Honda Dream Yuga First Impressions

Honda has been trying to grab a decent spot in the Indian commuter bike scene for a while now and the Honda Dream Yuga is another attempt at it. It has got the Honda name, conservative styling from Shine and a smaller engine to make it the right commuter. It is Honda’s weapon to gun down the rivals dominating this segment. The motorcycle is styled like the CB Shine as we already said and it is a good thing. The Shine was styled well, a bit conservative though but there is nothing to complain about. There are few visible changes like the headlamp assembly is smaller, side panels are made differently and then there are the badges. Most of the other bits are identical.

The Honda Dream Yuga is targeted at commuters so the ergonomics are set that way only. The seating is very upright and you get a wide handlebar. The size is comfortable for people with average height but very tall people might find some trouble taking the bike around bends. The foot pegs are placed well and are comfortable. The pillion foot pegs are placed well too. The tank has been shaped nicely and you can grip it well between your thighs just in case you decide to make a fast commute someday.

The console is laid out well but is quite simple. Well simple is good here, who wants to complicate a bike that is meant to be simple. The left dial is speedo, neatly laid out and clearly marked. The dial on the right is a simple analogue fuel gauge and has got some basic indications like high beam, neutral and turn indicator. The switches are as seen on most Honda bikes and the quality is decent. You get the pass and high beam switch.

The engine is a 110 cc single and produces 8.5 bhp at 7500 RPM. The peak torque of 8.91 Nm comes at 5500 RPM. The engine is the same as on twister but produces less power in favor of efficiency. The engine is very refined and that’s how you expect a Honda to be. You get decent low end torque and it is even better as the revs climb up. The engine sounds nice. You get a smooth four speed gearbox. It is an all down shifter and some might not like it. The first ratio is just enough to start moving and you would have to shift up almost immediately. The first three ratios are placed close in favor of acceleration and the fourth one stands a bit tall. This means that after third, the bike takes a while to reach higher speeds.

The ride quality is pretty good and there are no vibrations to complain about. You won’t have any trouble with it even if your commute includes long rides. It remains composed through corners and maneuverability is good. It is decent choice overall if you are in the market for a commuter. Fuel efficiency would be around 60 Kmpl and maybe even better if you are a good rider. And then there is the reliability of a Japanese brand which Indian manufacturers find hard to match.