In the same price range, there are couple of different types of scooters, distinguished only by the cubic capacity of their engines and nothing else. In one camp, we have the 110 cc scooters, of which the Hero Maestro is one and the TVS Wego is the other, while in the more powerful camp, we have the Suzuki Swish and Mahindra Duro. So, we’ll just clear up this bit of confusion for you as we find out whether that extra displacement matters all that much.
You’ve read our scooter comparisons before, but this one is a little different, we’re not comparing individual scooters but rather, two groups of them. so sit tight and enjoy the ride as we walk you through the advantages and disadvantages of each category.
Space
Scooters are known to be very practical runabouts, so how does that change with engine size? Well, it all comes down to packaging of the innards. The 110cc scooters have a little difficulty accommodating a full-face helmet in their under seat storage compartment while the larger engined ones can squeeze them in. It doesn’t boil down to just these factors, however. Things like fuel tank capacity, seat height and ground clearance also make a big difference, so we’re not judging just yet.
In this range, the scooters are more or less of the same size, so you don’t have to worry about fitting on the scooters, as such. The only one we had a problem with is the Mahindra Duro, which has somewhat of an awkward seating position, so it was hard to get comfortable atop that one. The others, however, felt nice and planted underneath us and we didn’t notice too much of a difference. The smaller-engined scooters did feel a little lighter though, so that was an added advantage for them.
Performance
Here’s where the real differences show up. The 125 cc scooters, despite their slight weight penalty, are quicker off the line to take off and keep on going to a higher top speed as well. Now, that top speed may only be higher by a few km, but it matters nonetheless.
A point to note is that while the Suzuki engine is smooth and without niggle, the Duro pulls strong but is a little noisy at full-throttle. Dare we say it, it even sounds a little stressed. Something the 110cc scooters don’t do at full-throttle.
Where they really come into their own is when there’s two people on-board the scooter. The 125s don’t miss a beat while the 110s are left feeling a little sluggish and unwilling to move.
That said, in normal day-to-day usage, there really won’t be too much of a difference between the two classes, unless, of course, you end up having to take a passenger every day.
This performance category, as expected, is firmly in the hands of the 125cc camp and that’s how it’s meant to be.
Mileage
The only place where this extra displacement is a disadvantage is at the fuel pumps. Yep, it was bound to come up sometime or the other. The eternal question of how many kilometres they will go on one litre of fuel. Well, extra displacement means more capacity, which, in turn, means that you’ll need more air and fuel to fill the combustion chamber.
In the real world, though, these differences are brought down thanks to a few factors.
Engine load, fuel quality, riding style and a few others factors make a huge difference in the mileage, so while the 110s are inherently ahead, you can technically get the larger 125s to return a better efficiency figure with a little effort.
In our bunch if scooters, we got mileage ranging from 45 kmpl for the Duro ask the way to 55 kmpl on the Maestro, so anything in that range is fair game. Definite advantage for the 110 cc lot though.
Cost of entry
This is not much of a decider because all these scooters are priced pretty much the same, save for a couple of thousand here and there.
In fact, in some cases, such as the Activa, the 110 costs more than a 125, so this one goes to the 125 cc lot, simply for the value for money they offer.
Verdict
It all boils down to one thing, then, and that is, how many people will be on the scooter for the majority of the time?
If your answer is just one, then you can simply opt for the 110 cc as you will find no discernible advantage in the bigger engine scooters.
If, however, you do plan on going two up for a majority if the time, then you’ll enjoy the 125s a lot more.
But whatever be your choice, remember to wear the helmet always.
