Engine
The Honda PCX125 has a liquid-cooled 4-stroke 125cc motor that’s good for 70mph on the clocks, which is pretty quick for a 125 scoot. It zips away from the lights and benefits from a slick and direct throttle response not always found on scooters. Then there’s the stop-start system - pull up to some traffic lights and after three seconds of idling, the engine cuts out. A blinking orange light marked ‘stand by’ (like a DVD player) lets you know that you’re in idle stop mode. A simple twist of the throttle will fire it back up again with next-to no delay, but it can be turned off via a switch on the bars if you’re not into it.
Honda says the system improves fuel efficiency by up to 5%. On a scooter that they claim is capable of 130mpg anyway, that’s hardly going to change the world, but if you are environmentally (or wallet) conscious there’s a warm glow that comes from knowing you’re saving fuel where possible.
At just 124kg wet the PCX125 is very easy to manoeuvre and the handling is stable and reassuring. It’s fitted with 14inch wheels, which are a nice compromise between the 12” wheels of standard scoots and the 16inchers of big-wheelers. Lack of wind protection from the low-slung bodywork limits comfort on the open road, but it’s clearly intended to be a practical commuter for the stylish and city-bound and in urban areas it excels. Like a lot of modern Hondas the PCX features combined brakes, which do a great job of keeping things balanced under braking and they’re very novice-friendly (at the cost of a little bite).
Equipment
You could be forgiven for thinking the PCX125 looks like it’s more about style than substance, but it does boast practicalities like an underseat storage bay big enough for a full-face lid, rider backrest and a decent-sized cubbyhole on the dash. Despite its small size there’s loads of leg-room too.
In terms of build quality and overall presentation the PCX125 is in a different league to some other scooters on the market - to be fair you’d expect no less from Honda. Reliability shouldn’t be an issue and you have the benefit of an established dealer network to fall back on.
Value
At £2,270, the PCX is competitively priced – Honda’s own PS125i is £2,570, the Yamaha BW’s 125 is £2,499 and neither of those have coffeehouse-kudos stop-start tech. You can get a 125 scooter for cheaper, but the PCX offers something unique in a very solid package.
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Top speed :70mph
1/4-mile acceleration :secs
Power :11.1bhp
Torque :8.5ftlb
Weight :124kg
Seat height :761mm
Fuel capacity :6.2 litres
Average fuel consumption :mpg
Tank range :miles
Engine size :125cc
Engine specification :liquid-cooled 4-stroke 2v single
single
Frame :tubular steel
Front suspension adjustment :none
Rear suspension adjustment :none
Front brakes :220mm disc, 3-piston caliper
Rear brake :130mm drum
Front tyre size :90/90-14
Rear tyre size :100/90-14