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-   -   Urgent need of a Scooter | Should I go for an electric or petrol scooter? (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/motorbikes/240980-urgent-need-scooter-should-i-go-electric-petrol-scooter-4.html)

If your lifestyle is to use 80k to 90k mobile phone and then sell it after 3 years at whatever cost, then only you can consider buying electric scooter at this me.

One particular idea lacking in most of the replies flashed through my mind.

Why in the first place government is considering electric vehicles at all with subsidies.

The answer is a very familiar and boring as well as outright seemingly impractical one - save earth from the emissions.

So if the budget and heart permits, it should be electric scooter for all good reasons.

While there could be many ifs and buts, if we as a species don't translate our findings to action, we won't be handing over a inhabitable planet to our future generations just because we are more concerned about our ' practical convenience'.

You might want to call the dealer in Kochi and ask if they can help you. Its a customer and a business after all. Your purchase will help the dealer get more business from your area. Its only a matter of time your local dealer will eventually stock and support this scooter. Nobody has >100 bucks to spare for gas these days so anything that makes a commute cheaper is a win situation.

Go check out the scooter in Kochi. If you feel its your kind of scooter, have them truck it over to your address. Its the same State so no border restrictions.

Even if the TVS does not work out, I'd say look for something electric from a reputed manufacturer. For your running, an IC scooter is not required and you'll need to take it in once or twice a year for oil changes and what not. A cost not justified for something that will run for <3500km (9km*365) a year.

The TVS iQube was launched in Kochi just a month back and understand they already got many bookings, so not showing interest in trucking the vehicle to other areas.

Already spoken to our local TVS dealer, but they too do not want to involve in inter district dealing and asked me to wait some more time till they get the allotment direct from TVS.

May be as you said, I can go down to Kochi, buy the scooter and arrange to transport it to my place. I have to take all risk which is not worth, I feel.

Unless you want to be an unpaid guinea pig for the EV scooter industry, it is better you go for a tried and tested petrol scooter at this point in time.

• TBHP is full of stories where established multinationals don't bother to correct obvious manufacturing defects or even bother to recall cars sold in India for safety issues, while they are compelled to do so in the rest of the world. So a new Indian manufacturer is most likely to ignore your EV issues, if you have a problem. And let's not even talk about local dealers.
  
• Mechanics are least interested in solving issues even with petrol vehicles. How will you find a FNG to fix your EV issues?
  
• How many TBHPians can you get help from, given that almost none of us own one of these EVs? How many battery experts, charger experts and electric motor experts do you know? Do you know someone with a good background in electrical, power electronics and battery chemistry?
  
• How many lawyers do you know who provide pro bono assistance to sue the EV manufacturer and get you compensation if things go wrong? Do you think our laws are pro-consumer enough to even consider suing them?
  
• Do you think the government will come to your assistance if it finds that the EV manufacturer has been selling defective products

?

So it's not just petrol scooter vs electric scooter, it is established petrol scooter vs a new and untested contraption, made by an unknown manufacturer in India, for use in a consumer unfriendly environment

But if you really have a lot of cash lying around, please consider funding our nascent EV 2 wheeler industry :D

Thanks to all Bhpians those who have given their comments and suggestions so far. The day goes by, I am more confused which one to select finally.

With only 3 electric scooter dealers around me (within 5 kms radius), I only have limited option to select a good scooter.

As @mvadg clearly pointed out some basic questions about the risk of owning an EV at present, I too are thinking about a wait and watch game.

Hopefully, Ola delivery starts towards the end of this year and at that time I can also get one delivered at my home (booked on 16th of July) and give it to my son because he drive much more than me (he solely rely on two wheelers to reach his workplace due to non-availability of public transport now).

Now, time to chose a good Petrol Variant.:

As of now, 4 models shortlisted

All 125CC BS6 2021 top variant models

1- Honda Grazia (and may be Honda Activa 125)
2- Maestro Edge
3- Ntorq
4- Suzuki Access

My preferred features: External fuel filling, Good under seat storage, covered glove box, idling stop system switch, LED Headlight, etc.

Test drive planned for Monday/Tuesday.

If you’re thinking of 125 cc look no further than the Access 125. It’s hands down the segment leader for good reason. The N Torq is nice and sporty, brilliant to ride, but honestly I bought one in January and I think the build quality is really mediocre.

I would prioritise it as follows:

No. 1: Access 125
No. 2 : Grazia
No. 3: N Torq.

I was in the same boat a year back and I went ahead and got myself Chetak and have been in love with it since then. Anything within an area of 10 kms I use Chetak its much smooth to ride and 0 maintenance cost in a year.

I would say take the plunge into electric world

Thanks

Access 125 - I like the scooter very much except the fuel filling feature. Though it is provided externally, its placement is not in my liking. When we insert the key to open the fuel lid, the total lid comes out with the key and then little trouble to put it back. Why they have to make it like that? I wish it would have been like Honda or Hero or TVS scooters.

One of my B/law has been using the old Access 125 and he had to give a bad opinion about the scooter. He had lots of problems from the beginning and he had to drop the scooter at services center often (not sure whether the problem was due to the vehicle or poor handling by the service center?).

My neighbor who owns the same model also not happy with it. He is still having some minor problems and had to attend the service center quite often.

After hearing above two poor reports about Access 125, I am thinking whether to go for it or not (may be they might have improved the technology now, but the same service center I have to depend on)!

All those people to whom I have been discussing are suggesting either to go for Honda Grazia / Honda Activa BS 6 or Ntorq connected variant.

++

As said earlier, I was supposed to take test drives of those brand scooters today, but had to postpone as Health authorities declared our area as containment zone this morning (they found few Covid positive cases around):unhappy.

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.:confused:

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.

Today, visited Suzuki & Hero showrooms for a Test drive

Suzuki Access 125 BS6

They have no scooter in stock to show also no on Road price given because the sales girl told me that prices are increased from today and they still waiting for the new price. Also, they have one month waiting to get this model ready for delivery

Not a way to deal with a customer like this. We just simply left the place and headed towards Hero showroom.

Hero Maestro Edge 125 BS6 - Bluetooth version

They have all variants in stock but no scooter for Test Drive (all brand scooter showrooms in my area are sub-dealers hence these guys were not provided with a test drive vehicle which must be available at their respective head-offices which is about 40 kms away from here.

The scooter looks very nice (me and my friend feels better look than Ntorq and Grazia) and they have got 4 colours - Panther black, Mat techno blue, pearl silver White, candy blazing red. The on road price comes to Rs.1, 07,500 including Tax, Registration, Insurance, Steel Guard, mat, seat cover etc. Full size or Half size helmet free from Hero.


I have made a comparison chart considering all new features available on each brand as under:


Considering advanced features, the Edge 125 scores well than the other 3 in the list. Access 125 has a peculiar feature - Integrated Engine starts and kill switch with the easy start system. To start the scooter just press this switch gently - no need to depress the brake lever as we do usually in other scooters.

Now, time to take a decision and go ahead with the booking.!

I'm a little surprised folks here haven't been able to recommend a few more choices. I know availability is a bit iffy in your area but you could purchase it and use it in your town.

Ampere has a range of escooters for your mileage and price range. My neighbour has had one for 6+ years now and he's quite happy with it.

Then there's Hero Electric. They have some models, and one or two more coming out in the next 1-3 months.

And if you're going to stick to petrol (which I would not recommend given the low usage), why not look at the regular TVS Jupiter instead of the Ntorq? I have the Jupiter and it is more than adequate as per your requirements. Also, the the price diff between the Jupiter is nearly 15-17k.

You will of course not be doing justice to the higher end escooters with your low usage but then you could modify the title of this thread to "Which 125cc do you recommend" ;)

Yes, Ampere Magnus Pro was on my list at the beginning, but their showroom is around 40 kms away from my home. When I checked with them last month for a home delivery, they were not ready at that time. Checked again yesterday and now they willing to deliver at my home. Planning to visit their showroom tomorrow.

Their showroom also somewhere near the Ampere showroom. They are not willing home delivery.

I was open for electric or petrol vehicles - no strict rule, but then there was no electric vehicle showroom in my place, I started looking into petrol models.

Suggestions from My friends, are that when we buy a new vehicle always go for something which comes with latest features/technology instead of buying an old model to save few thousand rupees. It sounded logical to me also hence decided to go for 125cc BS6 models.

I was not intending to select only 125CC vehicles when I started the thread, but eventually the discussion carried on and stick to 125cc vehicles.

A very valid thread indeed for many of us out there planning for a scooter. It seems as if we are on the verge of a electric bike revolution in terms of the new offerings such as the ones Ola and few other big players.

This surely will wake up the segment and capture big marketshare which was earlier catered by some small time players. Also will bring more benefits to buyers such as better vehicles, customer friendly gestures such as home delivery etc.

Me in the same dilemma of replacing my 17 year old Discover with another bike or traditional scooter or a electric scooter. I personally love a motorcycle but want to get a scooter for local errands and with the electric scooters now available would like to jump into the fray of buying one.

Still quite confused to make the final decision as there is a feeling that the initial buyers may become guinea pigs for all the trials and errors of these new entrants such as Ola. Also the charging infrastructure is not in place hence a hassle.

Would love to hear from our fellow BHPians even as they advise on the original ask in this thread.

Hey OP, were you able to come to a final decision?

I am looking for an electric scooter as well and really like the Hero Electric Optima