Before reading this review, please be advised that I am a self-proclaimed car enthusiast and consider two wheelers as a very unsafe mode of transportation in urban India, with ever growing number of vehicles flooding our roads.
Why am I writing about a two wheeler then? And how did I even start riding on a two wheeler?My daughter turned 3 and I had to put her in play school which is just about 1km from my house.Car wasn’t a good option as I was causing congestion on the narrow roads near my locality and depleting a nonrenewable resource(diesel) just for transporting 2 people.
Tried bicycle which actually put me and my daughter in danger with mad bikers and auto walahs honking at me as I was traveling slower on the road.Tried walking, but Chennai’s weather didn’t help the cause. Blame it on the hot and humid weather, I dropped this option promptly!
Finally ended up with the idea of getting myself a gearless scooter; Not willing to plonk 60K of my hard earned money on a scooter for this limited use, I started hunting for a good scooter in the used bikes market.
Honda Activa and Scooty Pep were the standard recommendations I got from everyone. Disconsidered them instantly as there are too many on the road. Further research in automotive forums added Honda Dio(because of its smooth engine), Suzuki access(for power) and TVS Wego(for body balance technology) to the list.
Beggars can’t be chosers – With the limited budget I had, good scooters were very hard to come by. After a frustrating search in OLX, Quikr and dealers for over 1 month, I finally got a sweet deal on a Honda Dio ‘09, red & black color with just 4200Km on the odo(genuine).
The points listed below were my requirements in the scooter that I was looking for
Optimal weight(neither bulky nor too light)
Low saddle height(wifey had to drive it occasionally)
Hassle free ownership(a.k.a reliability)
Reasonable power and torque
Handling
Availability of service centers
Did my 2009 model Honda Dio meet these requirements? Let’s see.
Weight:
Dio hits the sweet spot by being neither too bulky to handle(dropped Suzuki access coz of this) nor being too light in weight(Scooty Pep). This does matter when you pull your vehicle out of parking lot, stroll along with your vehicle when it refuses to start / runs out of fuel etc. Credit goes to Dio’s fiber body which makes it lighter than its Activa / Aviator siblings. TVS Wego wasn’t as light as wanted my scooter to be.
Saddle Height:
Again, having a lower saddle height gives more confidence for the rider and comes in as a boon for ladies and shorter people. If not for the dismal looks, I would’ve gone for TVS XL super just for its low seating height and larger wheels which gives you confidence when you ride. Scooty Pep+ was also a serious contender because of its shorter height. Dio has shorter saddle height than most other scooters like Suzuki access, TVS Wego and Honda Activa while still managing a decent ground clearance.
Hassle free ownership:
Based on several reviews in multiple forums, it comes out that the Honda’s are definitely more reliable than TVS, Mahindra scoots. The only major complaints with Hondas seem to be the issues with cold start and unreliable FE of Honda Activa. Since FE was not in my priority list, I decided to take a plunge with Honda Dio(which shares the same engine with Activa). I haven’t had any cold start issues as yet with the Dio; first start in the morning should preferably be a kick start though.
Power and torque:
The major reason for disconsidering Scooty Pep+ / Scooty Streak for that matter was its puny 87cc engine. I am not a street racer but sufficient torque is needed to pull a family of three; You don’t want your vehicle to gasp for breath on steep inclines in parking lots or fly overs. TVS Wego has good power and torque ratings too.
Handling:
Have test ridden Suzuki access, Honda Activa, Honda Aviator, Scooty Pep+, Scooty Streak & TVS Wego and I can confidently say that Honda Dio is the best when it comes to handling followed by TVS Wego(body balance technology is not a mere marketing gimmick). On Suzuki access you feel as though you are sitting on a camel and the other 2 Hondas were not as nimble as the Dio during my test rides. Be it taking sharp turns or U turns or the infamous criss cross rides on trafficky indian roads, Dio connects well with the rider and does precisely what you want it to do.
Availability of service centers:
This becomes pretty important if the vehicle is brand new. Suzuki has just about 6 authorized showrooms / service centers in the whole of Chennai and that was a deal breaker for me. It does become an important factor when your reliable mechanic at the roadside isn’t able to solve a technical issue with the product which only an A.S.S could solve. Both Honda and TVS have good service network in Chennai.
Bonuses with Honda Dio:
Looks:
This was not in my priority list but Honda Dio is ‘arguably’ one of the best looking scooters in the Indian market. At the time when it was initially launched, it could even have been written off as bizarre; this naturally appeals more to the younger generation. The older models ie. 2011 and prior look sportier than the current ones IMHO. And I like the Yamaha Ray Z more, than even the Honda Dio for its looks and sporty stickering work.
Fuel efficiency:
This was not on my priority list either since my commuting distance per day is very less(2Km or less per day). I consistently get 40 to 42Kmpl with my Honda Dio with 100% city usage and given the kind of roads that I ride in(I rarely get to travel at 35Kmph or more), this is quite heartening. I calculate FE using tank fill to tank fill method and the numbers reported are not an output of guess work. I am a very sedate driver though and don’t accelerate too hard or take to speeds over 50Kmph, EVER.
Combibrakes and Tuffup tube:
In my personal opinion, Braking sucks on all gearless scooters or so do I feel since most of my driving is on a four wheeler and scooters just don’t match up to that level. But the combibrakes system in Honda’s does seem to work and manages to bring the vehicle to a halt without a lot of fuss(read wobble)
And Tuffup tube which supposedly provides some degree of puncture resistance, came factory fitted with my Dio which was a pleasant add on. The new Dio(after 2012) has tubeless tires which is class leading.
So is Honda Dio the perfect solution for anyone who is looking for a gearless scooter in the Indian market? Not really; there are quite a few areas where Honda Dio gets “thumbs down”.
Not so good on Honda Dio:
Suspension:
Well, there is practically none at the front if you ask me. Every unevenness in the road is transferred mercilessly to the rider. You need to take it slow and steady over broken roads and potholes; else a nasty jolt is guaranteed. Dio also becomes an unimpressive option for long distance rides because of its stiff suspension set up. Since I rarely drive more than 5Km at a stretch and I don’t see it as a big problem.
The rear suspension is much better but you will see it in action only when there is a pillion rider. Even the refreshed version doesn’t have telescopic shock absorbers at the front which is a pity!
Fiber body:
While it reduces body weight and improves FE, it is a disaster when taking impact on collisions. Accidental breakage could lead you to an expensive body replacement. Fiber body is also prone to rattle over years of use and the bad suspension only aggravates the problem. My Dio is 5 years old with less than 5000 Km on the odo, but it is already showing signs of rattling.
Body design:
Though the design is sporty and looks chic, it is not very ergonomic in my opinion. The sloping seats let the pillion rider slide into the rider and also puts pressure on the rider’s back. The pillion rider has no logical place to rest their feet because of the unusual placement of the foot rest. This can be solved with an aftermarket guard with a foot rest. The placement of handlebar is lower in height than my liking.
Conclusion:
I should say that I am very pleased with my Honda Dio overall. You will never go wrong with choosing a Dio unless you are a long distance commuter on this scooter. If you are keen about looks, give Yamaha Ray Z a test ride also. And I think that TVS Wego is also a very good product that will tick most of the items in anyone’s checklist.
A proper homework to pen down your requirements and evaluation of the options available in the gearless scooter market with a proper test drive(without prejudice towards the brand) can lead you to purchasing your “ideal” vehicle and give your miles of happy riding. Good luck!