Honda Dream Yuga Road Test: Trend Setter of Commuting in India

The pros: Refined engine , good fuel economy, vibe free ride, easily accessible and tyres provides firm grip. 

The cons: Ordinary looks, seat cushioning could have been better,

The crux: If you were looking for an affordable, frugal and stylish ride to commute to your office or college, seal the deal with the Dream Yuga.

Rating

Honda Dream Yuga was certainly the biggest step for the Japanese manufacture after parting ways with its erstwhile partner Hero, and it should be perfect in all the aspects. One of the most technically skilled two wheeler manufacturer - Honda has put its best effort to design this 110cc commuter and christened it as Dream Yuga. The name was taken from the legendary Dream Series, which was a clear indication towards Honda’s dreams to establish the brand in the Indian two-wheeler market. The Dream Yuga eventually did the same, with impressive sales of 3 lakh units in the first year; Honda Dream Yuga has shown the path of success to the manufacturer.  To celebrate its first anniversary, Honda launched a new Dual Tone Limited Edition of the Dream Yuga. Recently we got the opportunity to try our hands on this limited edition version.

Styling –

The Limited Edition Honda Dream Yuga is all about cosmetic changes, however the design and basic styling remains the same. It gets a dual tone colour scheme, which looks stunning with a precise balance of Red and Black. The graphics however, remain the same but the limited edition version features a 3D Honda logo along with graphics on mud-guard, chrome exhaust pipe cover, body coloured rear view mirrors which gives it a better visual appeal than the standard Dream Yuga.  The basic silhouette of the Dream Yuga has been largely inspired from the CB Shine. The headlight assembly is taken from the Shine, but to match with the rest of the design it has been made smaller. The big front mudguard and sharpened rear fenders are different, that have been altered to gel in with the rest of the dimensions. Turn indicators, tail light, rear view mirrors, exhaust pipe have been incorporated straight from CB Shine. So, when the limited edition received add-ons like 3D Honda emblem, body colored rear view mirrors, the bike begins to look like a close cousin of the CB Shine, which indeed it is.

Switch Gear and Ergonomics –

The Limited Edition uses the standard switch gear, and there are no changes in the Instrument cluster as well.  The Dream Yuga boasts off a simply laid out analog instrument cluster, which is easy to read. It has two dials, the left one includes a speedometer marked till 140kmph, the odometer also sits in the same dial. On the right dial, there is a fuel gauge, with other tell-tale lights including the high beam, neutral and turn indicators. Honda is well known for designing its vehicles ergonomically, and the Dream Yuga is a perfect example of it. The bike comes with an upright seating position and with the wide handle and precise positioning of the foot pegs give Honda Dream Yuga a very commuter like feel. The rear view mirrors could have been a bit bigger, but the present ones do suffice their purpose. The seat is big and wide, but cushioning could have been better. The fuel tank has a good shape and the big scoop on it gives a good high support to the rider. All in all, the Dream Yuga provides comfortable sitting for both rider and pillion; it can be used for both day to day commuting and occasionally touring. 

Engine and Performance-

Limited Edition Dream Yuga is powered by the same single cylinder, 109 cc, 4-stroke engine, which churns out a maximum power output of 8.5bhp @ 7500rpm and 8.9Nm of peak torque @ 5500rpm. This engine is powered by what Honda calls Intelligent Ignition. The 109cc motor is smooth and refined like all the Honda bikes. The under square layout of the engine helps it to produce sufficient torque, which was also evident during our test ride. The initial pick-up of the motor is awesome and I even did wheelies with this tiny motor. The power is transferred to the rear wheels by a smooth shifting 4-speed gearbox. It is an all up pattern gearbox, and a heel-toe shifter is given to shift the gears. The gear shifts are precise and the slick gearbox did its job most of the time. No doubt that the Yuga is a good commuter but its good mid and top-end performance also make it a fun to ride machines on highways as well. So, the 109cc engine impressed me a lot with its performance.

Recently Honda introduced the HET technology in the Dream Yuga, which is used to reduce the weight of the engine components and friction by using new engine seals. The use of HET technology results in better mileage. Therefore the bike returned a mileage of 68kmpl in city and 74kmpl on highway during its stint with us.

Ride and Handling–

Under the skin, the Dream Yuga features a light but agile single down tube chassis.  The bike uses the engine as a stressed member, which usually leads to vibrations, because the engine is a part of the chassis. Though, Honda engineers have been successful in making it a vibe free bike. The Dream Yuga rides on 18-inch wheels with tubeless 80/100 section MRF Zapper tyres, which provide it a firm grip on the road in both wet and dry conditions.

The agile box-section swing arm is linked to a 5-step adjustable spring loaded suspension, giving proper handling on corners. The suspension unit with front telescopic and rear adjustable spring shockers, does its job without any niggles, and the bike is capable to glide over most of the pot holes without any trouble. The bike takes turns with ease and its 108 kgs weight makes it easy to maneuver in traffic. The short turning radius is also a plus point here, and no gap is awkward with this agile bike, you just have to point out the gap and it can go through the same. The Yuga is equipped with 130mm drum brakes at both front and rear, which is quite good and stopping distance, is also satisfactory. I liked the front brake, which allows one to carry out pull stoppies. I liked the way it rides and am in love with its maneuverability factor.

Verdict-

In past one year, Honda Dream Yuga has proved its potential as the flagship commuter bike of Honda. And what makes this bike so special is its practicality and utility oriented technology. It might not be a charmer when it comes to styling but it has that substance that a common bike consumer would be looking out for. With the addition of this Anniversary Edition, one also gets that extra chunk of styling, so if you were looking for an affordable, frugal and stylish ride to commute to your office or college, seal the deal with the Dream Yuga.