Honda Grazia V Rivals
Like a swift arrow, the Honda Grazia aims to tear through the practicality of smaller scooters and the performance of bigger ones. We find out if it’s a hit or a miss
The new 125-cc honda moto-scoot takes on the Aprilia sR150 and the sharp Yamaha RayZR
If you’re looking for a scooter, it’s hard to ignore the Honda range which is the most exhaustive line-up in the Indian market. From the unique and affordable Cliq to the blockbuster Activa, they have a scooter for every need. In spite of dominating the scooter segment for years now, Honda were yet to experiment with a new sub-segment, that of the fast growing, larger capacity trendy scooters. Of course, there was always the no-nonsense Activa 125 and the stylish Dio 110, but there was a void between these two segments, where models such as the Aprilia SR 150 managed to get an impressive foothold.
As expected, Honda have launched the Grazia 125 with enough swag to take on the likes of the snazzy Yamaha Ray ZR and the peppy 125-cc engine was thrown in to match power with the SR 150. Taking our cue, we decided to pit the Ray ZR and SR 150 against the new kid on the block, the Honda Grazia.
Overall, these three scooters look pretty attractive and modern and yet manage to retain a distinctive character in terms of the design. The Yamaha, in spite of the smallest (113-cc) mill among the three, looks the bulkiest with its flared-up front fairing and bright contrasting graphics which make it look wider than it actually is. Interesting design bits such as a large headlight with a pointed front panel, sharp all-analogue instrument cluster and 12-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels make it stand out. As expected, the Ray ZR has been attracting plenty of young buyers due to its trendy design.
At the other end of the spectrum is the Aprilia SR 150 which, despite being powered by the most powerful and largest engine, has the narrowest profile. It’s the sportiest of the lot and the racy colour theme and bare-bone design announce just that. The body-mounted twin headlight, compact step seat and massive 14-inch wheels make it look like no other scooter. At least not in the affordable range for sure. The build quality is basic with standard plastic parts, but scores poorly on the finish bit. In terms of overall design, however, it’s clear that this has been designed by a bunch of Italians who enjoy spending their weekends on a racetrack. Minimalistic and laced with the right amount of Italian fair, this is straight out of a racer boy’s dream.
Let’s take a look at the Honda now. The Grazia, as the name suggests, is aimed at the style-conscious swooping lines, sharp cuts but more contemporary than the Ray ZR and the SR 150. The design is a gradual evolution of its popular sibling, the Dio, but shares the underbone chassis with the Activa 125, and more importantly gets the much needed telescopic front forks. The lower half of the front apron is covered with glass, dominated by an oversized LED
headlight which, by the way, is a first in the scooter segment. It’s neither too boring nor too flashy. The fit and finish is just like any other Honda scooter you see on the road, so no complaints there.
Maintaining a fine balance of style and substance, the Grazia comes with a fairly long list of features. It is the only scooter in this shootout to get a fancy digital instrument cluster which offers a range of information like speedometer, fuel gauge, trip meter, clock, and even a tachometer. There’s a three-step eco riding indicator that guides the rider to get the best fuel efficiency. While the base variant Grazia comes with 10-inch wheels, alloys in higher variants ride on 12-inchers.
The top variant of this scooter gets a 190mm front disc which, along with Honda’s Combi-Brake System (CBS), brings it to standstill from 60 km in 2.46 seconds, travelling 18.46 metres. The brake feels progressive and the scooter remains surefooted even under hard braking. In comparison, the Ray ZR has a 20 mm smaller front disc, yet it manages to bring it to a halt from 60 km/h in 2.48 seconds. However, during the brake test it took a longer distance (20.22 metres, to be precise) and left us desiring for more bite from the brakes. The Aprilia not just gets the largest wheels, but equally large 220-mm disc with dual-piston Bybre calipers. These help anchor the scooter from 60 km/h in just 1.88 seconds, covering a distance of just 15.26 metres. The brakes offer the best feedback and are extremely precise.
These modern scooters come loaded with a host of features, so let’s discuss those too.
The Honda comes with a covered storage compartment, but the lid could have been more robust. For an extra Rs 500, one can get the optional 12-volt charging slot installed within to charge your mobile phone on the go. Similarly, the Yamaha also has a couple of cubbyholes below the handlebar that can easily hold half-a-litre water bottles. The SR 150, as we said before, is barebone and without these frills. Sadly, none of these scooters comes with an external fuel filling. If it’s any consolation, the Honda does get a dedicated seat-release button which is located next to the four-in-one key fob. Both the Grazia and Ray ZR have rear brake lever lock, which is useful while parking on a slope, but Honda’s old-school system looks rather utilitarian on an otherwise modern and wellfinished scooter.
We rode these scooters outside the city, on highways and over broken roads of a hill to reach the scenic location which gave us ample opportunity to put each powertrain to test. As you already know, the Grazia, like the Activa 125, is powered by a 124.9-cc engine that makes a respectable 8.63 PS and 10.54 Nm that maxed out at 92.1 km/h. In comparison, the Yamaha, with its smaller 113-cc motor, makes a humble 7.2 PS and 8.1 Nm of torque, and managed a top speed of 86.31 km/h.
The SR 150 is set to offer the sportiest performance unlike any Indian scooter: right from its throaty exhaust note and peppy engine to the firmly tuned suspension. Give it a poke and it’ll zip past practically every other scooter in sight. The 154.8-cc single punches out 10.4 PS and has a torque rating of 11.4 Nm
and attains a top speed of 102.06 km/h. As you must have guessed, the Aprilia out-performs the other two as it roars to 60 km/h in just seven seconds. Surprisingly, the Grazia isn’t too far behind and takes just half a second more to attain 60 km/h, while the Ray ZR takes much longer and does the same in 9.48 seconds.
The performance test revealed the mettle of each scooter. The Aprilia is a hoot to ride and keeps pushing the rider to go faster. Which isn’t the best idea while riding through busy city streets, but we have to admit sheepishly that its nimble handling makes it too much fun. It feels at home in the city as it does on the highway. While going fast, just tip it into a corner and it remains surprisingly composed, almost like a motorcycle. More importantly, it doesn’t fishtail during hard braking. The chink in its armour is that it tends to feel a mite too firm and bounces over bad road surface. The other downside is that the SR may sound too gruff to some, which is a compromise for the sporty performance.
The Ray ZR might not have the number game in its favour, but the engine feels more refined than the Aprilia’s and the ride quality is far more compliant and comfortable. Initially, the CVT takes a little longer than expected to get going but once it gains momentum, it makes the speedo climb quickly. The Yamaha feels most comfortable cruising between 50 and 70 km/h, beyond which the performance drops and feels strained. Although the engine remains free of vibes, the plastic body panels let out a light rattle at higher speeds. At 103 kg, it’s the lightest among the trio here and is extremely flickable, making it perfect for negotiating city traffic.
The Grazia weighs slightly more, at 107 kg, and feels more agile and peppy than the Activa 125. Twist the throttle and it’ll surprise you with immediate response. This Honda is quick to gather momentum and briskly crosses the 80km/h mark. The engine refinement matches that of the Yamaha, if not better, as there’s hardly any NVH even at that speed. The highlight is its wide powerband between 4080 km/h which is all you need for daily urban riding. The ride, thanks to the telescopic forks, is a lot more forgiving than the SR’s and over severe bumps feels even better than the Yamaha’s. The SR 150 and Ray ZR both have a taller seat height of 775 mm, as compared to Grazia’s 766 mm. So, most Indians will find the Honda to be slightly better in terms of ergonomics. It also has a softer seat and feels more comfortable during longer rides.
In terms of fuel economy, the best we could get out of the Yamaha was 64.4 km/l on the highway. The Grazia returned 63.8 km/l, while the racy SR 150 gave 48 km/l. If you ride predominantly within the city, then this figure will drop drastically as you will struggle with bumper to bumper traffic.
If performance and riding dynamics is what you are looking for, then the Aprilia SR 150 is the best gearless scooter available in our country currently which you can buy without making too deep a dent in your pocket. If I were to buy a scooter today, this would be it. But the tradeoff could be a deal breaker for many such as its limited practicality due to the narrow footboard, shallow under-seat compartment and a compact seat, not to mention the firm ride and gruff sounding engine.
The Yamaha is a whole Rs 11,000 cheaper than the SR 150, which is priced at Rs 69,146 (ex-showroom, Pune). In the age of EMI and bank loans, the price difference might not deter the buyer too much. The Ray ZR already has the youth swaying to its tune with its trendy design, agility and Badshah’s catchy rap number. On the road, however, the lack of initial go and top-end performance soon make one snap out of the ‘swag’ spell.
These shortcomings in competition have helped Honda carve out a comfortable space for the Grazia. In terms of performance it’s very close to the 150-cc Aprilia and yet is pretty comfortable and practical. To top it all, the Honda Grazia is priced at Rs 63,182 (exshowroom, Pune) which make it Rs 6,000 cheaper than the Aprilia and Rs 5,000 than the Yamaha. All this, offered in an appealing design and Honda’s known reliability and widespread service network, makes it the most compelling proposition here.
In terms of performance, the Honda Grazia is very close to the 150-cc Aprilia and yet is pretty comfortable and practical