Honda CB 125 Hornet Wins Bike of the Year - autoX Awards 2025

The latest entrant in the 125cc motorcycle segment, the Honda CB 125 Hornet, is already creating quite a buzz (pun fully intended). In a space crowded with sensible commuters, the Hornet stands out as a 125cc motorcycle with real street presence and a proper attitude.

Visually, the CB 125 Hornet is a stunner. It takes design inspirations from its bigger Hornet siblings. Its sharp lines, muscular bodywork, and a purposeful stance can easily make you mistake it for a 200cc or even a 250cc machine. The gold-anodised USD fork, sculpted fuel tank, contoured seat, and compact tail section further add to its premium appeal. The paint finish and build quality are top-notch – easily among the best we’ve seen from Honda in recent years. The bright colour on our test unit looked particularly striking, giving the bike plenty of visual flair, even when it was parked alongside larger-capacity motorcycles.

Also Read: Honda CB125 Hornet Launched in India at Rs 1.12 Lakh

Powering the CB 125 Hornet is a 124cc single-cylinder engine, which produces 11bhp and 11.2Nm of torque and is paired with a 5-speed gearbox. On paper, these numbers may seem underwhelming, but on the road, the bike feels peppy, smooth, and responsive – exactly what you’d expect from an smart urban commuter. The throttle response is crisp, and the engine revs cleanly, making city commutes effortless and fun. At 124kg, the Hornet is light, agile, and quite flickable, making negotiating traffic or tight corners an easy affair.

During the timing runs at the BIC, the Hornet surprised us all by holding its own. It managed a lap time of 1:28.0, even edging out the more powerful Kawasaki KLX230 – an impressive feat for a 125cc commuter. Sure, it’s not built for the track, but it exhibited impressive poise, balance, and composure that exceeded expectations. The brakes are good enough to inspire confidence, and the chassis is tight and predictable, encouraging you to push harder. The CB 125 Hornet is going to shake things up in the sporty 125 cc commuter space, taking the fight to the likes of the TVS Raider 125 and the Hero Xtreme 125R, both of which have done well in the Indian market. A 125 cc commuter showdown then is just what the doctor ordered. Time to make a few calls, then.

In the real world, all this means a motorcycle that’s not only fun to ride but also comfortable and practical. The ergonomics, too, are spot on, and so are the refinement levels – buttery smooth and vibration-free.

Also Read: Hero Glamour X 125 vs Honda CB125 Hornet Spec Comparison: What's Different?

At the end of the day, the Honda CB 125 Hornet makes a strong case for itself. It’s stylish, refined, well-equipped, and genuinely fun to ride. It might not be the fastest 125cc machine on the road, but it’s easily one of the most desirable. So, if you want a commuter that looks stylishly sharp, feels premium, and is relatively easy on the pocket, the CB Hornet 125 is the one to beat.