Autoportal India

Adishwar Auto Ride, the company that brought Benelli back to India, seems quite bullish about bringing international brands here. Apart from Zontes and Moto Morini, which will be introduced soon, the brand recently introduced Keeway Motors in the country. Now Keeway is a Chinese-owned Hungarian company with presence in a few other markets. And it is offering three products here.

One of which is this- the Sixties 300i. Quite an interesting-looking thing, isn’t it? We have been riding this for a couple of days in a quest to answer two simple questions- what is it, and why should you buy it?

Styling & Quality
Keeway Sixties 300i Right Side View
Apart from the Vespas, which are the symbol of vintage style, there aren’t many scooters that are retro-inspired. True to its name, the Sixties 300i is inspired by old-school scooters. Its design, a combination of the iconic Lambretta and Vespas of yore, is highlighted by its low and stretched-out body. All of the lines are smoothened out and the edges slightly rounded, besides the headlamp cowl that derives inspiration from the Vespa GTS. Even the split seats have been designed in a way to exude retro appeal and are completed with a petite tail rack. What I personally liked are the tail lamps. Set vertically and illuminated with LED lighting, the tail lamps add character to the rear end of the Sixties 300i. However, the only eyesore to an otherwise tasteful design is the large moustache-like grille at the front that houses the circular turn indicators.

Keeway Sixties 300i Left Side View
Now, what you see here is the Matte Grey colour option that adds a bit of modernity to the styling. You can also get the Sixties in white with maroon seats and a blue option with brown seats. That colour features chrome elements and even white wall tyres and is the most retro of the lot. With news of Lambretta launching new scooters long gone and Vespa not looking to launch its 300cc range in India anytime soon, the Sixties 300i is the only retro-style, big scooter you can buy in the country for a while. And for someone looking to stand out in a crowd, look no further than the nearest Keeway showroom.

Keeway Sixties 300i Rear View Mirror
Well, the Sixties 300 is impressive to look at not only on the skin of it but at a closer glance as well. The quality of plastics and components looks premium and feels nice, while the finish and fitment are top-notch. I even liked the attention to detail with the ‘Victoria’ logos on the instrument cluster, headlamp and front fender, while the marble-like floorboard pattern is a nice touch. The only grouse in an otherwise well-put together-package would be the switchgear that felt slightly rigid to operate.

Ergonomics & Comfort
Keeway Sixties 300i action
As a scooter buyer, comfort and practicality are what you’d look for. While we will get to the latter in a bit, the seating triangle the Sixties 300i offers is spot on. It is upright with a wide handlebar and a natural foot position that does not require you to twist and turn in unusual ways. You also have enough legroom and space to move around or keep a bag of two. Then there is the seat. It offers ample cushioning and a large surface area to keep larger riders happy too. And it remains comfortable even after long hours of being stuck in traffic. Speaking of which, it could be a tad too wide for someone less than 5’7, so having both your feet on the ground could be a task. Nonetheless, the pillion seat is wide and accommodating, too, although a pair of sturdier footpegs would have added to the comfort levels.

Keeway Sixties 300i Front Wheel
Along with the seating ergonomics, the Sixties 300i offers decent ride quality. Using telescopic forks up front and a dual spring setup at the rear, the ride is manageable for the most part. While the rear can absorb the bumps and ruts in the road well, the front feels stiff on most patches and bridge joints but is nothing unnerveing.

Performance & Handling
Keeway Sixties 300i action
But the most impressive aspect of the Keeway Sixties 300i is the performance it offers. And before I get into how it feels, let me read the spec sheet for you. So, the scooter is powered by a 278cc, single-cylinder engine that is fuel-injected and liquid-cooled and is capable of churning out 18.7bhp and 22Nm.