Aviator - My New Best Friend!. Review on Honda Aviator

Bought DLX(front disc brake) version of Honda Aviator 110cc(Heron Blue) in Mumbai at the beginning of December 2010 with 5 year extended warranty and received delivery within 2 months instead of the expected 3 months wait. The people at the Om Sai Honda dealer in Mahim were very helpful and responsive to all inquiries. I have the scooter 11 months now with 6, 000 kilometers on the clock.

So far the scooter has not cost me a single rupee except for petrol & oil

I paid an extra 700 rupees to have the optional Teflon anti-scratch protective paint coating, The scooter now has a beautiful glossy finish that shines through and other aviators look dull when parked beside it. The grab rail, the instrument panel area & the plastic section below it were all painted so more of the scooter is covered in the original colour which gives it a customized look, (see 2 attached pictures).

After much research I deciding on the Aviator.

This is a great scooter and I have not been disappointed so far, in fact I have been pleasantly surprised just how good the scooter really is. The only slightly disappointing thing is a small vibration coming from the panel below the instruments which probably just needs the screws tightened to stop it but I am a bit lazy to go to the dealer.

Performance and Handling:

My guess is that people who complain about lack of pick up on an Aviator don't own this scooter. There is plenty of pick up to accelerate away from traffic signals and over-take other road users, even with 2 people. The power is evenly distributed so the bike feels very stable and balanced as you pick up speed. The throttle is very responsive and and even traveling at speeds of 50 or 60kph there is still enough power to accelerate quickly with the lightest touch if you need to take it up to 70 or 80kph.

Cornering is also very good and easy to perform, it's almost got the feel of a motorbike with the telescopic front suspension.

The only real issue is the weight and height of the scooter, if you are less than around 5'4 then this bike may be a problem because of it's distance from the ground. Also if you are weaving through heavy traffic in the city with a passenger, the bike can feel a bit heavy to handle although I've seen women driving aviators in Mumbai.

Comfort:

The telescopic front suspension absorbs a lot of the impact from bad roads and when you drive on a good strip of road you just sail along, if Mumbai had good roads throughout then this scooter would be a constant joy to ride. The riding position is upright and has a natural feel to it, you don't feel tired or uncomfortable even after a long drive. The front part of the seat is slightly sloped and tapered so you can move backwards or forwards to get the most comfortable riding position. Passengers have reported that it feels comfortable sitting at the back. The only issue has been traveling at high speed over uneven sections of road on express ways or over the metal heat expanders you find on flyovers. The scooter can feel like it's going to take off if you make contact at high speed. It doesn't of course but it's a slightly unnerving experience. Storage space is big and I'm amazed at the amount of things you can carry on the foot board if they do not fit in the under seat storage area.

Reliability:

Immediately after purchase the electric start occasionally took sometime to get the engine started in the morning but it always started without having to use the kick start. After the first service it started instantly every time, even after lying idle for 2 or 3 days. Otherwise the aviator has been totally reliable with no issues. In fact the build quality seems to be rock solid, there is not a single shake or rattle in the bodywork of the bike even after driving on bad roads full of pot holes for 11 months. Because of Honda's reputation for build quality I feel this will continue unless the scooter is mistreated or driven at high speed through deep pot holes or traffic humps. As I mentioned earlier there is a slightly irritating vibration in the front panel below instruments that I need to have fixed in the next service.

(Update 30th Sept) The ignition control system failed, I bought it to the dealer and it was fixed in around 6 days when the replacement parts arrived. The charge was INR 450 rupee but when I showed them the warranty card they did not charge. Now the vibration is fixed and the scooter is working better than ever.

Safety:

The Aviators braking and stability is impressive. The DLX model has a 3 piston front disk brake and a rear wheel drum brake as well as a combo-brake system. This means that if any brake lever is pulled  the brakes on the front and rear wheels automatically engage at the same time. Several times I have braked hard and skidded on dusty city roads with a screeching noise coming from the front tyre but the scooter always stayed upright and in a straight line which prevented me from being thrown off.  The combo-brake system prevents all the braking power being applied only to 1 wheel in an emergency so you don't go into an uncontrollable skid because power is still going to the back wheel. Last week an auto wala with no brake lights stopped dead in front of me on the road and I had to slam on the brakes, the rear passenger came crashing into my back with the force of braking but the bike stopped dead in the road and prevented a crash. Don't confuse this type of braking system with ABS anti lock braking system which is more advanced. Remember that if you slam on the brakes on a dusty or wet road at high speed you can still go into a skid!

I didn’t buy a metal protective guard because they look ugly and detract from the looks of the scooter. If you are careful about driving and parking you will have very few scratches on the paintwork and no dents, especially with the Teflon coating.

Fuel Consumption:

The advertised fuel tank capacity is 6 liters, the actual capacity is closer to 5 liters which is normal as there is always a difference between advertised and actual with a 2 wheeler or a car.

As expected, fuel efficiency improved after the 1st service and the scooter is currently giving 37 to 40 kpl in heavy traffic with 2 people on board around 80% of the time. We have a combined weight of around 130 kilos. If one person of average weight is riding then consumption should easily be somewhere between 45 and 50 kpl.

Conclusion:

This scooter is the complete package. It’s only 110cc but Honda have achieved the right balance between power, fuel consumption, comfort and reliability. It’s also a nice looking scooter and genuine fun to ride around town.

When you drive an Aviator you understand why Honda are worlds No 1 bike manufacturer.

The DLX model cost’s around INR 55, 000 on the road in Mumbai, which is more expensive than many other scooters in the market. So why spend so much money when you can get cheaper scooter models in the market?

The answer lies in understanding the'total cost of ownership'. When you purchase a product, it’s value lies in the total cost not the initial price paid. Price is what you pay up front for something and cost is the total amount you have to spend over the lifetime of the product in terms of replacement parts, service cost, fuel consumption, break downs, time in the garage, longevity of usage, re-sale value etc.

Over a 2 or 3 year period, the cost of a 55, 000 rupee Honda scooter can end up being lower than a 45, 000 rupee scooter when all costs are added up over that time period.