Activa Redux

Honda gets active once more with its best-seller.

Whoever says that the scooter market is dead ought to have a rethink. Sure, a few years ago, when Bajaj pulled the plug on their geared scooter production, it seemed okay to be cynical about the future of the legboards on two small wheels.

But then, Honda motors flew in the nick of time, and the Activa was launched nine years ago, complete with the Wing emblem on its flanks. The ungeared Honda offered the convenience of twist-and-go scootering with reliability, efficiency and great build quality thrown in to complete the package.

Taking over the market once almost exclusively held by yet another Honda — the ageing gearless scooter built in India by Kinetic — the Activa was the new mode of transportation for people who preferred having no bar between their legs, leaving plenty of space for the groceries. The Honda built up its reputation as a well-built scooter which would start and run perfectly inrain or shine and the fact that many of the first Activas sold are still running on the roads is a good testament to this fact.

But then, everything grows old, no matter how good a product it might be. So now Honda has launched the new Activa. This is no plain new sticker and paint job; this Activa is a whole different product all together.

Unlike its 102cc predecessor, the new Activa engine boasts of a displacement of 110cc. Honda claims that this larger engine incorporates a lot of technology that makes it about 15 per cent more frugal. We can expect around 50 km to the litre in real life conditions.

With more power comes along the need for better braking. Although Honda has chosen not to fit disc brakes onto the Activa as we were expecting (Honda’s Aviator has it, for instance), the new scooter gets a ‘Combi-brake’ in the deluxe variant. This brake apparently slows down the Honda quicker, ensuring a shorter stopping distance and stability while braking. The front suspension is still the old ‘trailing link’ setup and telescopic forks have evaded the Activa yet again — we were expecting Honda to introduce front forks actually.

Taking the ‘all new’ movement further, Honda has given the old Activa a nip and a tuck here and there and the result is quite appealing to look at. The panels have a sportier and sharper edge to them, and the fact that they are made of sheet metal improves the longevity and durability of the scooter. The headlight gets a halogen bulb and along with the clear lens indicators, improves safety while riding in the dark. The capacity of the under-seat storage bay has been increased as well.

Thankfully Honda has not done an upward increase on the price of the new Activa. It is Rs 39,800 ex-showroom Delhi, around the same range as its predecessor. Now that can only be good news.