Honda Activa 125 price, first look review

Honda’s original Activa can rightly stake claim to having resurrected the Indian scooter industry from the dead. Just when we’d all given up hope and thought ours was solely a motorcycle market, Honda brought on the Activa in 1999, their first two-wheeler for India to prove everyone wrong. There’s been several scooters from other manufacturers, along with several minor Activa upgrades from Honda, but the fact of the matter remains; an Activa is an Activa.

Honda has milked the Activa cash cow, without ever tampering too much with the proven formula. Major upgrades have come in a shift up from 102cc to 109cc, and more recently in the engine embracing Honda Eco Technology, HET technology, plus a new body. Still, the Activa is now a shade long in the tooth, and it’s a good time to move on.

So the Activa 125 steps in on cue, to fill in the blanks left vacant by previous Activa models. The new 125 includes a tough metal body, often looked up to and preferred in India, with elegant, still conservative body lines. A single, halogen powered headlight is at hand, as are clear lens indicators, flush fitted to the front apron. Instruments are a mix of analogue and digital, sitting over a silvered casing, speedometer calibrated up to 110kph and a green economy zone marked from 30 to 50kph. Levers, grips, mirrors and switches are just as comfortable to operate as expected, and there’s a broad, flat floorboard. The Activa 125 comes with alloy pillion footrests and a wide, comfortable riding saddle that’s long enough to easily accommodate a pillion. From behind, the 125 looks every bit an Activa family scooter, showing off a large, alloy grab handle and prominent tail light cluster.