Honda CB125 Hornet Review: 5 Things We Liked & 2 Things We Didn't
The Honda CB125 Hornet has managed to tick all the right boxes, but there are a few things which we wished were better
We recently had a chance to review the Honda CB125 Hornet, Honda’s sportiest 125cc bike in India. In this article, we give you a breakdown of the 5 things that we liked and a few things which we didn’t like about the bike.
Things We Liked
Looks Good
The Honda CB125 Hornet has a sharp, sporty and unmistakably premium look and feel. The sporty looks, combined with the elegant looking gold-finished inverted fork, really makes the bike stand out. In our opinion, it will definitely appeal to younger buyers who want a motorcycle which looks like a higher capacity machine. Overall, Honda has done a really good job nailing the bike’s design.
Good Fit & Finish
Another thing which we really liked about the bike is how well it is put together. There are no uneven panel gaps or any such imperfections visible. The switch gear isn’t flimsy or cheap looking, and has a nice feel to it. The paint finish is also well done and overall, the Hornet feels like everything is up to the usual Honda standards.
Same Console As A Litre Class Bike!
We really liked the console, it offers a lot of information while at the same time having a clean and easy-to-read layout. The brand has also offered smartphone connectivity and related features. But what makes this special is how it resembles the console that we have seen on the Honda CBR1000R Fireblade. This really gives an upmarket feel to the overall experience.
Handles Beautifully
What really makes the motorcycle fun to ride in the city is the wonderful handling. The bike is really fun to ride in city traffic, thanks to the lightweight and nimble nature of the machine. We would go as far as saying that the bike would make a really good companion for your weekend rides. You can really enjoy the twisty ghat roads if you’ve got the right kind of cornering skills.
Perfect For City Rides
The 125cc engine feels smooth between 2,000rpm to 4,500rpm, so city riding is relatively an easy affair. The engine has decent bottom-end grunt and is quite tractable as well, so you can easily ride at lower speeds in the 3rd gear easily.
Things We Didn’t Like
A Bit Too Vibey
One of the things about this bike which we felt was a bit un-Honda like was the buzzy nature of the engine. The motor starts becoming a bit vibey from around 5,000rpm to 6,000rpm, which can get a bit annoying.
A Bit Too Stiff
The suspension is tuned to the stiffest setting possible for that sporty handling, but this becomes a bit problematic when riding through bad patches of road. Most of the small bumps and potholes will be felt, with their force being transferred to your body. We wished the brand had tuned the suspension a bit better to make the bike easier to ride through bad patches of road.
BikeDekho Says
The Honda CB125 Hornet is a good sporty commuter for beginners, and it manages to tick all the right boxes in this regard. It has good looks, good handling and also good performance making it perfect for both commutes and weekend rides. There are a few things which the brand could have done better such as suspension tuning and engine refinement.
Honda CB125 Hornet User Reviews
Good and high mileage bike and looks like a sport bike. Compare to other bikes it’s under budget bike to purchase for poor people. I think it’s good in Honda segment. The beast in Honda easy to travel anywhere in 2025 the best bike, my words can’t explain my feeling such a beautiful and amazing bike.Read More
Very comfortable in city rides and the looks of this bike is very aggressive and attractive to my bases the very muscular bike when you sit on this bike then you realised it's not a 125 cc bike just look 150-160 cc bikes The performance of is bike is very nice and they you are ride on highway or city it's comfortable to ride the gear shifting of is bike is very smooth and the mileage of his bike is providing to me just 50-52 because it's depends on your riding because I have 60km mileage some time then you want to aggressive riding it's low too Because I want 125 cc bike and the honda launch this bike then I decide to buy this bike before he launch I want to buy sp125 of Honda and somedays later the company launch this bike and I would like to buy this bike Read More
I choose the Honda CB125 Hornet because it offers the perfect balance of style, performance, mileage, and reliability in the 125cc segment. It's a bike made for riders who want a premium look, it carries the bold and aggressive design of the Hornet series. You get a big bike feel with sharp styling, muscular tank, and LED lights. So far, my riding experience with the Honda CB125 Hornet has been smooth comfortable, and trouble free. The bike feels stable in traffic, the engine runs refined, and the mileage has been consistently good. So far, my riding experience with the Honda CB125 Hornet has been smooth comfortable, and trouble free. The bike feels stable in traffic, the engine runs refined, and the mileage has been consistently good. Read More
Waking up to rush hour stress every day made me crave something easy to ride. CB125 Hornet promised smooth handling, soft suspension and good mileage. I imagined gliding to work without tension. Test ride proved it would keep my daily commute simple and calm. Riding in morning traffic is relaxing. Even rainy days are less stressful. I feel in control and calm. The commute feels like a small and peaceful ritual rather than a chore. Every ride feels like heaven. Yes ideal for calm daily commuters. Smooth, efficient and predictable. Beginners or anyone wanting low stress transport will love this bike. Makes routine rides pleasant and comfortable. I recommend it to every one who want enjoyable rides.Read More
I needed something light and reliable for college errands. Friends suggested CB125 Hornet. It looked simple yet stylish, handled bumps easily and promised easy parking. I imagined stress free rides across campus and nearby streets. Test ride convinced me it was perfect for daily use. Riding is effortless. Library trips, coffee runs and grocery errands glide smoothly. Steering is light, suspension soft and gears shift gently. Even during peak hours the bike feels manageable. Daily commutes feel simple, calm and surprisingly comfortable. Yes great for students and beginners. Smooth, practical and low maintenance. Perfect for the short rides and daily errands. Anyone seeking reliable and easy to handle bike will appreciate its simplicity and comfort.Read More