Scooters have become one of the most popular means of private transportation in Nepal. They are the cheapest form of motor vehicles available unless you want to make the argument that electric bikes count as motor vehicles. Regardless of what your stance is on classifying scooters as motorcycles, what everyone will agree on is their easy learning curve. Compared to conventional motorcycles, scooters are much easier to learn because they don’t have the seemingly complex mechanism motorcycles do. Since scooters are cheaper to manufacture and purchase, they are also cheaper to repair compared to other vehicles. All in all, a scooter is a relatively inexpensive investment that doesn’t affect your wallet too heavily and gets simple driving done easily. The only downside to scooters is their inability to traverse uneven terrain, but then again, they aren’t meant for off-road use, to begin with and they can handle city driving perfectly well.
If you want a scooter that isn’t too low on the cheap side which may compromise its quality or too high on the expensive side which may dry up your pockets, you can look for the Honda Dio DLX. As you can tell, this scooter is from the popular brand Honda. Honda is a well-known and reputed brand that already adds appeal to the scooter. Originally starting as just Honda Dio, the model has undergone several improvements over the years to finally be launched as Honda Dio DLX. The DLX, which stands for deluxe, is the premium tier of the model currently available. The price of this scooter is set at Rs.2,12,900
The Honda Dio DLX has a sturdy body with a conventional shape design and the size is also fairly standard for scooters. This isn’t to say that the Dio DLX is a generic-looking scooter, in fact, it looks very sharp and stylish. It is available for purchase in four different colours: Dazzle Yellow Metallic, Matte Marshal Green Metallic, Matte Axis Grey Metall, Pearl Igneous Black, as Honda likes to call them. Now, let’s have a look at the specifications and functionalities the scooter has to offer:
Specifications
The following is an overview of the Honda Dio DLX’s specifications:
Engine
Type: Fan cooled, 4 stroke, SI engine
Displacement: 109.51 cc
Max power: 7.76 PS @ 8000 rpm
Max torque: 9 Nm @ 4750 rpm
No. of cylinders: 1
Cooling system: Air cooled
Drive type: Belt drive
Start: Kick and self start
Fuel supply: Fuel injection
Clutch: Automatic
Transmission: Automatic
Gear Box: CVT
Frames and suspension
Frame type: Under bone
Front suspension: Telescopic suspension
Rear suspension: S3-step adjustable, spring loaded hydraulic
Tires and wheels
Tire type: Tubeless tires
Front tire size: 90/100-10
Rear tire size: 90/100-10
Wheel type: Alloy
Front wheel size: 304.8 mm
Rear wheel size: 254 mm
Brakes
Front brakes: Drum 130 mm
Rear brakes: Drum 130 mm (CBS)
Electricals
Head lamp: 12V 35/35W
Battery: 12V 3Ah (MF)
Battery Capacity: 3 Ah
Dimensions
Length: 1808 mm
Width: 723 mm
Height: 1150 mm
Ground Clearance: 160 mm
Wheelbase: 1260 mm
Kerb Weight: 105 kg
Fuel capacity: 5.2 L
Mileage: 48 km/L
General
The scooter has a sizeable 18L under-seat storage space and two retractable hooks: a front hook and a rear hook where you can hang your bags if the under-seat storage isn’t enough for you. You can also find a charging socket in the under-seat storage space to charge your electrical devices on the go. It also features a convenient 4-in-1 lock switch to open your seat or external fuel cap automatically.
Console
The console is fully digital which means the speedometer, odometer and trip meter are all digital. Additionally, there are light indicators for low beam, high beam, time display, fuel gauge and service due indicator. This design makes it easy to navigate and use the console quickly without having to pay too much attention to it.
Lights
The headlight, taillight and turn signal are all LED. This means you can get superior illumination that also consumes less energy and is more reliable. It also has Daytime Running Lights (DRL) which will stay on at all times to help you become visible to other motorists on the road. Low fuel indicator and Distance to empty indicator are also present for added functionality.
Tires
The tires on this scooter are tubeless. This means they are lighter, less prone to puncture through internal pinching, don’t cause inherent friction, less affected by low air pressure and improve stability while driving at high speed. If a puncture does happen, the sealant present in the tires can seal the puncture and give you enough time to safely park off the road. In summary, they are superior to tubed tires.
Combined Braking System (CBS)
With CBS, when the rear brake lever is engaged, both the front and the rear brakes are activated simultaneously. In the event of an emergency or bad driving condition, if the driver applies only one brake, it can cause the scooter to skid and may result in an accident. CBS avoids the possibility of this disaster by providing better control over the scooter.
Fuel Injection system
The Honda Dio DLX uses a Fuel Injection system instead of the traditional carburettors. FI offers better performance, fuel economy, durability and produces less emission compared to carburettors. FIs have largely replaced carburettors in the Western region, but countries like Nepal still use carburettors. India recently made the switch to FI and while we don’t have any major plans for a change of this massive scale, it’s still better to use vehicles with FI if you can. They are better in every way imaginable and you’re also helping the plant a bit while you’re at it.
If you are interested in purchasing the Honda Dio DLX or the standard version, you can visit https://honda.com.np/motorcycle/dio and scroll down to see available financing options. The auto calculator there will give you an estimate of how much money you will be needing if you opt for a method like EMI.
