Honda Dio ZX 35: characteristics, review

There are 3 known generations of Dio scooters, namely the Honda Dio ZX 35 model. It began to be produced and sold back in 1994. The model received noticeable differences from its predecessor. New engine, chassis - everything has been changed. There were also changes in design: the new Honda Dio ZX 35 became much better, its shape attracted buyers. Crystal optics were very fashionable for those times. A flat bottom in the trunk is an innovation for the nineties.

Modifications

The following Honda Dio ZX 35 models were produced:

Basic.
With a basket in front (urban).
With combined braking system (sports).

Of course, most often it was the basic models that were taken, since they were inexpensive and very convenient.

The best version is the Honda Dio ZX 35 AF, it was sporty. It had oil shock absorbers and beautiful alloy wheels. A spoiler was also included in the design of the scooter, as well as a different, more powerful engine. It is worth noting that this version underwent restyling in 1998, and the model itself was produced right up to 2005.

Characteristics

Now let's look at the characteristics of the Honda Dio ZX 35. The engine capacity of this scooter was only 50 cc. There is only one cylinder, two strokes. The engine was cooled by forced airflow. The engine power was exactly 8 horsepower at 6400 rpm.

The Honda Dio ZX 35 had a variable transmission, and the engine was ignited and started using an electric starter. The gas tank had a volume of exactly 5 liters. The maximum speed that could be achieved on such a scooter was sixty kilometers per hour. The total weight of the Honda Dio ZX 35 is seventy kilograms.

Good afternoon, this is my second day on the site, so if something goes wrong, don’t throw poop at me :) My story of traveling on a two-wheeled vehicle began a year and a half ago. I had a great desire to buy a motorcycle, but I had only 4,000 rubles in my pocket, and it’s clear that the only motorcycle I could afford was a wall calendar with images of super sports. But one wonderful September evening, an acquaintance asked who he could sell his old Chinese scooter to for 3,000 rubles. "Fate!" I thought and the next day I took this miracle and a bunch of plastic for it:

The miracle of Chinese thought didn’t really want to start and drive, but it was autumn, there was nothing to do in the evenings, and there was always an interest in technology. So in a couple of months I learned by heart the structure of a Chinese 4-stroke engine :) From time to time, money appeared, which was immediately left in car shops and stores that sold spare parts and tuning for motorcycles. By the new year of 2012, the scooter was already at full speed and sparkling with fresh paint and xenon headlights.

All winter I brought it to mind, periodically going out to spin coins in front of the garage, but I still spent most of my time on the Internet, communicating on forums with like-minded people. Communication led to the formation in my head of a clear idea that “China is not going down”, and that it is worth selling it to hell and taking the Japanese. Considering the amount invested in this scooter, I could easily exchange it for a stock dio/sepia/jog. By the end of March, I found a person who was seduced by tuning, music and LEDs, and offered his Honda Dio 34 for exchange. No sooner said than done. On the day of the exchange, there was only one thought in my head - “now I will have something that will drive like a sting and will not break.” How wrong I was... They exchanged. So I’m driving home in this dio and I notice that it’s not only driving slower, but I would even say that it’s crawling 2 times slower than my Chinese one. On top of everything else, it was also harder to start, and it didn’t look as impressive :(

Plus, on the same day I didn’t notice the open sewer hatch and tumbled quite a bit. In the photo above it is noticeable that the traverse is quite bent... Then it was necessary to do something with the engine, because it was possible to overtake me even without a bicycle. The first thing I did was go to the central gas station. I was horrified when I saw this... the rings flew freely in the sleeve. When I reached into the carburetor, it turned out that there was no filter element in the filter box. Cleaned the carburetor, inserted a new sponge. I took a new 70cc cpg. I straightened the traverse, welded the reinforcement inside for reliability :) I worked with plastic, and generally made a mess :)

By this time, the snow had melted and I gradually began to break in the cpg. The rattling crankshaft was a little alarming (by the way, it was Chinese, thanks to the former owner), but there was no money for a new one.

I had already begun to feel the taste of life, I had driven 300 km, when suddenly, by June, problems with ignition began. Either there is detonation, then there is mad thrust, then it barely moves. As it turned out, the seat for the key in the crankshaft was broken. I drove at a third of the gas and only when necessary, until I had the opportunity to buy a new knee. Then I bored out the rotor for a larger key and everything became normal. The mileage on this CVG exceeded 500 km and when I got on the highway, I decided to hit at least 60 km/h. So, I’m flying along the highway, so happy, when suddenly a wild crunching sound comes from the engine, the rear wheel locks, and I skid slightly. I stopped, there was light smoke coming from the engine and the smell of burnt plastic. Wedge! I stood there for 5 minutes, waited until it cooled down a little to start it again. I pressed the starter button, and there was a double clanking noise and silence from the engine. I drove 4 km to the garage... I removed the engine and was horrified. I caught the wedge just at the moment when the piston was going up... as a result, 3 studs were torn out along with the corners of the crankcase (whoever disassembled the 34 engine will understand what I mean) and another one is broken. The CPG is hellishly bad, the Chinese connecting rod is bent so getting it out of the engine has become a big problem. Repairs, according to good standards, amount to 8 thousand. In your pocket, zero. I tried to restore the crankcase by cold welding, screw in the studs differently, and somehow straighten the knee. I spent whole days and nights in the garage, all the money was spent on repairs, but the result was zero. At this time, all my friends were riding for their own pleasure, occasionally stopping by to find out how my repairs were progressing. On top of everything else, the girl abandoned me... In short, it’s the holidays, summer, everyone is riding - and I’m alone in the garage *working with this miracle of Japanese engineering. Depression in one word. I tried to sell it, but no one needs the designer when it’s not in use. I closed the garage and went to work part-time so that I could have money for spare parts and to take my mind off things. I earned 4k in a week, after which I saw an advertisement for the sale of a Chinese man. I bought it without thinking - you can put together anything from two scooters.

It was not running, but adjusting the thermal clearances of the valves led to the engine purring after two light presses of the kick starter. The scooter was a 72cc from the factory and had only 1000+ kilometers on it. Disassembly also showed that the engine is in perfect technical condition. But this is Patron Traffic! Outwardly it looks poor and the plastic falls off as you go. the suspension is dead in the trash. The idea is of course crazy, but throwing the 139 engine into the dio was the only way out at that time. No sooner said than done.

By that time, I had also repainted the plastic; I liked the dark gray color better. I don’t know how to insert a video here, but a link to YouTube is attached: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNhfRhT5gL4 I rode like this for the first time. It really goes! And it starts with a button! It doesn’t even overheat and consumes 2 liters per hundred :) Then, naturally, there was a lack of power and tuning began... For several months, we bought all sorts of goodies like a 90cc CPG, a sports variator, a belt, a carburetor, etc. Oh yes, I’m not a supporter of expensive elite tuning, so the engine was built on the principle of less money/more power. For example, the oil radiator was from a Cossack :)

As a result, the engine began to produce around 10 hp, and this was enough to pull any other 2 tons of Japs from the start and calmly fly along the highway at a speed of 90 km/h. At the same time, it consumed about 3 liters per 100 km in mixed mode. I’ll say this about the power: at 50% gas it goes 45 km/h, and if you unscrew the handle all the way, then the scooter from this speed goes into reverse :) Video attached: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHcB4nvu5qo Don’t go into details I will, if anyone is interested, I will write a separate article about how to make “China go down.” By this time I came across the Yoshkar-Ola scooter club, the guys there turned out to be very interesting, the season rolled on with them until the snow.

Among them there were those who supported my love for long trips, they took me to neighboring cities, and so on, throughout the republic.

Okay, let's get back to the scooter. I installed a muffler “ala saxaphone” - these are installed on Chinese 4t scooters, inside they are arranged like regular mufflers. Overall it looked nice:

But I didn’t ride like that for long... I was turning the scooter into a turn at a decent speed and the knee of the muffler caught either a curb or some kind of stone, but as a result, the muffler itself was deformed and the mount in the crankcase was torn off. I made a homemade mount and rode with it:

But in the end, I still installed the converted can for direct flow:

By the way, it sounds very bassy and gave a decent increase in power (and consumption too, by the way). Despite the fact that everything is set up normally, the tuned engine does not want to work quietly and therefore, when the gas is released, everyone driving behind observes blue flames with a characteristic sound :) In order not to be unfounded, the video is here: www.youtube.com/watch?v= BK9xH4A5pMs Of course it’s great to skate, if not for one thing. On the eve of my birthday, in early October, I got into an accident. It was late on a rainy evening. I was flying calmly along the avenue, just got caught in a green wave... When suddenly a dark “boyish” planted nine flies out of the parking lot with a whistle, cuts me off and disappears in an unknown direction. I'm flying under a gazelle, the scooter flies to the side of the road. There were no fractures, but I couldn’t walk for 4 days; it was a pretty severe knee injury.

A week later, I crawled to the garage on crutches to restore my scooter. I didn’t take any photos, but the damage is purely cosmetic: chipped plastic on the left side, a cracked variator cover, a broken headlight, headlight frame and one mirror on the front. After another week, although I was limping again, I was already riding the scooter as hard as I could :) After that, I decided to work on the brakes, because... the front still had drums with dio 34. I didn’t waste time, stuck gas-oiled feathers, a new disc, a new Kenda tire 3.5″ wide, a 220mm brake rotor and a two-piston caliper. Stoppy with a light touch of your finger :)

After the fall, I glued the headlight together, pulled out the yellow pieces of glass from the turn signals, and had to cut down the headlight frame for the brake disc...

I installed xenon 5000K 35W in the headlight. Here I think the difference with 55W halogen is very obvious:

So what next? Winter has come, a time of sadness and weekend drifting in front of the garage.

By the way, next summer we are planning to go to the sea on scooters. So what? Hang the case, change the oil, stock up on spare parts and hit the road. This Honda is no stranger :)

Thanks to everyone who read to the end. If you have any questions or suggestions, let me know :)

Advantages

As of 2022, Honda continues to sell scooters. However, many technical characteristics of the Honda Dio 35 ZX have become completely different today. Outwardly, he also changed significantly.

Now the basic version has become much more powerful and “spiritier” than before. Driving it around the city is a pleasure, and working as a courier is absolutely gorgeous. This is because the trunk is large and convenient and never lets down delivery people. Another small compartment has also been added to the front. Some modifications from the factory also have a basket in which you can place small-sized items.

The AF-35 SR CB series featured a combined braking system for the first time. The idea is simple: 30% of the brake force goes to the rear wheel, and 70% to the front. This increases stability during a sudden stop and prevents the driver from “flying out” of the scooter when driving around the city, maneuvering between other vehicles. However, this is most involved for beginners who do not have much experience in driving such equipment.

Honda Live Dio: the latest two-strokes

The third generation of the Honda Dio scooter (factory indexes AF-34 and AF-35) began mass production in 1994, while it was produced for 5 years in parallel with the previous generation model, and its production was completed 10 years later - in 2004.

This is the last Honda Dio two-stroke scooter in the series and is therefore considered the 'best'. Subsequent four-stroke models are more economical, but they do not have the same drive as the two-stroke Live Dio and its predecessors.

By the way, unlike its predecessor, Dio AF-34/35 received significant changes not only in terms of design, but also in technical terms. The main change is the new AF34E engine with a horizontal cylinder arrangement.

Externally, the Honda Dio AF-34/35 received a modern streamlined design, the optics became crystal, and for the first time the underseat luggage compartment had a flat floor.

The model was produced in several versions:

the basic one was the usual Live Dio AF-34, distinguished externally by drum brakes on all wheels;
Live Dio Cesta differs from the basic configuration in a volumetric basket integrated into the front fork (such modifications are popular among Japanese housewives who prefer to travel around shops and markets on two wheels);
Live Dio AF-35 SR – modification with front disc brake;
Live Dio AF-35 SR CB – modification with a combined braking system that distributes braking forces 30% to the front and 70% to the rear wheel;
Live Dio AF-35 ST – distinguished by the presence of an ABS system;
Live Dio AF-35 ZX is a sports modification, characterized by an oil shock absorber, front disc brake, a more powerful engine and a rear spoiler.

The most valuable modification today is the AF-35 ZX, although they are not easy to find in stock condition.

Pros, cons and features

The third “series” of the popular urban scooter Dio continued the glorious path of development of the family. The AF-34/35 model turned out better in everything - design, power, efficiency... and so on, while maintaining traditional reliability.

In the city, the Honda Dio is ideal, but since 2013, when mandatory driving licenses were introduced for scooters up to 50cc, these lightweight scooters are used mainly in rural areas.

The Live Dio is better suited for carrying luggage thanks to the already mentioned flat floor in the luggage compartment.

As for repairs, the third generation model is still structurally simple, but work with the piston group will require partial disassembly of the engine - the diagonal arrangement of the AF34E cylinder obliges.

If you do not take into account the engine, otherwise repairing the scooter does not cause problems, and there are now enough spare parts (although you have to order and wait for the Japanese original).

Technical characteristics of Dio AF-34/35

engine – AF34E, single-cylinder, two-stroke, volume 49 cm³ and power up to 7.2 hp, air-cooled;
transmission – variator;
ignition system – electronic;
gas tank volume – 5.3 liters;
oil tank volume – 1.2 liters;
maximum speed – 60 km/h (electronically limited);
front wheel suspension – telescopic;
rear wheel suspension – pendulum;
front wheel brake type – drum/disc (34/35);
rear wheel brake type – drum;
base – 1145 mm;
length – 1675 mm;
seat height – 700 mm;
ground clearance - 105 mm;
total weight – 70 kg.

Honda Dio AF-34/35 is one of the best inexpensive used Japanese scooters currently available. If you need a model up to 50 cubes, then Live Dio is ideal. Two-stroke Dios were no longer produced after the AF-34/35.

The cost of the third generation model on the secondary market starts from 14,000 rubles and ends somewhere around 40,000 rubles (depending on condition). There are more expensive versions, but they are just complete stuffing, such a scooter is definitely not for beginners.

Tags
50 cc scooters

Sports version

It deserves special interest, since its suspension is very different from the base models. It also has completely different oil shock absorbers. They replaced the old spring ones. Off-roading was no longer a problem for this scooter, since the front fork travel was already more than 100 millimeters.

The transmission has also been rebuilt: lighter weights have been installed for the variable transmission, and the scooter's clutches have become stiffer. Other things worth mentioning are the sports muffler, which was only available on this version, as well as the alloy wheels, which are very unique. As mentioned above in the article, this model was given its own spoiler.

The scooter was equipped with an anti-theft device, namely a step blocker.

The Honda Dio ZX 35 in the sports version retains its advantages of the old, basic models. She has always been characterized by:

Reliability.
Ease of repair.
Availability, low cost of spare parts.

Thanks to the scooter's 7 horsepower, which is a record for fifty cc engines, the Honda Dio ZX 35 is easy to tune. The transmission is also designed reliably: the variator transmits torque efficiently.

Motorcycles and mopeds Honda dio 35 zx - reviews

makssteel
https://www.scooternsk.ru/forum/index.php?showtopic=1469

In general, the dio, according to many knowledgeable people and friends, says it’s an excellent device, it will last the longest if you take care of it (although if you take care of it, then the Chinese one will last a long time, and even then it’s unlikely) and the dio’s engine will be better. And if it’s more than 50cc, then I agree Yamaha will be just right.

anonymous
https://v_dguk.ukr/ru/motorcycles_and_mopeds_honda_dio_35_zx-r17586.html

Hello everyone, today I want to tell you about the Japanese moped Honda Dio 35. I really liked the moped, because I heard a lot of good things, the Japanese make mopeds of high quality, they rarely break, but oh well, now I’ll tell you about this moped model. I had such a moped, I decided to buy it in 2011, and I still ride it, during all this time I only changed the switch, and there were other little things, there was nothing serious in the breakdowns, the moped goes 60 km/h, 49 cc engine 2 stroke. A full tank was enough for me for about 95 km; if, of course, you constantly drive at a speed of 60 km/h, then I think a full tank will definitely not be enough for you for 80 km. I drive like this, at about 50 km/h. And it gives me a lot of pleasure to ride at such a speed. From the starter it starts quickly, even faster than a Chinese scooter; the tank on my moped is 4 liters. In general, I was very pleased with this moped, I advise the guys, well, it’s up to you, think that my review is truthful.

anonymous
https://v_dguk.ukr/ru/motorcycles_and_mopeds_honda_dio_35_zx-r58748.html

I’ve been using it for 6 years now, it starts as always with a half-turn, you’re simply amazed at where such build quality comes from. It broke down a couple of times, there was a problem with the gears, I couldn’t find the parts for a long time, only during disassembly, but it flies like a beetle. Quite economical, proven over the years, has survived more than one generation of bicycles that I have had during this time. It doesn't take a lot of oil, moderately, the steering wheel rattles a little, probably from old age, but it carries two bags of potatoes smoothly. I also ride it for fishing and hunting.

anonymous
https://v_dguk.ukr/ru/motorcycles_and_mopeds_honda_dio_35_zx-r59176.html

Yes - the time has come when getting to a robot on such a unit is a pleasure! Fresh warm air and a pleasant rumbling under the heel did not give a flow of adrenaline, but a feeling of confidence and freedom. A ditty spilled between cars stuck in traffic jams makes oneself smarter. With a small volume but with a revving engine, you can speed up a little - but without showing off! If you are thinking about acquiring a reliable assistant and friend, don’t even doubt it – this is what you need! Regarding maintenance and repair, there are currently plenty of spare parts and consumables, and if you need advice from experienced scooter riders, there are even more forums.

Broded
https://otzyv.expert/horoshiy-skuter-rekomenduyu-596800

Advantages:

pure Japanese, low price, small dimensions, fuel consumption

Flaws:

small wheel radius

Details:

Got a Honda Dio 35 scooter for my birthday! I really liked it. It drives great, has a soft reinforcement, you can hardly feel the bumps, soft landing. It pleased me with its low fuel consumption, an average of three liters per 100 km. Powerful scooter, picks up speed quickly, good dynamics. Thanks to its small dimensions, it allows you to quickly pass through any traffic jams. I highly recommend it to everyone, you won’t regret it))) You can use it anywhere, for fishing, for mushrooms, for berries, even if somewhere you can’t drive it, you can easily drag it and continue moving. I highly recommend it, you won’t regret it.

Invulner777
https://otzovik.com/review_489556.html

Advantages:

It consumes little gasoline.

Flaws:

I've had it for 5 years and I'm happy with it. It's a very active scooter for its version. Pure Japanese. Beautiful looking, it drives fast enough for the city, no need to stand in traffic jams.

starrr2013
https://otzovik.com/review_977606.html

Advantages:

Cost-effectiveness, style, design, speed and simplicity!

Flaws:

The only downside is that the light stays on!

I have been the owner of this beautiful scooter for 1 year now. Fuel consumption is 3 liters per 100 kilometers! At first I thought about taking a Yamaha, but then I changed my mind and took a Honda! It is easier to maintain and everything is simple! The first breakdown happened about 3000 kilometers later, the belt broke, everything was fine. I recommend it to everyone!

irabov
https://otzovik.com/review_1298674.html

Advantages:

Low consumption, design, maneuverability. Japanese!

Flaws:

If there are, they are insignificant. Only piston ones.

We've had this for a long time. We ride every day. The truth does not like long trips. The piston has been changed more than once - this is one of the minuses. As long as you don't tweak the factory piston, everything is great. And when you’ve already changed it once, you’ll change it more than once. Previously the asking price was 200 UAH just to buy. Plus more work. Well, we inserted everything ourselves. And we only changed the light bulb once. If you drive normally, do not exceed the speed until the limiter light comes on, then the device will run normally. And you need to pour good oil. Another disadvantage is that to get to the piston, you need to disassemble half of the moped. and so, Better than any Chinese!!!

Aidarr93
https://otzovik.com/review_2601024.html

Advantages:

Handsome, playful.

Flaws:

During repairs, it is difficult to get to some parts.

Of all the Honda Dios, 2-stroke, 50cc, this is the most playful and fast, it has good uphill traction, a good jerk and excellent speed in a straight line. The quality is good, the assembly is excellent and the appearance is not bad. To change the piston, you will have to roll out the engine.

7887
https://irecommend.ru/content/seichas-ya-vzyal-drugoi-skuter

I bought myself a DIO 34 1996 a year ago for 26k. What can I say, for a vehicle that is already 16 years old it is quite good, although its previous owners clearly did not take special care of it, everything except the front shock absorbers was original.

Initially, the scooter travels with difficulty at 55 km/h, while it consumes 4-5 liters per 100 km (with a working enrichment).

In the first week the front shock absorbers broke, at a railway crossing, I bought Chinese 1500 rubles

To make the scooter go even a little faster, I had to replace

switch — 1500rub

belt - 400 rub.

variator/cargo — 1500rub

Grind the rear variator.

I suffered for a very long time, I could not unscrew the front/rear variators.

Spare parts are Chinese, normal ones cost twice as much, + I didn’t take into account the cost of delivery, because spare parts for Japan are even more expensive here (even from China) and are not always in stock.

Don't forget about consumables

oil 2T 500 rubles 1 l, transmission oil 400 rubles 1 l.

As a result, I drove 60-70 km/h.

The scooter is clearly only for the city! I don’t recommend taking it to the village, much less to the village!

Maybe he would show himself better in the city, but alas, I’m not in the city)

In general, now I would take myself either a new Chinese Alpha 110cc (20-22k) or maybe a used Chinese scooter 150cc. It seems to me that with the same hemorrhoids I would get cubic capacity, + 100% lower gasoline consumption.

gsx77
https://irecommend.ru/content/krepkii-yaposhka

It turned out that instead of a debt in monetary terms, my brother was given this scooter and on the very first day we began testing it in the countryside)) in the rain we twisted nickels, accelerated to 50 km/h, fell, went fishing 15 km from the village, despite the fact that there was a road broken and even went on a picnic in three of us with full bags of food, the engine was rather running on wear and tear since we, with our childish attitude, didn’t really pay attention to the condition until we flew into an unpleasant hole, after which the rear shock absorber burst, but my brother stuck it in and we continued to ride even in winter, in total, without any intervention in the engine, the Dio served for 2 years, then a leg was simply broken off, and by that time the starter was no longer turning, then it turned out that the Khan piston was now gathering dust in the garage awaiting a major overhaul))

STRELOK137
https://irecommend.ru/content/pishu-pro-dio

Hi all! I have a Honda dio 35 zx in my garage, what can I say about this scooter, I really liked the design, reliability and fuel consumption in the city. I have been riding a scooter for quite a long time now, for more than 3 years. The only problem was with the throttle handle; the throttle cable broke and had to be replaced. I took a scooter from a Container, that is, from Japan, for $500. I am very pleased with the purchase, I advise you to buy everything, the scooter breaks down very rarely, it is very reliable. The consumables for the scooter are very cheap, this is also a very big plus for your pocket. You don't need to spend a lot of money on a scooter. My scooter takes 2-3 liters of 92 gasoline per 100 km. It's very profitable.