Many were surprised when Honda decided to enter India with a scooter. Scooter sales were down and the future didn't look too bright either. But Honda had an agreement with Hero Honda that they wouldn't manufacture any bikes till 2004. So, they did the second-best thing - roll out possibly the best scooter available ever in the country, at least on paper. But is the Activa really that good? And more importantly, is it better than the competition?
  
Launched almost 15 years ago, the Kinetic was the first modern scooter in India. With its electric start and CVT transmission (variator), it was the scooter that ushered in an era of hassle-free riding. Then came the Saffire from old guard Bajaj Auto. Compared to its outdated two-stroke Chetaks and Supers, the Saffire was like a breath of fresh air. Developed with the help of Japanese firm Tokyo R&D, the Saffire is a full-size four-stroke scooter employing a three- speed automatic gearbox. And now, there's the Activa. It has the right combination of every feature desirable in a scooter and Honda's reliability to back it up. But then, what else would you expect from the largest two-wheeler maker in the world?