Honda Activa is iconic on the crowded streets of Indian cities but few other vehicles have achieved that status.With the recent launch of its seventh generation, Honda hopes to maintain the Activa’s scooter dominance for another two decades.
And it has announced more substantial changes than previous updates in this one time alone!!After two weeks with Honda’s new Activa 7G in various riding conditions.
This also means that while traditionally reliable and constant, Honda has also managed to mix in innovation. It is this blend of old and new which has made the Activa a household name wherever people are awake across sub-continent.
Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India’s Marketing Director, Rajesh Sharma, explained to us: “The 7G represents the most important update to the Activa platform since we switched over from 3G models.
We’ve maintained our core DNA yet we’ve also brought in technologies that were previously reserved for premium products.”Design: Familiar but contemporary The Activa 7G still retains its familiar figure at first glance-a conscious choice from Honda to keep the massive number of clients who appreciate its understated visuals.
But when we take a closer look, we see that the bodywork has been further shaped and sculpted (especially up front and around sides) so it appears more aggressive without straying too far from what has gone before.
Initially, the greatest differences are to be found in the front. A fully-LED lighting set-up up front creates an absolutely unique day-time running light signature.
Not only does it make the vehicle much more visible – whose looks appeal to today? On top of that, the revamped instrument console now incorporates a larger digital display in addition to analog speedometer.
This gives drivers essential details such as real-time fuel efficiency, when their next service is due based upon mileage covered and even predicted range of travel.
“They’ve been smart in avoiding a fake look,” Priya Verma comments. She is a design critic who has tracked the Activa since it was launched onto global markets.
“The changes are meaningful rather than cosmetic, showing respect for what this vehicle has to do while also being up-to-date.”
Performance: The Competitive Edge
Honda put a new 124.9 cc engine in the old shell, and updated it to include Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI) technology which controls the amount and timing of fuel fed into each cylinder with greater precision.
This ensures efficient operations at all engine speeds and loads-even with big throttle openings. A minor increase has come to the power delivery of this motor with 8.2 horsepower at 6500 rpm and 10.4 Nm torque logwood at 5000rpm-American units that make performance livable yet usable.
In congested traffic in Delhi, the first thing that is noticeable about refinement. Vibrations have been greatly reduced across all speed ranges, while throttle response feels more acute than before what was available on this motorcycle model.
The stepless automatic CVT ensures smooth power delivery, and even when starting off from rest with a passenger on board a certain speed can be maintained.
One satisfied user is Vijay Singh, who runs a courier business with the Activa as his daily transport.
“The engine sounds smoother and is stronger over a wider speed range than before,” he commented,” I’m particularly pleased about the new start-stop system factor: it starts up immediately without any delay as before-what older models had.”
Thanks to the advanced ACG Starter system, starts are now virtually silent–an important improvement for early morning departures from residential areas.
A 10% increase in fuel efficiency compared to the 6G model was teased by Honda, and our test results showed 60–65 km/l from mixed use of 125cc scooters routinely used in traffic stop-and-go.
Riding Quality: A Giant Leap Forward
The most significant change is probably the redesigned front suspension. Honda has finally installed a telescopic fork in the Activa, replacing the swingarm fork which has been a constant since this first model. Together with its larger 12-inch front wheel (the rear tire remains 10 inches), this change transforms handling.
On Mumbai’s famously bumpy streets, the new suspension cruises through all cauliflower rough roads with a good deal more refinement than before.
Even over large potholes that might have upset earlier generations of scooters, this vehicle remains stable. At the rear, they retain twin hydraulic shock absorbers but have reset these to go with the front suspension’s restyled character.”
“The machine has made large improvements,” says riding instructor Anand Kulkarni, who builds on 15 years’experience.
“With a larger front wheel and proper telescopic forks, it will perform better during emergency maneuvers – something particularly important for newcomers in the chaotic driving conditions of India.”
The front disc brake now provides noticeably improved braking performance, accompanied by better modulation and more powerful deceleration.
The combined braking system has been finetuned to achieve a closer balance between front and rear; at that moment when inexperienced riders stop suddenly, their bike is less likely to flip over.
Practical Improvements
Honda conducted user surveys and found there were plenty of places to improve. The underseat compartment has been reworked to hold a helmet of medium size and fit the available space more cleverly than before.
A USB charging port is now standard on every model – a minor but indispensable convenience for today’s urban rider.
The external filler cap for the fuel tank still comes in handy even though it’s on top of an obsolete design trend used to avoid having two separate bits open when refueling.
With the new multi-function switch, riders are free to switch between various modes of instrument display and use the headlight passing flash in a remarkably simple way.
Ground clearance has been marginally increased to 175mm, a thinly veiled concession to this perennial bugbear on waterlogged monsoon roads.
The floor board has a bit more real estate, which larger riders will appreciate – and it can also be used to carry items between one’s own feet.
After switching from a competitor’s scooter to the new Activa, Ravi Desai observes, “These may be little changes, but every day, it makes a big difference.
I no longer have to hang bags from the hook as often thanks to added storage space. Plus, there’s always the charging port (never let me down!” This upgrade in convenience makes for an easier life over time.
Honda Activa 7G come for Gymy and Slimy Girls
With prices ranging from ₹77,000 to ₹85,000 (ex-showroom), the Activa 7G is positioned at a premium level over foes such as TVS Jupiter and Suzuki Access.
But Honda’s extensive service network network and the Activa’s proven robustness with high resale values still sees many buyers ready to pay this money.
Three variants of the 7G will be available–Standard, Deluxe, and Premium. The Deluxe and Premium models come with alloy wheels, disc brakes in front brakes, and call and SMS alerts through a paired smartphone with Bluetooth connectivity.
From its most significant update in years, 7G makes the Activa–Honda’s best-selling scooter–more competitive than ever on a highly competitive market.
Enhancements like these are what ensure its continued success over time: ride quality, engine refinement and thoughtful practical features. Verdict: A The price is high but justified
For the millions of Indians who depend on a scooter every day, the Activa still offers the perfect combination of reliability, efficiency and practicability.
The 7G shows too truckload that Honda is prepared to move further from its original design than in previous generations.
This means not just trying to improve what already works but also finding new markets and applications in the future for such successful models.