Top 5 Best Scooters For Beginners

These 100-110cc scooters are perfect if you have just learnt to ride and want an easy-to-ride, affordable scooter with a decent mileage

Scooters are so much fun to ride around everywhere. They are relatively cheap and easy to ride, which makes them perfect for beginners. But, if you’re new to riding two-wheelers, these are the top 5 best scooters you can buy in India, not only because they’re affordable but also because they’re easy to live with as well. 

Honda Dio: Rs 70,211 - Rs 77,712

Honda Dio Engine: 109.51cc air-cooled single-cylinder

Honda Dio Power/Torque: 7.85PS / 9.03Nm 

Honda Dio Mileage: Highway: 59.5kmpl, City: 55kmpl (tested)

Honda Dio Kerb Weight: 103kg

The Honda Dio is a sporty-looking scooter and quite a good-looking one at that. It’s also quite feature-packed. The Dio has a digital instrument cluster that shows distance-to-empty, realtime and average mileage, amongst other standard indications. The standout feature of the Honda Dio is its H-smart key, which essentially allows it to have a keyless ignition. Other features of the Honda Dio include decent storage under the seat and on the front apron, a pass-light switch, LED DRL and headlight, and side-stand engine cutoff. 

It has an ACG (alternating current generator) starter which makes the scooter start silently. In terms of underpinnings, the Dio has a telescopic suspension and a monoshock. It has a 12-inch front wheel and a 10-inch rear wheel, with tubeless tyres and drum brakes on both ends. With a 103kg kerb weight, the Honda Dio is light to handle in traffic and tight parking spaces, making it easy for new riders. Its 765mm seat height is also easy to get on and off.

Hero Xoom 110: Rs 71,484 - Rs 80,967

Hero Xoom 110 Engine: 110.9cc air-cooled single-cylinder

Hero Xoom 110 Power/Torque: 8.15PS / 8.70Nm

Hero Xoom 110 Mileage: Highway: 50.65kmpl, City: 63.86kmpl (tested)

Hero Xoom 100 Kerb Weight: 109kg

The Hero Xoom 110 has a sharp and edgy design which makes it look sporty. It has an H-shaped DRL and tail-light, and a projector LED headlight, with segment-first cornering lights. The Xoom 110 is quite a peppy scooter, and in our test, it outperformed some 125cc scooters. But at the same time, it offers a great mileage too. It has 12-inch wheels on both ends, and a 100-section rear tyre which offers it great stability. It has a 190mm disc/130mm drum brake on the front and a 130mm drum brake on the rear. The brakes are quite good too. It’s 770mm seat height makes it easy for shorter riders to hop on and off without much effort.

The Xoom 110 has an LCD instrument cluster with Bluetooth connectivity and call and SMS alerts. However it misses out on turn-by-turn navigation. It has a USB charging port on the front apron, but the port is positioned slightly oddly. The Xoom 110 isn’t as feature-packed as its rivals, but it's quite fun to ride.

TVS Jupiter 110: Rs 73,340 - Rs 89,748

TVS Jupiter 110 Engine: 109.7cc air-cooled single-cylinder

TVS Jupiter 110 Power/Torque: 7.88PS / 8.8Nm

TVS Jupiter 110 Mileage: Highway: 64kmpl, City: 52kmpl (tested)

TVS Jupiter 110 Kerb Weight: 109kg

The TVS Jupiter 110 is one of the best selling scooters from the Hosur-based brand. It is a practical scooter, has a comfortable ride, and looks good too. The Jupiter’s highlight feature is 12-inch wheels on both ends, which allow it to easily tackle bumps on the road. It has a telescopic fork and 3-step preload adjustable monoshock. Braking duties are handled by a 220mm disc/130mm drum brake on the front and a 130mm drum brake at the rear, with a combined brake system. The Jupiter has a well-cushioned seat that keeps you comfortable during your city commutes. The top variants also have a backrest for the pillion. It too has a silent starter. 

LED headlight is standard on all variants of the Jupiter. While the base variant has a fully analogue instrument cluster, the higher variants get an analogue cluster with a digital inset that shows time, fuel level, and trip meters.The SmartXonnect-equipped variants get smartphone connectivity with call and SMS alerts, voice assist, and turn-by-turn navigation. There’s a USB port on the front apron and an optional underseat USB charging port. The Jupiter also has a large 6-litre fuel tank.

TVS Zest 110: Rs 74,456 - Rs 75,818

TVS Scooty Zest Engine: 109.7cc air-cooled single-cylinder

TVS Scooty Zest Power/Torque: 7.81PS / 8.8Nm

TVS Scooty Zest Mileage: 62kmph (tested, overall)

TVS Scooty Zest Kerb Weight: 103kg

The TVS Scooty Zest is a compact scooter with decent styling. The Scooty Zest doesn’t get very modern features such as an LED headlight or indicators, but makes do with regular halogen lighting, which works well enough. It has a 19-litre underseat storage and a glovebox on the front apron. This Scooty is quite nimble with its light kerb weight, which also helps it have good mileage. It has a telescopic fork and a monoshock, with 10-inch wheels. The front wheel has a 110mm drum, and the rear has a 130mm drum. The 760mm seat height makes it easy for shorter riders. 

The Scooty Zest remains light on features, but is practical. However, taller riders might feel a bit cramped since the leg room is rather small.

Honda Activa: Rs 76,234 - Rs 82,234

Honda Activa Engine: 109.51cc air-cooled single-cylinder

Honda Activa Power/Torque: 7.84PS / 8.90Nm

Honda Activa Mileage: Highway: 55.93kmpl, City: 59.9kmpl (tested)

Honda Activa Kerb Weight: 106kg

Affordable and good looking, the Honda Activa is the best-selling scooter in India. It has a metal body which makes minor repairs easy. It too now gets an external fuel-filler cap. The Activa has a refined engine that you can expect on any Honda. On top of that, the fuel economy is quite good too. It has a telescopic fork and monoshock, with 12-inch wheels. Also, it only gets drum brakes on both wheels, with CBS. The Activa has a comfortable seat for both rider and pillion. 

Like the Dio, this too has a silent starter and keyless ignition. However, the Activa gets only a fully analogue instrument cluster and no smartphone connectivity. The Honda Activa offers a rather utilitarian riding experience, and can get the job of commuting done without any fuss. It’s a durable and a versatile scooter that will do almost everything you ask it to.

(All prices ex-showroom, Delhi)