Re: Honda Dio, Activa and Aviator

Vespa is considered as more of a premium brand hence the high price,personally I don't own an activa 125 but my friend has one and its almost 2 years old,never had any issues,just basic maintenance,the body panels are also holding up fine and he's sort of a rough rider and Yes,the quality has come down a bit when compared to the older gen activas;before 2010 models but it ain't that bad when compared to competition and the resale value will be higher than access any time,the access is quicker only because of its fiber body but when it comes to stopping the activa is equipped with the combi breaking system (CBS) which is a life saver,if you use it correctly.Out of the two the activa definitely looks more premium especially with those new LED drls.Both companies claim out of the world mileage but on honda's you will get around 55-57kmpl on highways,after 3/4 services;if you maintain economy speed say 60-70kmph (tested it my self on my 2013 dio).
The last major thing to consider is the after sales service which varies from city to city,in my place honda offers better service than suzuki but it might be different story in your city.But,honda has more ASC's than suzuki in most cities,at every 15-20kms you are likely to find one.If service center is your problem just do a local inquiry with your friends.

Few basic tips in case you decide to go with honda
Side stand and ladies step is an extra fitting,crash guard is just a waste of money believe me,it will not protect the scoot,but an under body (floor only) anti rust treatment might be a good idea.Heard people complaining rust formation under the floor after 3/4 years especially if you ride mostly on wet muddy roads,again not an issue if you frequently wash the scoot.
Honda offers an engine warranty of 2 years an recommend to do all the services from ACS's,personally I wouldn't recommend that because after the 4 free services they will charge anywhere between 500-800 bucks.Do the first 4/5 services from honda after that just find a reputed local mechanic to do the basic maintenance(oil change,brake shoes etc) and if possible try to stay with the scoot during the service also buy only genuine honda spares from ASC only,especially the engine oil (at least for 2 years).
Another thing to note is that,initially the mileage will be low,its quite normal on new vehicles,you might have noticed it on your gixxer,it will increase after 3/4 services and try to keep the speed below 50kmph till first 3 services,the activa 125 can cross 100kmph mark,but anything above 70kmph is not safe on scooters

Re: Honda Dio, Activa and Aviator

Hi Guys,

Need your unbiased opinion.

After test-riding all the scoots in the market, I am now down to Activa 125 and Access 125, leaving out Vespa due to many practical concerns. Activa 125 disc brake model costs ~7k lesser than base model Vespa in Chennai. That's a bummer considering the competition is cheaper.

I am inclined to Activa 125 for only one reason - metal body and good resale value. But comparing it with older activas, the build quality has come down but feels little better than access 125 still. Arrogant honda dealer and service personnel should not spoil and make it worse in the due course of the vehicle's lifetime.

When I'm spending an amount almost close to Vespa, I want to expect a proportionate resale value too.

Is it true that Activa 125 will hold a better resale value than Access 125, in say 5 years, at least with a good proportion and difference from it's competition? Also, will it age well? I've heard from owners that the build quality of activa has gone down drastically and also the metal-plastic-chrome panels don't settle in well. Is it true?

If not for the fibre body, I'd go for the access which is around 72 k on road, Chennai. It's easier to ride than the activa (due to less bulk) and is quicker too. But, I don't get why there's a charger outside the underseat storage. It's not practical at all considering it's exposed and the mobile can fall out of the small front pocket. The dimensions of the scooter though, are perfect for a tall person like me.

Which is more premium and good for the long run? Is it worth spending extra amount on Activa for what it offers in comparison to competition? Post this, I'd make a purchase, mostly next week.

Thanks in advance.

Re: Honda Dio, Activa and Aviator

we changed the spark plug cap as you suggested,its been a month now and no issues so far,thanks again.

----consecutive posts auto-merged-----


thank you for the info,last time I filled in ioc's premium petrol and there was an increase in mileage.

Re: Honda Dio, Activa and Aviator

No, I did not get time.
I will do it once I get time.

Re: Honda Dio, Activa and Aviator

Abhishek, did you try to get it fixed at your local authorized Honday service center?

Re: Honda Dio, Activa and Aviator

Thank you bro.. Lets see I will consultant 2 more mechanics.

Re: Honda Dio, Activa and Aviator

We'll then, you haven't checked throughly enough. Go over every inch of wiring/battery connection/fuse holder and also remove any accessories and maybe disconnect the horn also for a cpl of days and observe. Check the wiring at the bulb connectors for any short. Also disconnect the indicator flasher and observe for a cpl of days. If it's not the wiring it maybe another component like the rr unit/flasher/cdi/bulbs. It's a pain to identify such electrical issues.. But go ahead and check /swap each of these components with a known good one.
My dio is 10yr old and done 70k km.. Still has the oem suspension.. Just changed the rear shock absorber bush (25rs)a few months ago.. The rubber was cracked. Ideally it should last you more than 5 yrs unless you are overloading the vehicle/riding rashly over bad roads. But again it is after all a mechanical part and could fail prematurely.
Maybe the suspension is the problem causing some part of the body to rub against the fuel line and causing it to fail.

Re: Honda Dio, Activa and Aviator

I'm changing it with the same stock pipe.
Yes, it happens at very same place.
Local mechanic said shock observes needs replacement. My vehicle has run only 25k, what's the life of shock observers.

Re: Honda Dio, Activa and Aviator

Wiring had a short circuit last year after that it was thoroughly checked thrice, last checked day before yesterday but next day again fuse went kaput.

Re: Honda Dio, Activa and Aviator

Well, you'll need to check the wiring thoroughly for any short circuits. Start by disconnecting the horn first.

It could possibly be rubbing against the body/frame maybe due to improper routing or some deformity in the body which is causing excess strain on the fuel pipe.
Does it get cut at the same spot ? Are you changing it with an oem fuel pipe or a local spare?
You should first try to find the cause of this before finding a permanent solution.. it is not normal for this to be happening. Check another activa and make sure you are using the right spare for the fuel pipe (there are a couple of other pipes too like the vacuum line, but i doubt they will be able to handle fuel without degrading over time) and that it is routed correctly.

Re: Honda Dio, Activa and Aviator

Need help, my 2013 activa's fuel pipe is not lasting for more then 3 months. Once in around every 3 months I need to push it to a local mechanic to get it replaced. It cut's at the engine end. Due to this issue after every 2 months there is fear of it getting cut any time soon and is completely unreliable. I'm looking out for a permanent solution.

Honda Dio, Activa and Aviator

Hello guys, need a little help, my father rides a 2012 model honda activa, from last few months fuse is getting blown up frequently. Inspected this issue at 2-3 svc here but none of them able to solve this. Odo reading is around 37k kms. Kindly help/suggestion on this.

Have 2008 model activa too but that one runs flawlessly.

Re: Honda Dio, Activa and Aviator

Thanks again. Yes, I will test ride all the scooters before choosing one.

Re: Honda Dio, Activa and Aviator

Yeah its not impossible but it will be like trying to find a needle in a haystack!!!. I assume you are talking about resale market 5 years from now,but if you look into the scooter market 5 years back you can see how much the scooter market has changed,back then scooters were just a simple economic mode of transport,these days scoots have gotten more powerful,more convenient,more stylish and comes loaded with lots of features(boot light,external fuel filling,mobile charging etc) there are also a lot of option to choose from,but still there is only one scooter that was out selling competition back then and now and I don't think 5 years into the future is going to change that.Sure,in 5 years more powerful scooters will hit the Indian markets but the demand for the "King" will be the same,be it new or used,Activa has become more of a brand than just a name and I think Honda will do everything to keep it that way.
Again,its your personal choice but which ever model you decide to buy Vespa,Activa,Access make sure you do a test ride before and remember there is no such thing as a perfect scooter,there will be some give and take.

Re: Honda Dio, Activa and Aviator

Ok thanks for your opinion, if I am hesitant to get a vespa then it will be because of the price. Finding buyers is difficult when it's in the second hand market, but not impossible.