2016 Suzuki Access 125 First Ride Review

How does it ride?

Open the throttle and you quickly realise the amount of work has gone into the new Access 125. Thanks to the new lighter chassis, the Access 125 is too eager to roll off the start. The kerb weight of 102kg ensures that the scooter is easily manoeuverable in tight spots and it also holds the title of being the lightest vehicle in the 125cc segment. The handlebar position is slightly taller than the other scooters, which makes life easy for tall riders like me. The bar doesn’t touch the knees every time you take a U-turn and truly aids city driving a lot, especially low-speed riding.

Excellent is how I would describe the ride quality. The suspension setup of this scooter swallows all kinds of potholes, bumps and undulations effortlessly.The setup is on the softer side, and is not frazzled by any kind of weight. The 12-inch wheel in the front, is pretty useful in this scenario. What further works in its favour is the comfortable single seat and highway manners which charm you right off.

Now let’s come to the engine. This 125cc engine is from the predecessor but Suzuki has made some major changes and the result is evident. The motor is now equipped with Suzuki Eco Performance (SEP) technology, something we also see in the Lets and Gixxer. This has made the Access 125 more efficient and refined and it’s quite apparent. In fact, this scooter is the most refined in the segment. And not just that, there’s no vibrations at all, even at high speeds, which is super impressive. The performance too, with 8.5bhp and 10.2Nm at your disposal, the Access 125 performs really well. There’s more than enough mid-range torque to let you stay in the economy range (30-50kmph), but if you want to ride fast, this engine won’t disappoint you at all. And it’s quite fuel-efficient too. While the company claims an ARAI fuel efficiency of 64kmpl, the scooter returned us 60kmpl during our FE test.

The Access 125 impressed me in the braking department too. Our test bike had the optional disc brake setup (which is yet to be launched) and it provides excellent stopping power. There’s more than enough bite and progression to make you opt for the disc brake version. However, the rear tyre tends to lock up under heavy braking.

Anything else I should know?

Suzuki has taken a retro modern approach with the styling of the Access 125. While many would appreciate this design, a couple of them will shy away from the scooter due to lack of sharp edges and creases. However, I must say it’s a good attempt to leave the bland style of the old Access and explore a new design language for its scooters.

You should know that the new Access 125 has a good number of useful equipment. The most important one these days – charging port for smartphones. There’s also a front pocket which easily eats up a 1-litre bottle. The instrument cluster is new, but nothing that could impress me. It looks like a halfhearted attempt but yes, the small LCD screen that shows ride information is appreciable. There’s also a foldable luggage hook to take care of your grocery shopping, along with good amount of under seat storage. The quality of plastic used is quite basic – especially around the instrument cluster. This scooter is equipped with one push central lock system for boot, ignition and handle lock.

Why should I buy one?

If you’re in the market for a 125cc scooter, you’ve two more options – the Honda Activa 125 which is two years old and is the most expensive in the present range or the Mahindra Gusto 125, which behaves like an 110cc scooter, plus, it hasn’t been launched in most of the Indian states. But we won’t suggest the Access 125 for the lack of products, but for the perks that it offers at a good price point. The scooter is light, fuel-efficient, looks good, quite utilitarian too but more importantly, manageable in all conditions.

Where does it fit in?

We rode the optional front disc alloy wheels version of the 2016 Access 125 which hasn’t been launched yet. But the base model of the Suzuki Access 125 costs Rs 65,990 (on-road Mumbai) whereas the Honda Activa 125 will set you back by Rs 66,949 (on-road Mumbai). The Mahindra Gusto 125 on the other hand, is priced at Rs 54,920 and that’s ex-showroom Tamil Nadu.

Photography by Kapil Angane