Menus
- The Tom Pouce motorcycle
- Mini Street eXtreme, maximum pleasure
- Discovery
- In the saddle
- Contact
- In the city
- On the highway
- On departmental
- Braking
- Comfort
- Consumption
- Convenient
- Conclusion
The Tom Pouce motorcycle
Mini Street eXtreme, maximum pleasure
Successor of the Dax, the Honda MSX has taken over the genes at the level of the template while increasing the cylinder capacity now reached 125 cm. In the tradition of these small machines of the 70s with the other Bop, Ovni and Chappy, Monkey, the MSX does not deny anything and offers fun for leisure or even urban use.. Playful, the MSX, like the Dax, has already found its market by achieving a good performance with more than 800 sales in the first year of release and should still make 700 sales in 2014, knowing that nothing distinguishes the 2013 models from the 2014 vintage, except for the colors with the appearance of blue this year. Deserved success? Test…
Discovery
The Dax was tiny. The MSX remains in the same size range, despite a cylinder capacity increased to 125 cm3. Suddenly, everything is small and much closer to a mini-motorcycle than to a 125. 107 kilos fully loaded, just 1.2 meters of wheelbase, tiny 120 wheels, reduced saddle, compact tank … the engine would be almost big inside the set unlike some 125 cm3 models that look like a big one and where we are looking for the engine.
Suffice to say that with this template, passers-by ask if it is not a toy and questions about the red light model are in town. It’s tiny but you won’t go unnoticed. And with a template close to the Dax, you can almost just as easily put it in a trunk or in the back of the motorhome..
In the saddle
Obviously, with a seat height of 765 mm and above all very thin, the pilot of 1.70 m puts his feet perfectly on the ground. In fact, even a 1.50 rider will put his feet on the ground. However, the knees do not go up too much and the overall position is quite natural and practically not tightened, even if everything is reduced. The speedometer is almost the largest element of the whole, very close to the models fitted to large cubes such as the brand’s NC750s. Suddenly, fully digital, it offers excellent visibility with all the necessary information such as speed, a tachometer with a red zone at 8,500 rpm but also a partial double, a clock and a fuel gauge. Honda has not ignored information and has reduced nothing to this level, neither in size nor in functionality..
Contact
The MSX snorts briskly. First soft and here sets off to titillate the red zone at 40 km / h. Second, third and we quickly brush against the red zone each time but without triggering the breaker. The speeds occur naturally and the grip is a formality so much the template associated with the featherweight allows you to play with and not to fear anything, neither a skidding foot, nor a slippery ground..
In the city
With its city chip template, the MSX fits perfectly into traffic. It is helped in this by a microscopic turning radius which makes it possible to make a U-turn in a pocket handkerchief or on a sidewalk without any difficulty and even without setting foot on the ground. However, despite an obvious maneuverability, it is stable and all the more so, as the knees grip the tank easily and well. The small single-cylinder of almost 10 horses and well torque and gives the potato while offering a good extension. No need to pass the second too quickly, since the first goes up to 40 km / h and without engaging the switch. The second happens naturally to the ear and allows you to drive up to 65 km / h … so already too fast in town. However, the MSX even accepts to wind on the last report at 20 km / h! Admittedly, at 20 km / h on the 4th and last gear, it hits, but from 25 km / h it resumes! Difficult to be more conciliatory with the pilot.
At the green light, you just want one thing: put the handle on the cleat! And at this game, it is more dynamic than the majority of scooters. At the next red light, the front brake plunges the front fork; the rear wheel rises despite the arms stretched out to try to keep everything on the horizontal zone. And yet, we rest gently. But it’s fun. Warned, the next time, we try to stall better and on a new braking, stopped again, in complete safety however since the behavior of the 125 remains always exemplary. Better, it never gives the impression of running out of steam in the city so much is left under the handlebars.
On the highway
The MSX remains a 125 and sets off with will in the absence of speed on the highway, especially since the third report is long and allows to wind up to 90 km / h. A gear above and the MSX reaches without batting an eyelid a good 110 km / h once started … when it is new. Once well established, it seems that it is released a little more and well launched can reach a good 120 km / h … odometer, that is to say 110 km / h real. Despite its size, it is very stable at this speed, unlike other 125 models of this type, in particular because it allows the tank to be tightened. Truck overtaking do not feel…
On departmental
In fact, we can almost stay in fifth on the departmental, so the MSX encourages the attack and to play the fool on its handlebars. There is no risk of blowing up a counter but at the chrono level on the small laces, it allows to put the knees on the ground and to attack. Obviously, as soon as it rises, it will be a little dying, with a speed that will drop to 90 km / h or even 80 km / h in the event of a steeper climb..
Braking
The rear brake should be tested BEFORE you need to use it. If you get into town a bit fast and just hit that one … you initially feel like it’s doing nothing. And the second impression is strictly the same. Admittedly, the rear brake is a simple retarder in normal times. He doesn’t even play that role here. On the other hand, the front brake is just fabulous! Powerful, biting, even with two fingers, it is the assurance of stopping at all red lights! Fun, we told you.
Comfort
With a small shock absorber, the comfort is dry but it is far from being a piece of wood … and in any case more than enough to do a hundred kilometers in a row without suffering. On the other hand, with a short saddle, the duet should only be reserved in exceptional cases..
Consumption
Like its template, the MSX consumes nothing. It only goes into reserve when passing the 200 km mark and all you have to do is put 4.8 liters of gasoline (the tank contains 5.5), i.e. an average consumption of 2.4 liters per hundred … which can be greatly reduced. with a cast pipe. Suddenly, it offers an overall autonomy of 230 kilometers, more than enough for its daily use..
Convenient
It’s small, there is no safe. Suffice to say that there is no practical aspect. And with its difficult size to secure side bags. Even the lock will have to be small, but can on the other hand be stowed thanks to the saddle strap.
Conclusion
It looks like a toy and it is a toy. Able to go everywhere, it is the ideal tool on vacation and in the provinces, even if its daily use in large metropolitan areas such as Paris and the Paris region is worry-free with the advantage of parking anywhere. no matter how and in every corner without bothering anyone. We even manage to fit without problem in a bicycle room, when a motorbike would never pass there. Only its price remains a bit high at 3,149 euros and would have deserved to be under the bar of 3,000 euros even if there are scooters and 125 cm3 motorcycles at much higher prices..
Strong points
- mini toy
- consumption
- potato and engine torque
- front brake
Weak points
- duo
- rear brake
- price
Honda MSX 125 technical sheet
Related articles
-
The little neo sport cafe playing in the big leagues 60 years since the first CB in 1959! Each new CB is therefore a small revolution, especially when it…
-
Honda CBF 1000 ABS motorcycle test
The Honda CBF 1000 is the big sister of the CBF 600, which appeared in 2006. Apart from a slightly larger size, the two models are aesthetically very…
-
Honda CRF 250 L motorcycle test
A little trail that sparkles The great Escape You don’t like small cars? So be sure to read this article! Because after discovering this new Honda, you…
-
Waiting for the new Hornet… No, the CB 650 F is not the replacement for the Hornet. Healthy, easy and fast enough, it is intended primarily for…
-
A mechanical celebration of the famous CB 750 Four, the CB 1100 combines neo-retro aesthetics and current performance. Without sacrificing anything on…
-
Honda NC 700 X motorcycle test
Transgenic camel Discovered at the Milan Motor Show, the Honda range is enriched with a new range of 3 midsize machines, available on the same chassis…
-
The legacy motorcycle of Tron and Akira Is it characteristic of a great manufacturer to dare to even go beyond innovating? In any case, Honda succeeded…
-
Honda CMX 500 Rebel S motorcycle test
Little rebellious bobber In-line twin, 471 cm3, 45 hp at 8,500 rpm, 44.6 Nm at 6,000 rpm, 190 kilos, € 6,299 Rather bi or 4? It’s that the couple is…
-
GT-Cruiser of the 3rd type The winged builder keeps up his ideas and keeps revisiting the contemporary bagger style. After the F6B and very soon F6C,…
-
In-line twin, 471 cm3, 45 hp at 8,500 rpm, 44.6 Nm at 6,000 rpm, 190 kilos, € 6,299 A small accessible bobber intended for A2 licenses on a mechanical…
I will never find a scooter visually appealing.
And if not, when are the motorcycle tests? ^^