I bought Kinetic Nova135 on August 04th 2006 from DR Motors, Bangalore. I wanted to buy a scooter as it can be used by both me and my wife. I considered Honda Activa and Hero Honda Pleasure.
Based on the reviews at Mouthshut and after test driving all the three, I opted for Nova135 as it had good reviews and its a 135 CC engine and I wanted good power. Nova135 had good looks and mileage as per the reviews was between 45 and 50.
However, this is my experience so far with this vehicle.
1) Suspension is very poor. There is always a thud sound at everybreaker.
Update: This is better after an intermediate free service.
2) Fuel efficiency is between 30 and 35. Even after first service there is no improvement.
Update: After the mouthshut review and a complaint to Kinetic engineering, the service personnel came to me, picked up the vehicle, serviced it and returned it back to me. The mileage has improved a lot. Its between 42 and 45. I think this is good as it mostly ridden with pillion rider.
3) Kinetic lies about puncture resistant tyres. Their brochures, the website mention that it has puncture resistant tyres. It has a normal tube and tyre unlike Honda Activa. I had to push the vehicle for 3 Km to reach the nearest mechanic shop. Only then did I get to know this. When I confronted the DR motors, they said its a printing mistake!! It comes with normal tyres/tubes. How can it be a printing mistake when its mentioned in multiple varied brochures and on website. I have written a letter to kinetic customer support. No response yet. I dont know if the 135 cc engine is also a printing mistake.
Update: The Nova135 in 2006 doesn’t come with pucture resistant tyres. Kinetic will be updating the website and ads acrdingly.
4) The first day, immediately after the delivery noticed that the speedometer wasnt working. I took it back and they corrected it. But it shows the quality of predelivery checks the DR Motors/Kinetic do.
5) After 15 days, the electric start stopped working. The kick start is very hard to use in this vehicle. Its really bad. I never faced any problems kickstarting my Hero Honda splendor. Kick starting Kinetic Nova135 is a nightmare. When I took it to the dealer they replaced a switch and electric start started working. This shows the durability of the parts of this vehicle.
6) After 20 days, the vehicle stopped when idle at stop lights. This was a nuisance. Got it corrected next time I visited the dealer. The dealership is 18 Km from my home, so it is nuisance to go to him often.
7) Mileage was around 30 KMPL. The dealer said it will return better mileage after first service. No change even after first service.
Update: Mileage has improve to around 45 KMPL
8) The dealer had provided a temporary insurance for a month and a permanent one was supposed to have reached me with in a month. I called up the dealer, who confirmed he had recieved it, When I went there, the dealer says that it will arrive in a day or two and tells me, he will courier it. He made me come all the way 18 KM to say that. I did not recieve it for 50 days. I went again and then he had it with him.. he didnt courier it as promised. I was supposed to have recieved the RC book by this time. However, I haven’t recieved it yet.(More than 2 months since I bought this vehicle). At the time of delivery too, he made me wait for more than 3 hours. I had called before reaching this place if everything was done. He had assured everything was done, but the number plate wasn’t ready and it took him 3 hours to get it done.
Update: RC book is now provided.
Update: After this review and a mail to Kinetic engineering, I recieved a lot of calls, enquiring about the problems. I am happy that the management at Kinetic is very active. They made the kinetic service personnel call and fix the problems. As I was busy I declined to come for servicing the vehicle in next 2 weeks. But, the kinetic personnel came to my office, picked the vehicle, checked the mileage, service and fixed the problems and returned it in the evening. Along with the vehicle, they got my RC book.
After this service, I am satisfied with my Nova135. The mileage is good and suspension is better. Most important is that after the complaint they actively worked to resolve it. I appreciate the Kinetic management for getting the problems with my Nova135 fixed.
Based on this, I think the vehicle is good. It just required little tuning during the service.
It scores over Activa in looks and Power. Mileage is the same. Customer service from Kinetic Engineering is excellent.