Jun 22, 2003 05:15 PM
4774 Views
(Updated Jun 22, 2003 05:17 PM)
Every now and then some or the other manufacturer comes up with a vehicle that wants to loudly make a fashion statement. To be very frank, the Honda Dio does make a loud fashion statement- a 102cc, 7bhp loud fashion statement. Allow me to express whatever I have to on the vehicle:
Style and build
To be honest, the designers had in mind young boys and girls between 16 and 20 when they began designing the vehicle and to be very frank, they have done a good job on me! In any case, the styling of the vehicle with the headlight right in the front instead of on the handlebar and the angular and really futuristic rear-end of the vehicle and the whole body of the vehicle as a whole give the vehicle not just a jazzy but... well...chubby look!
On a more technical note, this vehicle has, unlike its predecessor the Activa, plastic panels instead of steel. This has reduced the weight of the Dio by 12kg. The plastic moulds being cheaper than the steel ones, it has also to a certain degree contributed in either reducing the cost or giving the designers a looser leash in the designing of the vehicle.
To rate the vehicle out of ten points for styling, I will probably give it something like nine points. Where did the one point go? As I always say... You never get full marks in art class!
Performance and economy
This vehicle, as I have said before, has a displacement of 102cc and can deliver a maximum power of about 7bhp at 7000rpm which is a bit less compared to Nova (7.5bhp at 7500rpm). Compared to other vehicles ridden by students of the junior college, this class of vehicles is pretty powerful and speedy. It gives a good performance as far as speeding is concerned reaching 60 from zero in about 15 seconds (the one I rode reached 60 in eighteen).
So far, the Dio I rode has given me fuel efficiency average 50 kilometers to a liter. So with six litres inside of the tank, it should give about 300kms (the tank capacity is six liters). So out of ten points for fuel efficiency and performance, I would give this one about eight points again.
Safety and handling
Honda Dio is fitted with 130mm drum brakes on either side which brings it to a dead halt from 60 over a distance of 25 meters. This is, in my opinion, good braking performance. Of course, whether the situation permits a distance of 25 meters or not is a different issue… let us hope that the brakes are applied at least 26 meters away from the collision. The Dio is very stable in its ride as well as during the braking. Even when brought to a stop from 60, the vehicle doesn’t step out of the line making it very safe to ride. Of course, if the rider swerves during this stop, only God can keep him!
Summing it up
With nothing exceptional to offer with its performance or power or anything like that, the Dio would not have become a very noticeable vehicle. But with the really futuristic looks of it, the vehicle is certainly the most noticeable vehicle. Out of ten points, I would give the vehicle seven marks over all.
Its Starwarzz Dio!
