TVS SCOOTY ZEST

When building the Scooty Zest, it seems the brief that was given to both the design and engineering team was to make a bike that would make teenagers very happy. Even if this wasn’t the case, the Zest is capable of just that. It is essentially a flashy, fun, youngster’s bike. Looks wise, it was choice number two for me, largely due to those over-elaborate tail-lamps and the excessive sticker-work adorning its body. As for performance, TVS have extracted a 7.9s 0-60 km/h speed from the 109.7-cc engine. The powerplant also makes 8.0 PS and 8.8 Nm, giving it a runner’s-up top speed of 90.4 km/h and, astoundingly, the Zest is still the most frugal with 55 km/l. The engine is peppy and ridiculously fast for an 110-cc scooter, which is perfect for the college-goer on the move. The Zest is the best handler of the lot, too, and is the lightest and most flick-able, storming into corners (and out of them) with consummate ease. The ride quality is spot-on, supple enough to glide over cracks and bumps, but not to such a degree that the handling is compromised. The brakes do their job well too, with a 3.11s stopping time from 60-0 km/h giving you enough sharpness and bite to push the bike to its limits. While the Zest is excellent all round, it is also the most expensive of the lot with an OTR Pune price of Rs 58,539. Overall, I cannot look past the TVS Scooty Zest, which would be my pick of the bunch, regardless of the price premium. Despite the fact that TVS had planned the Zest as a women’s scooter, its positive handling and performance characteristics have transformed it into the ultimate 110-cc scooter, regardless of gender.