[StepUP!]

I will suggest

1. Yamaha Ray ZR 125
2. Scooty Pep plus / Zest
3. TVS Jupiter

The new BS6 Ray ZR 125 is the lightest in the segment (99 kgs) and lowest seat height (785 mm).

Pep Plus (93 kg)/ Zest (103 kgs) also have the lightweight and seat height (760 mm) advantage. Pep plus might prove a bit low on power and space.

TVS Jupiter is proven motor with pliant suspension.

I being Access user, I strongly suggest to keep away from it just because of its hard ride. Suspension is stiff at lower speeds and every undulation is felt. It improves though when two on board and at higher speeds.

[Stribog]

Please just don't! My friend's father, 68 was active on his two wheeler, though they have 3 cars in the family he really treasured his independence.

3 months ago, on his way to the bank a mere 2kms away a rashly driven Tavera hit him and since then he has been bed ridden. Only speech is possible for him, he is not paralysed but has had multiple limb fractures and stress on the spine.

Just deposit 5000 in his uber / ola account every month and let him use it. Peace of mind. Or get him a used nano (if for short urban driving)

[cormodore]

Originally Posted by Stribog

Please just don't! My friend's father, 68 was active on his two wheeler, though they have 3 cars in the family he really treasured his independence.

3 months ago, on his way to the bank a mere 2kms away a rashly driven Tavera hit him and since then he has been bed ridden. Only speech is possible for him, he is not paralysed but has had multiple limb fractures and stress on the spine.

Just deposit 5000 in his uber / ola account every month and let him use it. Peace of mind. Or get him a used nano (if for short urban driving)

I am sorry to hear about the accident of your friends father and pray for him that he gets well soon. I do not want to deviate the topic but accident risks are pertinent to every one who ever goes out be it on a vehicle or walking.

As long as parents are willing to drive and are able to control the vehicle, I am okay with providing them with appropriate vehicle.

My father who is 70 still prefers to drive his 1993 Vespa NV, however, due to our insistence, and ease of riding, we made him move to automatic scooter(initially Access and now Jupiter). We still have the Vespa, and he drives occasionally.

He drives the scooter to nearby post office, banks and has short rides with his grand-children to nearby stores, for which he doesn't prefer cabs and I don't want to deprive him of what he enjoys.

Coming back to topic, Hero Pleasure is also a good choice for elders, because of its light weight, low height and ease of driving.

[powershift]

I had gifted a TVS jupiter to my father who is 68. He is really happy with that. Be it space or comfort or FE, its a well laid package. It clocked around 4000kms by now.
We just rejected Activa for the fact that there are issues with cold start and I dont want him to do that and bring another trouble. Jupiter has better ride as well due to telescopic suspension.
No matter what, TVS is good with scooters. Zest is another product with all the same things underneath but lighter in weight.

[MDED]

Hi vinuchel!

Hope you and your family are taking care of yourselves amidst the surging number of cases in our country. I was also facing this dilemma few years back, when my wife decided to gift a scooter to my FIL and we were in Lucknow at that time. The prime criteria for selection of the scooter was of the ride quality, suspension and then safety. Without much ado, we decided that it has to be TVS Jupiter. It is the segment best in terms of ride quality, decent power, TVS proven CVT, external fuelling, ample storage, great road presence, 12" in front and 12" in rear (this is the REAL DEAL). He has done more than 30000 kms on his Jupiter (FIL's age is 66) and no complains whatsoever.

So, if I were you - JUPITER it is! Period.

[Sri Vathsa]

Originally Posted by vinuchel

1. Ride comfort and suspension the topmost priority (height : 5'6)

Require your advice and recommendation.

We have Suzuki Access 125 at home, its not comfortable and ergonomically correct, hassle of putting the vehicle on main stand and kick starting it is a pain. Ask your FIL to take extended test ride (10 kms+) on Jupiter, Pep+ and New gen activa - go for the one which he is comfortable with.

[arijitkanrar]

Originally Posted by MDED

Hi vinuchel!

... It is the segment best in terms of ride quality, decent power, TVS proven DCT, external fuelling, ample storage, great road presence, 12" in front and 12" in rear (this is the REAL DEAL)...

DCT? I think you meant CVT
I doubt any scooter in India has a DCT.

[HTC]

Shall i suggest a used reva e car.

Its safer than 2 wheeler and economical to run. Protects from elements and easy to park. Can carry 4 people i needed.

With age reflexs will be slow and 2 wheeler not advisable due to traffic density and unruly riders everywhere.

[buntee90]

I believe the new Hero Pleasure would a great choice for your F-I-L given his smaller frame and age. Pleasure is lightweight, fairly comfortable and a niggle-free scooter. TVS makes good scooters no doubt but they have their fair share of niggles. Cold start problem is one of the major issues I faced in my BS-IV Jupiter. My two close friends and Jupiter/N torq owners also face the same issue.
IMHO niggle free ownership and and easy manoeuvrability should be the top most priority for OP’ FIL.

[groom]

Try Okinawa Lite, it is light, top speed limited to 38kmph, (official 25), low height and easily reachable to ground, eABS, very good pick up for a 250w motor and no license and registration, easy on pocket.

Don’t discard it as electric, try it and then feedback in the forum. I loved it and will be getting it for my household and kids can use as well.

[venbas]

Light bikes with small wheels are dangerous even if it's easy to take out and move. Being senior citizens they will go to the shoulder of the road or even beyond due to their defensive driving and this can be dangerous resulting in toppling when some impatient moron pushes him off the road. Sadly in our Metros people just are too busy and no longer wait or care a damn for old frail and the youngest of people. Have seen People hitting old people from behind driving their sports bikes. If he can drive a 4 wheeler, Alto 800 or such is perfect for city driving, can be parked in tight corners whilst shopping. Just need to avoid peak times that's all.

[ranjitnair77]

Vinuchel,

I was in the same position last year. My father is 73 and he still loves to ride his scooter for short errands in my neighbourhood. He is 5' 6" tall. He was finding our existing Aviator hard to use as he grew older as it was quite tall. We had almost finalized the Jupiter when he decided to take the TVS NTorq out for a test drive and he loved it so we got that instead.

It is a little less practical than the Jupiter but it is lovely to ride. Grippy, sporty, flickable with a low center of gravity and a nice ride height. If you are going to test ride the Jupiter, do give the NTorq a go too.

You can't go wrong with either of them.

[powerdrive]

You should make sure to have tubeless tyres as a puncture in tubed tyres will become tough to fix. I have even inflated air with my btwin bicycle pumps. I have Wego, Pleasure and Ather. My in-laws clearly prefer to ride the Wego due to the suspension and stability. Jupiter is bit bulkier than Wego otherwise they are mostly same. If they are still selling Wego, you could give a try. I have ridden Honda activas upto 5G, their suspension is not as good as TVS pairs. Even on the maintenance side I felt they are quite easy and cheap to maintain.

[benvsben]

Hi. Like many of them who have replied, I would like to propose a few suggestions.

Our family had come from humble beginnings. Bicycles, Luna mopeds through Honda Activa 125 1st Gen.

I see that you have access to most brand's ASC* - I will talk about them down below.

But, before that, I would like to address your requirement in the likes of myself getting a scooter for my Father. If he was with us, today. Side stand beats Center stand.

Honda Activa xTimes G - Nope. They came here through all those generations without even the slightest guilt that they have arrived late. I bought a Honda Activa 2G for my mother, and we went heartbroke as a family, along with our extended family.
Cons - Dealership courtesy - Bureacratic drama Rama - Services filled with filth. Heavy build - not recommended for Seniors

Suzuki Access - I bought one for my Uncle. 1st Gen. Beautiful busa-inspired design. Friends raved about it taking it up and down the hills. I did not feel that the engine was as refined as a Honda. Then, Activa wins the heart of a few while Access fits the budget and catches hold of the market's expectations with lesser waiting period and, an higher capacity engine.
Cons - Service filled with filth.

Hero - I have no clue about their offerings. Every Hero (/Honda copy) was usually seen beaten up in the hands of the commuters. It wasn't a sightable sight while observing these scooters at traffic junctions.
Cons - not applicable

TVS - I must admit, I loved the Japanese tech in their Suzuki JV. But, TVS as a standalone was not close enough. Hands down, I would pick up a Honda or a Suzuki in that order. But, if I say so myself (please do not ask yourself, "who does this guy think of himself?'... please...) Hands down they can just take things (any parameter) to the next level. Like a few others, here, mentioned about Zest or Zest+ Please go for it! You mentioned that your Papa (of course, FIL) is 5"6' Zest should do the best to serve his motoscooter-riding interests. People, here have mentioned about its telescopic forks (F) and hydraulic monoshock (R). The latter serves better than the Activa's. Access' got it bit sport-like stiff, yet bearable. The usuals counted, go for the Himalayan Highs Series - Turquoise Blue. If there was a White /Silver-grey, I would have suggested that.
Cons - none that I can pick off.

Now...

*Brand's Authorised Service Center (ASC) - Trust me when I say this, I have bled in sweat, energy, time and money for the lack of a good scooter service experience. You definitely have to get the Free Service challans torn apart and mind it, with all necessary evils on the counterfoil - That which gets retained with your service manual. Soon, after you take one-day-delivery of your scooter (/FIL's scooter,) say no word no more but, with a happy smile, ride it to your favourite mechanic's garage. Give him enough time (may be a couple of days max.) and get everything checked.

Conclusion - It is all in my personal experience of owning /possessing /riding /sharing a Honda, Suzuki and a TVS scooter.

Cheers, mate!

Peace and Love.

[mvadg]

Originally Posted by vinuchel

Hi all
My FIL is 65+ years of age...

Require your advice and recommendation.

Which city would your FIL be using the scooter in? Are the roads potholed? Other general conditions?

Since he's ridden 2 different scooters may be you should ask him to test ride and short list a few.Then you can whittle down the list based on factors such as service center distance and reputation, reliability, etc etc.

It may also be a good idea to try much lighter scooters or like someone suggested, electric scooters. The idea would be to expand the range of scooters to be test ridden.