Honda Activa 125 (BS-6) Ownership Review: Flying Like a Bird Over Crowded Streets

[mayankdixit]

Does 2013 HET first gen model activa have adjustable shocks ? @mayankji

I can't tell about 2013 model but I already have 2016 model Activa 125 BS3 ,and it doesn't have adjustable shockers!
I am posting 2 pics of the same scooter which will clarify this doubt.

 

[mayankdixit]

I realised the value of my Activa during Covid era. Very necessary and handy during lockdown, for bringing groceries and milk , and for small errands near my home. In fact it was used more often than the Nexon ,because of various types of restrictions in the market around lockdown period.
To maintain social distancing I actually needed to be Flying like a bird over crowded streets.


My Activa has a space in the front cowl, meant for phone /wallet/coins/small items purpose. I found out that its a nice place for my sanitisers. It just fits in,and no risk of spillage.

Masks are norm nowadays.Just so that I don't forget to wear one when going in the market,I keep a fresh one on the handle bar,before wearing it.

 

[deville_56]

I realised the value of my Activa during Covid era. Very necessary and handy during lockdown, for bringing groceries and milk , and for small errands near my home. In fact it was used more often than the Nexon ,because of various types of restrictions in the market around lockdown period.


My Activa has a space in the front cowl, meant for phone /wallet/coins/small items purpose. I found out that its a nice place for my sanitisers. It just fits in,and no risk of spillage.
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Masks are norm nowadays.Just so that I don't forget to wear one when going in the market,I keep a fresh one on the handle bar,before wearing it.
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Same here. Got a spartan Honda Dio entrusted with me for safekeeping belonging to my friend's mom. Running all errands on that nowadays with all the bikes sitting home with 0 miles clocked since lockdown. Pull the choke and cranks on first start even after sitting idle for 10-14 days. Two weeks of supplies can be loaded under the seat and the platform. Easy parking. Economical.

 

[mayankdixit]

After 6 months of teasing me by repeated discharging episodes, battery of my Activa 125 BS6 finally packed up fully and totally. It refused to start the next day, even after 5 to 10 kms of run the previous day.The morons at the AXIS Honda only made matters worse by citing low driving during lockdown as the reason behind battery failure.They said they can't replace the battery just like that as its OEM TATA battery and they will write a letter to them.You go to them with the letter ,then they will check the battery,and fill water/electrolyte if its less and again check by fully charging it overnight and only when they are 100% sure that the battery is not holding its charge ,they will replace the battery. This whole process will take few days. I told them that my other Activa 125 starts on the 1st go even after 7 days of continuous parking.They had no answer to that. I said the problem was from day one,then how can you blame long parking during the lockdown as the sole cause?? Again they had no answer.
They checked the rectifier unit and diagnosed it to be working properly. They said that battery is also taking charge/charging. But the problem was ,it's not holding /retaining charge.
Frustrated I bought a new battery out of my own pocket, even when the original one was within the warranty period. I got only 100 rs for that battery. You may call me impatient but I am having so much relief that I can't tell you. Atleast the scooter is now drivable !!



I replaced it by myself at my home only. Battery location of new Activa is below the footboard.

 

[VISHNUCARCRAZY]

Check the Rectifier unit (which charges the battery) , it might be having issue too .

 

[mayankdixit]

New battery is working fine as expected. It is a 5A battery. Earlier Activa had a 4A battery. No issues with the charging. Had the charging unit been the culprit, I would have known it by now. This proves that the battery was a faulty one from the factory itself.
Meanwhile I got the scooter inspected for the recall which was released earlier this year by Honda. This lock down and all was a major deterrent for folks to move about on the roads,so now when it is open there is a lot of crowd for this recall thing.
They changed quite a few things in the scooter. I am relieved that I went through it and I will recommend all the owners to do the same.

 

[mayankdixit]

Check the Rectifier unit (which charges the battery) , it might be having issue too .

Thanks for the heads up! Checked already. its fine.

They checked the rectifier unit and diagnosed it to be working properly. They said that battery is also taking charge/charging. But the problem was ,it's not holding /retaining charge.

New battery is working fine as expected. It is a 5A battery. Earlier Activa had a 4A battery. No issues with the charging. Had the charging unit been the culprit, I would have known it by now. This proves that the battery was a faulty one from the factory itself.

As is obvious,my problem is totally different from that TVS Jupiter wiring problem which we are reading nowadays. My battery was faulty from day 1.

 

[mayankdixit]

Just a comparison of the backlight ( + indicators)cluster of my 2 successive generation Activa 125.



BS6 Activa 125

BS3 Activa 125

I think overall shape is same,only styling elements have been changed,with more chrome in the newer gen.

 

[bhvm]

It makes sense to have these the same Bolt pattern/Fit size so as to retain the body structure and chasis. Hence designers Play around in the moulds of same outer dimensions.
I have heard someone installed 2nd or 3rd gen XUV headlights in 1st gen. They are essentially drop in. Though not sure about the wiring pattern.

 

[deville_56]

Though they look similar, they are entirely different. Even the body panels are different. Being a Honda, there might be scope for swapping the entire body panels and lights since chassis is almost identical, unless and until they thought of redesigning it.

 

[mayankdixit]

I got the scooter inspected for the recall which was released earlier this year by Honda.
They changed quite a few things in the scooter. I am relieved that I went through it and I will recommend all the owners to do the same.

These are the pics of the recall.




New fan cover

Dismantling everything

New alloy wheel with air nozzle and cap

defective fan cover changed

this cover is old and was defective

new dipstick

New silencer cover is a single molded piece with fan cover

petrol overflow pipe

dust went inside the defective oil filler cap,bit I caught the mistake and wiped it as much as possible

newer silencer cover is metallic and not plastic like earlier versions. This one is more sturdy.

Scooter on the lift with dismantling of fan cover

New foot rest installed.This one has a different design and mounting points are different. I know as I tried to use old ones spare footrest and it was not fitting at all.

 

[mayankdixit]

My Activa 125 BS6 is consistent in giving an average of 50km/ lr . It's more than the earlier version.

Although both weigh almost same. I think it is the advancement in technology.

 

[Nairrk]

Indeed, that's good mileage you are getting especially when you use the two wheeler for short distance drives.!

 

[mayankdixit]

My Activa 125 BS6 is due for 2nd free service.I have purchased the oil beforehand as this is a different grade oil MA grade(5W30)from the BS4 Activa MB grade(10W30) .For the past 3 months I have been visiting the Honda ASS, only for this oil,and it was in short supply,maybe due to change in packing or maybe due to covid .They were filing the regular oil in its place in all the vehicles ! They also recommended me the regular oil,saying it's all the same in the bottle and nothing happens to the engine and all the regular crap.
I have also purchased the air filter,for future service,in case this becomes shor supplied too.

This is the bill for the BS4 Activa oil

While this is the bill for the new BS6 Activa oil

So many different taxes added on the actual price of oil !!

 

[bhvm]

These are the same manufacturers which Void your warranty and stamp your Service book when you use Oil of ANOTHER BRAND but SAME GRADE.
Now they are suddenly OK with a different grade...