How I bought an Aprilia SR150 automatic scooter with Bitcoin in India

Bunny Punia –  CarToq’s brand new consulting editor – just bought an Aprilia SR150 with Bitcoin in India. What does that make him? Probably the first Indian to purchase a vehicle in India using Bitcoin.

Here’s how it all panned out, in Bunny’s own words.

I write on an online platform called Steemit, where fellow users of the website read my posts and can upvote it. Each upvote gives me Steem money/Steem dollars. I converted these Steem dollars to Bitcoin through a website called Bittrex.com and then transferred the Bitcoin to Indian rupees through an app called Zebpay. I used this money to make the downpayment for an Aprilia SR150, the fastest automatic scooter sold in India currently.  While I’ve paid the rest of the money through my credit card, I plan to convert the amount into EMIs. I’ll once again use my Steemit earnings to pay the EMIs. Effectively, I’ll fund my entire Aprilia SR150 purchase through the hottest cryptocurrency currently – Bitcoin!

The Aprilia SR150 is a radical looking scooter, much favoured by younger buyers in India. It’s currently the fastest (top-speed of about 100 Kph) automatic scooter in the country, and also the most powerful, what with its 154 cc four stroke motor putting out 10.25 Bhp and 11.4 Nm. A CVT automatic transmission drives the rear wheel.

Apart from sharp styling, the scooter also gets segment-topping features such as 14 inch alloy wheels, a 240 mm front disc brake, a 140 mm rear drum brake and telescopic front forks. Suspension at the rear is handled by a monoshock. Electric start is standard. Prices of the scooter start from Rs. 68,463 ex-showroom Delhi.

In days from now, Aprilia will introduce a smaller engined version of the SR150 – called the SR125. The new, 125cc scooter will be priced about Rs. 4,000 lower than the 150cc version and is meant to drive more buyers into Aprilia showrooms across India.