Honda Activa 125

The scooter gets the classic Activa styling, but various design elements do make it stand out on its own. The body panels have more cuts and creases, giving a different look to the front fender, apron, headlight cowl, and rear bodywork. 

On the apron, it gets chrome elements at the centre, adding a premium touch. The scooter's overall premium feel is enhanced by fat chrome strips on the sides and a slightly lengthier grab rail (compared to the Activa 6G). The rear turn indicators are now more vertically elongated with a chrome strip. It's noteworthy that Honda hasn't overused chrome elements.

Although the Activa 125's appearance doesn't bring something entirely new, Honda has succeeded in creating a design that’s loved by a broad audience. The overall fit-and-finish levels are excellent throughout, thanks to the consistent panel gaps and high-quality switchgear.

The 124cc, single-cylinder engine in the Activa 125 produces 8.3PS and 10.4Nm. It isn't designed for high performance like the TVS NTorq 125 or Aprilia SR125, so its slower acceleration from 0-60kmph (8.72 seconds, in our test) isn't a major concern for the scooter’s target audience.

When choosing a 125cc scooter over a 110cc one, the key is its ability to handle more load and maintain slightly higher cruising speeds easily. Unfortunately, while the Activa 125’s engine is comfortable at around 70kmph, reaching that speed feels like a struggle  in uphill areas.  

On the positive side, the engine excels in refinement. At any speed, the engine feels almost silent and completely free of vibrations, making the Activa 125 an excellent choice for daily commuting in the urban environment.

The Activa is not a sporty scooter, so its suspension prioritises comfort over sharp handling. The telescopic fork and rear monoshock are set up to be soft, providing a smooth ride on all kinds of rough roads with minimal bumps and discomfort for the rider—especially when riding alone. However, if you have a passenger on board (unless they're very light), the scooter tends to be a bit uncomfortable over bumps, which can be unsettling and may affect the rider’s confidence on bad roads or speed breakers.

Despite being one of the heaviest scooters in its class at 110kg (kerb), the new Activa 125 feels light and is easy to steer through city traffic. The soft suspension that contributes to its comfortable ride, however, makes it a bit nervous when taking sharp corners. This is acceptable since the Activa is primarily focused on being a capable, comfortable family scooter.

On the topic of sharpness, the Activa with disc brakes performed exceptionally well in our tests. The brake feel is good, allowing for accurate control. However, it's worth noting that our test scooter did produce a strange rubbing sound from the front brakes when the lever was applied forcefully.

The Activa 125 has been consistently getting comfortable seats since its launch. The rider gets plenty of space, and the seat itself is quite soft, making short city commutes feel relaxing. The riding posture is neutral, and there's enough room on the floorboard for most laptop bags without pushing your feet too outward. However, taller riders might find the slightly low handlebars problematic, requiring them to bend down a bit to reach, and they could interfere with the thighs during U-turns. Additionally, the soft seat might become uncomfortable if ridden for over an hour.

For the pillion seat, there's more than enough space even for larger riders, and the rear footpegs are positioned for a comfortable leg posture. Pillions will enjoy the plush rear seat for short journeys, but then again, due to its softness, extended periods of sitting might become challenging.

The Activa 125 gets the ‘Idling Stop System’, which switches off the engine automatically at traffic lights or in similar situations where it idles for long. And you simply need to twist the throttle to start the engine again. It also gets the side stand engine cut off function, LED headlamp, external fuel lid and a semi-digital instrument console with a digital inset that gives you information about mileage and distance-to-empty readouts along with other readouts. 

The H-Smart variant gets Honda’s range of ‘Smart’ features which lets you unlock the scooter without using a physical key and automatically locks it whenever there’s no activity for 20 seconds, start the engine without using the key and comes with a smart key fob among other features. But, considering the competition in the 125cc segment, the lack of smartphone connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation is disappointing. 

If you are in the market for a 125cc commuter scooter, then the Honda Activa 125 is definitely an option to consider. The engine lacks sporty performance as the scooter was never designed to be a sporty one. But, it has enough power and grunt for fun city rides and is pretty refined too. 

Add to that the premium-looking design, comfortable riding experience and a decent feature list, the Honda Activa 125 should be considered if you are buying a new 125cc scooter.