The Honda CB125 Hornet is a sporty commuter that goes up against the likes of the Hero Xtreme 125 R and TVS Raider 125. The engine in the bike makes 11.1hp at 7,500rpm, a peak torque of 11.2Nm at 6,000rpm, and is paired with a 5-speed gearbox. It also gets segment-first features like a USD fork.
Honda CB125 Hornet: Acceleration
Testing of the CB125 Hornet was conducted on a dry road.
| Acceleration | |
|---|---|
| 0-40kph | 2.74s |
| 0-60kph | 5.84s |
| 0-80kph | 11.31s |
The bike launched well off the line, and the bike has smooth acceleration with potent mid-range performance. The gearshifts are slick, and the clutch action is light. In our tests, the bike took 11.31 seconds to complete the sprint to 80kph. There is quite a lot of speedo error, though. For instance, when the speedometer displayed an indicated 107kph, our VBox showed that the real speed was actually 95kph.
Honda CB125 Hornet: Roll-on acceleration
The 123.94cc, single-cyl, air-cooled engine in the CB125 Hornet makes 11.1hp at 7,500rpm and 11.2Nm of peak torque at 6,000rpm.
| Roll-on Acceleration | |
|---|---|
| 20-50kph (2nd Gear) | 3.67s |
| 30-70kph (3rdGear) | 7.84s |
| 50-80kph (4th Gear) | 8.49s |
In our second gear run, the bike accelerated from 20kph to 50kph in 3.67 seconds and took 7.84 seconds to complete the 3rd gear run. In our final run, the bike achieved the 50kph to 80kph sprint in 5.50 seconds. Overall, the bike has decent performance and is easily able to make quick overtakes in the city, thanks to its punchy mid-range combined with its light weight.
Honda CB125 Hornet: Braking
The bike gets single-channel ABS.
| Braking | |
|---|---|
| 60-0kph | 17.96m |
The bike gets a 240mm front disc and a 130mm rear drum brake with single-channel ABS. The braking is good for the level of performance it offers, and there is minimal intervention from the ABS. All that was needed were two fingers on the front brake lever, and it quickly brought the bike to a halt with a sharp bite. A rear disc would have been a nice addition considering the price, but it is not really needed.
Honda CB125 Hornet: Specifications and price
The Honda CB125 Hornet is the most expensive bike in the sporty commuter segment, priced at Rs 1.02 lakh (ex-showroom).
| Specifications and price | |
|---|---|
| Engine | 123.94cc, single-cyl, air-cooled |
| Power | 11.1hp at 7,500rpm |
| Torque | 11.2Nm at 6,000rpm |
| Gearbox | 5-speed |
| Fuel capacity | 12 litres |
| Kerb weight | 124kg |
| Brakes (F/R) | 240mm disc / 130mm drum |
| Tyres (F/R) | 80/100-17 / 110/80-17 |
| Price (ex-showroom) | Rs 1,02,769 |
With the new GST rates, the bike has become more affordable. It was originally 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 around Rs 7,000 more than the top-spec variants of the TVS Raider 125 and Hero Xtreme 125R.
