Honda Activa125: Long Term Review, fleet introduction

One doesn't really look forward to a scooter as one's long term companion for in our business it means more than using it for running small errands; it also means daily commute,  which in my case is almost 30km one way. But having spent considerable time on the Activa HET 110 and the Vespa LX, I now know the benefits and the practicality that come with a scooter. So, when the Activa 125 entered the ZigWheels garage, I was more than happy to stake claim on it.

Visually the Activa 125 looks similar to its elder sibling but swing a leg on it and it feels roomier and bigger. I love its seating position with its raised handlebar which feels fine for someone as big as me too. The instrument cluster has been revised with its large speedometer making it easier to read. The new Activa 125 also gets a digital trip meter.

Powering the new offering is a 125cc, air-cooled motor producing 8.6PS at 6,500rpm and 10.1Nm of torque at 5,500rpm. On paper, the Activa 125 makes just 0.6PS of power and 1.3Nm of torque more than its 110cc sibling but when you twist the wrist there is a considerable difference in terms of performance. It feels peppier in terms of acceleration and can maintain speed between 80 to 90kmph with utmost ease and only feels out of breath when you try to go beyond that.

My only qualm with the setup is the judder which accompanies the CVT's engagement, and the fact that one has to squeeze the rear brake lever quite hard when using the electric start to fire up the scooter. Fuel efficiency is an aspect that we Indians are obsessed with and the Activa 125 performs brilliantly in this regard. The scooter returned an impressive overall efficiency figure of 51.7kmpl and I personally feel this number will rise after the first service. So far the journey with the Activa 125 has been good but its real test will be the soon approaching harrowing monsoons of Mumbai.

Date Acquired: May 2014

Total km till date: 645km

Fuel consumed: 12.5 litres

Overall fuel efficiency: 51.7kmpl (As tested)

Cheers: Performance, Fuel efficiency

Sneers: Juddery pick-up

Total Cost: Nil