly choosing function over form.

2025 River Indie practicality and storage: 9/10

The Indie has a total of 55-litres of storage

Instead of a sleek apron, there’s a big 12-litre storage box, chunky crash guards and a boxy body. In case you have more stuff to carry than the cavernous 43-litres boot can hold, it even has pannier racks. These racks also double as crash guards, meaning we thankfully won’t see those oversized guards here that have popped up on many scooters lately. 

Front footpegs follow the Indie’s space-maximisation approach.

This ample storage also requires a physically larger foot-print and the Indie has just that. It runs on 14-inch wheels, with dual-shock absorbers at the back. It is one of the most spacious and comfortable scooters – that a large-framed individual like myself can accommodate – that money can buy. The rear-suspension absorbs bumps effortlessly, although the front-fork is a bit stiffer than I would like. All-in-all it is one of the most comfortable 

The biggest change with the Gen 2.5 is the move from belt-drive to chain-drive. River says this should bring down running costs — the belt needed replacing every 10,000km, while the chain and sprocket should last 15,000–20,000km depending on maintenance. A chain also loses less power than a belt, as proven in our instrumented tests where the 0-70kph sprint was almost a second quicker.

However a chain requires more maintenance and River advises cleaning and lubing every 1,000km. The chain-drive gets a cover, with a panel underneath that detaches for access.

Chain drive reduces cost but requires more maintenance.

Other changes include a narrower handlebar and a new layout for the LCD dash. The Indie has also dropped a few kilos (now weighs 135kg), the hazard switch is now a park-assist button and ground clearance rises to 177mm.

If there’s one drawback that stood out in my time with it, everything requires the key and that quickly becomes tiring. The Indie doesn’t get quick-release for either the boot or the apron. And in order to charge the scooter, one needs to unlock the boot first, then unlock the apron to release the charging flap - all using the single key - hardly an ideal situation.  

River accessorised our unit with five add-ons and I want to pay special mention to the mobile mount. It can be positioned in five different ways with a touch-friendly cover, though long-term OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) durability on bumps remains unknown.

2025 River Indie verdict: 9/10 

The Indie is currently priced at Rs 1.47 lakh

Currently, the most pressing issue with the Indie has nothing to do with the product itself. River currently has limited presence and the Indie’s availability boils down to where you reside. At Rs 1.47 lakh, the Indie remains a relatively expensive yet appealing and utility-maximising scooter that’s also genuinely fun in the city.