[jyoti]

Hey, guys! I am just about to leave for India, and I am planning on buying my first bike when I get there. I've decided on a scooter actually (as much as part of me really wants to drive a real motorcycle).

But, I need some advice. I am torn between the TVS Scooty and the Honda Activa. I love the look of the new Scooty Streak, but I'm concerned that it has a lot less power than the Honda. But, I don't like the look of the Honda Activa ...  Does the Scooty have enough power to get me around town? I'm new at driving in India so I don't plan on going really fast (at least for a few months).  And ease of handling is a big priority. I'm also worried that a heavier bike might be harder for me to handle. Thoughts?

Or are there other good options (with some personality and handling AND some power to it?) within about the same price range? (about 50,000 INR total is my max).

[iwanttogoback]

yes, but what kind of horn are you getting?

[jyoti]

Horn? Who needs a horn!?  I'm just going to hang some exquisite jewels off the front, and the flashing glare will be enough to knock people out of the way.

[priya]

Better hang on to that bling of yours, iwtgb, Jyoti's tone is rather threatening

Best of luck with your search, Jyoti.  I must admit you have my admiration for even contemplating riding in Delhi.  What a challenge!

[iwanttogoback]

oohh, a tree monkey fight!

better watch out, or dzibead will have us enrolled in monkey school.

[jyoti]

lol. The first time I was in Delhi, it was total culture shock after being in Bangalore for so long. I was in awe! "They have overpasses! And exit ramps! And four lane highways! And no potholes or speed breakers for at least two kilometers!!"  

That said, I only intend to drive from home to JNU and to the metro station, or places like the grocery store. Anything further out will be a "special" trip by auto or metro. But, after standing on the side of the road several evenings in Bangalore trying to catch an auto, I think I'll feel safer being in traffic than standing alongside it hoping someone will come pick me up and take me home safely.

And, priya! Don't you dare scare iwtgb off! Just when I was about to snatch some of that bling and make a run for it.

digi: Did you intend to link to a direct-tv ad?!      I knew i was in India for too long when I started being annoyed at people for not honking.

Edited by jyoti, 30 July 2009 - 02:08 AM.

[john.sw]

There are  four versions of the TVS Scooty:

• Scooty Pep+ 87.8cc 5bhp
  
• Scooty Streak 87.8cc 5bhp
  
• Scooty Teenz 59.9cc 3.5bhp
  
• Scooty Teenz EV 800w electric!

The Honda Activa also comes in four versions.  All are 102cc and have 7bhp.

You don't need power in the city, but safety is paramount.  I'd go for a scooter with disk brakes - does the TVS have disks?

Have you seen the new LML NV?  It's got really cute retro styling (it's a licensed copy of the classic Vespa PX150) and even has gears you can change! It's powerful, having a 150cc engine and will generate maximum power output of 8bhp@5500rpm.


http://www.bikes4sal...stroke-scooter/

[iwanttogoback]

looks good jyoti, and plenty of places to hang your bling!

although i think i would go for a black one...

 Lml_Nv_Spl_Light_Green_Vintage_Scooters.jpg   40.83K   9 downloads

[Hyderabadi]

I'd go for one that has a center mounted engine, the ones with the engine on one side like the Bajaj Chetak (think that's the one in IWTGB's post above) take some getting used to and seem unbalanced. The last one I rode was my wife's  Kinetic Honda, now discontinued I think:

Image from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia....i/Kinetic_Honda
When it was introduced in the market it was labeled as a 'ladies scooter'.

[john.sw]

This is my "scooter".  

It's quite yummy!

 enfield.JPG   111.66K   15 downloads

[Hyderabadi]

Nice scooter John!

Was also wondering if LML NV is still manual or auto now?

Couple of other 'old' bikes:

Yamaha 350: http://en.wikipedia....ki/Yamaha_RD350
Rajdoot GTS: http://bangalore.olx...by-iid-23684398 ( Also called the 'Bobby' motorcycle, from the 1973 movie Bobby : http://en.wikipedia....bby_(1973_film) )

[jyoti]

I knew there were some people around here with some real advice!

But, Aargh! Even more new suggestions (LML). Just when I thought I was overwhelmed as it was.    I'd actually love to have a manual scooter, but the specs I found said 2 stroke. That means less power than 4 stroke even tho it's 150 cc, right?  Do they still make them?

john.sw: I love it! I'm totally jealous. But, I've decided against a "real" bike as I don't want to have to plan my outfits around whether I want to drive or not (as in no driving in a sari or skirt on that thing!).  Although part of me still wonders if I shouldn't just go for it.   I like the Yamaha RX100 -- it's small, so seems like i could handle it for my first bike.

The Scooty Streak brakes are 110 mm Drum. Is that the same as disc brakes?  The other big downside to Scooty is I've been told they don't have much longevity and won't last more than 2-3 years. Is that true?

I know the Activa is reliable but it's so ... boring! And the HH Pleasure looks like it's for kids. The Aviator looks cool but may be too tall/heavy for me, though I think I'll test drive it. Though how i'm going to test drive when I've never driven a scooter before is beyond me!

The other that is highly recommended is the Suzuki Access, 125 cc but it has a really long waiting period. I like that it and the Aviator have much better shock absorption than most.

[jyoti]

Ooh! Found the new LML.  I am intrigued.

  

LML introduces new version

What about reliability? Safety? Ease of handling? Waiting list? It's got the looks and the power.
I could potentially see myself driving one of these.  

[Hyderabadi]

jyoti, on Jul 30 2009, 01:53 PM, said:

The Scooty Streak brakes are 110 mm Drum. Is that the same as disc brakes?

Disk Brakes: http://en.wikipedia....wiki/Disc_brake
Drum Brakes: http://en.wikipedia....wiki/Disc_brake

I had, let's see, 3 bikes, a Kinetic Luna (without the rear shocks, this was about 1980-81, owned by my Dad's business but I claimed it ), a Bajaj Chetak and a Hero Honda (the first model) and of course the Kinetic Honda. All with drum breaks, the only type available back then and had to frequently replace them, don't know who to blame though, could be me...    As I remember, the front brakes on all of them stopped working after a few months, never successfully repaired.

[jyoti]

Aargh. The picture isn't a LML at all (even tho it was shown as the LML). It's the Honda SH300i ... and not for sale in India!    I've found the perfect bike, in the wrong country!  

Hyderabadi: Sigh. Too much to figure out! Back to look at specs again.

[Hippie at Heart]

Jyoti they have stopped making RX100 since 11 years now and few stragglers in 135 cc were in production till about 2004 mid. Now they do make some export consignments for Nepal and neighbouring countries where 2 stroke are still not banned. In India there is a total ban on 2 strokes for anything over 100 CC and no company is interested in 100 cc segment anymore. Even if you want to go for RX100. it’s a small nimble machine with pretty ‘high’ level of acceleration for a such an old bike and keep jumping over small potholes like a frog.
TVS vehicles in Delhi or north Indian for some reason don’t sell very well and service stations are not too many either. Infect this north south divide in two wheelers is pretty strong with exception of Bajaj. Honda Activa maybe not be a real looker but it serves the purpose for most part and fuel efficient too. You can also consider 135 cc Kinetic Nova. It is reasonably big enough engine and comparatively return better fuel average because to slightly detuned engine. But I don’t know any scooter in India yet with front disc brake unless it’s in Moto scooter category, usually 150 cc plus.

Hydarabadi: bhai kahan se nikaal ker laaye ye masala !! that’s Bobby thing was a pro for back breaking rides. But RD twin was something else. I had one till about 2 years ago till I decided to hang my gloves for good   but twiner could still out race them wanna be puppies astride on latest production work, on Delhi-Noida express way.

[Hyderabadi]

Hippie at Heart, on Jul 31 2009, 05:40 PM, said:

Hydarabadi: bhai kahan se nikaal ker laaye ye masala !! that’s Bobby thing was a pro for back breaking rides. But RD twin was something else. I had one till about 2 years ago till I decided to hang my gloves for good   but twiner could still out race them wanna be puppies astride on latest production work, on Delhi-Noida express way.

Those two were my desires (struggling for the word, khwaaish? no..., looking for something else that's equivalent to 'having a crush on' ). I wanted the Bobby bike and my dad bought me a Chetak, I wanted to buy the Yamaha and he 'convinced' me to buy the Hero Honda with the promise of handing me down the Maruti 800 when he bought the DX version. I did have a few friends who owned those bikes.

Going off topic here but, H@H, do you remember a sporty looking bike that, I think BSA, made? Looked fantastic in the adverts but when you saw it at the show room it was really puny, needless to say it was a flop. Other than the Ambassador & Fiat - the  Herald and Gazelle. And Lambretta scooter for some reason seemed to be extremely popular in Madras! Jawa, Yezdi..

[Hippie at Heart]

Hehe Hydrabadi bhi trip down memory lane? Yes that was BSA Bond, 50 cc two strokes, thought it was marketed by none other then brook bond India it flopped on account of bad service and spare part problem and a tea company at helm. Haven’t seen any around since 1989.
I still see some Lambretta around here being prepped for exports to Europe. They were never a bling icon or represented skinheads moment in India but virtually indestructible machines. But I always had this idea that Yazdi was most user friendly and practical bike ever. I learned to open and refit the entire engine of Yazdi in just one week before I set out to my first ever drive to Manali Leh in 1986. The amount of ignorant use and road abuse that bike could have took, is unimaginable.
What with them Herald and Gazelle’s, those days almost every other car had such a different personally and feel about it that they never looked alike clones of today. Esp with latest Jap and Korean cars if you have seen one you have seen them all!
If you remember some of names from those days, today they hardly strike any bell but then those were the days and we grew up seeing or hearing them all around us. Just to rake up some unusual and futuristic idea (at least from India specific launches) Fiat 1100 with bucket seats and floor gear? Aventi Garelli moped? Suvega the diesel running bike?
Yazdi 175 with single exhaust pipe? Dolphin 800 the fiber glass car? Enfield 30 cc MOFA moped that had entire chassis doubling as petrol tank? Enfield Fury with first disc brake in India? Hero Puch without wire spoke wheels? Suzuki AX 100? Vijay Super scooter later re-launched as Sento170 ??  it all sound so different age now, but what an age to grow up in. Here are some old ads I hope you have not forgotten your old flame, sangeeta bijlani  

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[Hippie at Heart]

some more

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[Hippie at Heart]

looks like i have hijacked the OP

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