Honda is a brand that is known to produce most of the scooters sold in India. Ever since the Acitva was launched, there has literally been no other scooter to dethrone the king from the segment. After the Activa comes to the Dio, the first version of the Dio wasn't a huge success, but the version that followed it looked funky, stylish, sporty and what not. It was a scooter loved by almost every youth in India. It was light, easy to ride and proved to be a very good unisex scooter. The first time I rode it, I honestly liked it more than the Activa because I felt it was easier to ride and was way smoother than the Activa with the same engine. The Dio didn't burn the pocket of the owner very much and did provide a decent fuel economy of 50-60kmpl in the city roads. Honda in 2017 decided to update their Dio in such a way that it looked more modern and also met the BS-IV emissions norms at the same time. Honda silently launched the scooter in March 2017. Making it look more peppy and youthful.
Design and Looks:
The looks haven't been completely changed when compared to the old model, the updated version gets a nice LED strip that makes it more modern and helps it move along with the modern day trend. Honda has made sure that they retain the bulky headlamp. I always feel that the front end of the scooter resembles the character Venom from Spiderman. The dual tone color version gets a strip of grey or white color surrounding the headlamp, depending on the color the buyer selects.
The side profile of the scooter remains the same, except the new BS-IV sticker that is added near the Dio badge. The taillight looks more clear now, Honda hasn't made any major changes as far as the taillight is concerned. The Dio gets various color options, my personal favorite is the full matte grey one. Honda offers the following colors on the Dio, Pearl sports yellow, Vibrant orange, Sports Red, Matte axis grey metallic and Candy jazz blue. The entire scooter gets a new funky sticker job, which makes it look more spunky.Practicality and Ergonomics:
The highest requirement a buyer looks for when he or she gets a scooter is the practicality, such as storage space for buying groceries or vegetables especially the ladies. Most of the ladies don't even care about the engine and specifications, all they want a slot or hook to hang their handbags with makeup material, without which every man would regret looking at them (Pun Intended).Coming to this factor, the Dio is a very practical scooter, it has a hook under the seat for a handbag or a grocery bag. And under the seat, there is enough room to keep a helmet and the scooter's papers. There is a small grab rail too provided on the side, yeah often used to hang bags and not for holding.
I stand 6 feet tall and I feel there's enough room for my knees as a rider, but I do feel a bit hard to travel as a pillion, there is enough space for my butt, but not much for the legs. The scooter is ultimately light and is very easy to maneuver inside the city, especially the traffic, moves like a hot knife cutting through a block of butter, that smooth. Engine and Specifications:
The new Dio is powered by a 109cc engine that produces a maximum power of 8BHP and 7000RPM and a peak torque of 8.9Nm at 5500RPM with a stroke length of 55.6mm and bites length of 50mm. The engine is mated to a V-Matic transmission. The scooter feels smooth to ride, there is a bit of throttle lag, but in a negligible number.
The scooter does well up to 60kmph, the engine does feel a little sluggish from then till 85-90kmph. I weigh 65kgs and with my weight, the scooter did a top speed of about 90kmph. I must accept that the refinement levels are really good with utmost little vibrations. The overall length and width of the scooter are 1781 and 710mm respectively. The scooter weighs 103kgs dry and has a fuel tank capacity of 5.3 liters. Braking and Suspension:
The Honda Dio gets 130mm drum brakes for both front and rear wheels. The brakes offer a decent amount of stopping power. The combi brakes used by Honda partially applies the front brake also when the rear brake is applied. The suspension does a decent job in absorbing the potholes in the city roads. It also offers a plush ride to both the rider and pillion. Pros:
* Effective pricing.
* Amazing looks.
* Smooth engine.
* Availability of spares and service centers.
* Fuel economy.
Cons:
* Optional front disc brake could have been offered
* Lack of front Telescopic Suspension
* Effective pricing.
* Amazing looks.
* Smooth engine.
* Availability of spares and service centers.
* Fuel economy.
Cons:
* Optional front disc brake could have been offered
* Lack of front Telescopic Suspension
Verdict:At a price tag of rupees 49,132 (Ex-Showroom Delhi), the Honda Dio is one of the best scooters available, when it is compared to its rivals like Yamaha Ray.
Review By: Rishath Suresh
Photographs By: Arvindan
