Keeway Sixties 300i Road Test Review: Likes And Dislikes

Retro-styled scooters have been a few. Spending Rs 3 lakh on them? It’s a first but is it warranted?

The Indian scooter market has grown very diverse lately, and is turning into a lot more than just being a humble mode of commute. Recently, Keeway has entered the market with two products – the Vieste 300i and the Sixties 300i. While the former is a proper maxi-scooter, the Sixties is a retro-themed scooter. We have tested both, and here’s what we liked and disliked about the new Keeway Sixties 300i:

Styling

The Keeway Sixties 300i looks like a proper European scooter from the ‘60s. Right from the front grille housing the indicators and the fender-mounted ornament to the long side panels and the split seat, everything is reminiscent of vintage scooters. There is a bit of Americana thrown into the mix too, especially with the Cadillac-inspired derriere. That said, the bikemaker has neatly integrated some modern elements like LED illumination all around, making sure it balances out the retroness well.

Performance

The 278.2cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine gives this scooter some respectable performance. Though the engine is not refined when idling, the overall experience is virtually vibe-free. There’s enough low to mid-range grunt to make quick overtakes in the city. It comes alive only after 25kmph and feels lively till 95kmph. You won’t be too thrilled by its performance on the highway as it can do just around 100kmph. Being a 300cc scooter, that was expected but we think it could have done with some better top-end performance to just elevate its overall riding experience.

Fuel tank capacity

The Keeway Sixties 300i’s 10-litre fuel tank is one of the biggest seen on scooters in our market and can give you a range of almost 300km on the highway. And though the fuel tank is placed under the floorboard, it didn’t scrape once during our test rides, despite the 140mm ground clearance.

Ergonomics

Fortunately, Keeway has managed to give the same comfortable, upright ergonomics that you would expect from a scooter. So, the tall handlebar, decent floorboard space and a well-cushioned seat make it a very comfortable everyday hustler. That said, the lack of back support and the sloping pillion seat is a nightmare for the pillion.

Quality

The overall build quality is not what you’d expect from a Rs 3 lakh scooter. We aren’t too fussy with the all-fibre body. It starts to displease you when you take a look at the front mudguard and the fuel cap cover which are a bit flimsy. Then there’s the position of the reflector at the rear. Since it is placed directly in the line of the exhaust, within a week of daily usage, the reflector had literally deformed and melted.

Heating 

The Keeway Sixties 300i heats a fair bit more compared to its sibling, and that’s got more to do with its design. Thanks to its big side panels, the engine is completely covered, with only ventilation being the slats near the floorboard. These are efficient to take out the hot air especially when you are at low speeds. So, the side panels tend to get hotter which can get uncomfortable for the pillion.

Suspension

The suspension of the Sixties isn’t as stiff as its maxi-scooter sibling. In fact, when riding solo, this is almost a pain-free experience since the plush seat too dampens some of the bumps. However, when riding with a pillion, the rear tends to bottom-out too easily, even when you hit minor potholes.

Features

Considering that its sibling, the Vieste 300i, comes with keyless ignition, heated grips and a more informative instrument console at the same price, the Sixties feels barebone with the only feature to brag of being the USB charger with the cubbyhole. We would have preferred a more informative console on this scooter.

There is no denying that the Keeway Sixties 300i is an expensive machine with a price tag of Rs 2.99 lakh (ex-showroom). While it does have a big displacement advantage over most scooters in our market, the riding experience is not as memorable as you’d expect it to be. The Keeway Sixties 300i doesn’t even have as many features as its sibling. So, why would one buy it? Well, if you are floored by the looks and don’t mind spending all that money for #Nostalgia, there’s no other scooter that offers the style of the 60’s with motorcycle-shaming performance.