[Kirubakaran_G]

Hi fellow BHPians,
I give up riding motorcycles due to the cervical and lumbar disc related issues. Even I give up my present profession, and that's a story for another day.
Even though I gave up on riding motorcycles, for grocery and short runs, I'm using my wife's TVS Zest 110. Despite smaller dimensions, I used to stretch my foot on the front apron which opens up some real estate for my feet, and oh boy! Its pretty comfortable and easily manageable for crowded city roads and narrow country lanes. I never liked the scooters since my childhood as it lacks gears, but now I'm a convert. Few things I noted down while riding scooters with my current health condition are:

1. Scooters support my legs really well due to flat footboard instead of foot pegs having motorcycles.
2. The seats of scooters are generally broader, wider and more supportive for the back and buttocks region.
3. The scooter steering is closer to the rider, which reduces the stress on shoulders whereas the motorcycle steering is set away from the rider.

Considering my observations, I can simply say, the scooters are more comfortable than the motorcycles, for atleast my case. So, my conundrum is which scooter to choose?

Needs:

1. 14 inch wheels for better stability and traction at low/moderate speeds
2. ABS is non-negotiable.
3. More power is better. I love peppiness, who won't!!!
4. Shouldn't sag under load. Need comfortable suspension, stiffness is good as I'm heavy around 100kgs.
5. Acceptable pillion comfort.

Other things like larger under seat storage, external fuel fillers and bluetooth connection are not needed.

Shortlisted:

1. Aprilia SR 160
2. Yamaha Aerox 155
3. Aprilia SXR 160
4. Hero Xoom 160

SXR due to small wheels is questionable for stability.
Xoom 160 is still unavailable in my place. Is it worth the wait, considering Hero's craftsmanship in suspension? Or I shall go with other options?

Experts shed light!!!

Thanks in advance.

[Boringrider]

Depending on whether you're okay with the lack of flat floor board or it is a must have, I would pick between the Aerox and Aprilia SR 160. The downside of Aprilia is higher servicing costs and lower service network. Take test rides before finalizing any scooter.

Stiffer suspension is better for people on the heavier side, although most reviews will speak of it as a negative. You can also look at Ntorq. It has 12 inch wheels but I was pleasantly surprised recently when I took it for a short spin. It's very sporty, the stock exhaust note is probably the loudest on a scooter I've ever heard and TVS has shown itself to be a solid reliable brand.

[rajkir80]

I have been using Jupiter 125 from last 3 months. The ride quality is plush, mileage is great, power is decent and nothing to complain about.

[Axe77]

I would also be open to switch my NTorq scooter to something with 14” wheels, is peppier and has a nice suspension. There’s almost nothing immediately that strikes me as meeting all three of these criteria. I’d say what comes closest to your requirements of a nice comfortable scooter despite having 12” wheels is the Suzuki Burgman.

For myself, I am waiting for the Tesseract / River Indie to be launched / come to my city respectively. I’m in no rush and this is a pure discretionary purchase if I were to pursue seriously so not fretting the absence of options either.

[IshaanIan]

The new Suzuki Access/Burgman have the best engines but the worst chassis. Aprillia SR and Yamaha Aerox aren’t really comfortable and I am personally against Scootys that sacrifice comfort in search of sportiness because they never really end up being even a fraction as sporty as a basic 150cc bike yet sacrifice all the comfort and convenience that Scootys are supposed to be known for (lack of leg room, tilted floor board, slanted seat etc.) Aprillia has the worst quality control and will feel like a badly abused Goa rental bike within a year or two. The Yamaha sacrifices the floorboard for not really a good enough reason. Xoom and SXR I have not ridden but in my opinion all ICE scooters currently in the market are severely lacking when comes to making sense as a purchase option.

The right scooter for you is the River Indie. These machines are anyway used for short trips. There has been zero advancement in terms of their belt-driven gearboxes thus sapping any possibility of appreciating a well engineered motor, the extent of their advancement over the last two decades has simply been to get choked by emissions restrictions, and adding Bluetooth functionality. Best to bid adieu to these things and look into electric offerings.

I am not a fan of electric cars however electric scooters are really growing on me. When the throttle calibration is done right, they end up offering such crisp and enjoyable power delivery that is more responsive and easier to modulate than all the CVT driven ICE scooters. And most importantly, a few of them actually feel like they were developed by a brand that cares; maybe not about durability but atleast about the product itself and what it is capable of and whether it is able to distinguish itself on merit in any areas. Ather 450 feels like a dream to ride, River Indie is shockingly good, so is the new Chetak for that matter.

[b16h22]

Originally Posted by Kirubakaran_G

1. Aprilia SR 160
2. Yamaha Aerox 155
3. Aprilia SXR 160
4. Hero Xoom 160

The Xoom might be the relatively safe bet if you want decent ride quality. Hero generally tunes their suspension well. But it's an untested product.

Aerox is the best of the lot as a genuine motorcycle replacement or at least close to being one. It'll be most probably the safest of the bench with big wheel/tyre stability and handling. But the ride quality is it's Achilles heel. Aerox might be the only one fulfilling most of your needs from the list and it is a tried and tested product.

The Aprilias have a bad rep for reliability and aftersales service. And they are stiffly sprung.

Motorcycles tend to be way more comfier than scooters over our bad roads but scooters are convenient for sure. They can destroy your back if you are not careful. I have personally experienced it. Short distances over good roads are fine though.

[Kirubakaran_G]

Originally Posted by Boringrider

The downside of Aprilia is higher servicing costs and lower service network. Take test rides before finalizing any scooter.

You can also look at Ntorq. It has 12 inch wheels but I was pleasantly surprised recently when I took it for a short spin. It's very sporty, the stock exhaust note is probably the loudest on a scooter I've ever heard and TVS has shown itself to be a solid reliable brand.

Thanks for your inputs. Is Aprilia costlier to maintain than an Aerox? As much as I love the engine on Aerox, that much I hate it's stiffer rear and poor pillion seat.

But sadly, I'm against TVS in quality control. My wife's Zest 110 is throwing tantrums and squeaks in multiple places already within a span of 2 years of ownership. Also, I heard about some nightmares from previous Ntorq owners. I'm afraid of Non-ABS scoots with small wheels, well think, if I emergency brake in a loose surface!!! The traction will be gone. I'm very much cautious of my body now.

Originally Posted by rajkir80

I have been using Jupiter 125 from last 3 months. The ride quality is plush, mileage is great, power is decent and nothing to complain about.

Thanks for your suggestion. Although Jupiter is comfortable, it lacks ABS and you know, my body is like a plaster of paris. Slight shock to the legs or even small fall makes my situation worse.

Originally Posted by Axe77

I would also be open to switch my NTorq scooter to something with 14” wheels, is peppier and has a nice suspension. There’s almost nothing immediately that strikes me as meeting all three of these criteria. I’d say what comes closest to your requirements of a nice comfortable scooter despite having 12” wheels is the Suzuki Burgman.

For myself, I am waiting for the Tesseract / River Indie to be launched / come to my city respectively. I’m in no rush and this is a pure discretionary purchase if I were to pursue seriously so not fretting the absence of options either.

Thanks for your inputs. Burgman EX with 12 inch wheels feels spicy with a blissful, tried and tested engine, but again lack of ABS is resisting me.

Originally Posted by IshaanIan

The new Suzuki Access/Burgman have the best engines but the worst chassis. Aprillia SR and Yamaha Aerox aren’t really comfortable and I am personally against Scootys that sacrifice comfort in search of sportiness because they never really end up being even a fraction as sporty as a basic 150cc bike yet sacrifice all the comfort and convenience that Scootys are supposed to be known for (lack of leg room, tilted floor board, slanted seat etc.) Aprillia has the worst quality control and will feel like a badly abused Goa rental bike within a year or two. The Yamaha sacrifices the floorboard for not really a good enough reason. Xoom and SXR I have not ridden but in my opinion all ICE scooters currently in the market are severely lacking when comes to making sense as a purchase option.

The right scooter for you is the River Indie. These machines are anyway used for short trips. There has been zero advancement in terms of their belt-driven gearboxes thus sapping any possibility of appreciating a well engineered motor, the extent of their advancement over the last two decades has simply been to get choked by emissions restrictions, and adding Bluetooth functionality. Best to bid adieu to these things and look into electric offerings.

I am not a fan of electric cars however electric scooters are really growing on me. When the throttle calibration is done right, they end up offering such crisp and enjoyable power delivery that is more responsive and easier to modulate than all the CVT driven ICE scooters. And most importantly, a few of them actually feel like they were developed by a brand that cares; maybe not about durability but atleast about the product itself and what it is capable of and whether it is able to distinguish itself on merit in any areas. Ather 450 feels like a dream to ride, River Indie is shockingly good, so is the new Chetak for that matter.

Is SR 160's quality control or in general, is Aprilia's QC that bad? We all know, timely maintenance is the key for better vehicles in our garage. But is it bad from Day 1? Have you own any Aprilia in the past/present? Kindly clarify. Thanks for your detailed suggestion.
Kindly suggest Electric Scooters with ABS and I'm open to them as well.

Originally Posted by b16h22

The Xoom might be the relatively safe bet if you want decent ride quality. Hero generally tunes their suspension well. But it's an untested product.

Aerox is the best of the lot as a genuine motorcycle replacement or at least close to being one. It'll be most probably the safest of the bench with big wheel/tyre stability and handling. But the ride quality is it's Achilles heel. Aerox might be the only one fulfilling most of your needs from the list and it is a tried and tested product.

The Aprilias have a bad rep for reliability and aftersales service. And they are stiffly sprung.

Motorcycles tend to be way more comfier than scooters over our bad roads but scooters are convenient for sure. They can destroy your back if you are not careful. I have personally experienced it. Short distances over good roads are fine though.

Thank you for your valuable inputs. But, again, as you stated, I'm now haunted by the reliability factor of Aprilia. Any Aprilia owners in our forum, kindly clarify! Is it that bad of a reputation or perceived quality?

And yes, as you stated, I can be careful while riding over potholes due to the scoot's shortcomings. But controlling motorcycle steering and clutch inputs feel the toughest for my current health scenario. I hope 14 inch wheels would make some sense here!

[fhdowntheline]

I have recently purchased the SXR 160 after a LOT of thinking. The Aerox is still in my books the better scooter purely for the driver, but the Aprilia is more comfortable 2 seater. It also has fairly adequate boot space and something in the front if you want to grab some groceries.
The ride quality is stiff, yes, but feels sturdy . The 12 in wheels are wider, so they are a bit bigger than the regular 12 in scooters considering the aspect ratio. And it comes with the ABS , which was for me too, an important aspect. It is a bit long dime nsionally, which makes it less flexible during tight parking, but it is more stable at low speeds in crawling traffic where you don’t have to get your foot down to balance. I am getting about 35 kmpl which is ok for my usage pattern. It doesn’t come with the auto start/ stop option, by the way.

[Kirubakaran_G]

Originally Posted by fhdowntheline

I have recently purchased the SXR 160 after a LOT of thinking. The Aerox is still in my books the better scooter purely for the driver, but the Aprilia is more comfortable 2 seater. It also has fairly adequate boot space and something in the front if you want to grab some groceries.
The ride quality is stiff, yes, but feels sturdy . The 12 in wheels are wider, so they are a bit bigger than the regular 12 in scooters considering the aspect ratio. And it comes with the ABS , which was for me too, an important aspect. It is a bit long dime nsionally, which makes it less flexible during tight parking, but it is more stable at low speeds in crawling traffic where you don’t have to get your foot down to balance. I am getting about 35 kmpl which is ok for my usage pattern. It doesn’t come with the auto start/ stop option, by the way.

Thanks for your valuable suggestions. Can you please comment on the quality, fit and finish, refinement and service costs? Because the previous comments from our esteemed members suggest to keep away from Aprilia due to perceived quality. But because of the same exact reasons you spell, I'm poised by SXR and SR.

[fhdowntheline]

It’s still early days, and my intended usage is fairly low( less than 500 km a month) , so I don’t expect much issues by way of service. During the first service, they did the oil change so that was it, but the scooter seems to ride a lot smoother and is not very vibey while on the go and at stand still. But it is on the heavier side and that needs to be acccounted for. My SO still can’t park it on the main stand. I suggest you also look at EVs if it’s a convenient option for you. Keeping aside ABS, if you want a decent all rounder, look at Destini 125 . Seems to be feature rich, well built and balanced scooter. That was to be our No 2 option

[rkv_2401]

I think the Suzuki scooters have gotten better in terms of ride quality, but the one I have (Swish 2014) is very stiffly sprung. So stiff, in fact, that it will likely exacerbate your body pain - it caused me back pain over longer periods of time (1 year+) even though I was 20 and hitting the gym 5-6 days a week. Adapted my riding style a bit and it went away.

One plus point is that it feels similar to ride regardless of how much I weighed (I was underweight when I got the scooter, ended up overweight during COVID), so I can attest to your observation about suspension stiffness.

I rode the new Avenis once, seemed fine but I was uncomfortable with that strange seat set-up. They have super smooth engines though, and it barely makes any noise till ~60km/hr which would make longer distances feel effortless. I've pulled loads upto ~250kg (riders + heavy luggage) on my Swish without it breaking a sweat.

[Sensible_Speed]

Originally Posted by IshaanIan

The new Suzuki Access/Burgman have the best engines but the worst chassis.

I'm sorry, but that is just plain wrong. I have had 2 generations of the Access 125 and it is one of the best riding scooters in the market today. The chassis is very stable and perfectly balanced. I have yet to find a 125cc scooter with a better balance than the Access. Even the Ntorq falls short in certain regards! This chassis soaks up everything and Suzuki absolutely nailed it.

But, in response to OP, the scooters you've listed are all sporty scooters that will not bode well for your back in the long run, at all. An Access/Burgman is your best bet for a comfy ride. They're don't make much power to begin with, so you should be quite okay without ABS, unless you're a deliberately bad rider.

[Kirubakaran_G]

Originally Posted by fhdowntheline

It’s still early days, and my intended usage is fairly low( less than 500 km a month) , so I don’t expect much issues by way of service. During the first service, they did the oil change so that was it, but the scooter seems to ride a lot smoother and is not very vibey while on the go and at stand still. But it is on the heavier side and that needs to be acccounted for. My SO still can’t park it on the main stand. I suggest you also look at EVs if it’s a convenient option for you. Keeping aside ABS, if you want a decent all rounder, look at Destini 125 . Seems to be feature rich, well built and balanced scooter. That was to be our No 2 option

The weight can be managed as I was riding Classic 350 until last month. Thanks for suggesting Destini, but as you said lack of ABS is a bummer. Also, as I'm gonna keep the scooter for as long as I could, only partially open for EVs.

Originally Posted by rkv_2401

I think the Suzuki scooters have gotten better in terms of ride quality, but the one I have (Swish 2014) is very stiffly sprung. So stiff, in fact, that it will likely exacerbate your body pain - it caused me back pain over longer periods of time (1 year+) even though I was 20 and hitting the gym 5-6 days a week. Adapted my riding style a bit and it went away.

One plus point is that it feels similar to ride regardless of how much I weighed (I was underweight when I got the scooter, ended up overweight during COVID), so I can attest to your observation about suspension stiffness.

I rode the new Avenis once, seemed fine but I was uncomfortable with that strange seat set-up. They have super smooth engines though, and it barely makes any noise till ~60km/hr which would make longer distances feel effortless. I've pulled loads upto ~250kg (riders + heavy luggage) on my Swish without it breaking a sweat.

Yes, suzuki's 125cc scooters are great sans ABS. I appreciate your inputs. Thanks.

Originally Posted by Sensible_Speed

I'm sorry, but that is just plain wrong. I have had 2 generations of the Access 125 and it is one of the best riding scooters in the market today. The chassis is very stable and perfectly balanced. I have yet to find a 125cc scooter with a better balance than the Access. Even the Ntorq falls short in certain regards! This chassis soaks up everything and Suzuki absolutely nailed it.

But, in response to OP, the scooters you've listed are all sporty scooters that will not bode well for your back in the long run, at all. An Access/Burgman is your best bet for a comfy ride. They're don't make much power to begin with, so you should be quite okay without ABS, unless you're a deliberately bad rider.

Think about sudden/panic braking on a loose surface! The CBS won't help you before biting the dust. ABS safety net is a mandate for scooters as they run on smaller wheels. As I clearly specify, larger wheels and ABS will take scooters very much closer to motorcycles regarding safety. It is not about how good/expert a rider you are, rather how lucky on the road you are!

[whitewing]

Originally Posted by Kirubakaran_G

Hi fellow BHPians,
I give up riding motorcycles due to the cervical and lumbar disc related issues.

Given your medical condition please do give the ev scooters a try (esp. Ather & TVS ones), they have absolutely no vibrations.

[pcpranav]

Originally Posted by rajkir80

I have been using Jupiter 125 from last 3 months. The ride quality is plush, mileage is great, power is decent and nothing to complain about.

We have TVS Wego 110 purchased in 2013, overall running good for local errand, very regularly serviced mostly at a local garage. Though the running is not very high. Over the time, I recall having changed few major parts - rear suspension, TL tyres twice, clutch belts, bearings, and other tit-bits. I'm happy with this vehicle, and paint quality is top notch still. Vehicle is quite nimble and easy to ride.

Recently I got a chance to ride a friend's new Jupiter 125 (vehicle was just few weeks old with ~1K on ODO) for few kilometers in city lanes, and it was absolutely a fun. The power, smoothness, plush suspension, broad comfortable seat, nice headlight - all awesome. In near future if I change my Wego, I would surely consider Jupiter-125 in top list, and ignore the current EV offerings.