Do the Dio .... good buy. Review on Honda Dio

I have had a Honda Dio for the past nine months and have clocked 5,600 km. And now I have this to say, mindblowing.

I needed a bike which would ferry me to school, tuition and back. It had to be hassle free (read variomatic geared, also since I am only 17 and am a law abiding citizen driving with a valid license) and still had to at least notch up 60 kmph without much effort (so much for my law abiding !!!).

What my Dio gave me was much more than 60 kmph and a completely hassle free ride.

My initial choices were Kinetic Nova, Honda Dio and it's sibling Honda Activa. The Nova was ticked off since I felt it suited somebody over 30 years of age. Plus, the engine's appeal faltered as compared to the Honda's. And then there was the Brand image of Honda.

Now the choice was between Activa and Dio. Since both had the same engine, there was not much to differentiate them. What worked in Dio's favour was it's light weight due to the fibre body, it's solid road grip with the Zappers (which really meant something for me who was planning to drive at nothing below 50 kmph) and it's amazing good looks.

Well for someone who is fast approaching the age when most of the waking hours would be spent in trying to woo the opposite sex, I felt the Dio would be able to cut more ice as compared to Activa. Moreover, the handling of the Dio is better than that of Activa which in itself has a wonderful road feel.

Till date, I have not regretted my decision, on the contrary I am proud of it. The Dio has performed better than expected. After a gruelling 20 km ride at over 65 kmph for a variomatic scooter, one would find the two wheeler gasping for air. But my Dio was ready for more.

It's amazing to note the readiness with which the engine greets you to take her as close as you can to it's limit everytime you take her out even after you just did. To borrow a phrase from an automobile magazine '' the little engine enjoys being thrashed and emerges unscathed everytime ''. It speaks volumes for the product quality of the engine from Honda.

And then there is the acceleration. With exception to Karizma and Pulsar, we have beaten them all. And I mean all, including the 4 wheelers. The gears are very well matched and can take you to 60 kmph before you know it. I have had many traffic lights GP and can proudly say I won them all. Yes, I have had the privilege of keeping Karizmas and Pulsars in the rear view mirror until we hit the 65 kmph mark. It really does perform exceptionally.

Braking too is great fun. On some occasions, I have had instances of both the wheels locked and smoking under emergency braking, but never did the Dio once lose it's line. Probably the only thing you can't do with a Dio is to spin a Dio with it's tail out for a dramatic action shot because the Dio holds it's line and balance with the firmness usually associated with Fevicol. Even once when I was leaning over for a turn and had to suddenly apply brakes, the Dio took a clean parabolic path but did not swerve. Fantastic.

Tyres, brakes, control notch panel, suspension, you name it and you have it better that other scooters in the Dio. After all, it's a motoscooter.

Though I do face one problem. The engine is a bit too quiet. When I tell my friends to wait until I start the bike before they can get on, more often than not they keep waiting to hear the engine's sound and I keep waiting for them to get on. When after sometime I ask why they are not getting on, they give me a quizzed look and ask ''Has it started already? Can't hear anything !!!''

Even in the market people are often taken by surprise when I come up from behind. I passed my mother out on her evening walk (who has a habit of looking down while walking) and she hardly noticed me !!! But I think it's going to transform into a boon once I begin to hang around somebody else's house in the dead of the night. The parents will hardly notice me (coupled with the fact that my Dio is black).

Overall, it's the best bike money can but for 17 year olds like me who have something for 60 kmph, a ride at 10kmph, market rides, school tuitions ferries...... And trust me, you can use it until the time has come for you to have your own Merc or Honda 4-wheels because after a Honda Dio experience, one won't settle for anything but a Merc or a Honda.

And when your friends gape at you with envy written in bold letters across their face, you can proudly tell them ''It's a HONDA'', just the way I do.