New Delhi
Honda Activa 125 vs Suzuki Access 125: Design & Features
Reviews by Team Drivio | 15 May 2024
Both Honda Activa 125 and Suzuki Access 125 have remained the best-selling 125cc scooters, owing to their image as supremely reliable, no-nonsense powerful scooters. However, after a close fight, we came to a conclusion with a winner in the end.
- While the Honda Activa 125 has a more urban-oriented design, the Suzuki Access 125 has a design with a neo-retro touch.
- The suspension, tyres and braking setup of both scooters are identical.
- In features, the Suzuki Access 125 has a one-up advantage over the Honda Activa 125.
Both the Honda Activa 125 and Suzuki Access 125 have been updated gradually with minor styling tweaks and features in recent years, but the design language of both of them is completely different from each other.
While the Honda Activa 125 offers a more urban design with sharp and modern-looking body panels, the Suzuki Access 125 has a more neo-retro appeal. However, the chrome garnish on the front apron and side body panels make the Activa 125 look the more premium scooter than the Access 125.
The features common to the Honda Activa 125 and Suzuki Access 125 include an all-LED headlamp, LED positioning lights, external fuel filler, alloy pillion grab rail, front glove box, lockable ignition keyhole, optional alloy wheels and a part-digital instrument console.
However, the Access 125 offers you the added utilities of a charging socket and a fully digital instrument console with Bluetooth compatibility in its range-topping variant, which is not available even as an option in the Activa 125.
| Features | Honda Activa 125 | Suzuki Access 125 |
| LED headlamp | Yes | Yes |
| LED positioning lamps | Yes | Yes |
| Instrument console | Part-digital | Part-digital (fully digital available as option) |
| Bluetooth connectivity | No | Yes (option) |
| Alloy pillion grab rail | Yes | Yes |
| External fuel filler | Yes | Yes |
| Idling stop system | Yes | No |
| Front glove box | Yes | Yes |
| Alloy wheels | Yes (optional) | Yes (Optional) |
| Mobile charging socket | No | Yes |
| Lockable ignition keyhole | Yes | Yes |
Honda Activa 125 vs Suzuki Access 125: Engine & Gearbox
The 124cc air-cooled engine of the Suzuki Access 125 is almost equally as large as the 123.97cc air-cooled engine of the Honda Activa 125. However, while the Access 125 has a minor edge in outright power, the Activa 125 is the scooter offering more torque output in comparison. The engines of both scooters have proven their worth in long-term reliability and are equally durable and refined.
| Specifications | Honda Activa 125 | Suzuki Access 125 |
| Engine | Four-stroke, single-cylinder, air-cooled, 123.97cc | Four-stroke, single-cylinder, air-cooled, 124cc |
| Maximum power | 8.3 bhp @ 6,500 rpm | 8.7 bhp @ 6,750 rpm |
| Maximum torque | 10.3 Nm @ 5,000 rpm | 10 Nm @ 5,500 rpm |
| Transmission | CVT | CVT |
Honda Activa 125 vs Suzuki Access 125: Suspension, Tyres & Brakes
The Honda Activa 125 and Suzuki Access 125 fare identically well-equipped in the ride and handling balance, as many of the chassis components of both scooters are similar. Both scooters offer a combination of telescopic hydraulic forks at the front and a 3-step adjustable hydraulic coil spring at the rear. Both scooters come standard with a 90/90-12 front and a 90/100-10 rear tyre.
Even the braking system of both scooters is the same, with a 190mm disc at the front and a 130mm drum at the rear. However, in the lower-spec variants, the Access 125 comes with a more affordable 130mm drum brake for the front wheel.
| Specifications | Honda Activa 125 | Suzuki Access 125 |
| Front Suspension | Telescopic hydraulic forks | Telescopic hydraulic forks |
| Rear Suspension | 3-step adjustable hydraulic coil spring | 3-step adjustable hydraulic coil spring |
| Front tyre | 90/90-12 | 90/90-12 |
| Rear tyre | 90/100-10 | 90/100-10 |
| Front brake | 190mm disc / 130mm drum | 190mm disc / 130mm drum |
| Rear brake | 130mm drum | 130mm drum |
| Combined Braking System | Yes | Yes |
Honda Activa 125 vs Suzuki Access 125: Dimensions
If you compare both the scooters head-on, the Honda Activa 125 is the taller and wider scooter here, giving it an impression of a larger scooter among the two. However, being a longer scooter among the two, the Suzuki Access 125 is not much behind the Activa 125. Also, being 5 kg lighter than the Activa 125, the Access 125 feels slightly more nimble and quicker to steer.
| Dimensions | Honda Activa 125 | Suzuki Access 125 |
| Length | 1850mm | 1870mm |
| Width | 707mm | 690mm |
| Height | 1170mm | 1160mm |
| Wheelbase | 1260mm | 1265mm |
| Ground clearance | 162mm | 160mm |
| Kerb weight | 109 kg | 104 kg |
| Fuel tank capacity | 5.3 litres | 5 litres |
| Seat height | 712mm | 773mm |
Honda Activa 125 vs Suzuki Access 125: Price
While both scooters have similar starting price points, the top-spec Suzuki Access 125 is more expensive than the range-topping variant of the Honda Activa 125. However, the top-spec Access 125 comes equipped with the added convenience of a fully digital, Bluetooth-enabled instrument console. If you want this feature, the next variant sans it is priced on par with the top-spec Activa 125.
| Price | Honda Activa 125 | Suzuki Access 125 |
| Ex-showroom, Delhi | Rs 77,743 – Rs 84,916 | Rs 77,900 – Rs 87,500 |
Conclusion
When the Honda Activa 125 and Suzuki Access 125 are compared head-on, both the scooters eventually end up having equally reliable, refined and powerful powertrains and almost the same suspension, brakes and wheels. Both scooters almost match even when it comes to pricing.
However, when you nit-pick, the Suzuki Access 125 feels like a slightly better deal, with a peppier performance due to its better power-to-weight ratio and slightly more agile handling. It also offers the added facility of a Bluetooth-enabled fully digital instrument console, which is simply not there in the Activa 125. However, if you like your scooter to have a more urban-oriented design, the Activa 125 should appeal to you more.
