NEW DIO

                                     HONDA DIO

The college-goer's heart throb, the Honda Dio has seen a complete revamp this year. We get our hands on the scooter every teenager wants and find out just what Honda has been up to

While most guys in the country lust for motorcycles, fast and aggressive, more often than not, at least in the urban setting, chances have it that the first two-wheeler that everyone gets their hands on as soon as they turn 18 is an automatic scooter. Scooters are usually the underdogs in the two-wheeler market though they are in great demand from every sort of buyer, from college kids to men and women of all ages. And there is no denying that the scooter that really rules the roost in India is the Honda Activa. But as good a scooter as the Activa is, it does lack panache. So for those who want a bit of flamboyance while keeping the Activa’s practicality, Honda has been offering another gem for quite a few years now – the Dio.

So finally at the Delhi Auto Expo 2012, Honda unveiled the next generation of its scooter which will cater to the younger masses. And the first thing that really strikes you is the completely redesigned front end of the bike. The trapezoidal headlight and the two sliver like indicators have been replaced by a massive new unit that incorporates the headlight and indicators into one near seamless piece that is sprawled all over the front body panel. The new Dio of course retains the headlight-less unbroken handlebar shroud from the older bike and though its design is pretty similar, it does sport a few additional lines and curves. The front fender is new as well as the centre panels which connect the front of the bike to the rear have also seen a massive revamp and even feature a jutting out portion on either side of the bike which doubles as the passenger footrest. The side, the tail, the massive tail light cluster with integrated clear lens indicators, the grab rail – everything is new. In fact, apart from the tyres and a few bits and bobs like the switchgear and levers, you won’t find a single external bit that has been carried over from the earlier bike.