I have tried to put all which I went through from quite some time, but entire review is sincere enough with only my feeling and not to offend any body or any brand. This review does not qualify some body to buy this bike straight away as it purely depends on their own feeling and their limitations. I hope you like this though it was made bit longer one !! but helps others while their decisions.
I am not mentioning any specifications of bike as which are known to everybody already.
Background of a thought
There was a thinking quite some long time to shift to scooter for family needs and I was not quite happy with my present bike Suzuki slingshot with various issues.
A Big Search began
Started checking number of gearless scooters and driven most of them. I think I almost finished driving the following scooters
Honda Activa – Impressive, but lacks in suspension on bad roads
TVS Wego – Very impressive, bit OK on bad roads, but doubts for long term
usage
Suzuki Access – Powerful, but complaints on service, mileage
Mahindra duro – Good one, lacks in suspension on bad roads, long term
usage durability
Honda Aviator – Good in everything and was in final contender list
Honda Dio – Did not feel good in any department and body material and
rattling was too bad
TVS scooty – Impressive, but too small for me
Suzuki Swish – Makeover of Suzuki Access
While this search of scooters was on some of my friends and relatives told me to check bikes only due the bad roads I use the vehicle and also mileage and my height point of view. Then I started searching the bikes
Most of the people told me to go for 150cc+ segment for good comfort which was my prime criteria for search, but somehow I rejected this due to the weight of the vehicles which I personally do not like and my usage was below 10km daily, so in slow speeds you will feel the weight of the 150cc vehicle easily and spending such huge amount for a very little usage so started searching the 100/110/125cc segment. Check the following bikes
HH splendour Pro – Good reliable one, but did not like hero badge, used
it for 11 years already, looks small, rear tyre is tiny
HH Passion Pro – Reliable again, Cons were hero badge, regular look not
very appealing, body is built with some extra fat items.
HH Glamour – Did not like its body built and its shape. Some bad reports
from few people
Most of the hero bikes are copy cats of Honda
Bajaj Platina – Very lean and not very appealing
Bajaj Discover 125 – Not very impressive , built quality bad
Bajaj Discover 100 5G – Good in mileage, good pick up, built quality,
gear sound, chain sound were bad
Bajaj Discover 125 ST – Impressive in pick and driving comfort, Cons
built looks bit heavy and pricing was high, waiting was there
Bajaj Discover 100 4G – Very impressive in every department, except
built quality, but came in to final contender list
Yamaha – Only had two bikes which I can look at SS125, SZ-R both
were priced bit high and I had some bad experience of Yamaha service
guys which some other vehicle of my friend, hence ruled out
Honda Shine – Everything was perfect. Cons were missing 5th gear
which is reported by most of the people and even I felt when I drove it.
Too many on the road these days and felt like it has become a common
commuter bike. More power, which I do not require and more price too!!
was in my final contender list
Honda Twister – Everything was good, but lot of fibre is used to make it
as sports looks and tyre size was thin
Honda Dream Yuga – Everything was just perfect. Stepped in to final
contender list
Suzuki Hayate – Did not look at it with my Suzuki Service experience.
Showroom Experiences
Hero Honda : Was good in hospitality, but nothing much they could
explain about the vehicles
Bajaj – Very good hospitality, ready give any vehicle TD in seconds and
very knowledge technically and ready to impressive customers with
discounts
Honda – Really now body cares you at all, very bad hospitality. Too
much of crowd. They just ask you which one you want and start
preparing a quote. Most of the showrooms talk bit negatively saying
about waiting periods first which kills customer enthusiasm. Pushing
accessories as compulsory.
Final Contenders
Honda Shine – There is nothing bad about his, except price and 5th
gear missing.
Honda Aviator – Was good in everything, but could not finalise as it was
a scooter which was rejected by most of family members.
Bajaj Discover 4G – Was good in everything and price was really good
on road Rs.51000/-. But was rejected due to rough finish, long term
durability.
Honda Dream Yuga – Everything is really impressive and there is nothing
I could point out except pricing looked bit high, but helpless due to
Honda demand in the market.
Test Drive of Dream Yuga
Nice start up with electric start, good pick up as needed, good seating position, very good suspension in bad roads, easy changing gears.
Good grip on the road due to tubeless tyres specially MRF one.
For the first time felt like I have full control of the bike while turnings, driving, breaking!!
Cons: Handle bar looked bit small where I have to lean a bit, but because of that I was able to turn the bike very easily.
Disc brakes were not there, hence people may does not like this but, for the speeds we go it was not at all an issue and specially I do not like disc brakes which gives sudden impact on the body.
Honda Dealer experience while booking and buying process:
Bit careless approach, but I have to live with it which is very common on any Honda showroom due to the huge demand of their vehicles.
Had a small fight when they said that accessories are compulsory and complained to Honda South Regional Head and within minutes he spoke to the dealer and issue was resolved.
Sales guy allowed me to select the bike from the available lot where I was keen for MRF tyres, so finally I could get one and registered the chassis number in the invoice while booking. Paid total amount while booking and told them that I will take the delivery next day i.e., 01/8/2012.
Finally on 01/8/2012 visited the showroom, by the time I could reach they are ready with all the papers to be signed by me and later on after wait for 30 minutes they got the TR and handed over the bike to me as promised. I did the visual check of everything including the engine oil levels and took the delivery. Final on road price in Hyderabad with number plates, engine guard, leg guard was Rs.58059/-.
After taking the delivery I drove back to office and home and the initial experience
Very good easy driving bike like a M800 car.
Easy gear shifting
Very comfortable seating and suspension
Seat height is good and longer seat which fits 3 people easily
Engine is well refined and was very smooth with good pick up
Gears were very soft and placed in a good position. Doing zig-zag driving was very easy in thick traffic conditions. Mileage it is too early to comment anything. Overall very good bike and first time I felt that a bike you feel well in command under your hands whatever direction you will take it.
Conclusion
A good commuter bike with good specifications, good driving pleasure within the city and VFM I feel!! And suggest this to others who look for mileage, reliability, good responsive bike. I present some pictures you might have already seen them else where already.
Thank you for your precious time and hope your enjoyed it !!