[SKC-auto]

Originally Posted by @torquistic

Is this really capable to stretch for 3 years ?

That's the concern with OLA. Another option is getting an TVS iqube base variant(available in Lucknow), it may cost 15-20K more than TVS jupiter with similar build quality. You can probably make a down payment of 40K, and the emi will be almost equal to monthly petrol costs.

[SulemanP]

Originally Posted by @torquistic

Should I switch towards the non-RTO scooters or checkout the secondhand scooters and if I should check out the secondhand scooters, what should I look for?

If your running is beyond 60 kms/day, then go for electric 2W this makes a lot of sense. But since your running would be ~40 kms & you do not plan to keep the scooter for long it is quite viable to go the 2nd hand route for ICE scooter.
Use it till the time you wish and sell it off later, that way you will incur minimum loss. TVS Jupiter would be my suggestion...

[adityadeva]

Originally Posted by Sankar

If you are currently 17 you can only ride (with license) a 50cc non geared two wheeler or (without license) a non-registration required two wheeler like some new e-scooters or 35cc petrol powered two wheeler.

The op has clearly mentioned that he is just 17 and has no license. He also mentioned that it's difficult to get learner's licence.

yet, the only sane piece of advice that shows what legal options op can excercise is given only by Sankar.

I deeply appreciate that Sankar alone has understood the question put forward by the op.


Thanks button is there, but I needed to emphasize that the legal options alone should be advised and hence appreciated loudly.

[@torquistic]

I thank each and every BHPian for their humble opinions. And a special thanks to @som9729 for informing me about the online registration process of learning license. I did apply for it and if all goes well, I'll be posting a thread about the whole process.

Originally Posted by Sankar

If you are currently 17 you can only ride (with license) a 50cc non geared two wheeler or (without license) a non-registration required two wheeler like some new e-scooters or 35cc petrol powered two wheeler.

I've already test driven the non-registration required electric scooters and mentioned the issues faced by me. So with a learning license and a precautionary driving behavior, I can drive a 110cc scooter because other students of my age are also using it without getting caught by the police. But yes , if you are caught doing rash driving, you're bound to get busted. So a helmet, learning license, and normal driving style can help me driving a 50cc+ non geared two wheeler.
P.S.- I never thought of having so much replies on my thread as I'm a newbie. Thank you all the fellow BHPians.

[Ptr11s]

I'm 18, so this is quite relatable to me. I would strongly suggest going the legal route by waiting until you turn 18 and then get some thing nicer rather than buying something right now. Is public transport not a option? You can buy a lightly used non-registration required e-scooter and sell it after 1 year for not that big of a loss if you do not want to use public transport.

Originally Posted by @torquistic

So a helmet, learning license, and normal driving style can help me driving a 50cc+ non geared two wheeler.

Be sure to put a L-board sticker when you get a learning license(for 50cc+ scooters). Most of the cops are ok with you if have this and ride safely.

Originally Posted by @torquistic

And a special thanks to @som9729 for informing me about the online registration process of learning license. I did apply for it and if all goes well, I'll be posting a thread about the whole process.

It's a pretty straight forward process and there will be a online test. You can get it fairly quickly.

[Fuldagap]

My advice would be:

If going for ICE, go for a pre owned fun to drive scooter like the SR 150 or just go for an Activa for hassle free ownership.

If going for an electric one, look no further than Hero or Ather. Completely ignore the Ola. Activa electric is also suppsed to be entering the market soon.

[ToThePoint]

Originally Posted by @torquistic

So with a learning license and a precautionary driving behavior, I can drive a 110cc scooter because other students of my age are also using it without getting caught by the police. But yes , if you are caught doing rash driving, you're bound to get busted. So a helmet, learning license, and normal driving style can help me driving a 50cc+ non geared two wheeler.

Not sure about your place, but legally, a person with driving licence needs to be escorted by someone holding proper driving license. You cannot drive alone, rash or otherwise!

[Innysta]

Originally Posted by Fuldagap

My advice would be:
If going for an electric one, look no further than Hero or Ather. Completely ignore the Ola. Activa electric is also supposed to be entering the market soon.

I want to buy a electric two wheeler to replace my spouse's TVS Scooty Pep. I couldn't find any post comparing electric bikes in the forum, may be my search keywords are poor. Can i get the thread link or any source? Thanks.

[IndigoXLGrandDi]

My wife has again raised the topic (which was taking rest from Dec 2019) of buying a new Scooter for her.
Electric Scooter buying dilemma (Which electric scooter for my wife?)

I am inclined towards Scooty Pep Plus or Zest since Running would be only to ferry our daughter to tuition and music class and back and somewhat other errands. May be monthly running of around 500-600 kms.

Three years ago I was inclined towards Electric Scooter. But the initial cost as well as Battery life are not allowing to go for Electric. Else I would have bought Bajaj Chetak.

[@torquistic]

So, it all started a month back when I had taken suggestions for buying a scooter for my daily chores. I had the option of either buying a used petrol scooter or an electric one . The link for the thread is- https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/showt...errerid=620830 (Confused | Electric vs Petrol scooter). In the meantime I got my learning license made thanks to BHPian @som9729. So after taking suggestions from the BHPians and my fellow friends, I decided to buy a used Activa and started to look for it in the used two wheelers market and online platforms like OLX etc. Although I resisted buying the scooter from a dealer (I'm afraid of their malicious activities), eventually my scooter was bought from a dealer. The vehicle was bought in 2018, had 10k on the odometer and was in all good condition. The tyres were changed by the owner itself before he sold it off. The vehicle was checked out by my father and his friend and they were impressed by it. Later that day, in the evening I got a test drive of it. Must say I found it really pretty. I took a round although a very short one but it was enough to check the condition of the vehicle. My initial observations were-
1- The acceleration was quick and responsive. I had driven my friend's 5G before and in comparison to that, it felt a little better (don't know why).
2- The body had no dents or scratches. It was in almost new condition.
The vehicle overall ticked all the boxes and costed 55k inclusive of transfer of ownership, insurance etc. So we decided to buy it on monday as I'm a devotee of Lord Shiva. Enough of all this, now posting some pictures of my vehicle.



This keyring was bought specially for my first vehicle.
P.S.- My friends have named this vehicle Sikandar

[deep_bang]

Originally Posted by @torquistic

The vehicle overall ticked all the boxes and costed 55k inclusive of transfer of ownership, insurance etc. So we decided to buy it on monday as I'm a devotee of Lord Shiva.

Congrats on your first vehicle. The first one will always be special.

Btw, in your opening post I see you had some challenges with getting a learners license. How did that go - and were you able to get ahead and that's why this decision of buying a petrol scooter?

[@torquistic]

Originally Posted by deep_bang

Congrats on your first vehicle. The first one will always be special.

Btw, in your opening post I see you had some challenges with getting a learners license. How did that go - and were you able to get ahead and that's why this decision of buying a petrol scooter?

Thank you @deep_bang. Ya with the helping post of BHPian som9729, i was able to get my learning license issued without visiting the RTO office for once. It was overall a good process. Yes, the main reason of avoiding a petrol scooter was the learning license. With the license I'm still on a safe side and am driving the vehicle everyday with no issues. If you also want to get yourself a learning license, you can visit this URL- https://parivahan.gov.in/parivahan/.

[ayankm]

Originally Posted by SKC-auto

At a saving of 2₹/km, 40km×250days×4years×2₹/km = 80,000₹ saving compared to ICE scooter, should not be worried about resale value.

I think resale value will be quite less since battery will be highly degraded. Also, who knows what kind of technology will be in market in the next 4 years. I think an ICE scooty is quite a good bet for now.

[SKC-auto]

Let's calculate.

Petrol scooter: 1.10K(purchase of Activa) +92K(petrol at 2.3₹/km)=2.02L-60K(resale value)=1.42L

OP's scooter: 55K(purchase price) + 92K(petrol as above) = 1.47L - 25K(resale value)=1.22L

EV: 1.25L(new purchase of iqube) + 12K(electricity at 0.30₹/km)=1.37L -0₹(resale value)=1.37L

Remember that I did not consider maintenance, certainly the resale value will not be zero, after 4 years the resale value of petrol scooters may collapse.

After 4 years we may get a new battery by spending 40K₹, your scooter will be like brand new.

During usage for 4 years an EV will be superior than the petrol scooter, you will be less tired reaching your destination if you do not have all those vibrations and noise.

[COMMUTER]

Originally Posted by SKC-auto

Let's calculate.

OP's scooter: 55K(purchase price) + 92K(petrol as above) = 1.47L - 25K(resale value)=1.22L

EV: 1.25L(new purchase of iqube) + 12K(electricity at 0.30₹/km)=1.37L -0₹(resale value)=1.37L

These calculations prove to be less of a deciding factor because of the volatility of the Fuel and electricity pricing.

The price of batter bikes/cars,battery and electricity are heavily subsidised and will be very high when the subsidy vanes away and the taxes with cesses start kicking in.

With these factored in, the battery bikes/cars are a substandard choice given the downtime for charging, range anxiety, lack of charging infrastructure and fickleness of power supply, in addition to what had been mentioned above.

There had been news of a woman riding a scooty for 1,400km to pick up her stranded son during lockdown.Link. I am sure she wouldn't have ventured past a few streets, had she been owning an battery bike.