Honda has unveiled the CB125 Hornet and here's how it fares against its rivals in the premium 125cc commuter space.
Honda CB125 Hornet vs rivals: engine and output
The Pulsar N125 produces the most peak power.
All motorcycles produce a similar amount of power – over 11hp. The Xtreme 125R has the highest kerb weight, which results in it having the lowest power-to-weight ratio among the three. It also has the lowest amount of torque. The Raider is unique in this regard, as it gets an iGo variant that offers a momentary torque boost of 0.5Nm. Otherwise, with a torque output of 11.2Nm, it’s on par with the CB125 Hornet.
While not essential, a kickstarter can be a valuable backup in situations like a weak battery or being stranded. In this premium commuter segment, it's a useful feature. The N125 and Xtreme 125R are equipped with a kickstart, whereas the Raider and CB125 Hornet miss out on it.
Honda CB125 Hornet vs rivals: weight and dimensions
The TVS Raider is the lightest here.
Interestingly, despite Honda’s claim of the Hornet being the lightest in its segment, the Raider has an edge with a kerb weight that’s 1kg lower. However, despite this minor difference, the CB125 Hornet offers the highest fuel tank capacity. The Xtreme 125R is noticeably heavier than its rivals here. The Pulsar’s kerb weight varies slightly depending on the variant – the top-spec Bluetooth version gets a wider rear tyre, which adds 2.5kg to the overall weight.
The Pulsar also stands out with its significantly higher ground clearance. The Pulsar also takes a different approach with an ADV-reminiscent styling and large fork gaiters, which looks quite unique in this segment.
Honda CB125 Hornet vs rivals: suspension, tyres and brakes
The Hero Xtreme 125R gets the widest rear tyre.
Honda CB125 Hornet vs rivals: features
Both the Honda and TVS offer a TFT dash.
Honda CB125 Hornet vs rivals: price
The Raider has the most affordable base variant.
The CB125 Hornet is the second-most-expensive bike here but also comes with some segment first features like the golden USD fork and also has the most trusted badge on its fuel tank. The Raider has by far the most affordable entry point of all four bikes here which matters in a price-conscious segment such as this. The Xtreme 125R has gained some variants with a single seat and dual-channel ABS and is now the most expensive of this lot, albeit the Hornet trails it quite closely. Finally, the Pulsar N125 has very middle of the road pricing - it's neither the most affordable nor the most expensive bike here.
Dinshaw Magol
Vishal Venugopal
