SP 125

Overview

The SP 125 is Honda’s argument that commuting can be well-made rather than merely cheap. The 124cc single is the smoothest 125 sold here — 10.7 bhp delivered with the quiet, friction-free feel of an engine designed by a company that makes its own bearing steel — and the chassis carries a sculpted tank and a sport-influenced silhouette that makes the drum-brake competitors look like their own price point.

The practical envelope is where the refinement pays interest. At 115 kg the bike flicks through traffic, the seat at 769 mm suits average Indian rider height, and the claimed 65 kmpl with a 9-litre tank gives 500-plus km of range in gentle use. The front disc and combined braking give it a stopping confidence the base commuter 125s cannot match, and the switchgear is a class tighter than anything at this money.

The conscription to the premium argument is the price. The SP 125 costs a meaningful percentage more than a fleet-grade 125, the rear drum on the lower trims is an anachronism at the sticker, and the styling — deliberately sleek — divides owners who wanted a traditional commuter face. Buyers choosing the SP are choosing refinement, and at this catalogue’s ₹89,000, they pay for it honestly.

• The smoothest 124cc single listed here
• 65 kmpl claimed on a 9-litre tank
• Front disc with combined braking standard