I bought a TVS Jupiter scooter in Nov 15’. My main requirement was the telescopic suspension to negotiate the bumpy roads, as well as a CVT for ease of riding.
Honda Activa ticked most boxes except for the poor suspension and fuel-cap-under-the-seat inconvenience. The Honda Avaitor was too bulky, and Activa 125 seemed over priced . I gave the Hero Maestro a miss, because the showroom gave me the take-it or leave-it feel.
That’s when I decided to check TVS Jupiter out. It provided better ride than Activa, and felt smoother too. It is butter smooth and likes to be driven softly. There is adequate power to haul two adults upto 60 kmph effortlessly. It feels like a quiet city commuter which can smoothly, effortlessly keep up with the traffic.
The scooter is so well balanced that you can ride it at very low speeds without putting your feet down. The fuel cap on the outside and the parking light( ideal for dusk and dawn, when headlight is too bright) are very useful features too. The space under the seat is adequate; enough to hold a half face helmet. There is unique lamp which glows Green when you ride economically and turns Orange when you rev the engine more than necessary. It is as good as an RPM gauge, that a scooter of this capacity can hope to have. Similarly the FuelLow lamp reminds you to top up the fuel. The fuel tank is 5 L max, with the FuelLow lamp glowing at approx 2L reserve in the tank. I managed to fill only 3L each time the lamp glows.
After three months and clocking just about 1000 kms, I suspect it gives around 45-50 kms to a litre. The only fault is that the centre-stand spring has gone loose and it’s knocking the floor board now. The centre-stand on the Jupiter is quite a revelation though. It can be engaged with minimum effort without even pulling the handlebar.(lady riders will appreciate this, I suppose). They will also appreciate the effortless kicker to start the scooter on cold mornings.
Surprising, this bike has not given me a backache, which I usually develop after riding two-wheeler regularly. The upright stance is comfortable to maintain during long rides . It helps in keeping your neck upright, allowing your shoulders to take the weight of the helmet.
The fit and finish are good, so is the quality of the switches used. They have a soft feel which seems premium. The headlight is broad and bright. It is not a focused beam like the bikes though, but it does the job well. There are two hooks in the foot well which help in carrying grocery bags. There is a Charger option within the space under the seat is available on request( I did not take it)The silver colour that I have chosen, masks dust very well too.
The real setback are the brakes. They are absolutely passive and take their time to act. There is no bite and make you nervous if you are riding fast in the city traffic. It takes some riding to get used to the poor brakes. So you tend to ride it smoothly and unhurried riding style. The Orange Indicator tells you when you are getting out of control.