While India is certainly the world’s largest two-wheeler market, the scooter offerings here have mostly been conventional for the longest time. However, that has been seeing a gradual change since maxi-scooters too have now made their way here. One of the latest models to do so is the Keeway Vieste 300. It’s a Hungarian brand, now owned by Qianjiang (Benelli’s parent company) which has recently stepped foot in India. We tested the Vieste 300 for a few days and here’s what you should know before buying it.
The Keeway Vieste 300 is a proper maxi-scooter. It dons muscular bodywork and gets a spine in between that integrates the fuel tank near your feet. The fascia and the side panels give it a very sporty and enticing look.
Even the build quality is up to the mark and we didn’t detect any uneven panel gaps, low-quality welds, or squeaky noises elsewhere. That said, the fuel tank and boot opening buttons could use more tactility as we had to press very hard to open those.
On the feature front, the Keeway Vieste 300 offers a handful of goodies. Along with LED illumination, you get a semi-digital analogue cluster which displays ample data and keyless operation as well. You’ll have to use the centrally mounted dial to lock/unlock, turn on the ignition and access the boot and fuel tank of the scooter.
It’s powered by a 278.2cc, liquid-cooled motor that belts out 18.4bhp and 22Nm. The mirror and the handlebar shake while idling but everything settles once the scooter gets going. The Vieste 300 is fairly quick off-the-line and is in its element from 30-70kmph.
Even on the highways, the Vieste 300’s performance is impressive. It approaches and stays at triple-digit speeds with ease and overtakes at high speeds in a similar manner.
At 147kg of kerb weight, the Vieste 300 feels easy to flick around and handles promptly. Filtering through the traffic is a bit cumbersome because of its long wheelbase. However, the scooter is stable at high speeds.
The front brake lever feel was bare minimum and the bite had faded on the scooter we tested. Meanwhile, the rear disc brake offered enough bite. The Vieste 300 gets a USD front fork and dual rear springs. The latter is quite stiff and sends jolts to your back when the scooter goes over potholes, speed-breakers or rumblers.
But what about its overall usability, riding comfort, fuel economy, grip and value for money? Should you buy it or not? Read our detailed road test review of the Keeway Vieste 300 to get your answer.
