TVS XL 100 vs Honda CT 125: Specifications Comparison

How does Honda’s newest moped stack up against our homegrown runabout?

At last year’s Tokyo Motor Show, Honda had showcased its off-road moped concept. Now, leaked images reveal that the upcoming production CT 125 will be very close to the concept. We also have a similar product in our backyard in the form of the TVS XL100. Here’s how our homegrown hero stacks up against Honda’s global product on paper. 

Also read: Honda CT125 Moped: Image Gallery

Engine:

The CT 125 is expected to share its underpinnings with the Honda Super Cub 125 sold overseas. It makes more power than the XL100 owing to not just its extra cubic capacity but also fuel injection. The CT 125’s powerband can be accessed better thanks to its 4-speed gearbox. However, the XL100 feels like an automatic scooter since you do not need to change gears. While the Honda CT 125 offers better performance, the XL100 is easier to ride. 

Also read: EXCLUSIVE: TVS XL100 BS6 Price Revealed, Might Not Be Fuel-Injected

Underpinnings:

Like all mopeds, both the CT 125 and XL 100 use an underbone frame. They have similar suspension setup but the CT 125 gets superior braking in the form of a front disc brake and ABS. It also gets larger 17-inch wheels with dual-purpose tyres that should help it clear obstacles with ease. The XL100’s tyres are made for better load-bearing capability and get the heavy-duty suspension to match. So while the CT 125 offers some form of sportiness, the XL 100 gets purely utilitarian underpinnings. 

Also read: Cheapest BS6-compliant Two-wheelers That You Can Buy Right Now

Features: 

The Honda CT 125 gets modern features in the form of all-LED lighting and a circular digital instrument console. On the other hand, the utilitarian XL 100 gets affordable bulb-type lighting and an analogue readout consisting of a speedometer. Given its sporty offroad focus, the CT 125 also gets a high-mounted airbox intake as well as a high-mounted exhaust pipe. The XL 100 gets a dual seat layout where the rear seat can be taken out making way for a flat parcel tray. In terms of features, the CT 125 focuses on sportiness while the XL 100 leans towards utility. 

Price and verdict:

Honda will soon launch the CT 125 overseas, but we don’t see the sporty moped coming to our shores anytime soon. If Honda were to launch it here, it could be positioned as an entry-level lifestyle scooterette above the now discontinued Cliq. Now the XL 100 has been TVS’s trusty workhorse for decades and we do not see the moped being discontinued anytime soon. Interestingly, at TVS’s Moto Soul event, the company showcased a lifestyle version of the XL 100 called the XL 100 Goa edition. It remains to be seen if TVS launches the Goa edition in India.