TVS Jupiter

For a newer rider of shorter stature, we recommend the TVS Zest 110. With a low 760mm seat height and a light 103kg weight, it is one of the most approachable machines available today. More mainstream options, such as the Honda Activa, TVS Jupiter, and Suzuki Access, are also worth considering in the petrol scooter segment, provided your daughter is comfortable with their slightly heavier weight and taller seats.

In the electric scooter space, take a look at the TVS Orbiter, which is like the Scooty Zest. It also has a low 760mm seat height, which will be friendly for a shorter and newer rider. The Orbiter comes with two battery capacities - 1.8kWh and 3.1kWh - and since your daily running is rather low, it would be advisable to go with the smaller battery pack. Similarly, the new Bajaj Chetak C2501 also has an approachable 763mm perch, and its lithe build will also give your daughter confidence.

A test ride of these is essential to understand which machine your daughter finds easy to get along with. And you'll also need to decide whether you want a petrol-powered scooter or a battery-powered one. 

Since you've said that your commute has bad roads, replacing your Jawa 42 with a scooter wouldn't be our recommendation. While they are innately more practical than motorcycles, scooters have their smaller wheels and shorter, thinner suspension units. It won't really enhance your comfort, at least not to a great extent. 

Instead, we would advise you to get a practical 160cc commuter like the Honda Unicorn / SP160, TVS Apache RTR 160 4V or Bajaj Pulsar N160. These are comfortable, fuel-efficient and peppy machines perfectly suited to city use. To make an informed decision before you go ahead with your purchase, ensure to take a test ride of all three to see which one you gel with the best.

If, however, you want to go with a scooter as your next purchase, consider the following options. In the family scooter space, the TVS Jupiter 110 / 125 and Suzuki Access would be our top picks. If you want something sportier feeling and looking yet comfortable enough for daily usage, then the TVS Ntorq 125 & 150 are what you should be looking at. 

Again, a test ride of all of these is imperative before you make your decision. Make sure you intentionally go over bad patches of road and make tight, lock-to-lock U-turns to see if the handlebars foul with your knees, since you are a taller rider.

Since your daily running is quite low, you should look at a petrol scooter - preferably brand new, for the peace of mind and the manufacturer's warranty it will come with. We'd recommend looking at the base variants of the Honda Activa 110, Suzuki Acess and TVS Jupiter 110. All scooters will be friendly for a newer rider because of their low kerb weights and approachable seat heights. 

If, however, your budget doesn't permit you to go for a new scooter, then a pre-owned Activa or Access would be our recommendation. The Activa and Access are some of the most popular scooters available, and finding a good example will be fairly straightforward. 

Because of their popularity and widespread service network, sourcing replacement parts should also be quite easy. 

If you are looking for the best comfort on a petrol scooter, the TVS Jupiter 110 and Suzuki Access are the best options. The Jupiter has 12-inch wheels at both ends, which will also help round off bigger bumps more nicely. It's also got a winged preload adjuster, which will easily help you adjust preload when carrying a passenger and luggage. 

If you are looking for something in the EV space, then you should look at the TVS iQube, Bajaj Chetak, Vida VX2 Plus and Ather Rizta. These scooters have spacious riding positions, comfortable suspension setups and come from reputed manufacturers with widespread and proven service networks. 

Take a test ride of these scooters before you decide. 

Since you're looking at just a small upsize in your tyre sizes, you can go ahead and replace the tyres of your Jupiter with 100-section units from the stock 90-section ones. It will help give you more sure-footed handling as well as a slight improvement in ride quality. 

The flip side to this change will be that wider tyres will increase rolling resistance, which is going to have a small but noticeable negative impact on fuel efficiency. 

Another point to bear in mind is that the scooter's steering will feel heavier in general, but especially at slower speeds. 

In the family scooter space, the TVS Jupiter, Suzuki Access and Honda Activa models are options that are hard to go wrong with. All are proven models with great service coverage and a reputation for being reliable, fuel-efficient and easy to maintain. While it is true that scootersare more prone to skidding than motorcycles due to their smaller wheels. It also varies from rider to rider and also upon the road conditions. If you are worried about this specific problem, Suzuki now sells the Access with ABS on its top two variants, which should address that qualm. 

However, if you prefer the stability and comfort of a motorcycle but want to downsize to something more approachable and urban area-friendly than your 350cc Royal Enfield. We'd recommend you look at the lineup of 125cc commuters from TVS, Hero and Honda before making your decision. 

In the petrol scooter space, our top recommendations will be the TVS Jupiter 110 / 125 and the Suzuki Access. These scooters have good seating and suspension comfort, are quite fuel efficient and will be easy to own and maintain as well. 

The only two electric scooters which we'd recommend under the Rs 1 lakh mark are the new Bajaj Chetak C2501 and the TVS Orbiter. Do bear in mind that the Chetak is quite a small scooter, so if you're a taller person or ride two-up frequently, this could be something to watch out for. 

The Orbiter is a nicely spacious machine, but it prioritises range over performance, so its acceleration is quite dull. 

A test ride of these machines will help you narrow down which machine is best for you. 

Since you aren't familiar with the clutch/gear shift coordination that a motorcycle will demand. We would recommend you first learn these basics under the guidance of a professional or a trusted relative/friend. 

The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 may seem like a small machine, but it can comfortably accommodate larger riders without a hassle. Coming to the Xpulse 210, this is a lighter and taller machine than the Hunter and will also have a very different riding experience. 

The Honda SP125 will undoubtedly give you excellent fuel economy, but it can't compete with the Hunter and Xpulse in terms of performance or road presence. We'd recommend a test ride of all three before you make your purchase, as that will help you make an informed decision. 

However, if you think that riding a motorcycle is too complicated, and you want to stick with a scooter. It makes sense to go with proven options in the ICE and EV segments like TVS Jupiter, Honda Activa, Suzuki Access and TVS iQube, Bajaj Chetak, Ather Rizta and Vida VX2, respectively. 

Since you have specified that senior citizens and ladies will be riding the scooter, our recommendations will be the Suzuki Access and TVS Jupiter models. These are lightweight, manageable and trouble-free machines which are very easy and friendly to ride. These attributes mean that they will serve your use case quite well. Another plus point is that both the Access and Jupiter are easy to maintain and return good fuel economy, too. 

Take a test ride of both before making a decision to see which one suits you best. 

The recently updated Royal Enfield Hunter 350 has a super-light clutch action thanks to the slip/assist clutch that RE has equipped it with. Even for a newer rider or a scooterist looking to move to a motorcycle, it shouldn't be that much of an issue in big city traffic. 

However, if you are looking to stick to a scooter, then we'd advise against the Yamaha Aerox 155 because of its stiff rear suspension. We would recommend scooters like the Suzuki Access and TVS Jupiter models instead, for their good ride comfort and spacious, well-padded seats.