TVS Jupiter

The TVS Jupiter is among the highest selling scooters in the Indian market, and one of the biggest rivals for the Honda Activa. A refined motor, comfortable ride quality and commendable fuel economy were some of the traits of the Jupiter, and TVS has improved the product further in its latest iteration. The 110cc scooter from the Hosur-based two-wheeler brand received a major mechanical upgrade, along with a few cosmetic changes, during the BS6 transition. Here’s what we think about the Jupiter BS6.

The styling cues are near identical to the BS4 model. The only difference is visible at the front where the TVS Jupiter now uses a LED headlight instead of a conventional, halogen bulb. The taillight, too, is an LED unit. Similar to the styling, the alloy wheels, metal body, saddle and pillion grabrail are identical to the BS4 model.

The no-nonsense design, along with the addition of an LED headlight, will appeal to the potential buyers who are looking for a family scooter. The subtle styling works in its favour while the wide color palette gives more choices to the buyers.

The standard variant of the scooter is available in eight colour options – Matte Blue, Mystic Gold, Titanium Grey, Matte Silver, Midnight Black, Volcano Red, Pristine White and Walnut Brown. The ZX and Classic editions come with more paint options and beige colour for the footboard region.

The cockpit gets a mild revision with the addition of a malfunction light that aims to inform the rider about any failure on the scooter. Another change is the keyhole on the scooter that seems like a bit of a downgrade over the BS4 model. The setup skips the metal cover that provided additional protection to the scooter against theft. The BS6 model, instead, uses a simpler layout. Moreover, TVS opted to skip a multifunction keyhole design – a feature that is available on the Honda Activa 6G. Instead, the keyhole to access the under-seat storage and the external fuel filler cap is located on the side of the vehicle.

The rear of the apron includes a cubby hole that can be used to keep a bottle of water, or sunglasses or even a phone while it’s plugged to the USB charger. The cubby hole lacks a cover, and thus it does not offer any protection against rain. TVS offered a USB charger in the under-seat compartment on the BS4 version of the scooter, although that space is now occupied by an On-board Diagnostic port on the BS6 model.

The under-seat storage is considerably larger than before. The BS6-compliant Jupiter boasts of storage space of 21-litres. During the ride, it easily stored a small backpack. TVS has also added to the fuel storage capacity, and the Jupiter BS6 now packs a six-litre tank.

The overall build quality feels sturdy, and there are no rattling noises from any of the panels, even at highway speeds. The switches work perfectly, and so does the seat opening and closing mechanism. There were, however, a couple of issues with the scooter that we tested. The front keyhole, for example, didn’t work as smoothly when inserting or removing the key. Also, the movement of the speedometer needle operation wasn’t smooth, and it was constantly quivering in the lower speed zones. But these are most likely rare incidents.

The BS6 upgrade brought the Ecothrust Fuel injection (ET-Fi) technology to the 110cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine. The updated motor produces 7.4bhp of power and 8.4Nm of torque as against 7.8bhp and 8Nm on the BS4 model.

The fuel injection system makes the early morning starts nice and breezy. The scooter feels peppy off the line, and the acceleration is nice and linear from 20kmph to 60kmph. Twist the throttle further and the Jupiter can easily keep up with the highway traffic, albeit with some noticeable strain on the engine above the 70kph zone. We found that 40-50kmph is the ideal zone to cruise.

The refinement levels are commendable, with no noticeable vibrations under 50kmph. Even after 50kmph, the vibrations are mostly limited to the footboard, and they only become considerably noticeable post 65-70kmph speeds.

The scooter comes with a drum brake setup only. The hardware is at par with its rivals and it does a decent job at shedding speed. The CBS tech, or Sync Braking System as TVS likes to call it, further ensures safety by distributing the braking force on both wheels. While the anchoring setup is sufficient for the overall package, an option of a front disc brake would’ve enhanced the ride experience.

The ride quality is comfortable without being too soft. The suspension setup, which comprises of telescopic forks at the front and a preload-adjustable spring at the back, works perfectly on city roads, and the Jupiter glides over most undulations and small potholes efficiently and forgivingly. Long-distance comfort is solid, and it was only during the last leg of our 200kms ride that we started feeling a sore rear.

We did clock some of those miles on city roads, and the Jupiter easily made its way through slow moving and bumper-to-bumper traffic. The short turning radius makes the filtering process even simpler.

The rider’s triangle is upright, and there’s sufficient space on the footboard to comfortably rest the feet. At 5’10'', I had enough legroom to sit comfortably without hitting my knees into the keyhole or the cubby hole.

The TVS Jupiter has always been one of the appealing choices in the segment, and the BS6 version further improves the overall package. The build quality, with the exception of isolated incidents that were evident on the media vehicle, is commendable while the updated engine complements the overall package. The larger fuel tank and the 21-litre under seat storage make it more practical than ever.

On the downside, we were not completely content with the headlight performance. While the light illuminates the path sufficiently, it lacks the range which can be an issue when riding at faster than usual speeds. Also, an optional front disc brake would’ve improved the overall ride experience.

Still, the Jupiter BS6 makes a strong case for itself. It’s a perfect choice for those who are looking for an alternative to the Honda Activa 6G. It’s comfortable, smooth and easy to ride. The pricing is attractive too, and the base variant of the Jupiter BS6 is available at Rs 63,102. In comparison, the prices for Honda Activa 6G start from Rs 65,419.

Prices mentioned above are ex-showroom Delhi

Photography by Kapil Angane and Kaustubh Gandhi