Honda BeAT Premium review: Your everyday no-fuss scooter

Honda is currently the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world and has always been known as one of the technological leaders in the two-wheel industry due to its racing history. When someone says Honda, you think of quality, reliability, and durability. So naturally, I had high expectations going in and reviewing this bike.

The Honda BeAT is one of the most affordable and sought out scooter lines in Asia and especially here in the Philippines. You will often see these plying the city’s roads as it is made for city traffic. There are currently three variants for the Honda BeAT and what we have here is the top-of-the-line Premium model. Who is this for? Read my review and find out.

READ: Smartscooter brand Gogoro opens first experience store in the Philippines

 

Design

When it comes to design, it looks just like your daily run-off-the-mill scoot. It has a stylish headlight that easily illuminates the road while its sharp-looking taillight also looks decent.

The seat is a grippy synthetic leather and the BeAT has a grab bar at the end of the pillion seat that’s of good quality. Its seat height is 740mm with a ground clearance of 149mm which is just right for daily rides on normal paved roads.

The 14-inch cast wheels also look great and I like that the tires are already tubeless.

As a scooter, I expected this to have a number of storage spaces because scooters are known for exactly that. Unfortunately, though, the BeAT’s storage space is smaller than the average but still decently sized.

You have pockets just below the handlebar with the right able to fit a bottle. There’s also a small hook to hang plastic bags or small groceries, for example.

And below the seat is 11 liters of storage space. Usually, this is where riders keep their helmets but sadly, a normal size helmet doesn’t fit here.

Features

There are not a lot of features on the Honda BeAT and that is expected for its class as an entry-level scooter.

Your instruments at the dash are basic. It has an analog speedometer, digital odometer, and a fuel gauge. It’s so basic that It doesn’t even have a Trip A and Trip B for recording your mileage.

However, a feature that I found extra useful was its green ECO light indicator that will help you get the most out of your fuel consumption. As long as it lights up, you know you’re running the engine in its sweet spot.

The BeAT is also equipped with an idle-stop feature for whenever you’re at a full stop. In five seconds of being stationary, the BeAT will shut down its engine and as soon as you pull the throttle, your engine will turn back on automatically. This should also help save on gas.

Furthermore, this scooter both has an electric starter and a kick starter. And with most Honda bikes, a kill switch to the engine is present whenever the side stand is down. It’s a good safety feature that I personally love about Honda bikes.

Specifications

The Honda BeAT is powered by a 110cc single overhead camshaft air-cooled single-cylinder engine equipped with Honda’s Enhanced Smart Power technology that promises safety, performance, and fuel efficiency.

It has 8.7hp and 9.21Nm of torque with an automatic tranny. The suspension comes with a telescopic fork in front and a mono-shock single-sided swingarm at the back.

You also get a single disc brake in front and a drum brake at the rear with no ABS or Anti-lock Braking System. However, it does have CBS or Combi Brake System. This means it only uses one brake lever to activate both front and rear brakes.

I found this new brake system odd at first, but I started to slowly appreciate it because of its convenience during heavy traffic of just using one hand when you need to brake frequently.

This scooter also has a handbrake that allows you to safely park your bike in an inclined area without the worry of your bike falling or sliding.

Performance

It commands an upright riding position which is comfortable and gives ample space for the legs.

Although one thing I noticed was that my feet do not fit in the footboard which is uncomfortable at times because my 11.5-sized shoes (US) were often slanted sideways while riding. So that’s one thing to consider if you have shoes close to my size.

When it comes to open roads, this scooter can only do so much as it only has an output power of 8.7 horses.

Testing its full speed while the center stand is on, I got a top reading of 110kph but on the road with me at 5’11” and around 200lbs, it goes up until 90kph.

However, the scooter is noticeably light and nimble as it only weighs around 93kg. Changing lanes is effortless as well as turning and performing U-turns. The shocks are on the softer side so the ride is as comfortable as it can get.

The BeAT flourishes as a city ride and is forgiving on bumps and potholes. It has enough torque to get ahead of the rest at traffic lights and the bike is narrow enough to squeeze through tight spaces like a breeze. It’s a perfect bike getting through city traffic especially in Metro Manila.

Honda claims that its gas consumption is around 60km/L. As I tested the bike without minding the ECO light, I clocked in at around 44km/L with up to 52km/L if I’m conscious about the ECO light indicator.

It’s not 60km/L but still good enough for everyday errands. Again, fuel consumption varies on the weight of the rider as well.

Pricing and final thoughts

With the price tag of PhP 70,400 for this top-of-the-line model, you get a no-fuss and efficient city scooter perfect for those on a budget. With traffic getting more and more congested in the metro and gas prices going up, this is an ideal everyday bike to have.

But if you are looking for performance and all the bells-and-whistles of a scooter bike, it might be better to check something else. This is a bare-bones bike that will get you from point A to point B easily.

It’s not the fanciest and most equipped scooter in the market but for beginners or even experienced riders who just want a quick scoot to go around the city, the Honda BeAT effortlessly does that. Additionally, this bike is assembled here in the Philippines so the price for servicing the Beat won’t be an issue.

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Xbox Series X review: Why you should buy it

12/23/2020

When Microsoft introduced the Xbox One in 2013, it was a disaster. They made the wrong moves and said the wrong things while introducing their system then and as a result, it made me buy a PlayStation 4 before eventually getting an Xbox One.

This generation, however, it seems like Microsoft went back to the drawing board and learned from its mistakes. For this new console, they went with acquiring game studios to build their exclusive library and introducing new programs to their platform.

And with the availability of new-gen consoles, I’m fortunate enough to get my hands on Microsoft’s new and most anticipated console — the Xbox Series X.

Design and Aesthetics

We won’t go with the entire unboxing but I just want to quickly mention one aspect. On the outside, there’s nothing too special about it. You have the image of the console as well as some features and specs printed on and we’ve also got Master Chief at the back.

But tilt it on its belly and open the lid and it’s like opening a chest in a game before it reveals the console itself — just like an in-game treasure. This small, but carefully planned presentation just makes unboxing it way cooler if you ask me.

With the console itself, I really like the compact and minimalist design of the Series X. The thick block design is subtle and easily blends well with its environment either on its side or standing up. This is the very opposite of its competitor, the Sony PlayStation 5, which stands out and demands attention with its size and design.

There are a couple of small issues that bother me a little with the general design of the Series X. The plastic body of the box is a bit prone to fingerprints while the power button itself has sort of a cheap hollow click to it upon pressing, unlike its predecessor’s power button (the Xbox One) which is touch-sensitive.

Additionally, when the Series X is placed on its side there is no way of taking out the big round base stand either, and it just looks awkward. But I do like its concave design on top with green accents on the vents that make it seem like it’s illuminating a green light even when it’s powered off.

Up front, you’ll see the power button, disc drive, and USB port while at the back it has two more USB ports, HDMI and Ethernet ports, the power input, and its Seagate external SSD slot.

Xbox Dashboard

If you own an Xbox One, you’ll probably feel like you’re booting up your old console as everything looks familiar with the user interface of the dashboard. For some, this could be disappointing because it might not feel that you just had an expensive upgrade.

However, Microsoft has decided to stick with its interface for continuity across generations so there’s not much we can do about that. Although in the company’s defense, they have been tweaking it constantly throughout the seven years of their last-gen console lifespan. It may not be a new experience for old Xbox One owners, but it’s concretely tested throughout the years.

One major thing I noticed was it’s now faster to load between different menu pages especially when jumping in and out of a game.

Set up and data migration

The setup starts with your smartphone and a prompt will make you open the accompanying app on your phone. From there, you can choose whether to perform a fresh setup or migrate all your data from an older generation to the Series X while it prepares and updates its firmware.

I migrated mine from the Xbox One and the entire process was easy and seamless. Transferring games was also a breeze if your old Xbox One is still connected to your WiFi as you can port them over via network transfer to the new Xbox Series X.

Another method for when you have games stored on an external hard drive is to simply plug it into the new console which will still be recognized.

From there, you can either play games through your external hard drive or transfer them to the new internal SSD memory of the Series X.

Even when loading saved files from old games on the Series X, there were no issues and games will seamlessly sync and download your data from the cloud. I really appreciate Microsoft’s efforts in giving gamers a smooth and issue-free transition.

Performance, Speed, and Features

Though it feels remarkably familiar when you start up the new console, you will still see the upgrade in power through speed just as its 12.1 teraflops of computational power comes into play. For comparison, that’s twice as powerful as the Xbox One X and also a tad better than the PlayStation 5 with the same US$ 499 price tag.

During gameplay, you’ll really see the difference in graphics performance especially while playing a game that’s optimized for the Series X.

The new standard in console gaming is 4K resolution with a refresh rate of 60Hz. I know that PC rigs go for higher rates but as a console gamer, playing on 60Hz is already a noticeable and welcome upgrade. Some games also have the option to play at a refresh rate of 120Hz but you’d need to sacrifice a bit of resolution.

Another thing that stands out is its new solid-state drive. Loading times are exceptionally faster — within only just seconds, your game is all ready to play. Sometimes I don’t even notice that I’m already at the starting menu.

Additionally, the Series X supports ray tracing which allows for better simulation of lighting effects in games. Unfortunately, since the launch title games have been delayed, there are not many Series X-optimized games that we can test right now and we’ll just have to wait when they become available to fully experience its performances for ray tracing.

Other features I personally found useful include the Quick Resume option. You can now jump out of one game and open a new one while leaving the previous game suspended. And anytime you want to switch back to it, you can easily do so just like jumping from a phone’s app to another.

This allowed me to pause my game while playing Cyberpunk 2077 after I got invited by friends to play Destiny 2. I got out of my first game, opened another, played for a few rounds, and within seconds jumped back to my original game exactly where I left off. I even tried suspending up to five games at a time and the Series X still ran fast and without hiccups.

Another commendable feature is Microsoft’s Smart Delivery. It’s a technology that allows you to buy a game once and whether you play it on Xbox One or Xbox Series X, you’re getting the right version of that game for the Xbox you’re playing on.

This means that when you buy Dirt 5 on Xbox One for example, you wouldn’t have to buy the game again once you get a Series X. It will also automatically enhance the resolution and frame rate of the game as you play on either console.

Of course, backward compatibility is a feature that we won’t miss out on. It’s not a first for the console since the older Xbox One already had this feature. But with it, you get access to the library of the classic Xbox, Xbox 360, and now the Xbox One.

When it comes to the console’s noise levels, it’s really quiet even while playing a game that requires some serious processing power. It doesn’t get too hot as well and maintains a cooler temperature than my Xbox One after hours of game time.

Controller

I believe the controller is the most important component of the entire gaming experience since it’s the bridge that connects us to the virtual world.

Having said that, there’s nothing much that has changed with the new Xbox Series X controller and it almost looks and feels the same as the Xbox One’s. That’s not a bad thing, though, since it’s ergonomically built and can be comfortably used for hours.

There have been subtle changes to the design, though, and one is the addition of textured bumps found on the shoulder buttons and triggers which add a bit more grip to the controller. It’s also slightly smaller when compared to its predecessor.

Another update on the Series X controller is its new Share button. Yes, Microsoft is the last of the big three console companies to add this feature, but this still is an appreciated addition for Xbox players. Better late than never I’d say.

More changes done on the controller’s design is the D-pad as it closely mirrors their Elite Wireless Controller. It is a hybrid of a four-way and eight-way directional pad with a concave design that’s comfortable for the thumb. Furthermore, the controller DLI (Dynamic Latency Input) feature should communicate in perfect sync with your console. This means that hardcore first-person shooter gamers will be rewarded better using their lightning-fast reflexes.

Aside from that, the new controller will be compatible with more devices as well. The Series X now has Xbox Wireless Radio feature which will allow you to connect with IOS, Android, and PC devices.

On top of that, the new controller can now remember multiple devices so you don’t have to sync them every time you play. It’s just not confirmed yet how many devices it can remember. This feature is great especially now that Microsoft is introducing its new service called Project xCloud that lets you stream Xbox games on an Android device anywhere, using a controller you’re familiar with.

Additionally, the new controller now has USB-C connectivity for charging with a wide range of headset compatibility just like the previous controller. And speaking of the previous controllers, you can still use them on the new Series X together with the current Elite Controller, and the opposite is also possible — using Series X controllers on an older Xbox One. It’s great that Microsoft went for this so customers won’t be forced to buy a new controller to accommodate more players.

Final Thoughts

I’m really enjoying the Xbox Series X so far, but the only disappointment I have is there are no first-party launch game titles to showcase the new console’s capabilities. Because of this, we will have to wait until next year to get the full experience of the new Xbox Series X. Thankfully, because of Xbox Smart Delivery, we can have a slight taste of the next-gen experience to pacify our excitement for now.

Most of you might be thinking about whether to buy this or the PS5. While both consoles have their pros and cons, the Xbox Series X is the unassuming console that just sits there unsuspiciously but churns out speedy performances with useful features.

The Series X is quiet and compact in size for the power it carries. Comparing its specs side by side with the Sony PlayStation 5 also shows that it has more crunching power for the same price of US$ 499 (though it’s more expensive here in the Philippines).

On top of that, it gives you convenient features like Quick Resume that lets you jump in and out of multiple games. I’m excited to see game developers unlock the Series X’s full potential in future games.

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