I bought TVS scooty around 4yrs ago when I got into Jr.college. It is used mainly to commute within the confines of Pune city. The engine of the scooty is 59cc 2- stroke unit which produces slightly more than 3 hp.
That may sound quite insignificant , but when it comes to in-city riding, it feels adequate. The fact that this thing has no gears makes it an ideal vehicle for those looking for a hassfle free ride. It also has a storage space under the seat, which seems insignificant in the face of today’s competetion. It can hold a few knick-knacks, along with notebooks, jacket etc., but it cannot hold a full faced helmet. It can however hold a chinless helmet, but then you can’t stuff in anything else. The seat is comfortable, and the riding position is just about okay.
It is not that fuel efficient, and when driven carefully may return anything from 45-50kpl.
But under most conditions, it almost never returns below 35kpl. Care must be taken not to rev the engine too much though, the efficiency drops drastically if done so. (Actually, this was quite unnecessary, since if you are a speed freak, you wont buy a scooty in the first place.)
Performance is also adequate at the best , and the maximum speed I have ever reached is around 60kmph. Don’t expect it to break any 0-60 records though. It takes its own sweet time getting there. At high speeds (I mean, as high as it can go) the stability is nothing to write home about. So highway riding, is a strict no-no, except for the very brave. This does not matter in the city though, where all that matters is the time taken to dart from one signal to another. It is quite easy to ride in heavy traffic, as it quite lightweight.
Take on a pillion though, and it is different story altogether. It is sluggish and unable to climb inclines with a pillion.
For the past four years my scooty has been subjected to the best and worst of Pune’s roads, and though it has not impressed me, it has not dissapppointed me either. Also for the past 2 years, I have been subjecting it to what is essentially 4x4 terrain everyday, and I have to admit, the scooty ploughs right on no matter what.
Although over the past couple of years a few squeaks and rattles have crept in, but that was to be expected, considering the abuse it has been subjected to. The build quality of this little TVS was always above average, and it generally holds itself together over the years. That too wouldn’t have been the case if the dealer and the service station was a little more competent.