Honda Activa HET-2013. Review on Honda Activa

I have just purchased Honda Activa on 30-June and till now I have clocked 217 KM.

Before buying this I had taken test ride for Honda Dio, Suzuki Swish and Honda Aviator. Let me first explain you why I zeroed upon Honda Activa.

My requirement was a to buy a reliable scooter with best in mileage to be driven by a lady.

Why I selected Honda Activa.

1. It's a reliable product for ages.

   
   




2. The company claims a best in class mileage for this scooter.

   
   




3. All the previous owners had suggested that nothing can go wrong with this vehicle.

   
   

My Experience Till Now with Honda Activa.

1. The Honda showroom needs minimum 15 days to deliver a activa with a booking amount of Rs 1000. Too long waiting period, but opted to go for this as I wanted to buy a nothing go wrong scooter.

   
   




2. While getting the delivery of the scooter, I realized the monopoly of Honda Dealers.

   
   

A. They are making it compulsory to buy all the accessories, which costs around 3300 in Bhubaneswar. You can't deny for any accessories, without which they wouldn't deliver the scooter.

B. They don't give the Honda Genuine accessories, rather they give their own accessories. How I got to know about it- When I checked for the number plate price on the bill, it was Rs 180, while it was showing Rs 25/35 on Honda site. When I stated this fact, I was told it was not a Honda accessories. Similar price difference you can notice in other accessories also. I would like to request Honda company to take action upon it.

C. With these mandatory accessories the total on road cost is coming to be more than Suzuki swish whose ex-showroom price is much higher than Honda activa.

D. Even some other dealers, they are forcing to take a tefl on coating compulsory which cost around Rs 450.

I request Honda company to look into this matter and make sure the accessories should not be compulsory and it should be authorized Honda provided.

3.  For the first 100 Km. I have ridden then scooter with at most care to extract maximum mileage (Like never crossed the top speed of 45 Km/hr. Always accelerated the scooter with minimum acceleration till attaining top speed and judiciously used the brakes. I got a mileage of 53.1 km/ltr. How did I calculate the mileage. Tank filled the scooter at 5 Km on odometer reading and then again tank filled 99 odometer reading.

It took 1.77 ltr of petrol to fill the tank)

Will give a continuous update on mileage.....

Update on 10-July.

I again refilled to tank full @ 282 for Rs 200. which gives me a mileage of 62.24..I know it's un-believable as company itself is claiming for 60 Km/Ltr under standard condition, but this is what I got...will update for the mileage in next refill....

1. For initial few Km, the suspension was very hard which made the ride to be very uncomfortable, but after 4 day it became litter softer and suspension was better. If I compare the riding  experience with  Swish, then swish with telescopic shock absorbers has a much better suspension. It feels much better in potholes and humps compared to Honda activa. I would not say Honda activa feels bad, but swish is definitely much better. So I sincerely request Honda engineers to provide a telescopic front shock absorber in Honda activa.

   
   




2. While driving the engine sound makes you feel the Honda reliability for the engine. Within a top speed of 50 KM/Hr, the riding is smooth.

   
   




3. Even though I tried to keep my acceleration at minimum level, but I realized that at some point of time, the scooter was missing out in pick-up front, but then I thought as I was always trying to extract the maximum mileage, so I was not trying to push the vehicle too much for pick-up. My verdict on this aspect might change after I try to test the pick up of the scooter.

   
   




4. One more vital observation was that, the scooter doesn't give confidence in corners at 40 Km/hr also.

   
   




5. My initial assumption was that the braking for scooter would be better with dual breaking system, but I realized that the dual breaking system is helpful for those, who has a habit of applying only rear breaks, but I always prefer to apply both the brakes simultaneously. So keeping an expectation of better breaking from this scooter for combined breaking system is not right. The breaking is just as good as others.

   
   

Below I have just tried to give my justification for my decision making...

Why I considered Avitaor for test ride.

1. It's a reliable Honda product and company was claiming a very good mileage.

   
   




2. it has telescopic front shock absorber , which gives a better riding comfort.

   
   




3. It has better under seat space, which can easily accommodate a full sized helmet.

   
   




4. It has a optional disc break, which gives effective breaking.

   
   

Why I rejected aviator.

1. The height of scooter is not suitable for lady of average height (5' 5'')

   
   




2. The scooter provided by the dealer for test ride was a old one, which let me understand the problems which scooter will create as it gets older. The vibration was high, the fiber body was loose which created a lot of vibration.

   
   

Why I selected Dio for testride

1. Looks is awesome.

   
   




2. It has reliable Honda engine with best in class mileage claimed by company.

   
   




3. Being of lighter weight, expected to give better mileage.

   
   

Why I rejected Dio.

1. To be very frank, I was almost ready to buy this scooter, but when I thought of the damage this scooter will have in case of any unforeseen accident, was high because of it's fiber body.

   
   




2. I didn't like the looks with body panel protectives which is a part of accessories.

   
   




3. I doesn't have the telescopic front shock absorber.

   
   

Why I selected Swish for test ride.

1. it has a new look and it is built over a proven access engine.

   
   




2. While taking the test ride, I realized it is the best scooter for comfort and handling.

   
   




3. Pick-up is best in it class.

   
   




4. The under seat space is also better.

   
   




5. There is no hidden cost in this scooter, like most of the accessories, would come with the scooter, or provided by the dealer.

   
   

Why I rejected.

1. Fortunately, one of my known person had taken this scooter recently and as per his feed back, he was getting a mileage of 48-50. So I thought, with passage of time the mileage would reduce.

   
   




2. The whole body was fiber. (Even though company gives a complete insurance for 2 years in case of any damage)

   
   




3. The ex showroom price was more than Honda activa.

   
   




4. The tyre provided was not tubeless/puncture resistant.

   
   




5. The specification for brake drum is only 120 mm rather for Honda activa it's 130 mm.

   
   

My final Verdict as of 7-July.

Currently I don't regret buying a Honda Activa, as mileage was my one of the primary concern. But given a chance to select the 2nd scooter, I would go with Suzuki Swish as it outperform Honda in all other aspects.

Thanks

Ambi_81