This is my first motorcycle and it has an impressive fuel efficiency. I once recorded 62 km/l in stop-start city traffic.
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The feeling of pure joy and ecstasy, when gifted with something new that we always yearned for, is indeed an unmatched and special feeling that we cherish for a long time, whether being gifted a watch after board exam results, a new jacket, or anything that we always wished to possess someday. It is indeed special.
Well, I had that moment on the 17th of November 2023, when my parents gifted me, my first motorcycle, the Honda SP 125. Seeing the new Honda in its stunning matte blue paintwork and my name on the owner's manual was splendid, to say the least.
Identifying Options
Since I am relatively new to the motorcycling scene, my first task was to identify the kind of motorcycle that would suit my needs.
After holding long "conferences" with other like-minded friends in engineering, I came to the conclusion that a 125cc engine would be adequate. Since my college commute clocks up around 7 kilometers daily, and considering my height (I'm 5ft 11') the factors of riding comfort, fuel efficiency, ergonomics and practicality were high up on the list.
And hence, keeping these factors in mind, I shortlisted the following options:
- TVS Raider 125
- Honda SP 125
- Hero Glamour XTEC
Armed with these options, I had a thorough look at these bikes, and after test-riding each one of them, I zeroed in on the Honda SP 125.
Why I chose the SP 125:
I've always had a bit of a bias towards the products that Honda offers, mainly because of their design, build quality and bulletproof reliability that almost all Honda owners swear by.
Keeping that aside though, these are some of the areas where Honda outshone its rivals:
- Seating position is good and there is no bend to the back when seated.
- Ergonomic factors such as the positioning of the foot pegs of the gear shifter and brake was comfortable.
- A large fuel tank combined with an impressive claimed efficiency figure of 65 km/l.
Where the TVS and Hero fell short were mainly on the factors of seat comfort and ergonomics. The Hero Glamour was a bit small for me, and the TVS Raider's seating position was not much suited for my height.
Ownership and Riding Experience:
It has been north of two months of ownership and 1700 km on the odometer, and it's safe to say that the Honda has been a smooth riding experience so far. It caters exactly to its intended purpose of being a comfortable commuter.
- The gear shifts are smooth and shift with a satisfying 'click' and has never missed a gear till date.
- The engine is very refined and responsive and virtually no vibrations have been reported at city speeds, it is only at the top end of the rpm range that slight vibrations are experienced at speeds of 80+ km/h. But, such is the nature of a typical 125.
- The seat foam is supportive and comfortable to ride around 100 km at a stretch. The standout feature being there is no bend to the back when riding which greatly improves comfort. The centre-set gear shifter, which is both a toe and heel shifter, makes it easy to shift gears in traffic.
- Fuel efficiency of the Honda is quite impressive. I've recorded an efficiency of 62 km/l in stop-start city traffic.
- Aesthetic appeal: Since the Honda had a slightly bigger wheelbase than its alternatives, and with the updated BS6 Obd-2 version that comes with a 100-section tire at the rear, it indeed has a good road presence.
- The packaging of the bike has been done tastefully with all-black painted engine components and powder coated alloy wheels.
Features on offer:
The new version of the SP 125 has a list of features that have kept it at par with some of its competitors.
- It is equipped with a full digital speedometer and the large buttons provided make it easy to navigate through the different options of mileage and the trip computer.
- The Honda also comes with a silent starter motor and a Kickstarter.
- All LED headlights with a powerful high-beam setting.
- Wider 100/80 section tires at the rear that ensure more grip.
Criticisms:
- Though the front disc brake is reassuring, the same cannot be said about the rear drum brakes, which are not very responsive and the force of braking at the rear can be vastly improved.
- Although it is equipped with an all-LED headlight which is powerful, the range of the light throw is satisfactory, to say the least.
- At this price point, it would have been desirable to have an option of Bluetooth connectivity with the instrument cluster, similar to the TVS Raider.
- The tail light could have been LED to improve its design.
Conclusion
All in all, the Honda SP 125 has been a smooth sailing (or should I say, smooth riding) experience to date. Yes, there are some minor changes that Honda can make to improve its appeal among its new competitors, but in my opinion and experience, if one is looking for a comfortable, reliable and efficient 125cc commuter, then the Honda SP 125 is definitely worth considering.
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