Stylish and graceful

Stylish and graceful

Grazia means grace in Italian, and the new Honda Grazia is indeed graceful. Its European styling also makes it pleasant and attractive. With a hint of sporting aspirations, the Grazia, joining the wide variety of gearless scooters the company offers, is well equipped. The engine, displacing 125cc, and producing 8.5bhp at 6500rpm, is borrowed from the Activa 125 engine. The second Honda offering in the 125cc category after the Activa 125, the Grazia will compete with the likes of Yamaha Fascino, Vespa S and  Aprilia SR150. It is a segment that is rising even though the run-of-the-mill scooters like the Activa may still be a better earner. 

LED HEAD LAMP
Cleverly tooled by borrowing the tried and tested aggregates of other Honda gearless scooters, the Grazia looks contemporary. Projected as a motoscooter (both, the boy and the girl, will ride), it is the first among gearless scooters to flaunt an LED head lamp. A compact glovebox behind the front apron could hold a cell phone or something similar in size. The four-in-one key slot is cleverly designed, and next to it is the seat release button. 

‘ECO’ SPEED INDICATOR
The all-digital instrument console of the scooter includes a three-step ‘eco’ speed indicator, and a tachometer. It is another first on a scooter. Using Activa 125’s under-bone chassis, albeit with changes, the Grazia is plastic bodied. Weighing 107kg, the scooter is fitted with telescopic forks at front and a monoshock rear with the engine-transmission assembly acting as a swing arm. The front wheel is of 12-inch dia, the rear wheel is of 10-inch dia. Alloy wheels are available on the two top-spec variants. The top-spec variant also gets a 190mm dia front disc brake; others get a 130mm dia drum. The Combi-Brake System (CBS) is standard. 

TOP SPEED CLOSE TO 90KMPH
Generating a peak torque of 10.5Nm at 5000rpm, the Grazia accelerates well and shows no signs of stress. It climbs to speeds in the region between 60 and 70kmph without any hiccups. The tachometer reads 5750rpm at 60kmph, and 6750rpm at 70kmph. The ‘eco’ speed indicator has three bars that light up fully when the engine is in the most efficient range. As the throttle is turned, and the efficiency recedes, each bar begins to extinguish. The ‘sweet spot’ of the Grazia is between 40 to 70kmph. It is in this range that the scooter best performs in terms of acceleration as well as refinement. Capable of clocking a top speed of close to 90kmph, the scooter, at good speeds, stays planted and does not provide a feeling of being strained. Complementing the ability of the scooter to perform is the way it rides and handles. 

VERDICT
Cornering at good speeds without any sign of distress, the Grazia exhibits good dynamic ability. The ride may have a firm edge to it, but turns pliant as the speed increases. The tubeless tyres, 90/90-12 at front and 90/100-10 at the rear, display an ability to grip the surface well. The brakes exert a good bite and help the scooter shed speed. Priced at Rs 59,516 (ex-showroom) for the standard variant, and Rs 63,888 for the deluxe variant, the scooter comes across as slightly costlier than the Access. Stylish and well-equipped, the Grazia adds to the growing number of premium gearless scooters that are well-sorted ergonomically, in terms of dynamics and ride, and in terms of performance. 

Pros: Stylish, well-equipped, performance, handling
Cons: A bit pricey, scope for improvement in some areas

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