New Honda Activa i review, test ride

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India have cemented its presence in the Indian automatic scooter segment with its Activa, Aviator and Dio models. The Activa needs little introduction, being India's most loved scooter, and the companies hottest seller. So, in a bid to build upon the Activa story, Honda has now rolled out what they call a personal compact automatic scooter, the Activa, now with an 'i'. The Activa-i plays the role of a light, nimble and unisex automatic scooter that is easy to ride through traffic.

It's a young and fresh looking daily commuter. Like most automatic scooters, the Activa-i houses its angular headlight in a bikini fairing, with clear lens turn indicators fitted to the scooters sleek front apron. As instruments, the i uses a boldly laid out analogue speedometer and fuel-gauge. Palm grips and switchgear are as expected from a Honda, comfortable and crisp working. Under the Activa-i seat is 18 litres of storage space, and the fuel tank filler, which can take in a maximum of 5.3 litres. The Activa-i's flowing side panels taper towards the sharply styled taillight, giving it an attractive tail. The automatic scooter gets an ergonomically designed alloy grab bar that helps make hauling the scooter on its main stand less strenuous. The Activa-i rides on 10-inch pressed steel wheels and Honda has provided the rear wheel a tyre hugger. Overall fit-and-finish is good.

The Activa-i uses the same HET, 109.2cc, four-stroke, forced-air cooled engine as seen on its stable mates. Power output likewise remains 8bhp at 7500rpm. HET stands for Honda Eco Technology, which aims to reduce fuel consumption, lowering friction and the weight of engine components. The automatic scooter uses a variator driven transmission system, and good low and mid-range performance makes for effortless city commuting.

The lightweight Activa-i weighs in at 103kg thanks to several body panels being fibre constructed, and there's an underbone type frame, just like the standard Activa. It uses identical linked front suspension and a stressed engine with single shock absorber at rear. The Activa-i seats its rider in a comfortable, upright set riding position that is good for daily commuting, with enough space on the floorboard for your feet. Ride quality on the Activa-i is on the firm side at lower speeds, but handling is light, neutral and nimble.

The Activa-i comes with tubeless tyres front and rear, these providing decent traction whether riding on a dry or wet surface.

The Activa-i uses drum brakes front and rear, and also comes with Honda's combined brake system.

The i is priced to win at ₹ 44,200 (ex-showroom, Delhi), making for better value than the standard Activa and Dio.