Honda Forza 125 2018: new restyling for the popular grand touring scooter that can be driven with a B license [ROAD TEST]

Convenient for city use, but also useful for a trip out of town, are the 125 scooters, which can also be driven by those who only have a car licence, B, so to speak. For this audience but not only, the small-displacement scooter remains the best solution, offering the best compromise between performance and comfort, today more than ever. But let's get to the new Honda Forza 125 2018. Since its first introduction in 2015 it has satisfied and exceeded all expectations, evolving year after year based on the owners' requests, and recording sales volumes which, to date, have exceeded 30.000 units in Europe. In 2018, substantial changes arrive for the small Honda Forza, such as a new electrically adjustable windscreen, LED instruments and many other new features.

Revisited design and a 48-litre under-seat compartment

The scooter of the Japanese company, but produced in the Italian factory in Atessa (Chieti), despite already being a strong point of Honda, has been revisited in its design which, without distorting the features that led it to success, ensures an even more modern and dynamic look. The aesthetics appear more elegant and balanced at the front and, overall, the lines are more streamlined and balanced. In fact, each panel has been redesigned to give a slightly more slender appearance, without sacrificing elegance and sportiness, as was also done for its bigger brother, the new Forza 300, completely redesigned and presented together with the 125. Decided from the point From a practical point of view, it features a new electrically adjustable windshield, via the left electric block on the handlebar, with an excursion of 140 mm, which guarantees excellent aerodynamic protection at high speed, while ensuring excellent visibility on city roads.

The 125 Honda Forza 2018 also features full LED headlights, including front and rear turn signals, Smart-Key starting system, which in addition to activating the ignition switch also acts on the top case automatically, always keeping the electronic key in pocket. Furthermore, for the most demanding, the under-seat compartment increases to 48 liters (+ 5,5), allowing the transport of two full-face helmets. The front storage compartment is spacious and also offers a 12 V socket. The new analogue-digital instrumentation is beautiful and intuitive to navigate. We find an instrument panel even richer in information, which includes the analogue speedometer and tachometer, with an LCD display in the center with 3 display modes (controlled by a button on the left side of the handlebar). Here we have odometer, autonomy and instantaneous consumption, or trip meter, average consumption and trip timer, or finally, external temperature and battery charge level.

A small grand touring scooter, but easy to handle and with shock absorbers with adjustable spring preload on 7 levels

Honda Forza 125 2018 is equipped with a frame with a steel structure, which guarantees resistance and rigidity. The chassis dimensions favor agility and handling, with the 26,5° inclination of the steering head, a trail of 89 mm and a wheelbase of 1.490 mm. Safety, stability and a nice compromise to be able to use it optimally both in city traffic and on open roads, where you can exploit all the power available, limited by law to 15 horsepower, but with a lot of panache, given that it is a one of the best 125 on the market. The roughness is well filtered out, thanks to a robust telescopic fork with 33 mm stanchions and the double shock absorber with adjustable spring preload to 7 positions, which works with an aluminum swingarm. The weight with a full tank of petrol is just 162 kg, which makes maneuvering in city traffic and when stationary easier. The seat height is 780mm, allowing anyone to easily touch their feet to the ground. The width of the handlebar is 754 mm, with a pleasant sensation of total control of the scooter. The light alloy wheels with split spokes, 15 inches at the front and 14 at the rear, with 120/70 and 140/70 tires respectively, are beautiful to look at. As original equipment we find the excellent Michelin City Grips. The two-channel ABS is a guarantee of safety on all surfaces, while the braking system is powerful and aggressive, thanks to a large 256 mm front disc with 2-piston caliper and 240 mm rear disc with XNUMX-piston caliper. single piston.

Lively engine and low consumption

The Forza 125's engine is the well-known Honda eSP (enhanced Smart Power) in a 4-valve version, liquid cooling and maximum possible power, with the 15 horsepower required by law (11 kW) reaching 8.500 rpm. It proves to be brilliant and guarantees snappy behavior when starting from a standstill at traffic lights. This result was also achieved thanks to the bore and stroke which were configured at 52,4 x 57,9 mm, with a compression ratio of 11,5:1. It travels safely at 90 km/h and reaches a maximum effective speed of 108 km/h, thanks also to its low weight.

Among the peculiarities of the Forza 125 engine, we also highlight the well-known electronically controlled and brushless ACG starter motor (so-called digital electric motors, or brushless, in fact). It is an integrated component, mounted directly on the end of the crankshaft and which has both generator (alternator) and starter functions, optimizing Start & Stop operation. The latter system then provides for the decompression of the cylinder, with the piston being automatically brought to bottom dead centre. This system is the same that we find on the Honda SH 125 and 150 brothers, as well as on the SH 125 Mode, PCX and Vision. A result that is especially appreciated in chaotic cities, where a small scooter like the Forza 125 can make the difference. Another benefit is represented by the compact and highly efficient radiator, which is integrated into the external right part of the base and uses a small, lightweight fan with low energy absorption. For the everyday use of this scooter, Honda obviously does not underestimate a fundamental aspect such as consumption, which is declared in the WMTC average cycle at 42,7 km/l, with the possibility of reaching 500 km of autonomy, making full use of the 11,5 liter capacity tank.

Honda Forza 125 2018 is available in dealerships at the price of 5.090 Euros, in the following colors: Matt Carnelian Red Metallic/Pearl Nightstar Black (new color for the 2018 version), Matt Pearl Cool White/Matt Cynos Gray Metallic (another new color), Matt Lucent Silver Metallic/Matt Pearl Pacific Blue and finally Black /Matt Cynos Gray Metallic. Furthermore, the Honda accessories range includes a rear luggage rack, a matching 45-litre top case managed by SmartKey, heated grip kit, internal bag for the top case and finally the always useful alarm kit.

Our test

Ideal for those who want to switch from a car to a scooter or simply to move around the city, the new Honda Forza 125 immediately amazes with its lightness and ease of movement when stationary. But what strikes us at first sight is the strong resemblance to the Forza 300. Yes, that's right, because if you look closely, in design, they are identical. The Forza 125 immediately begins to spoil us with the Smart-key, activating all the functions as soon as we get close and allowing us to start the engine and open the compartment under the saddle, even with the key in our pocket. The saddle, which is not very high from the ground, allows even those who are not very tall to rest their feet on the ground, while the rear shield is properly hollowed out to prevent taller people from touching it with their knees. Practical rear handles for the passenger. The handlebar guarantees a position that does not tire and allows you to easily maneuver between cars in traffic, allowing yourself to be driven with ease.

These characteristics make it perfect even for those who are beginners and have no experience. The instrumentation is complete and easily readable and even in direct sunlight all the information is always under control. Timely and precise start & stop, turns off the engine after 3 seconds. To set off again, just rotate the accelerator knob, but it is also possible to disengage it using the button on the right. The silent engine has a very precise delivery and the power is just right. The Forza 125 is ready to sprint at traffic lights and accelerates decisively up to 60/70 km/h. After the sprint it decreases, to reach a declared maximum speed of 108 km/h, but with an indicated value, in our stretch traveled on the motorway, which exceeded 115 km/h. We said motorway with a 125. Yes, you read that right, because in France, where our test was held, 125s can enter the motorway without problems, hopefully sooner or later in Italy too!

The set-up is calibrated to be soft and allows you to tackle the chaotic city of Nice, potholes and manholes without any problems, resulting in stability. The fork absorbs the roughness of the asphalt well and copies the dips well. The chassis follows the pilot's commands, in fact the small 125 from Honda is firm and can be driven easily. The front end is solid with great support, which invites you to lean with confidence. When changing direction he is reactive and fun and also closes out lines well. The 15" front wheel helps a lot, instilling confidence in long bends and on junctions. The braking system, on the other hand, is good, powerful and modulatable both at the front and at the rear, perfect for those cities that remain the natural habitat of a scooter of this displacement. The electrically adjustable windshield, like on its big brother, the Forza 300, does its job well, leaving only the shoulders and the top part of the helmet exposed to the air. Finally, consumption. He drinks little. The new Honda Forza 125 can count on truly low consumption. During our test, driving very cheerfully, we traveled about 44 kilometers on one liter. Not bad for the little one from Honda.

Tester clothing:
Jacket: Alpinestars Wake Air
Pants: Alpinestars Crank Denim Pants
Gloves: Alpinestars Atom
Shoes: Alpinestars Stadium
Helmet: LS2 Twister