ENGINE
The Activa-i runs the same 109cc HET engine powering the trio of the Activa, Dio and the Aviator. The HET engine features an offset crank for efficient slide of the piston, a low tension piston ring, lighter cycle parts and improved bearing oil seals. A highly ignitable nickel spark plug replaces the regular spark plug for better combustion of fuel fed in through an optimized induction port. The pulley converter too has been tweaked for better power delivery.
The engine feels peppy and retains the trademark Honda smoothness, but till the 70 kph mark- post which the Activa-i starts feeling gruff. It was surprising to note the difference in refinement when compared to the regular Activa despite sharing the same engine. On one hand where the Activa would maintain composure even while going north of 80 kph, the Activa-i starts complaining at a full 10 kph less. Top speed recorded on the run was 85 kph, but one wouldn’t really like to keep the Activa-i running at those speeds for the above cited reason.
Coming to the most important aspect- mileage. Subjected to a run of 250 kms comprising of slow moving city traffic to extended highway runs, the Activa-i returned figures of 47 kpl (approx). Though this might come as a surprise when compared to our review of the Activa HET, where it returned a close to claimed 55 kpl- the Activa-i was ridden two up most of the time and put to prolonged high speed cruising on the Mumbai-Nasik Highway. We expect the figures to improve with a more restraint style of riding and get close to Honda’s dream mileage claim of 60 kpl.
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