New Honda SP 125 Review: Likeable & Friendly

It’s aimed towards the more premium 125cc bike market, to take on the Hero Super Splendor and the Hero Glamour 125. 

• Its 123.94cc engine makes 10.9PS and 10.9Nm. 
• The bike’s suspended on a telescopic fork along with dual shocks at the rear. 
• At 114kg, it’s extremely light as well. 

Honda was the first to introduce a BS6-compliant scooter to India with the introduction of the Activa 125 FI. And then with the SP 125, they were the first company in the country to sell both a BS6-compliant scooter and a motorbike. It reaffirms their dominance in the Indian two-wheeler market. What we're most interested in are the other 'firsts' (read: segment-first features), the BS6 engine, and everything else that's new: 

Honda SP 125: Design & Features

The Honda SP has a traditional yet stylish style. Its headlight cowl has chrome accents, and the side panels also have chrome accents for a premium look. The bike's appearance is also improved by the stylish graphics. It has a long single-piece seat and ergonomics that foster a relaxed riding posture, making it ideal for regular trips. The instrument panel has also been updated.

The Honda SP includes handy features such as a silent engine starter and an engine shutdown switch. Its twin-pod analogue instrument cluster includes a speedometer, fuel gauge, warning lights, and a side-stand indicator with engine cut-off function for added security.

Honda SP 125: Engine & Specs

The Honda SP 125 is powered by a 123.94cc single-cylinder air-cooled engine mated to a 5-speed gearbox. The engine produces 10.9PS and 10.9Nm of torque. While those figures don’t sound too impressive, the bike’s smoothness is what really stands out. Only at very high revs, where you won't find yourself very often, will you detect some vibrations and a gravelly engine tone, but the engine is otherwise pretty smooth.

The 5-speed transmission of Honda SP 125 remains unchanged, and it's still significantly smoother than the 4-speed transmissions used by most other commuters. Speaking of the transmission, don't expect the extra gear to boost performance; it's merely an overdrive, as the fourth and fifth gears are capable of equal speeds (about 100kph on the speedometer). 

Honda SP 125: Chassis

The SP has a diamond frame that is supported by a telescopic front fork and dual shock absorbers at the rear. Front braking is handled by a 240mm disc/130mm drum combination, while rear braking is handled by a 130mm drum unit. The bike rides on 18-inch alloy wheels with tubeless tyres in the 80-section.

The ride quality is something that customers in this segment value just as much as performance, and it shares the same hardware as the Honda CB Shine. As a result, the ride of Honda SP 125 stays extremely supple, however on broken areas of tarmac it slid through. Meanwhile, the seat is a little firm, but no soreness can be felt even after hours of riding. Even with the pillion, the experience would be similar one, courtesy: flat and long seat. 

The disc brakes work fine and are have smooth transition during stoppages. When it comes to drum brake version of the SP 125, we wouldn't recommend it unless you have a very limited budget.

The SP 125’s 80/100 tyres are a clear indication of the bike's priorities, which are fuel efficiency over handling. When you lean the motorcycle over, this becomes clear. Nonetheless, it will have more speed around a corner than any of its typical buyers will ever require.

Honda SP 125: Dimensions

The bike has a 790mm seat height, 162mm ground clearance, and weighs 116kg (kerb). That, in fact, puts it on par with the weight of a lot of 110cc commuters despite having a larger engine and slightly better hardware than them. Not to mention the elegant way it looks and its premium built quality. 

Honda SP 125: Variants & Price

The Honda SP125 is available in two versions, one with a front drum brake and the other with a front disc brake. Apart from their braking systems, they are identical.

Verdict

Honda has done quite a nice job with the SP 125. The updated engine, new features, and minor but significant cosmetic changes demonstrate that the SP 125 is more than just a BS6 update. Its Rs 85,131 price tag isn't outrageous, given that all other devices moving to BS6 and even the new OBD 2 standards would experience significant price increases.