Honda Activa 6G Review
Bike Tested: Honda Activa 6G; Road Test No. 1184; Test Location: Mumbai
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 80,200/-
Honda has made a brilliant comeback with the 6th generation of the Activa
Exactly 20 years back Honda came up with its first scooter for the Indian market and called it the Activa. We have now got the 6th generation update for the Activa though it still has the same aesthetics of the first Activa. However, the new-gen Activa has got 6 new changes but a major change seems to be the inclusion of a telescopic suspension! We ride to find what’s new and has it gotten any better?
Motor Quest: The Honda Activa was launched in the year 2000 and it has been on sale for the last two decades. It is also the most selling scooter in India with 3 sub-models on offer while also being the leader in the complete scooter segment.
The Activa 6G is available in a total of 6 different colour options
Styling – The Activa 6G gets a lot of design inspiration from the BS6 Honda Activa 125. The front facia is similar to the 5G as well as the 125 but misses out on a DRL. The lower half gets a new 12-inch wheel at the front with telescopic forks. The side panels are similar but the tail is completely new and looks just like the 125. It is bigger with a new tail light design while it has an external fuel filler cap too. The dimensions have also increased making it longer than the 5G and almost similar to the 125. The 6G, however, misses out on alloy wheels while it gets standard wheels both at the front and rear.
The console has gone back in time and it is rather simple now
Instrument Cluster and Switchgear – The Activa 6G has gotten back to the simplest instrument cluster. The 5G had an analogue-digital unit, now it is back to just an analogue console. It is a completely new design but displays only 3 basic bits of information – the speedometer, odometer and fuel gauge. It has PGM-FI written in the centre which means that the Activa 6G now gets FI too. The switchgear quality has been the same and it is not very interesting. The Activa 6G is the first scooter in the Honda line-up to get an engine kill switch integrated with the starter button!
Cushioning on the seat is better while there is a bigger grab-rail too
Ergonomics – The Honda Activa was known for its comfortable ergonomics and it is the same case for the 6G. Although, things have gotten better as the Activa is now more comfortable and spacious too. The seat height is slightly taller while it is still easy for shorter riders. But, the seat has gotten softer providing more comfort to the rider as well as the pillion. The footboard area has also become spacious as it has increased by 23 mm. Pillion foot pegs are now finished in rubber which does not bother the rider much. While the handlebar is still small, the mirrors have a new design and they give a good view of what’s behind.
Activa 6G has turbulent air intake technology which improves mileage by 10%
Performance – The Honda Activa 6G’s major change is a brand new engine. The cubic capacity is still similar at 109cc while the bore is smaller with a longer stroke. The motor revs slightly higher while it produces 7.6 BHP and 8.7 Nm of torque. The BS6 norms have led the power to drop a little while the inclusion of FI has made the scooter quite linear and smoother. The low-end is just as good but not the top-end while the mid-range is very strong and the scooter can comfortably cruise at 50-65 km/hr. It has also got a super-silent starter too just like the Activa 125 which is crazy! This Activa returned 44 km/l in our test making it quite fuel-efficient too. The engine noise is reduced by a good margin while the exhaust has a typical Honda note.
The rear suspension is still bouncy while the front has improved a lot
Riding Dynamics – With a slightly comfortable ergonomic triangle the 6G is fun to ride too. It does duty with the same underbone frame but the new suspension setup gives it a plush ride. The rear suspension is now a new 3-step adjustable unit while it still has bouncy feedback. The telescopic suspension at the front and a bigger 12-inch tyre have aided in giving better feedback to the handlebar. Leaning into corners has also become confidence inspiring as the front-end doesn’t feel too light now. Filtering through traffic has also become easy while the straight-line stability is still good. The tyres are narrow and you might feel the lack of grip as soon as you encounter some gravel or dust, it is fine otherwise. There isn’t an option of a disc brake, the Activa 6G gets only a drum brake setup with CBS as standard.
Activa 6G has the best-in-class ground clearance of 171 mm
Verdict – The Activa in its new avatar has got a lot of changes. While some of these changes are better and useful, some of the hardware has been taken away due to cost-cutting. The 6G is available in 2 variants – Standard and Deluxe. While the test scooter was the Deluxe model, the Standard variant only misses out on an LED headlight. The Activa 6G is no longer the cheapest scooter too, demanding quite a bargain for just a workhorse! But if someone still wants to get an Activa with all the tech, the Activa 125 comes at a premium and it does make a lot more sense over the 6G.
The new rear does look just like the Activa 125
What’s Cool
* Reliable scooter with a very good build quality
* BS6 FI engine returns brilliant fuel economy
* Ride quality is plush with decent riding dynamics
What’s Not So Cool
* It isn’t the cheapest 110cc scooter
* Multiple variants don’t offer any good hardware
* Disc brakes should have been offered at least as an option
The Honda Activa 6G is the first Honda scooter to get an engine kill switch
Honda Activa 6G Specifications
* Engine: 109.51cc, Air-Cooled, Single-Cylinder, FI, BS6
* Power: 7.6 BHP @ 8000 RPM
* Torque: 8.7 Nm @ 5250 RPM
* Fuel Type: Petrol
* Fuel Consumption: 45 km/l
* Frame: Under Bone Chassis
* Tyres: 90/90/12 (Front), 90/100/10 (Rear)
* Suspension: Telescopic Forks (Front), 3-Step Adjustable Spring Loaded Hydraulic (Rear)
* Brakes: 130 mm Drum (Front), 130 mm Drum (Rear); CBS
Honda Activa 6G Dimensions
* Length x Width x Height: 1833 mm x 697 mm x 1156 mm
* Wheelbase: 1260 mm
* Ground Clearance: 171 mm
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 5.3-litres
* Kerb weight: 107 Kgs (dry)
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