Hero Xtreme 125R vs Honda CB125 Hornet: Two Of The Most Eye-catching 125cc Bikes!

The Hero Xtreme 125R and the Honda CB125 Hornet  are two aggressive and sharp-looking 125cc bikes which have a lot of features and seem to be fun to ride. Which of the two should be your pick, then? Let’s find that out in this story:

Price & Variants

• Right off the bat it’s good news for the Xtreme 125R, because the Honda’s pricing is a fair bit more than what it should be. Even if we compare the Xtreme’s top model, the Honda still costs a good Rs 10,000 more. And funnily, despite all that extra money, the CB125 Hornet still only gets single-channel ABS. 

• The Hero Xtreme 125R is offered in 4 variants and several colour options.

• In short, you pay substantially less for the Hero Xtreme 125R and get a safer bike. Here’s how much the Xtreme 125R costs on-road in 5 cities. If you are planning to buy it on loan, check out our detailed EMI buying guide. Also check out the Hero Xtreme 125R booking guide to make your purchase simpler.

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Dimensions & Design 

• There isn’t a substantial difference in the bikes’ dimensions. You can simply get on them and ride without having to worry much. That said, the Xtreme 125R is heavier by quite a margin. And while it doesn’t feel heavy in a cumbersome way, the CB125 Hornet will feel like the lighter bike of the two especially when riding through jam-packed traffic. 

• Both bikes also feel quite similar in terms of their design: they’re both striking, edgy, sharp and some might call them both a bit over the top. Whatever it may be, the truth is both bikes get attention like no other 125cc bikes do. 

• A special mention here to the Honda CB125 Hornet’s colours because honestly they’re something. If you want something bright and out there, the Lemon Ice Yellow is stunning. Then there’s the Sports Red which looks properly sporty. The Pearl Black gives it a stealthy look, like the bigger Hornets and the Athletic Blue Metallic is just beautiful. 

Features & Safety

• While the Xtreme’s cruise control might catch your fancy immediately, it is the CB125 Hornet that’s the more feature-loaded. A TFT console feels more premium than just an LCD one and the Honda RoadSync app gives you access to a whole bunch of features. 

• The biggest setback for the Honda though, is that it only has a single-channel ABS system despite being the substantially more expensive bike. That’s a major letdown. 

• Check out our detailed features explainer to know about what all the Xtreme 125R gets.

Engines

• The CB125 Hornet might have the lower power figure but the 12kg difference in kerb weight sort of makes up for it. Both bikes feel comparable in the city but if we really have to split hairs, the Xtreme feels like just the slightly sportier of the two, while the CB125 Hornet has a slight commuter-ish feel. 

• On the highway though, the Xtreme 125R feels a lot more at home. It feels smoother at higher speeds and the engine feels happier then, than the Hornet. That said, that doesn’t compromise on the Xtreme’s fuel efficiency. In our tests, the Xtreme returned a mileage of 63.5kmpl. 

Verdict 

The Hero Xtreme 125R and the Honda CB125 Hornet are two 125cc bikes that’re striking, fun to ride and have quite some features. What it all boils down to once again is the price. The Hornet costs a fair bit more without offering dual-channel ABS even as an option. So from a safety and value-for-money perspective, the Xtreme 125R is the better of the two. Want to know more about the Xtreme 125? Check our ultimate buying guide. Who should go for the Hornet then? People who want a Honda bike and love the way the Hornet looks. 

vs Rivals: 

• The Glamour X 125 is not as much fun as the Xtreme 125R, so if you want excitement, get the Xtreme. 
• The TVS Raider 125 feels a bit smoother and easier to ride in the city. So if you’re going to mostly commute in the city, get the Raider. 
• The Bajaj Pulsar N125 has one of the most comfortable suspension setups in the segment so those who have comfort as their number 1 priority, should get it over the Xtreme. 
• The Bajaj Pulsar NS125 hasn’t been properly updated in years and the Xtreme is better than it in almost all ways
• If you want something more commuting-oriented without the fun factor, the Honda Shine 125 will make more sense than the Xtreme. 
• If you want a more premium commuter but still no fun factor, the SP125 makes sense over the Xtreme 125R.
• The Bajaj Pulsar 125 is a dated bike now so unless you’re a hardcore Pulsar fan, you should just get the Xtreme 125R. 
• The Xtreme 125R is fuel efficient and more fun than the Hero Super Splendor, so that’d be our choice. 
• Not really a fan of Xtreme 125R? We've got you covered if you're looking for similarly-priced alternatives.