The Honda Dio 1 was first released in 1988 and quickly became one of the most popular scooters of its era. As Honda's successor to the DJ-1, the Dio featured a more modern, aerodynamic design with sharper lines and a compact frame. By the early '90s, the Dio had become one of the go-to choices for Honda-based custom builds. This platform could be adapted to nearly any style, vented panels, no suspension, and a cowl, it looks so good. A large wing and Takeyari exhaust? Perfect fit. Custom livery? Yes sir!
Common Modifications
Despite its long production run, the Dio 1’s core design remained unchanged, making it an excellent platform for customization. Lowering is essential, pulling the front springs and bringing the 10-inch tri-spoke perfectly in line with the front panel, a feature both the Dio 1 and 2 excel at. An extended rear wing is another must-have for most builds. Avoid cheap AliExpress options and other options that are more Dominican-oriented, and instead look for high-quality fiberglass wings on Yahoo Auctions. 3-piece fiberglass parts are popular, but if you're after something truly rare, wait for a Simons / G-Style / Kitaco or other vintage parts to surface. While sandan seats are very uncommon on Dio builds, Takeyari exhausts and large, straight-out rear wings are extremely common on over-the-top builds. DJ1-style headset pairs well with Napoleon or bar-end mirrors. High-end builds often feature vintage chambers that nearly touch the rear wing, along with shaved or dual-tiered seats. Wheel swaps are frequent, with stock tri-spokes being interchanged for Cool Irons, and Shurikens are the most common choices. Other widely seen modifications include clear tail lights, fork-mounted fender cowls, and aggressively vented front panels, more so on the front panel than the rear. In the early days of kyuu-gentsuki culture, extended front fenders with custom bodywork weren’t uncommon through brands like kitaco making parts, though this trend has mostly faded in recent years.
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Cut aggressive vents into the front panel. The Dio’s sporty front responds well to heavy venting.
Loud scooter = cool scooter Chamber should be where half of your scooter build buget should go -
Remove springs
Pull the springs and get low to the ground. Run true nosus or throw a skateboard bushing in, either will improve handling! -
Takeyari or Vintage Chamber Exhausts
Long Takeyari pipes, vintage chambers that nearly touch the rear wing are perfect for this look. -
Bar-End Mirrors
With the headset shape, Napoleon bar end mirrors are kinda the slept on mirror choice. I might be a bit biased here... -
Rear Wing
Fit a tail cowl (wing), often paired with an undercowll. This bike has a bunch of rare simons and kitaco wings, as well as current fiberglass still available on auctions! -
Shuriken wheels
Swap out the boring trispokes for Shuriken or cool iron wheels as a nice switch up.
Common Parts Swapped from Other Scooters onto Dios
Most builders stick with Dio-specific parts, with wheels being one of the few exceptions. Common swaps include tri-spokes, Cool Irons, and Shurikens, and in later years, some have used Zoomer wheels for a wider stance while keeping the stock look. Interestingly, the OEM chamber isn’t bad, the round shape flows well with the bike, whereas most other chamber options are quite loud if you want to keep it quiet.
This generation of the Dio had afew variations. These are the main two:
Dio 1 AF18
The original model came with 10-inch steel wheels and a simple front fairing. It was initially available in five two-tone color combinations: red, white, black, silver, and blue, each paired with a white lower section. In 1989, Honda introduced two additional colors, greenish-blue and light purple, along with a black and white New Year Special Edition, Special MARINE Edition, Dio SP Edition, and an ETHNIC Edition with matching liveries. In 1990, four of the original colors were re-released, alongside new solid dark blue and light blue options plus a, featuring minor graphic updates and a more rounded exhaust design.
Dio SR AF25
The Dio SR is the sportier trim of the AF18, featuring a front disc brake, upgraded sport wheels, and SR-specific decals. It kept the same body design but added a sharper, more performance-oriented look. The SR came in several unique colour and graphic combinations that set it apart from the base model, and its wheel and brake setup makes it the most sought-after Dio variations if you want performance.
Why People Choose This Base
The Dio 1 is one of the most widely built platforms across the globe, with countless aftermarket parts available and remanufacturing of certain parts today. Its sleek body design makes it a great candidate for period-correct modifications for either a calm look or vented build, and it shares compatibility with many other Honda scooters. The variety of trim options allows for multiple build styles while keeping the classic Dio look.
The Downsides
There aren't many cons for this base, aside from avoiding BBK upgrades unless you know what you're doing, cheap Aliexpress parts, or a Hawaii/Dominican drag race style when you're starting in the Japanese scooter scene. The only real downside is that they were never sold in North American regions.
Why Should You Buy One???
The Dio 1 is arguably the best Dio in Honda's lineup. It's reliable, with easy part swaps, and offers a great variety of stock plastic colors. With tons of aftermarket options, it’s versatile enough for any build. This makes it a solid choice, and it's the number 1 imported base to NA for a reason.
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