Scooters are a very cheap form of private transportation that is only rivalled by motorcycles, but then again, one could argue that scooters are classified as motorcycles. For the sake of argument, let’s organise scooters and motorcycles as different things. Nevertheless, what everyone can agree on is the popularity of scooters in the Nepali consumer market. It’s impossible not to come across scooters when you’re driving around a city. While there used to be a slight stigma often associated with scooters where some people saw them as a feminine vehicle and thus avoided buying scooters, the stigma is gone, and people don’t see it that way anymore. This, in turn, has helped boost the sales and popularity of scooters in Nepal.
As it goes without saying, cars aren’t affordable for everyone. So the next choice of vehicles in line are either scooters or motorcycles, which are several times less expensive than a car. At the same time, motorcycles are generally considered superior to scooters, the aspects of a scooter that make it so lucrative lie in its simplicity and easy learning curve.
If you want a good and reliable scooter to invest a relatively sizeable amount of money in, then have a look at the Honda Aviator. Honda is a household name in the Nepali automobile market, and this scooter is one of the best selling models from Honda’s scooter lineups. The Honda Aviator is set at a price of about Rs. 215,900.
The Honda Aviator has a very sleek and classic body design. The body size is very compact and lightweight, which makes it easy to control and manoeuvre. This scooter is available in four colour schemes: Pearl Igneous Black, Rebel Red Metalic, Matt Selene Silver Metallic and Pearl Amazing White. These are some popular colour choices, but if you want something more to your liking, you can always get a paint job done.
Specifications
Let’s look at some finer specifics and numbers to get an overall idea of how the Honda Aviator performs, at least on paper.
Engine
Engine type: Air-cooled, four strokes, SI
Displacement 109.19 cc
Max power: 8.03 PS @ 7000 rpm
Max torque: 8.94 Nm @ 5500 rpm
No. of cylinders: 1
Cooling system: Air-cooled
Valve per cylinder: 2
Drive Type: Belt drive
Starting mechanism: Kick and self-start
Fuel supply: Carburetor
Clutch: V-Matic
Transmission: Automatic
Gear Box: CVT
Frames and suspension
Frame type: Underbone
Front suspension: Telescopic suspension
Rear suspension: Spring loaded hydraulic type
Tires and wheels
Tire Type: Tubeless tires
Front tire size: 90/90-12
Rear tire size: 90/100-10
Wheel type: Alloy
Front-wheel size: 304.8 mm
Rear-wheel size: 254 mm
Brakes
Front brakes: Disc 190 mm
Rear brakes: Drum 130 mm (CBS)
Electricals
Headlamp: 12V 35/35 W
Battery: 12V (MF)
Battery capacity: 3 Ah
Dimensions
Length: 1802 mm
Width: 703 mm
Height: 1162 mm
Saddle height: 790 mm
Ground Clearance: 145 mm
Wheelbase: 1256 mm
Kerb Weight: 106 kg
Fuel tank capacity: 6 L
Mileage: 49 km/L
Now that the specifications are done let’s briefly look at the features and functionalities the Honda Aviator offers.
General
The Honda Aviator features a respectable 20 L under-seat storage space, a front hook and an additional retractable rear hook where you can store or hang your belongings and bags reliably. It also has a 4-in1 lock feature with which you can open your seat at the push of a button. Opening the centre will give you access to a charging port that can charge your electrical devices on the go. An annoying design on this scooter is opening your seat to access the fuel cap to refuel your scooter.
Console
The scooter features a fully analogue console; this is essentially a preference thing where “old-school” enthusiasts prefer to have analogue consoles, but digitals are undoubtedly much easier to read for most people. However, since the scooter is designed with a “classic” look, the analogue console fits right in.
Lights
The headlights on this scooter are LED, but the tail light and turn signal indicator are halogen bulbs, which is a bit of a disappointment. It also has an Automatic Headlamp On (AHO) to increase your visibility to others on the road and a low fuel indicator to warn you when the fuel gets low.
Tires
The scooter has tubeless tires. Compared to conventional tubed tires, tubeless tires are lighter, less prone to puncture through internal pinching, don’t cause inherent friction, are less affected by low air pressure and improve stability while driving at high speed. The sealant inside the tires can seal up a puncture hole quickly, allowing you to pull up to the side of the road if a puncture does happen.
Combined Braking System (CBS)
As with most other scooters from Honda, the Aviator also has CBS, or as Honda likes to call it: the Honda Combi Brake system. This does that whenever you engage the rear brake, the front brake is applied as well. This dramatically increases your safety as the chances of skidding in emergencies or terrible driving conditions is significantly reduced.
Carburettors
Arguably the worst aspect of the Aviator is its fuel supply system. When the market is shifting towards better systems like Fuel Injection, the Aviator still relies on outdated carburettors. Carburettors are worse than FI when it comes to performance, fuel economy and durability. Not to mention one of the more significant concerns, which are emissions. While this isn’t the end of the world, the FI system will add more appeal to the Aviator, and hopefully, Honda will deliver in the coming years.
If you are interested in purchasing the Honda Aviator, you can visit https://honda.com.np/motorcycle/aviator/ and scroll down to see available financing options (currently EMI only). The auto calculator will estimate how much it will cost you for the EMI plan you are deciding to go with.
