Honda Activa 125 review, test ride

All the Activa 125’s controls come to hand nicely, making this an easy scooter to feel at home with quickly. The Activa 125 comes with premium feeling alloy pillion footrests, its flattish seat long enough to easily accommodate a pillion. The 125 looks too much like the old Activa when viewed from behind, showing-off a large, alloy grab bar and familiar looking tail lamp cluster. Overall quality is fine on the Activa 125, typical of Honda. This is a well built scooter that’s certain to prove reliable and hassle free in time. There’s a premium feel to this new Honda, immediately apparent from the moment you get astride and fire up the new motor.

This is Honda’s first 125cc scooter in India, although you can’t tell that from the engine note at idle, which sounds more or less identical to any of the smaller Activas. The 125 derives power from a Honda designed, four-stroke, 124.9cc, single-cylinder and air-cooled engine. Power is 0.6bhp up on the older 109cc scooter, now 8.6bhp delivered at 6500 revs, a healthy 1000rpm lower than the smaller Activa. Peak torque is improved to 1kgm at 5500rpm as well, and this carbureted powerhouse comes with its choke pull knob just below the handlebar. The Activa 125 breathes through a viscous type air-filter, while the transmission system is a scooter typical CVT system, enabling hassle free automatic ratio-selection. The Activa 125 is button-started, via a maintenance free (MF) battery, although a kick lever is provided in the event of an emergency. The Activa 125 engine includes roller supported rocker arm fingers that reduce friction within the head to promote better fuel-efficiency. As expected, the Activa 125 feels peppier than the older Activa. Power feeds in smoothly, with refined, soft and impeccable manners at all times. The Activa 125 feels strongest in its early to mid range, with light and quick throttle response making for effortless overtaking in high density Indian traffic conditions, the scooter responding willingly, with a zippy nature. The Activa 125 cruises comfortably at 80kph, a little pep still in reserve.