Scooter Review

Honda @ 125

Honda’s latest foray into the scooter market has a lot to offer the snappy urban rider

Photography by CARLOS ALZAMORA

Honda is the first manufacturer I am aware of to actually name a model with a single symbol, sort of like theartistformerlyknownasPrince.
Enter the @...

Recognising that performance is not necessarily the criterion most scooter riders apply when they buy, Honda has done its homework in ease of use and styling, the two factors most influential in scooterdom. The liquid-cooled 125cc engine is quiet and a ready performer, once you’re up to speed. It lags a little behind the Vespa 125 engine in low-down punch away from the lights, but the @ is still faster off the line than most cars in a commuting situation; and it spins up to an easy 80km/h readily (with more to come).

The @ carries the latest incarnation of Honda’s Combined Braking system and it’s quite nifty, operating as it does, a 220mm hydraulic disc with dual-piston caliper at the front and a 130mm leading/trailing drum brake at the rear. The left-hand lever operates the front and rear brakes to give increased confidence, while the right-hand lever operates the front caliper only. The system works well in stopping the bike with little shift in attitude, which is hardly surprising given scooters carry so much weight at the rear. In practice, the brakes are very good once you get used to them and require little concentration because braking is so easy.

The tubular chassis is well balanced and matches the wide tyres well. The @ rolls into corners easily, predictably and with no surprises. Similarly, I discovered no problems with ground clearance, even with the rear suspension preload set on the lowest of its three settings. Up front, 33mm telescopic forks work well enough for me not to have noticed them, let alone have any complaints.

Now we get to the crucial bit. How cool is the @? The styling is very Euro-modern, with clean lines and groovy curves. The twin, vertically sacked headlights (with easy height adjustment) tidy up the front end, and the curves flow neatly through the bodywork. All in all, even if it is based on a “snail” silhouette, the @’s a winner.

And, apart from the styling, the ease-ofuse aspect is well covered. The instruments have a speedo, idiot lights (including a service due light), a digital clock, fuel and temperature gauges, while the switchgear has an off-park-on lightswitch, while the left-hand block has a low-high-passing toggle. Neat and easy to use.

The seat is broad and comfortable, even for two, and the pillion scores fold-out pegs and a grabrail cum rear rack. There is a lockable glovebox on the left-hand fairing inner panel, and a coolant window on the right, with a nifty shopping bag hook between the two. Why all scooters don’t have this feature I’ll never know.

The seat flips up to uncover the fuel filler cap for the nine-litre tank and space for a full-face lid (and more) while there is also a helmet hook for your pillion’s lid. The @ has an easy-to-use centrestand and a sidestand, with engine cut-out. Best of all, at 195cm, I never hit my knees on the bars or bodywork
and that’s a plus, trust me!

And that just leaves the name. Where was their head @?
CU L8R...

As published in TW SCOOTER MAGAZINE - 28/10/2003
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