Honda Activa History | The National Scooter of India

Start the engine. Engage a gear while pressing the clutch. Then release the clutch while giving some throttle. After attaining a speed of let’s say 20kmph, again press the clutch, increase the gear ratio and release the clutch again while simultaneously accelerating. And not to forget, same goes while slowing down, engage the clutch, and downshift while braking. Or you can simply buy a Honda Activa and leave the gear shifting on the CVT transmission. This is what has made Honda Activa best selling two-wheeler in the country. But when did it all start? When were the people able to get freedom from the continuous gear shifting? Let’s take a look!

2001 – Honda Activa 1st Generation

How many of you remember the heavy Honda Eterno? It was a scooter with gears. The 1st generation of Honda Activa was based on the Eterno in terms of looks. It was powered by a 102cc engine that was capable of churning out 7hp of power and a peak torque of 8Nm. The engine was paired to a CVT transmission so that there was no hassle of shifting the gears. This setup allowed the Honda Activa to reach a top speed of around 80 kmph.

Talking about the design, it was pretty basic with a whole metal body. It is said that this generation of Activa can be considered to be the most durable one, even more than the current ones. The foot area of the Activa was spacious and so was the seat.

This scooter became an instant hit in the market posing a great competition to motorcycles like Hero Honda Splendor.

2009 – Activa 2G – A due upgrade

After 8 years since the launch, Honda decided to upgrade the Activa. 2nd generation of the Activa was rolled out. It was the first one to get the combi-brake system which added to the safety of the scooter. The engine was a more powerful 109.2cc 4-stroke unit capable of churning out 7.68hp of power and 8.79Nm of torque.

The Honda Activa 2G had a new instrument cluster. It also had a new design with a better-looking taillamp and headlight. Honda’s designers took their time and made a scooter that still can be seen running on the roads as this generation was running up till 2015.

2015 – Honda Activa 3G

Honda was facing tough competition from the likes of Hero Motocorp in the Indian market. Hero Motocorp was able to sustain their spot in the market even after the JV of Hero and Honda came to an end. Honda had to come up with something better to sustain too.

So they came up with the Activa 3G. This generation of Activa is known to be the generation when the company perfected in terms of design and there has been no major change since then. Honda also introduced tubeless tyres to the Activa in this generation. Under the hood (Activa’s seat panel is actually a hood for the engine), Activa now had the Honda’s Eco Technology (HET) which meant more fuel mileage. The 109.2cc engine was now producing 8hp of power and a torque of 8.83Nm. This scooter with increased power could now touch a top speed of over 85 kmph.

New colours were also introduced. In terms of features, this generation was a fully loaded one with combi-brakes, larger headlamps, cushioned seats for more comfort, low fuel indicators and much more.

2017 – Activa 4G launched

As said earlier, 3G was the generation when Honda decided that they have perfected the design of Activa. So there was no upgrade in the design department. Features-wise also, Activa 4G saw no changes. The only change was the degradation of the engine to meet the BS4 emission norms. This upgrade did add to the torque churning of the engine as the unit was now producing a torque of 9Nm.

The 5th and the 6th Generations

These two generations were launched in a very short interval of time. In the 5th generation, Honda improved the build quality of the Activa and also added more colour options to offer. It also featured new LED DRLs at the front and the rear tail light was also redesigned.

Then the BS6 emission norms kicked in. And Honda had to upgrade the Activa in order to meet the new norms. So Activa 6G was launched which is now equipped with a programmed FI system. The power figures for the 109.2 cc engines are the same as that of before. Honda also decided to give the external fuel lid to Activa, which was demanded for a long time now. The ACG starter technology of Honda makes this scooter one of the most silently starting ones in the market.

Honda Activa 125 – The most powerful Activa to date!

The Japanese automaker also launched a 124cc engine powered Honda Activa. In terms of design, it resembles the 6G. In terms of power, it produces 8.18hp of power and 10.3Nm of torque. It is also equipped with the programmed FI and ACG silent starter tech. Features-wise also, the Honda Activa 125 shares a lot with the Activa 6G.

So this was the whole ride with the Activa since its inception into the Indian market. It is the most loved scooter in India and there are plenty of reasons for this. And we will get back to the reasons some other day. What are your thoughts on the Honda Activa and its journey? Let us know in the comments section below.

Have a look: Hero Splendor History | The National Motorcycle of India