Here’s How The Honda CG125 Fares Against Its Rivals

  • Published March 10, 2022
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We pit Honda’s newest retro bike against its desi competitors, the TVS Radeon and the Honda Shine, to see how it performs on paper

Honda’s Chinese affiliate company Wuyang Honda recently launched the gorgeously retro CG125 Special edition in the country. It looks like the spiritual successor to the Hero Honda CD100. We pit the new entrant against its desi rivals, the TVS Radeon and the Honda Shine, to see which one fares better on paper.

Engine

Specifications

Honda CG125 Special edition

TVS Radeon

Honda Shine

Engine

125cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled, fuel-injected engine

109.7cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled, fuel-injected engine

123.94cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled, fuel-injected engine

Power

9.92PS @ 8000rpm

8.19PS @ 7350rpm

10.7PS @ 7500rpm

Torque

9.5Nm @ 6500rpm

8.7Nm @ 4500rpm

11Nm @ 6000rpm

Gearbox

NA

4-speed

5-speed

The Honda CG125 Special does not make as much power and torque as the Honda Shine, and moreover, it’s rather peaky, with the peak output figures arriving 500rpm later than the Shine, meaning you’ll have to work the engine to get the most out of it. The TVS Radeon has the obvious displacement disadvantage when it comes to the output figures. However, its peak torque arrives much early down the rev range, which should theoretically make it a sprightly performer in the city. 

Underpinnings

Specifications

Honda CG125 Special

TVS Radeon

Honda Shine

Frame

Single cradle tubular frame

Single cradle tubular frame

Diamond type frame

Front suspension

Telescopic fork

Telescopic fork

Telescopic fork

Rear suspension

Twin shock absorbers

Twin shock absorbers

Twin shock absorbers

Front brake

Drum

130mm drum/ 240mm disc

130mm drum / 240mm disc

Rear brake

Drum

110mm drum

130mm drum

Front tyre

Spoke wheels with tubed tyres

2.75-inch tubeless tyre, 18-inch alloy

80/100-18, tubeless

Rear tyre

Spoke wheels with tubed tyres

3-inch tubeless tyre,  18 inch alloy

80/100-18, tubeless

Since the trio are commuter motorcycles, they share a similar suspension setup to ensure a comfortable ride quality. The optional disc brakes in the Radeon and Shine should offer much better stopping power than the drum-brake equipped ones. 

Staying true to its retro genes, the Honda CG125 makes do with spoke wheels and tubed tyres. While spoke wheels can handle bad roads better, the tubed tyres will not offer as much puncture protection as the tubeless ones on the TVS Radeon and Honda Shine.

Dimensions And Features

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Specifications

Honda CG125 Special

TVS Radeon

Honda Shine

Wheelbase

1200mm

1265mm

1285mm

Ground clearance

165mm

180mm

162mm

Fuel tank capacity

8.2 litres

10 litres

10.5 litres

Seat height

NA

NA

791mm

Kerb weight

110kg

116kg (drum) 118kg (disc)

114kg

The Honda Shine’s longer wheelbase should offer better straight line stability whereas the short wheelbase of the Honda CG125 should ensure better cornering agility. The TVS Radeon’s high ground clearance should make it a breeze to ride on bad roads. The Honda CG125 is the lightest of the trio, so this coupled with the short wheelbase should make it easy to manoeuver in tight spaces.

Coming to the features, the Honda Shine is the most feature-packed one among the trio thanks to the inclusion of silent starter, engine cut-off function, and engine kill switch. The TVS Radeon isn’t too far off when it comes to features as it gets an optional USB charging port in the headlamp cowl, and Eco and Power indicators that show how frugal/ aggressive the user’s riding style is. The Honda CG125 Special is the only bike in this comparison to have a tachometer. Its instrument cluster also looks a lot more old school compared to the Radeon and the Shine.

Price And Verdict

Honda CG125 Special

TVS Radeon

Honda Shine

CNY 7,480 (Around Rs 90,042) 

Base Edition: Rs 59,925

Commuter Of The Year edition: Drum: Rs 70,116/ Disc:  73,116

Dual Tone: Drum: Rs 71,016/ Disc: Rs 74,016

(Ex-showroom, Delhi)

Drum: Rs 74,943

Disc: Rs 79,343

The Honda CG125 Special will not be launched in India, but fret not, as the Japanese bikemaker is working on an affordable commuter for India. We wish the upcoming Honda bike looks as tastefully retro as this one. Those who are not willing to wait for it can go for the TVS Radeon as it offers a great balance of peppy performance and frugality. That said, for those who are in the market for a no-nonsense, refined 125cc commuter bike, the Honda Shine is the best bet. In fact, the Shine has been by far the best selling 125cc bike for several years now.

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