Road Test: Honda Activa 125

Looks

Honda first launched the Activa (powered by a 102cc engine) in 2000. Up till now, the brand has restyled it only twice – first in 2008 with the revamped model and then earlier this year with the 110cc Activa-i – a model restyled primarily to suit the needs of female riders. For this new 125cc version, the scooter has gone under the knife again. As a result, the new Activa 125 sports a refreshing new look, although its design also bears quite a bit of resemblance to its 110cc sibling and the Aviator.

Up front, the headlight unit is now more angular and has a compact gloss black visor. The clear-lens indicators, meanwhile, have been moved to the apron from their traditional position flanking the headlamp. Separated by a dash of chrome, the restyled indicators look particularly good with their edgy design. Like in the standard Activa 110, this new 125cc model also gets twin faux air vents around the Aviator-inspired Y-shaped chrome bar.

Not much has changed as far as the design of the side panels go. The only major changes to be found are the new smartly finished pillion foot pegs and a new side panel that runs beneath the long saddle. However, move to the rear and once again, you will come across a lot of change. The rear is dominated mainly by the massive grab rail and the equally large tail light assembly. Now, in contrast to the 110cc model, the brake lamp of the Activa 125 takes up most of the tail light unit and runs across the side indicators. Even with all the design upgrades in place, it doesn’t take much of an effort to comprehend the fact that this new 125cc model is essentially an evolution of the standard Activa.

All things considered, the new Activa 125 looks refreshing and yet, it is somewhat retrospective of its predecessors that are currently plying on our roads in big numbers. As for its rivals, we have the Suzuki twins – the Access and the Swish, both of which look fairly modern although not as much as the new Honda. The stylish Vespa LX, on the other hand, carries forward the iconic Vespa lines and comes across as a true head turner.

Engine and Gearbox

The new Activa 125 is propelled by a 124.9cc, single cylinder engine. This air cooled unit puts out 8.6bhp of power at 6500rpm and 10.12Nm of torque at 5500rpm. All that power is sent to the rear wheel using Honda’s V-Matic CVT transmission. To develop this new engine, the company says, it has increased the dimensions of the bore and stroke of the existing 110cc engine and has also made a few revisions for better throttle response and linear power delivery.

So, has all this change worked in favour of the Activa 125? In a word, yes. The scooter offers more grunt off the line than the standard 110cc Activa. A Fireblade it's not, but for zipping around town and taking care of errands, the Activa 125 fits the bill rather well. Under typical riding conditions, it is very responsive and predictably easy to ride as well.

When compared to the 110cc lot that includes the standard Activa, the TVS Jupiter and the Hero Maestro, the Activa 125 seems to do a better job under roll-on acceleration. However, when compared to the 125s, the Access’s quick gearbox gives it the edge off the line, and the Vespa’s three-valve engine make sure that the top end is ruled by its higher power figure. But the mid-range belongs to the Activa, and that makes sense – it is the one part of the rev range that is most used. Rolling on the throttle from low speed gets the rider moving very well, and the Activa 125 continues to gain momentum briskly before losing steam at an indicated 85 kmph. As for its cruising abilities, it manages to cruise at speeds of up to 75 kmph which is more than enough for cruising around town.

The V-matic transmission is just as friendly as the engine’s power delivery and will leave most commuters impressed. Compared to something like a Vespa 125, the transmission responds quicker. As for NVH levels, this newest iteration of the Activa remains smooth and refined as ever. The engine is happiest at low and mid-range, where it feels zippy and potent enough to keep up with light traffic.

Ride and Handling

With its old-school trailing link front suspension, the standard Activa never really excelled at going round corners or lending a sense of absolute stability to its rider. Thankfully, Honda has finally resorted to using conventional telescopic forks at the front along with a bigger front wheel for improved stability. The Activa 125, as a result, handles with a surefootedness that could never be found on its predecessors. The steering is light and precise – no shock, given the scooter’s low kerb weight of 110kg. Despite its longer wheelbase compared to the standard model, the Activa 125 manages to be as nimble and eager to respond as its 110cc siblings – the Dio and the Aviator; Having said that, it still isn’t quite up there with the Vespa LX and the new Vespa S – both Vespa models ultimately are more precise in the way they handle and respond to lighter inputs.

Although the new Activa 125 rides a bit on the stiffer side compared to something like a Suzuki Access, the suspension setup is well calibrated. Also, riding with a pillion is not much of a chore thanks to the additional grunt from the bigger 125cc motor. The new Activa, then, rides a bit stiff but if one keeps a sensible pace, it can easily hunt down other scooters and even a few commuter motorcycles.

Braking is another area where the Activa 125 is superlative. Bringing this 110 kg machine to a stop is a 190mm single disc up front and a 130mm drum brake in the rear. The combination of a disc brake up front and Honda’s combined-braking system (CBS) allows the scooter to shed speed very efficiently and in total composure. Even with a firm squeeze on either of the brake levers, I found it rather difficult to unsettle the Activa 125 under hard braking. Interestingly, Vespa is the only other brand in India that makes 125cc scooter models with a disc brake option. The disc brake-equipped Vespa lineup, in fact, costs significantly more than the Activa 125.

Instrument Cluster and other features

The instrument cluster is a mix of analogue and digital. While the speedometer houses a big analogue dial, the small digital display shows fuel level and the odometer reading. As a whole, the amber back-lit instrument cluster is very well laid out and is legible under all conditions. Honda, rather thoughtfully, has added relatively huge turn indicators inside the cluster, something that will come in very handy for those who choose not to install aftermarket acoustic help for their indicators.

Being a full-size family scooter, the Activa 125 is very roomy. The footboard is accommodating enough for all foot sizes and the reach to the bars is neither too long nor too short. Pillion accommodations, on the other hand, are taken care of with nice metal foot pegs which exude a sense of solidity and good build quality.

The long saddle allows both the rider and the pillion to ride comfortably over moderately long journeys. Storage space underneath that long saddle is on par with the class. Though it can easily accommodate a few groceries, it cannot fit a full-size helmet. The seat cover is a hard-wearing material, but when riding with synthetic pants and under hard braking, it isn’t grippy enough to hold the rider in place. This isn’t a big issue unless you’re riding fast and braking hard consistently, but it can be a problem when riding two up.

Other amenities include a sturdy metal body and 5- spoke alloy wheels. Understandably, you can't talk about a scooter without mentioning its ability to save big on fuel. With a claimed ARAI figure of 59kmpl, the Activa 125 scores big on this count, returning between 44 and 48kmpl to the litre over varied riding conditions during our test. The 110cc Yamaha Ray Z that I ride everyday achieves about 45kmpl, so I was more than happy to zip around on the Activa 125 as much as I could.

Verdict

The new Activa 125 won’t be very surprising to those familiar with Honda’s two wheeler products: it’s predictably easy to ride, well-engineered and affordable to run. With its more powerful yet efficient engine and better riding dynamics, it’s more of an all-rounder compared to its 110cc sibling.

The new Activa 125, in fact, fits into what really is a sweet spot for scooters in the Indian two wheeler space. With a 125cc engine and a Rs 62,500 (ex-showroom) price tag, it rightly sits in the middle of the smaller 110cc models and the much more expensive alternatives like the Vespa VX and the Vespa S. Compared to considerably less expensive 125cc models like the Suzuki Access and the Swish, the Activa 125 comes across as a bit of a premium product, but if the latter’s previous iterations are anything to go by, Honda India is sure to have yet another successful scooter in its lineup.