Electric scooters are gaining popularity in India, no doubt. Global manufacturers are trying to take a bite out of the Indian market and the latest to do so is Italian scooter maker VLF, or known as Velocifero. Sold in India by KAW under the Motohaus brand, the VLF Tennis is now on sale for Rs 1.30 lakh, making it a lucrative alternative to several electric scooters on sale.
However, if you’re in the market looking for a stylish electric scooter to go with your lifestyle, should you consider the Tennis? Here’s our first ride review and impression of the VLF Tennis electric scooter.
The VLF Tennis is a good-looking scooter. It gets classic Italian lines in a compact package, with a swooping rear section and step-up seat. The scooter’s twin-DRL setup with dual headlights adds to the overall design of the Tennis, giving it a clean look. The fit and finish on the scooter seem consistent and the ergonomics are a reflection of the overall design — compact.
The scooter gets telescopic front forks, a cantilever rear suspension, neatly hidden below the floorboard, disc brakes at both ends, an LCD instrument console, and three riding modes. The Switchgear is not cluttered like most electric scooters in the market currently, giving it a clean look and keeping it functional. The instrument cluster is also clean, but a bit difficult to read on a bright day.
Once you swing your leg over, the scooter feels compact and the handlebar is closer to the rider than it looks, and set slightly high. The suspension is set stiff and the scooter feels sporty. Once you twist the throttle, however, there is a bit of disappointment. While the initial punch is exciting, the top speed is not. Limited to 65kmph, the Tennis is a strict commuter with style.
There are three ride modes — Eco, Comfort, and Sport. In Eco, the scooter is restricted to around 33kmph, while in Comfort, it has a top speed of 55kmph. The next big letdown is the battery pack — it takes up the boot space leaving you with a tiny storage space. However, what it lacks is made up by the way it handles and its weight — 88kg. The 12-inch wheels give the Tennis good manners and flickability.
Our ride was short — 20 minutes around a club. What we take away from this short ride is the fact that the VLF Tennis is a great scooter for youngsters looking for something stylish for daily commutes as there is no grocery to carry in the boot. The battery is removable, so it can be charged at home. But this raises an important question — is it worth Rs 1.30 lakh for just being a strict commuter with no practicality?
While VLF claims a range of 130km and extensive testing for around eight months in India, it is a product designed for the global market. We will be riding the scooter soon for a more extensive test and will you more updates on how it is to live with. Until then, based on our first ride, we highly recommend taking a test ride before deciding.
