Honda Livo 2017 Review

The Honda Livo had won MotorOctane MotoDay Awards 2016 – Entry-level Bike of the Year. This is Honda’s entry to the stylish commuter segment. With 110 cc onboard this does not in any means appear like a small bike. Launched back in 2015, it’s been two successful years and time for an upgrade or refreshment along with the BS4 norms Honda decided a few add-ons and alterations too. Wish Honda rushing to sell their BS3 vehicles and offering heavy discs. Let us have a look what the Honda Livo 2017 has to offer.

Honda Livo 2017 Price

This is a bit on the higher side for a commuter but then again, is it worth the money just for style. For some people it is. It is the reason you would want an Iphone even if it is an outdated model. Sometime being a bit more presentable makes all the difference.

Honda Livo 2017 Specifications

Honda Livo 2017 Dimensions

Honda Livo 2017 Design

The headlamp is a well sculpted one and looks nothing like the other commuter bikes in this category. The sleek visor which is flanked by the side cladding which also cover the headlamp. There is a Honda badging right at the lower centre part of the logo that is typical of Honda bikes. There is a nice fairing extension on the tank that gives more premium feel. This body work has a chrome Honda badge and logo.

The engine has a black paint coat to give a more sportier feel. The seat is long, really long, along with the handle bars raised to the right height, the Honda Livo is one comfortable and near perfect commuter. Whats with bike now a days that they tend to have red rear suspension work. Yes it is eye catchy, but so is fluorescent paint on a bungalow. It does not necessarily have to look good. The bright side is that they are 5 level adjustable suspension. So you can customize according to your comfort level.

The exhaust is black with a chrome cover that looks good. The grabrail is broad and well placed. It is just right above the already well supportive seat. The hexagonal shaped tail lamp is big and bright for rear coming vehicles.

The Livo sticker on the side that’s finished in white with red accents, contrasts beautifully with the red-coloured rear shocks. It adds a subtle visual appeal that gets the eyes to flow along the stubby looking muffler as well as the ample sized tail-lamp.

Also Read: Honda Navi Review

Honda Livo 2017 Colours

The Honda Livo is available in the following colours

• Athletic Blue Metallic
• Black
• Sunset Brown Metallic
• Pearl Amazing White
• Imperial Red Metallic
• Matt Axis Grey Metallic

Honda Livo Instrumentation

Instrumentation on the Honda Livo is an old-school, all-analogue affair. Honda have done well to resist the temptation of going digital on the meters, in favour of rugged and simpler approach (not to mention, the obvious cost benefits). The hexagonal shape adds some much needed flourish, with the left pod housing the speedo & the odometer, the right one showing the ‘all-important’ fuel levels and the tell-tale lights in the middle.

Honda Livo Switch Gear

Switch-gear is a mixed-bag. You get all the lighting controls, flasher and horn on the left, with the right housing the electric-start. It is all very basic and on-par for the segment. But we really felt that Honda should have upped the ante here, especially when the rest of the bike is finished so well. For example, that push-button high-low beam function and the vertically stacked electric starter are both, non-intuitive to use. The hand-grips thankfully are a typical Honda affair – offering sufficient grip to prevent the palms from slipping, while being soft to touch.

Buyers are going to be thrilled with the deep, lustrous paint-job on the Honda Livo. Those body-coloured mirrors are just the sight for jaded commuter eyes. Honda’s designers must be complemented for having resisted the temptation to slap on unnecessary stickers or graphics on the Livo, for she looks splendid, especially in the bright-blue shade that our bike was wearing.

Honda Livo Engine

On the engine front, Honda have stuck to the tried-and-tested route. The Honda Livo uses the same 110cc single-cylinder four-stroke motor that was seen in the Honda Dream. Making about 8 bhp and 8.6 Nm of torque, this is a pure low-speed cruiser. Happiest in the 40-60 kmph range, the engine is at its stress-free best. Push the Honda Livo and she’ll see 80 km/hr on the odo, but at these speeds, there’s enough information to know that you need to throttle-back. The four-speed gearbox is a fuss-free performer with well-spaced out ratios that are perfectly matched with the relaxed engine. Some vibes do seep in higher up the rev range, but one is unlikely to hold on to those speeds during regular usage.

Honda Livo 2017 Ride and Handling

The tyres have something that Honda has applied for patency i.e they are low rolling resistance tyres. Where these tyres help is to increase fuel efficiency and that clearly shows in the above passage. The bike is light and nimble and as you get through in heavy traffic, you would get a lot of glares from drivers that you do not scratch their car while zipping around. The low centre of gravity also helps in boosting confidence.

But this bike isn’t meant for track use do not try to feel like Rossi and go knee down. If it’s too late you may realise that everything went down. What amazed me was the 5 level adjustable suspension which soaked bumps well and that was also thanks to the seat. If you want to be a bit aggressive you can stiffen the suspension. The handle have a lot of turn so getting around is a breeze.

Honda Livo Mileage

The patented Honda Eco Technology (HET) makes an appearance in the Honda Livo. This means that one can expect decent fuel sipping habits. While Honda claims a fuel efficiency figure of 78 km/l, expect the real-world consumption to be in the range of 65-70 kmpl.

Honda Livo Verdict

Honda is known for its premium pricing, and the same can be seen with the Livo. Priced at INR 61,089/- on-road Mumbai for the Disk Brake version, the Honda Livo is a few thousands higher than its immediate competition. On the flip side, products sporting the Honda logo are known for their fuss-free ownership and stellar resale value. So, if you are in the market for a stylish commuter and don’t mind paying a higher initial price for the peace-of-mind that comes with owning a Honda product, then the Livo just might be the bike for you.