Scooter – Honda Forza 125 Test: Max Attack! – Forza 125: a sharp challenger!

Posted on by admin

Honda Forza 125 test: Max Attack !

Scooter - Honda Forza 125 Test: Max Attack! - Forza 125: a sharp challenger!

Faced with the persistent hegemony of the Yamaha X-Max over the GT 125 cc scooter segment, Honda had to react … And that’s what it is finally doing with the Forza 125! A seed of champion tried by MNC on the occasion of its European presentation in Nice.

Forza 125: a sharp challenger !

Getting started with the Forza 125 is amazingly easy. When taking a seat on board, we are first surprised by its relative compactness. Seen from the outside, however, it gave the impression of being bigger and bulky. Suddenly, drivers over 1.80m will feel a bit cramped.

Handlebars turned and feet flat on the footrests when moving at low speed, the handles brush against the thighs. The proximity to the handlebars and the driving position it induces will probably not suit some drivers who prefer to drive with their arms more extended than folded..

However, it is possible to move back as far as possible on the saddle and drive with your legs forward to improve or adjust your riding position, which the X-Max does not really allow, which requires driving "feet to the floor". The Forza’s seat is immediately comfortable, its moderate height allowing most riders to put both feet on the ground.

Engine running, the sound is particularly sober and discreet, a fortiori once the operating temperature of the "Idling Stop" system has been reached since the engine then stops outright after 3 seconds at idle speed..

You only need to turn the handle slightly for it to restart instantly, without any noticeable downtime. This technology appeared on the, perfectly mastered, aims to reduce both fuel consumption and noise pollution when stationary..

Behind the scenes, a device places the crankshaft in the optimal position before the intake phase, with the help of a decompressor, which ensures an immediate restart as soon as the user requests the accelerator grip. The system switches off automatically in the event of a low battery, in order to preserve it.

From the first turns of the wheels, the Forza displays great steering neutrality and excellent stability. It only takes a little stress on the handlebars to register it on the angle, with remarkable roundness and progressiveness.

A model of docility

Thanks to its contained wheelbase of 1490 mm and its hunting angle of 26.5 °, this scooter displays good maneuverability in urban cycles. A real bike, which its low weight makes particularly alert and agile in this context. Neophytes and novice scooter riders will appreciate.

Based on that of the PCX with which it shares many parts, the Forza’s single-camshaft engine, on the other hand, adopts a 4-valve cylinder head. In use it is a model of docility, able to evolve at very low speed on a trickle of gas, without any jerk or stall of transmission.

The throttle control is excellent, with a frank rotation of the grip providing brisk acceleration and energetic revival from low revs. In town it’s just perfect, even if the more "sporty" would have liked a more assertive driving character..

Higher in the towers, the power comes in a very linear way, which is felt in particular when overtaking on the road or when you open the throttle fully on a hill. A priori, the Forza could well be a bit less efficient than its great rival, despite an announced higher power of 11 kw at 8750 rpm (against 10.55 at 9000 rpm for the X-Max). An impression that we will not fail to verify during a very next confrontation of these two scooters !

In defense of the Forza, note that our test models did not display much more than 500 km on the odometer and were therefore not really "released". Despite everything, we feel an invigorating boost of power once past the 7000 rpm, which allowed us to obtain a speed of about 115 km / h with an odometer reading at 9,500 rpm, the only real test of maximum speed of this test. Half of the route was completed in built-up areas – under high police surveillance! -, then on the winding roads going up from Monaco to La Turbie before going back down to Nice.

On a short stretch of highway, downhill, the Forza also reached 125 km / h (130 for some), before the intervention of the switch at 10,500 rpm. This first contact was too short (70 km …) to form a definitive impression, but we can already confirm the driving pleasure, the comfort of good quality and the excellent handling of the car. gear. The windshield height is easily changed while driving, the high position offering the driver effective wind protection.

On winding roads, the dynamic behavior of the Forza proves to be very convincing, with a good feeling of the front axle and an efficient suspension work on most surfaces – although still firm on the big shocks. The angle changes are made quickly and without forcing too much on the handlebars, the IRC tires offered as standard offering for their part a very convincing grip on these dry roads..

Same observation in terms of braking, powerful and dosable if not very biting, but ultimately very effective and reassuring thanks to the rapid and measured intervention of the ABS in case of wheel lock and a good feeling on the levers.

During this quick start, we did not have the opportunity to take a real measurement of fuel consumption. The average consumption indicator, however, indicated 2.9 l / 100 km at the end of this test, which would offer the Forza, if this measurement is correct, a range of close to 400 km including reserve..

It is true that this modern design engine benefits from eSP anti-friction technologies (off-center cylinder, cast iron jacket, fuel pump integrated into the crankcase, etc.) which greatly contribute to lowering consumption: "at least 1 liter less than the best of the competition", says Honda.

In the end, even if we have not yet been able to fully validate its engine performance, we have to admit that the Honda Forza does not lack strengths to rub shoulders with the leader of the category. Beautiful, relatively compact and light, comfortable and protective, it plays just as much on the sporting side as GT to convince, displaying a level of performance very close to that of its great rival.

It remains to be seen whether he will manage to make it stagger from its pedestal … Anyway, it represents a major stake for Honda Europe and Honda France, who rely heavily on the success of the Forza 125 to catch up with its handicap on this market segment.

The new Honda scooter will be available in dealerships from April 2, 2015 at the launch price of € 4,599 (until July 31), the price of an X-Max without ABS. It should then be offered at its "normal" price of € 4,899.

In addition, for this Forza 125, Honda has set up a battery of commercial offers ranging from simple low-rate credit to LOA or LLD type financing. For more information, visit the dedicated mini site: .

Related articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *