TVS Scooty Pep+
Maxabout Review
Scooty Pep+
Friday, November 02, 2007
TVS Scooty has always been a good looker. The Pep+ retains the familiar face with its friendly expression but gets a tangy new set of graphics. The grab-rail also now match its body colour. Dual-tone shades spruce up the scooter with a racy chequered look on the front apron and rear panels. Grips, levers, switchgear and mirrors are top-notch.The only drawback is absence of a rear brake-locking clamp. In a smart move, the key slot itself is flourescent, so as to allow grope-free access in the dark. There's also a new cellphone-charging point.
Pep+ lights up its lockable underseat storage bay and offers yet another smart feature that would do well on any such scooterette, a spring at the mounting pivot prevents the seat from accidentally closing at a fuel station and crushing unsuspecting fingers. It retains its quality feel in offering alloy rims, both front and rear. The refreshed force air-cooled Plus motor feels just as buzz-free and convenient in its automatic ways as before, but there is a difference with healthy dozes of supplementary performance begging to be used.
The Plus not only feels meaty where it matters most in its low- and midrange punch, but does manage a relatively respectable top speed of 71kph delivered with refinement. Sitting on the Scooty is comfortable for all except the tallest and the heaviest, who will surely feel cramped. The Scooty was always bold offering twin telescopic forks as front suspension. While the rest of the industry sticks with diminutive and far less effective front dampers, the Pep Plus carries forward this handling-enhancing theme. At the rear, there is a single shock absorber doing duty in conjunction with its hinged engine.
The alloy rim-shod Pep Plus is set just right for a ride quality that doesn't wallow overtly, nor feels too firm. It's a well-damped scooterette that offers as much stability as can be expected from any two-wheeler on 10-inch wheels. It steers accurately, turn-in to corners is feather-like and cornering manners satisfactory. The 110mm drum brakes are adequate kit for this vehicle, and offer fine feedback through their individual levers.