Honda Grazia
What a modern scooter should feel like
With a market share just shy of 60 per cent, Honda’s scooters are a force to be reckoned with. They now have a new scooter called the Grazia and this one is aimed straight for the urban youth
With urbanisation increasing faster than ever, in addition to the highest population in the country being those of millenials, two-wheeler manufacturers have to constantly be on their feet. Not catering to that specific demographic of customers can have serious repercussions and no one knows this more than Honda Two-Wheelers. The company has not only ticked the right boxes with the popular Activa 125 and fun Dio scooters, they’re known to cater to niche customers too with the quirky Navi and rural market-catering Cliq. They have now a new scooter called the Grazia and this one is aimed straight for the urban youth. I just happen to be one and I spend a day to check out what it’s all about.
First impressions will definitely be lasting. The Grazia has modern and edgy design cues, with creases in all the right places. It even gets a nice Honda decal on the side and 3D Grazia logos for that extra dash of style. The front headlamp cluster, cowl and mud guard are definitely pro-
nounced and the three-tone colour shade of the front fascia help it stand out. However, the rear section isn’t as radical of a design as the front but it can’t be called plain in any way either. Tthe scooter’s dimensions look proportional in picture but, the bulging front and rear overhangs appear odd in person. The next big talking point is the list of features of offer. It gets a 4-in-1 key slot with a switch for opening the seat now located conveniently right beside it. Turn it on and you’re greeted to an all-digital instrument console with a tachometer, trip meter, odo and fuel gauge. I found it easy to read in daylight and at night. You also have an eco gauge with a 3-step light to show you how fuel-efficient you’re being. The scooter is at its most efficient in the 35kmph-45kmph range and that’s when you see all three lights go on. Other notable features include an LED headlamp with an Automatic Headlamp On (AHO) feature and a separate smart phone storage space with an optional mobile charging socket.
The Grazia not only shares switchgear and other aesthetic features with the Activa, it gets the same frame and telescopic front suspension suspension too. In the handling and comfort
department, engineers seem to have tuned the suspension to slot in between the Activa and the Dio. The ride is definitely comfortable on straight roads but does feel a tad taut at times. It does start to feel skittish when pushed beyond its limit. Sticking to the limitations of the urban jungle, it does the job just right. The motor is the same 125cc engine as the Activa, with a power output of 8.5bhp and 10.5Nm of torque. It has the familiar refined nature attached and is quick to climb speeds when you pin the throttle. It reaches speeds of up to 110kmph on the speeedo and only then does it run out of steam, without feeling strained.
Overall, the new Honda Grazia is a good place to pick up where the Activa and Dio left off. With an 18 litre under-seat storage capacity and 5.3 litre fuel tank capacity, it can be a comfortable commuter and can make for a fun ride back home too. It might not be a complete revolution of a scooter but can definitely be called a modern-day scooter.