Sporty commuters have been gaining serious traction in India, as many want motorcycles that deliver the style and presence of a larger machine, but in a compact and cost-efficient package. The TVS Raider 125 and the Hero Xtreme 125R have been the two stars of this segment, and Honda has now entered the class with the CB125 Hornet.
We had a unit sporting the Pearl Siren Blue with Athletic Blue Metallic colour scheme for this review.
Honda CB125 Hornet design and quality - 8/10
A sleek and sharp design with good build quality and fit and finish levels.
At first glance, the CB125 Hornet looks more premium than its displacement might suggest, and just like its rival from Hero, it looks and feels more like a 150. Honda has gone for an aggressive and youthful design language, giving it a strong streetfighter vibe. The sculpted fuel tank with sharp shrouds, a chunky golden USD fork and an angular headlamp setup combine to give the motorcycle a good presence from the front.
Front end has been inspired by the larger Hornet models, but this has quite a busy headlight section.
It has some design cues inspired by Honda’s bigger Hornet 750, but not every element will appeal to everyone. The section on top of the headlight housing the daytime running lamps (DRLs) and high beam light looks like there is too much going on. That said, the neat LED indicators and cleanly integrated grab rails at the rear are very well executed. The split-seat setup looks sporty, and the tail section is slim yet stylish.
A sporty split-seat setup with neatly integrated pillion grab rails.
Fit and finish levels are what you’d expect from Honda: solid, premium and without any visible panel gaps. Nothing feels out of place or flimsy. The exhaust is large but proportionate, and its design adds some substance. Honda offers the CB125 Hornet in four colour options. The blue paint scheme we had, paired with colour-matched alloy wheels, was surely catching a lot of attention on the streets.
Honda CB125 Hornet riding position and comfort - 9/10
Mostly upright and comfortable, with a slightly sporty placement of the handlebar and foot pegs.
Swing a leg over the CB125 Hornet, and you’ll notice the relatively substantial seat height and width. At 5’7”, I could just about plant my feet flat, but shorter riders may find themselves on tiptoes. The seat, however, is comfortable and broad, offering good support even after long stints.
A nice riding position for daily commuting.
| Weight and dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Seat height | 796mm |
| Wheelbase | 1330mm |
| Kerb Weight | 124kg |
| Fuel tank capacity | 12 litres |
| Rider height | 5'7" |
The handlebar is positioned slightly forward, which means you’re not sitting bolt upright but leaning just a bit ahead. Taller riders may feel more upright, but for me, it was a balanced riding triangle – sporty enough for spirited commuting yet relaxed enough for city crawls and short highway runs. Foot-peg positioning is neutral, and the bike’s low kerb weight makes it easy to manoeuvre at a standstill or in tight traffic.
Honda CB125 Hornet mileage and performance - 8/10
Good mid-range, adequate power, engaging to ride in the city and impressive mileage.
Under the tank sits a 124cc single-cylinder air-cooled engine, producing about 11hp and 11Nm of torque. The acceleration is smooth in the low revs, and the bike has impressive mid-range performance. It feels quick enough when you need to make overtakes and delivers quite an engaging ride experience. In the city, it is a light and nimble machine, making it easy to filter through traffic. The engine is tractable enough to cruise at around 30kph in fourth gear, but what enhances its rideability is the butter-smooth gearbox and fairly light clutch action.
The 124cc engine offers good mid-range performance.
On the highway, the Hornet feels happiest at around 70-75kph in fifth gear. Push it harder, and vibrations start creeping in through the handlebars, particularly past 80kph. That said, the overall performance is decent considering this is a 125cc commuter.
| Engine and output | |
|---|---|
| Engine | 123.94cc, single-cyl, air-cooled |
| Power | 11.1hp at 7,500rpm |
| Torque | 11.2Nm at 6,000rpm |
| Gearbox | 5-speed |
| Performance | |
|---|---|
| Acceleration | Time |
| 0-40kph | 2.74s |
| 0-60kph | 5.84s |
| 0-80kph | 11.31s |
In our tests, the CB125 Hornet hit 0-60kph in 5.84 seconds and achieved the sprint to 80kph in 11.31 seconds. The max speed we saw on the display was 112kph. That said, there is quite a lot of speedo error. For instance, when the speedometer displayed 107kph, our VBox showed that the real speed was actually 95kph.
| Roll-Ons | |
|---|---|
| Roll-On Acceleration | Time |
| 20-50kph (2nd Gear) | 3.67s |
| 30-70kph (3rd Gear) | 7.84s |
| 50-80kph (4th Gear) | 8.49s |
During our efficiency runs, we were cruising at around 70kph on the highway and managed to get an impressive 69.3kpl, while in the city, we achieved 59.8kpl. This was also thanks to following the Eco meter on the display, which helped us in extracting the best efficiency. Expect mileage to vary depending on different riding styles.
| Mileage | |
|---|---|
| City | 59.8kpl |
| Highway | 69.3kpl |
Honda CB125 Hornet ride comfort and handling - 7/10
Does a decent job but isn’t as comfortable as some rivals.
Handling feels light and nimble, letting you flick it confidently through city streets or sharp corners, and direction changes also require minimal effort. The CB125 Hornet rides on MRF tyres that perform reasonably well in dry conditions, but in the wet, grip levels felt uninspiring.
Light, nimble and easy to manoeuvre.
Suspension duties are handled by a 37mm USD fork at the front (a first-in-segment feature) and a preload-adjustable monoshock at the rear. On most urban roads, it irons out small bumps and undulations with ease. But when tackling sharper speed breakers and potholes, the front end tends to run out of travel and bottom out, which creates a jolt on the handlebars. In general, the suspension over broken surfaces doesn’t feel as compliant as some rivals’, so keep in mind that you will have to slow down over poor and unpredictable roads.
| Suspesnion, tyres, and brakes | |
|---|---|
| Suspension (F/R) | USD fork / Monoshock |
| Brakes (F/R) | 240mm disc / 130mm drum |
| Tyres (F/R) | 80/100-17 / 110/80-17 |
The braking is good for the levels of performance that the bike offers. All that you need are two fingers on the front brake lever, and it quickly gets the bike to a halt when necessary with a sharp bite. At this price point, a rear disc would have been a nice addition, but in all fairness, it is not really needed.
| Braking | |
|---|---|
| Braking Test | Distance |
| 60-0kph | 17.96m |
Honda CB125 Hornet features and safety - 8/10
More than ample for a 125cc motorcycle.
On the features front, Honda has equipped the bike with a compact TFT instrument console. The display is crisp, easy to read in both light and dark themes, and shows all the basics clearly. Still, the bezels are quite thick, which makes the screen look smaller than it should. Adding a slightly larger unit would have made it look much better.
Information is laid out well on the TFT screen.
Bluetooth connectivity is also available through the Honda RoadSync app, offering call and message alerts and turn-by-turn navigation. A silent-start system and a USB Type-C charging port round out the equipment list. Safety-wise, the bike gets a front disc brake with single-channel ABS as standard.
Honda CB125 Hornet price and verdict - 8/10
Most premium pricing in the segment, but the bike justifies it.
The Honda CB125 Hornet turned out to be far more engaging than I expected from a 125cc commuter. Its combination of a sporty design, a punchy engine, nimble handling abilities, good build quality and being packed with all the necessary features makes it a practical choice for an everyday commuter. The downsides are relatively minor, mainly that the suspension could be more compliant over bad roads.
Colour-matched wheels give it a good road presence.
| Price (with new GST rates) | |
|---|---|
| Price (ex-showroom) | Rs 1,02,769 |
The CB125 Hornet was launched at an ex-showroom price of Rs 1.12 lakh, but after the new GST rates, it has dropped to Rs 1.03 lakh. Still, the bike costs about Rs 7,000 more than the top-spec variants of the TVS Raider 125 and Hero Xtreme 125R. However, I think you can justify that premium considering the unique USD fork and the reputation for reliability that Honda motorcycles command.
Gavin Rodrigues
Dinshaw Magol
Rishaad Mody
