The big brother of automatic scooters is making its utility value evident many times over

Price Rs 46,300 (on-road Mumbai)
Test economy 42.45kpl
Expenses Rs 217
Faults Front suspension

Think about it, a scooter that has a bigger displacement motor than most motorcycles sold here and one that comes with an automatic shift. Sounds perfect as an urban runabout, doesn’t it?
Having to travel through Mumbai’s busy suburbs, the Nova's automatic nature saves the trouble of getting through umpteen low-speed gear changes. The point-and-scoot Kinetic manages well even while negotiating the narrowest of spaces. And for those traffic light sprints, its extra pep seldom lets you down. The button-started 135cc engine with its 8.5bhp peak power feels pretty punchy and a better sprinter than the crop of lower capacity variomatic scooters in India.
The switchgear and control levers have proven to be good quality bits and continue to work with nary a problem. The headlight, flush-fitted indicators and all other warning lamps have also been working faultlessly, including the under seat storage compartment LEDs, which light up the area each time the seat is lifted.
Talking of which, one big plus point on the Nova is its ‘boot’ space if we may call it that, which takes in a full size AGV helmet without any fuss—and this is one large helmet. In real world terms that translates into a lot of room to slot in those medium-sized travel bags, office files or household groceries.
The wide and well-padded seat is comfortable. The riding position is not too great and makes riders bend a little forward to reach the handlebars. Tall riders might find the handlebars rotating too close to their knees on slow speed sharp turns. And there’s always a conscious effort to avoid stretches of bad road, simply because this Kinetic feels a tad too nervous when dealing with potholes and ditches. The other downside to the generally well-behaved scooter is an uncomfortable attitude towards pillion riders.

The problem is with the foot pegs that are positioned too far forward. And due to this cumbersome positioning, the pillion's feet fouls with the rider’s legs each time the bike stops and rider needs to plant his/her feet to balance the bike. Nevertheless, this is a sore point common to most Indian scooters and not just the Nova 135. With its powerful motor, good storage space and automatic convenience as salient highlights, the Nova 135 is going strong this far into its tenure with us. We can safely say it offers us more than enough reason to look forward to clocking many more miles astride it.
Girish Karkera