In our country, scooters aren't considered an exciting means of transportation. Practical and hassle-free scooters are limited to grocery runs and daily commute. Kinetic was the first company to introduce a high-capacity scooter, the Blaze. However, now there are a handful of bikemakers that do offer such exciting scooters. We have listed out few scooters which are fun to ride and are currently on sale in the country.  

Aprilia SR 150 Race Edition- Price: Rs 70,061

Italian manufacturer Aprilia is famous for its performance packed products. The brand has been present in India with its range of performance bikes for the past few years but they have been priced at a hefty premium. All that changed with the SR 150, making it the sportiest scooter available in India and also the cheapest Aprilia on sale. Later, the Race Edition was launched donning the Aprilia MotoGP livery and more importantly, revised transmission ratios. The Race Edition is powered by the same Vespa-sourced 154.8cc engine that does its duty in the standard SR 150. The powerplant makes 10.5PS of power at 6750 rpm and 11.4Nm of torque at 5000rpm. The engine is mated to a continuously variable transmission which, in the race variant has reworked gear ratios for better acceleration. To be precise, the Race Edition is 0.3 seconds quicker than the standard SR150 in 0-60kmph acceleration time, taking 6.89 seconds. The sleek bodywork is nicely complemented by the apron-mounted twin headlights, sporty livery and 14-inch red alloys. The wheels are wrapped in 120-section rubber at both ends.

The scooter is equipped with telescopic forks at the front and a monoshock at the rear. To ensure optimum braking, the scooter also comes with a 220mm front disc and a 140mm rear drum. At Rs 70,061, ex-showroom Pune, the money to performance ratio of the Aprilia SR 150 Race Edition is unparalleled in the segment.

TVS Scooty Zest 110- Price: Rs 46,238

After TVS first launched the Scooty, it became a runaway success primarily because of its light weight and nimble handling. So much so that the word ‘Scooty’ became a household name for scooters! With the new TVS Zest 110, the brand has given the popular Scooty a good dose of modern features, while retaining its peppy nature. The Zest 110 is powered by a 109.7cc engine that’s good for 8PS of power at 7500rpm and 8.4Nm of torque at 5500rpm. The scooter features telescopic suspension at the front and hydraulic monoshock at the rear. The acceleration figure from 0-60kmph stands at 11.1sec, which TVS claims is the fastest in its segment. 

For added practicality, the scooter also comes with 19-litre under seat storage with a USB charging port for smartphones. The Matte edition also gets an underseat light apart from premium dual-tone seats and a 3D logo. With a kerb weight of just 97kg, the scooter is indeed a featherweight machine that offers sprightly performance and agile handling. The Scooty Zest 110 is priced at Rs 46,238, ex-showroom Delhi.

Honda Dio- Price: Rs 49,132

Honda has been raking in a lot of moolah with the ol’reliable Activa. But for enthusiasts who want a trendy scooter with the bulletproof quality of the Activa, the Dio is the right choice. The 2017 Dio dons a face-lifted design with LED position lights on the handlebar. The apron mounted headlight is retained but looks sharper than the previous generation Dio. The Dio’s engine is a 109.19cc unit that belts out 7.9PS of power at 7000rpm and 8.91Nm of peak torque at 5500rpm. The engine is mated to a variomatic transmission and the claimed top speed stands at 83kmph. The USP of this scooter is the Combined Braking System (CBS), which enhances the braking capabilities of the 130mm front and rear drums. 

The only grinch is the link-type suspension at the front which is a bit too hard to soak up bumps efficiently. However, the rear hydraulic monoshock is pretty decent. At Rs 49,132, ex-showroom Delhi, the Dio is a good choice for young enthusiasts who are looking for a flashy but reliable scooter.

Honda Navi- Price: Rs 41,500

Yes, the Navi is in a bit of a grey area between motorcycles and scooters. However, with its light body and automatic transmission, this little monkey bike is a good option for people in the market for something unique and funky. The Navi’s powertrain is based on the Activa’s. So, you get the same 109.19cc engine which pumps out 7.9PS of power at 7000rpm and 8.96Nm of torque at 5500rpm. The engine, coupled with a kerb weight of 101kg makes this bike (or scooter?) lively to ride. 

Honda also offers various accessories to customise the Navi according to the customer’s taste. There are three options- Adventure, Chrome and Colour customisations which further enhance the looks of the already quirky Navi. The optional storage box also exploits the under-tank space efficiently. Priced at Rs 41,500, ex-showroom Delhi, the Navi is an inexpensive niche two-wheeler that can help you effortlessly zoom past traffic with its compact dimensions. However, with a fuel capacity of 3.8litres, the fun is often interrupted with visits to the petrol pump.

Suzuki Access 125- Price: Rs 54,302

Being the flagship scooter, Suzuki has spared no expense at making it retro-modern. The Access 125 comes with steel bodywork for superior durability and the engine is an SOHC 125cc unit which generates 8.7PS of power at 7000rpm and 10.2Nm of torque at 5000rpm. The scooter features an analogue-digital combo cluster which packs speedometer, odometer, fuel gauge, dual tripmeter and engine oil-change indicator.

Suspension duties are carried out by telescopic forks at the front while the rear sports a monoshock. The alloys are anchored by drum brakes on both ends while a front disc can be availed as an option. The scooter is also equipped with a generous 21.8-litre storage space to keep your knick-knacks. Additionally, there’s an apron-mounted DC socket to charge the electronic devices. A special edition of the Access 125 is also available, which is equipped with chrome garnished rearview mirrors, plusher seat, and a 3D emblem. The price of this scooter starts at Rs 54,302, while the Special Edition Access 125 starts from Rs 56,004, both ex-showroom Delhi.

Source: ZigWheels.com