Keeway India has launched two of its products that were unveiled not too long ago, with prices starting from Rs 2.99 lakh (ex-showroom). The Hungarian-Chinese manufacturer has brought in the Vieste 300 and the Sixties 300i as CKDs, and will be assembled at its plant in Hyderabad. The Vieste and Sixties 300i are among the eight products Keeway has planned to launch by the end of 2022.
Based on appearances, the Vieste and Sixties 300i are like chalk and cheese — the Vieste 300 is as modern as a present-day maxi-scooter gets, sporting an aggressive front apron with twin headlamps and flush-fitting indicators, similar to most maxi-scooters we have seen. On the other hand, the Sixties 300i sports a typical retro-scooter silhouette that we are so used to seeing on certain Italian scooters, and highlights such as the faux grille and split-seat setup will bring back pleasant memories of childhood. There are modern touches here though, such as the semi-digital instrument cluster, vertical tail-lamps, and the absence of a kick-start lever. Overall, both scooters look impressive.
Under the skin, things remain identical between the two scooters, albeit with some small differences. Powering both the scooters is a 278cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine which produces 18.1bhp at 6500rpm and 22Nm of torque at 6000rpm. The Sixties 300i makes use of 12-inch tyres, has a seat height of 795mm, weighs 146kg, and has a 10-litre fuel tank. Meanwhile, the Vieste 300 sports 13-inch tyres, has a 770mm seat height, a 12-litre fuel tank, and weighs just 1kg more than its retro sibling. Both scooters make use of telescopic forks and twin hydraulic shocks at the front and rear respectively. In terms of the braking equipment, the scooters get a 240mm disc and a 220mm disc at the front and rear respectively.
Talking about the equipment, both scooters are also equipped similarly, with kit such as a semi-digital instrument cluster, dual-channel ABS, all-LED lighting, and a multi-function key slot among others. However, the Vieste 300 gets a keyless ignition system that the Sixties 300i misses out on.
Both scooters, especially the Sixties 300i, do not seem to have any direct rivals. The Vieste 300 is closer to the Aprilia SXR 160 and the Yamaha Aerox 155, but the Rs 2.99 lakh price tag is what drives it further apart. Stay tuned for our review on both the scooters!