New Honda Activa: First Ride

Motorcycle & Scooter India's latest offering, the new Activa carries forward the legacy of its forerunner but this time in a more appealing package and with more grunt. Honda has been at the top of the scooter segment since it entered the market with its Activa and Dio in 2001 wherein the Activa was an instant hit amongst Indian masses. Eight years after its debut, Honda finally decided to give their top selling model, the Activa, some "botox treatment".

Styling & Ergonomics:

This new scooter from the big H gets more style-conscious and fashionable than its rather bland looking predecessor. What it carries forward from the older Activa is the sturdy metal bodywork instead of using lightweight plastic panels. The front look of the new Activa reminds one of the Honda Aviator and the European design cues that the new scooter adorns go extremely well with the new Activa's upmarket feel. The riding posture is more comfortable and relaxed. The large flat footboard and improved cushy seat of the new Activa can comfortably take onboard riders with tall frame. The reach to the bars is undemanding and it does not put any stress on the rider's arms, even while riding over pothole-ridden roads. The new aluminium grab-rail is not only stylish but also practical and provides easy grip for the pillion to hold onto.

Space:

Honda has given special attention in order to enrich the city commuting experience and the new Activa comes with additional features like increased 18 litre under-seat storage space and an option to have an inner box placed below the handlebars for extra storage. So be it your monthly grocery shopping trip to the market or carrying your young one's school project, this Honda has enough space to carry it all and some more. The new Activa comes integrated with an anti-theft key shutter, now common on most of the small capacity scooters sold internationally - this safety feature was first introduced on the Kinetic Flyte followed then by the Suzuki Access.

Engine:

The 102cc four stroke motor of the old Activa gets marginally upgraded to 109cc and it now makes 8PS of power and 8.82 Nm of torque. Even with additional power, the new engine still returns better fuel efficiency and feels absolutely unstrained. The Activa was always admired and widely loved for its neutral handling and comfortable riding position. The new model retains the same characteristics, albeit, with a plushier ride feel and the more classy clocks upfront, it's adept to make you smile the moment you get astride it. To ensure that the smile stays longer with the rider, Honda has packed in some more goodies to spoil the end user.

Verdict:

The most impressive feature is Honda's all-new Combined Braking System, which is available only on the Activa Deluxe variant. The new braking technology developed by Honda, helps in reducing the stopping distance without compromising on stability under hard braking. It surely takes this already well-engineered scooter one notch higher than its rivals. Apart from that the rear tyre on all variants is equipped with a Tuff Up tube which significantly reduces the chances of punctures. Available in stylish new six paint schemes, pricing for the new Activa starts from Rs. 41,297 ex-showroom, Pune making it a great value-for-money buy.