125cc Scooter Segment Explained: Honda Activa 125 BS6, Suzuki Access 125, TVS NTorq 125 & More

The 125cc segment has witnessed a number of new entrants in recent years. Wondering what these scooters are about? You’ve come to the right place

It’s a known fact that scooters are inherently more practical than motorcycles. The automatic transmission and underseat storage make them ideal for city runabouts and the scooters became quite popular thanks to legendary models like the Honda Activa, TVS Scooty and the likes. In the recent past, the 125cc segment in particular has been witnessing quite some action with a number of choices to spoil you silly. Here’s what this segment is all about:

Family-oriented scooters

Honda Activa 125:

The 2019 Honda Activa 125 is the newest entrant in the scooter segment and is also India’s first BS6-compliant two-wheeler. It is available in three variants with a starting price of Rs 67,490 (ex-showroom Delhi). Apart from emission compliance, the scooter also features an external fuel filler, silent starter, Idling Stop System, realtime efficiency and range. It draws power from a new 124cc single-cylinder fuel-injected engine which produces 8.29PS and 10.3Nm.

If you find this scooter to be a little too expensive, you also have the option of buying the previous-generation Activa 125 which is still on sale. It starts from Rs 60,627 (ex-showroom Delhi). This scooter is powered by a 124.9cc single-cylinder motor which churns out 0.34PS and 0.24Nm less than the BS6 iteration. 

However, this variant may not be on sale for a long time as the BS6 norms will be coming into effect from April 2020 onwards. There’s a possibility that Honda might empty the stocks just before the deadline to avoid the last-minute discounted sale. 

Hero Destini 125:

The Hero Destini 125 is the most affordable 125cc scooter in India at Rs 55,580 (ex-showroom Delhi) for the base variant. For added convenience, it comes with an external fuel filler and for improved efficiency, it also gets idle Stop Start System (i3S) which switches off the engine when idling in traffic. Pull one of the brake levers gently and give a little bit of throttle and the engine comes back to life.

This scooter comes with a 124.6cc single-cylinder motor which generates 8.8PS and 10.2Nm. To keep the costs competitive, the Destini 125 comes with drum brakes on both wheels. There’s no front disc brake offered even as an option.

Suzuki Access 125:

The Suzuki Access 125 is the highest-selling scooter in its segment. Its conservative styling appeals to a wide range of audience looking for a no-frills scooter. Moreover, it is also well-known to offer excellent ride quality courtesy the telescopic forks, single shock absorber, large 12-inch front and 10-inch rear wheel. 

It is also peppy thanks to the 124cc engine which puts out 8.7PS and 10.2Nm. Another aspect where it shines is its massive 21.8litre underseat storage which makes grocery runs an effortless affair. The scooter starts from Rs 57,909 (ex-showroom Delhi) for the drum brake, sheet metal wheel variant.

Sporty scooters

Hero Maestro Edge 125:

The Hero Maestro Edge 125 is India’s first fuel-injected scooter, priced at Rs 63,200. But for the cost-conscious customers, Hero also offers a carb variant starting at Rs 59,000 (both ex-showroom, Delhi). Compared to other sporty 125cc scooters in this list, the Maestro Edge 125 may not look all that youthful but in black and red dual-tone colour scheme, it does manage to stand apart.

Like the Destini 125, the Maestro Edge 125 also comes with i3S technology. However, this feature has been skipped in the fuel-injected variant. It gets a 124.6cc engine which makes 8.8PS with carburettor and 9.2PS using fuel injection. The peak torque output for both variants remains the same at 10.2Nm. In terms of features, it gets an external fuel filler and premium-looking alloy wheels across all the variants.

TVS NTorq 125:

The TVS NTorq 125 is the sportiest-looking scooter in its segment. It is also loaded with features like external fuel filler, Bluetooth compatible instrument cluster which shows incoming calls, text messages, turn-by-turn navigation and more. 

But the icing on the cake is that it is priced very competitively for all the features it offers. The scooter starts from Rs 58,252 (ex-showroom Delhi), making it one of the best value-for-money scooters for enthusiast. With 9.4PS and 10.5Nm on tap, the NTorq 125 is in fact the quickest 125cc scooter that we’ve tested so far. It takes just 7.65 seconds to accelerate from zero to 60kmph.

Honda Grazia:

The Honda Grazia is essentially a more sporty-looking take on the previous-generation Activa 125. It comes with an apron-mounted LED headlamp and LED tail lamp. The scooter comes with the same engine as the 2018 Activa 125 and makes the same amount of power and torque too (8.63PS and 10.54Nm). The Grazia is an ideal choice if you find the Activa 125’s design too conservative.

Suzuki Burgman Street:

If you’re in the market for a 125cc scooter with proper maxiscooter styling, the Suzuki Burgman Street is the one to go for. It looks quite premium but at Rs 69,898 it doesn’t cost a bomb either. Key features of this scooter include an apron-mounted windshield, LED headlamp and tail light, fully digital instrument console, 21.5-litre underseat storage with additional storage on the apron, and flexible foot position for the rider. 

The scooter comes with a 124cc single-cylinder engine which makes 8.7PS and 10.2Nm. Suzuki has equipped it with a telescopic fork and a single shock absorber at the rear. It rolls on 12-inch front and 10-inch rear alloy wheels and the brakes include a disc up front and drum at the rear with CBS.

Aprilia SR 125 / Storm 125:

If you found the Aprilia SR 150 too powerful or too expensive, then at Rs 74,027 (ex-showroom Delhi), the Aprilia SR 125 is the one to go for. It comes with a similar styling as the SR 150 but with a smaller engine which produces 9.65PS and 9.9Nm. 

For enthusiasts with even tighter budgets, the Italian brand offers the Aprilia Storm 125 which comes with a different colour scheme and fat dual-purpose rubber on both ends. It features the same engine as the SR 125 and is priced at Rs 68,277 (ex-showroom Delhi).

Retro scooters

Vespa Range:

Retro scooters are all about travelling in style. Their funky design and colours really make them stand apart from the sea of boring-looking scooters. Vespa popularised this segment and in India, the brand offers a range of models in the 125cc segment. The retro design of these scooters are nicely complemented by modern engine and underpinnings. Here’s a detailed explanation of Vespa’s lineup in India and what they’re all about.