The new "Budget" PCX150 in Asia
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 12:30 pm
Guys, I just received my new Honda Vario 150.
It shares the same base engine as PCX150 minus several features to cut the price down to almost half. But in reality this little brother is definitely more agile, faster, and perhaps has better fuel consumption due to it's lighter weight.
Vario150:
Source link: http://www.astra-honda.com/produk/kenda ... pUe8_l95qw
Engine capacity: 149,3cc
Weight: 109kg
Power: 9,3 kW/8500 rpm
Torque: 12,8 Nm/5000 rpm
Price: IDR 20.200.000 / USD 1.463
PCX150:
Source link: http://www.astra-honda.com/produk/kenda ... pUfdfl95qw
Engine capacity: 152,9cc
Weight: 131kg
Power: 9,9 kW/8500rpm
Torque: 13,7 Nm/5500rpm
Price: IDR 39.800.000 / USD 2.882
With those alone there's no way PCX150 will win the market here. For USD 1.955 you'll get the ABS version of Yamaha Nmax 150!!
Anyway, even though I still envy the comfort and riding position of PCX150, this little one is no joke! 0 - 100km/h is easy. Acceleration is smooth but torquey and will smokes any PCX150 behind. Fuel consumption so far (I have just filled one tank full) is in the 48km/liter. This Vario 150 is a better companion if you often carry big stuff which you can't put under the seat like medium hiking bags, vegetables groceries, etc... The deck is spacey and proved to be very useful for Indonesian.
The LED headlamp is a nice addition, brighter and more useful than the halogen type, also less glare produced (better optics). The idling stop switch enables you to switch when auto shut down is more annoying than helping such in a heavy traffic jam. The seat is still too stiff like the earlier Vario 125 or it's just me - too skinny. Traffic handling is almost the same with 125 version, but definitely better than PCX150. I haven't try it enough for long distance riding, still waiting for my license plate.
But as you can see from the link, there are many features excluded to make it cheap. From the engine department the most significant loss is the absence of Manifold Air Pressure and Intake Air Temperature sensors. But Vario 150 now uses double cog belt. I don't know if it can be used in PCX150. One thing I really don't like from both Vario150 or PCX150 is the combi brake system. I sometimes need to brake when I'm already cornering because of unexpected events such as chicken/dog/MOSTLY cat suddenly crossing the road! With combined braking, it's more likely I'd end up on the asphalt. But after checking the mechanism in Vario 150, it's easy to disconnect the front lever from the combi system. It's just such a waste of money, I think. An ABS would be more effective for advance rider like us. I know Honda designed this combi brake system for novice users who often forget to use the front brake when panicking with slow riding speed.
Overall I'm satisfied with this purchase. And as always, there will be hours of fun trial and errors awaits....
It shares the same base engine as PCX150 minus several features to cut the price down to almost half. But in reality this little brother is definitely more agile, faster, and perhaps has better fuel consumption due to it's lighter weight.
Vario150:
Source link: http://www.astra-honda.com/produk/kenda ... pUe8_l95qw
Engine capacity: 149,3cc
Weight: 109kg
Power: 9,3 kW/8500 rpm
Torque: 12,8 Nm/5000 rpm
Price: IDR 20.200.000 / USD 1.463
PCX150:
Source link: http://www.astra-honda.com/produk/kenda ... pUfdfl95qw
Engine capacity: 152,9cc
Weight: 131kg
Power: 9,9 kW/8500rpm
Torque: 13,7 Nm/5500rpm
Price: IDR 39.800.000 / USD 2.882
With those alone there's no way PCX150 will win the market here. For USD 1.955 you'll get the ABS version of Yamaha Nmax 150!!
Anyway, even though I still envy the comfort and riding position of PCX150, this little one is no joke! 0 - 100km/h is easy. Acceleration is smooth but torquey and will smokes any PCX150 behind. Fuel consumption so far (I have just filled one tank full) is in the 48km/liter. This Vario 150 is a better companion if you often carry big stuff which you can't put under the seat like medium hiking bags, vegetables groceries, etc... The deck is spacey and proved to be very useful for Indonesian.
The LED headlamp is a nice addition, brighter and more useful than the halogen type, also less glare produced (better optics). The idling stop switch enables you to switch when auto shut down is more annoying than helping such in a heavy traffic jam. The seat is still too stiff like the earlier Vario 125 or it's just me - too skinny. Traffic handling is almost the same with 125 version, but definitely better than PCX150. I haven't try it enough for long distance riding, still waiting for my license plate.
But as you can see from the link, there are many features excluded to make it cheap. From the engine department the most significant loss is the absence of Manifold Air Pressure and Intake Air Temperature sensors. But Vario 150 now uses double cog belt. I don't know if it can be used in PCX150. One thing I really don't like from both Vario150 or PCX150 is the combi brake system. I sometimes need to brake when I'm already cornering because of unexpected events such as chicken/dog/MOSTLY cat suddenly crossing the road! With combined braking, it's more likely I'd end up on the asphalt. But after checking the mechanism in Vario 150, it's easy to disconnect the front lever from the combi system. It's just such a waste of money, I think. An ABS would be more effective for advance rider like us. I know Honda designed this combi brake system for novice users who often forget to use the front brake when panicking with slow riding speed.
Overall I'm satisfied with this purchase. And as always, there will be hours of fun trial and errors awaits....