In Season 3 of what has come to be annual feature on the TVS calendar, the Himalayan Highs this year saw 10 women and 2 men ride the Scooty Zest from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh to the Khardung-La pass in Ladakh, said to be the world’s highest motarable road, at 18,000 feet. It was a test of mental and physical toughness for the participants from 10 states across India, bringing out their interpersonal skills and best bike manoeuvring ability. But it also tells of the tale of the lithe Scooty, seen as a zippy urban commute, transformed into a tiny beast on the rugged high roads.
If there's one factor that has sustained the home-grown brand since the launch in 1994, it has been their consistent brand image coupled with periodical innovation. Marketed as a women’s bike, an alternative to scooters, the Scooty has undergone umpteen makeovers in its 23 years of being, including the ES, the Pep and Pep Plus and recently the Zest. Today, it features daytime running lights, an under-seat storage light, a USB charger and comes in 99 colours.
The ladies’ bike no more
In 2015, Anam Hashim did the ride alone. “During the first edition, it was a real test for the product. We were pleasantly surprised that the Zest could indeed trudge up the mighty mountains,” says Varghese M Thomas, Vice President, Corporate Communication, TVS Motor Company Ltd.
The following year, TVS threw open the challenge to the public. They got 50,000 entrants and took 10 women riders led by Hashim. This year, there were more than a lakh, but the boys left feedback saying they wanted to go too. And so, 12 women and 2 men, from diverse backgrounds, none of them riders by profession, got together to traverse the mid-ranges and the high passes. It isn’t about gender stereotypes at all, though it does feed into the idea that more and more young, urban women are exploring the country, often off-road: “We want to tell the world that anyone armed with a Zest can also conquer Khardung-La and break the stereotype that only the heavy machines can do it,” says Thomas.
Not quite the misfit in the mountains
A few of us journalists got the chance to experience the ride. Surprisingly, the Zest displayed amazing agility and powerful engine capacity. Even as we set out from Leh, the road was a gradual ascent and one could feel the power and pick up. With a fine rev and a sturdy build, the vehicle was a cruise on the incline. As the climb got steeper, we throttled it out and the speedometer touched a satisfying 40kmph. The 110 cc CVTi engine produces a maximum power of 7.91 bhp at 7500 rpm and the scooter exceeded expectations.
On the hairpin bends, one could comfortably lean in and chalk out a smooth curve with constant throttling, just like on a regular bike. The Zest’s tiny body notwithstanding, the vehicle took our weight efficiently. After about 15 km on smooth roads till South Pullu, we encountered a stretch of loose gravel and mud. The road narrowed to a dusty dirt track riddled with potholes, protruding rocks, and slippery sand.
Negotiating our way through giant trucks, each time we expected the tiny scooter to skid, it pulled off a decent show. The anti-skid tyres not just provided the necessary profile and grip, but also helped the Scooty glide over obstacles. We kept the throttle on and tugged at the efficient brakes every now and then to pass through the off-road blocks. The suspension and ergonomic design prevented a backache and the balance kept us from tumbling.Brooks of melting ice and slush made for a real test. Two minor modifications to make it terrain-friendly were added: a wire mesh had been fitted on the engine to avoid it being hit by boulders and the air-intake path had been changed to prevent entry of water while crossing streams. However, the ride downhill made one realize the bright side of gears and clutch-braking. The drum brakes, though efficient, did get heated up and it took an effort to control the speed. So, will TVS bring out an exclusive off-road machine for women? “It depends on the market demand and women bikers are still a nascent subculture in India,” says Thomas. “But our sales graph has spiked after Himalayan Highs and we have managed to tell a different tale with the same product.”
(The author took part in the ride on the invitation of TVS Motor Company Ltd)
