New Honda Cliq First Ride Review

Aug 27, 2017
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The Japanese brand Honda Two-wheeler which consistently been serving to its customers since past many decades, from premium motorcycles to regular motorcycles and scooters Honda has created a benchmark. It has marked many of its products as the legendary products, which people seek them by their names. Premium racing brands like Honda CBR 1000R and CBR 600 have urged the riders to own them who look for powerful motorcycles. Products like Unicorn, Shine, and recently launched Hornet have truly dominated the market. Honda has never left any segment to rule over and thus the resplendent product named Activa has been ruling the market of scooters. In fact, the segment of scooters in India is being known by this product (Honda Activa) since long.

With the unilateral success of these scooters, Honda has decided to keep on working on the same segment and let the riders get some new experience within this segment. Honda Navi, launched in 2016, was the result of it. But somehow this particular concept didn’t get much response from the riders or we can say the Monkey Bike (Honda Navi) couldn’t impress the scooter seeking customers. So, Honda had decided to work upon different concept. So what if the Navi’s concept was not much impressive, no issues with that we’ll bring something new within the same segment, within the same technology (Honda’s perspective). And thus the all new Honda Cliq has got introduced to the market, for the riders.

Let’s take the new scooter for a spin and find out if this concept would work for Honda or the company has to bear the same fate as in the case of Navi.

Style & Design:

The Honda’s new concept takes you over immediately as soon as you look at the scooter. Yes, the new Cliq has got completely different looks and it does not resemble to any of its previous products. The scooter we got had beautiful color combination of red and white. It actually looked cool. The new design of Cliq has seriously gained the attention of many people. It is actually a small scooter (comparatively with other scooters) and many passerby were seeking for the name of it. Many of them have asked whether it is a battery driven scooter and some of them have actually grinned on both of us (the scooter & me).

A tall and little bulky guy on a small scooter made people laugh, though I got the feeling of being a celebrity, (Pun intended). The beautiful full fiber body of the scooter has got ample of leg space and a broad foot-board. Beautiful matte finish colors and a completely different design of the scooter makes it stands apart.

Instrument Cluster And Switchgear:

The instrument cluster is the direct lift from the Activa and there is nothing new or special about it. The console is fitted on the body of the scooter and it is fixed on to it, this simply means it does not move along with the handlebar. The Cliq has got a naked handlebar which actually the other scooters haven’t got till the date.

While noticing the switchgear, there is a self start switch which is placed on the right side of the handle bar and on the left there is a Horn Switch, Indicators Switch and the Upper\Dipper switch for the headlamp. The scooter has got different headlamp, taillight and front indicators yet equipped with regular filament bulbs and the rear indicators are not much impressive as there is nothing new in that. The quality of the switchgear was OKAY.

Ergonomics:

Having the kerb weight of just 102 kg, the Cliq is absolutely compatible for ladies and senior citizens. Its wide though short seat can give the rider an easy and comfortable ride but the pillion might have to face trouble while on board with a tall rider. The spacious Honda Cliq offers much space in the front side so that anyone can keep their belongings safely and easily. Well this isn’t it, the Cliq has got a spacious dickey below the seat and the phone charging slot. It has got rubber coated foot pegs on both the sides for the pillion and a sturdy grab bar at the back (above the taillight) to hold on to it.

Engine And Performance:

Discussing about the engine’s specification, the all new Honda Cliq has got no different engine but the 110 cc air cooled engine derived from Honda’s ongoing products Activa and Dio. Honda hasn’t actually worked on the technology of the Cliq's engine but has tremendously worked on its looks. Also previously launched Monkey Bike (Navi) was equipped with the same engine, as the new Cliq is a different version of it, so it has got the same specifications too.

The 109 cc engine churns out the power of 8.2 PS at 7000 rpm and 8.9 NM of torque at 5500 rpm. Well this is the technical term which most of the people don’t care about, all they want to know how exactly it felt to the reviewer. As a reviewer I must say it has got really a butter smooth engine with no vibrations even at high rpm. It also sounds like regular Honda’s scooters and the power is enough for daily commute. Being a lightweight scooter the power to weight ratio at Cliq is better than to any of its compatriots, hence you get good acceleration.

Brakes & Suspension:

The patented technology of Honda is being noticed in its almost every scooter and so does in the all new Honda Cliq. Yes, we are talking about the Combi Brake System (CBS). We all are very well aware about this technology because Honda has been serving this technology through many of its ongoing products since a couple of years.

Basically it is the technology, introduced to increase the safety measures while riding. Running on more than the average speed and braking in emergency won’t trouble the rider by skidding and slipping around because the CBS technology enables both the brakes perform simultaneously, even if the rider is using only single brake. This technology helps reducing chances of accidents while applying brakes in emergency.

The Cliq has got 130 mm drum brakes in the front and 130 mm drum at the rear which are very responsive for a lightweight scooter. Apart from the drum brakes at both the ends the all new Honda Cliq has got Spring Loaded Hydraulic Suspensions in the front and at the rear. The suspensions actually helped me passing through the bad roads and the roads filled with potholes. They also helped me to lean the scooter on the bends, although we can only lean it till a certain level.

Well talking about leaning the vehicle the most important tool for that are the tyres. Both the front and rear tyres of Cliq are 90/100-10 53J sized tyres and the best part is they are tubeless. So here one more problem has been solved, the trouble of dragging the punctured vehicle. The grip provided by the tyres is good and it gives the confidence while riding in different road conditions.

Verdict:

As discussed earlier that the Honda CLIQ isn’t a regular scooter in size and shape and can fulfill the needs of all sorts of people including ladies and senior citizens who want to own a handy scooter for city cruising. Lightweight scooter is the term that is truly made for the all new Honda Cliq. The new Cliq has got some cons like quality of switchgear could have been improved. Having the price tag of just INR 42,999/ (ex- showroom) makes this scooter the cheapest one in the market.