Honda Forza 125 ABS test

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Test of the sport-GT vintage scooter 2017 and Euro4

Honda Forza 125? Who would have said two years ago that Honda would succeed in dethroning Yamaha’s XMax 125 which seemed unwavering? However, the XMax remained at the top of sales year after year, knowing how to renew itself regularly with always an extraordinary engine.. It must be said that in the Forza development brief, it was the XMax that was targeted, but not to make a copy or attack it head-on, but to offer a solution halfway between the sports scooter and GT. Two years later, the ambitious bet is successful with annual sales close to 5,000 units, a real record that cannot be denied. Honda nevertheless continues to develop its model with the 2017 vintage which now benefits from the SmartKey. And success requires, the scooter took 400 euros increase, to put it just under the symbolic bar of 5,000 euros and among the most expensive on the market. Justified and still a good deal? Test.

Honda Forza 125 side ABS

Discovery

Aesthetically, the Forza has not evolved but it has not aged either despite the new models released on the market. We find this sporty line typical of 125 scooters with the central beam and lines cut with a bill hook for the rest. Above all, the Forza is placed in the top of the overall perceived quality, with an impeccable quality of plastics and a finish mixing matte black and glossy black of the most beautiful effect in the livery 2017.

Honda Forza 125

In the saddle

Same model, the saddle height has not changed and despite its 780 mm, does not allow the pilot of 1.70m to touch both feet on the ground, or just the tips of the feet. The weight has not changed either at 159 kilos and allows an easier grip despite the saddle height reinforced by a relatively wide saddle, even at the front.

Honda Forza 125 Front ABS

Everything comes naturally to hand and you immediately feel good on board. The mirrors are easily adjusted by gently pressing on the mirrors. The dashboard is still so clear and readable, even under the sun and at night. We find speedometer, tachometer, but also thanks to the on-board computer, instantaneous and average consumption on each partial trip.

LED optics

LED tail light

Contact

There is no longer any need for an ignition key thanks to the smartkey. The key in the pocket or in the bag therefore eliminates the need to find the contactor. However, you must always disengage and engage the starter. The kickstand retracts easily and off you go. The engine snorts with a rather serious and rewarding sound contributing to the overall qualitative impression.

Complete dashboard

In the city

The Forza is easily pulled out of traffic and is rather dynamic. Despite its apparent exterior plumpness, it turns out to be manoeuvrable and squeezes well between cars, even if in the 125 family, the SH does much better with less width and lighter weight. The maneuvers are facilitated even when stationary, even if it requires a little more practice than an SH, king of lightness and maneuverability. The acceleration is clear and frank, rather in the high category in terms of dynamic performance.
When stopped, the engine stops automatically, the magic of Stop & Go. And a simple touch of the throttle is enough for everything to restart almost instantly. At most we feel a half second of latency which never prevents being the first to start the fire.

Honda Forza 125 motorway test

Highway

The Forza dashes dynamically on the highway at up to 110 km / h. He can then gradually nibble the extra kilometers / hours to go and titillate a good real 120 km / h. The difference between an SH125 and the Forza is then a good fifteen kilometers hours, especially on a slight side where the SH will be more clearly behind. On the other hand, the Forza’s relatively high bubble generates noise at high speed and we will not hesitate to lower it as much as possible even if its protection against the rain proves to be effective..

Honda Forza 125 in town

Departmental

At ease in the city and on the highway, the Forza finds its marks even more on small roads where it can cruise quickly at legal speeds, in duo and without effort. The ease of driving does not deny itself, on the contrary and the scooter fits easily in curves, even when the virolos are at the rendezvous.

Honda Forza 125 ABS on the road

Braking

The two single discs between the front and the rear do their job very well, despite reasonable dimensions of 256 and 240 mm respectively, but double piston at the front. The feeling is good and the attack is efficient. Above all, the Forza does not plane during hard braking, avoiding the rocking horse effect of some scooters.

Single hydraulic disc & oslash; 256 mm with double piston caliper, ABS

Comfort

Comfort is undoubtedly one of the strengths of the Forza, especially compared to its direct competitor, the XMax. The saddle is wide and helped by the double suspensions, offers good general comfort for the driver and the passenger, including on degraded pavement. Even lying gendarmes can suddenly get caught dynamically.

Double saddle at 780 mm

Convenient

The 48-liter trunk offers the necessary capacity to accommodate two full-face helmets under the saddle and eliminates the need for an additional top-case to set off as a duo. There is a separator system which makes it possible in particular to separate the upper part from the lower part, or quite simply at the top to store the now compulsory fluorescent jacket. The front storage compartment allows you to store a mobile phone or a pair of winter gloves without worry and complete everything well.
The smartkey is a real plus. Before having it, we were doing very well without it. But once we try it, we hardly do without it.

Thin and long with its 2.134 mm

Consumption

The Forza consumed almost nothing, even in mixed use, city and highway. Average consumption actually settles at 2.3 liters per hundred. And to have tried it for fifteen days in a row, we can therefore actually only go to the pump once in two weeks with this almost autonomy of 500 kilometers. The gauge is reliable and at maximum during the first 100 kilometers, while still offering 4 bars after 400 kilometers.

Accessories

Honda still offers the same accessories to customize the scooter with a 35 liter top case with its plate (279 euros), an alarm, heated grips (175 euros), an Akrapovic silencer, a handlebar cover (35 euros), a two-tone saddle (145 euros), rim trims in several colors (45 euros), a passenger backrest, an inner top case bag (55 euros) or even a phone holder…

City Scooter

Conclusion

Despite the new models arriving on the market, the Forza continues to offer high-end services, from the very pleasant Start & Stop to the addition of the SmartKey. The performances are at the rendezvous both dynamic and very reasonable consumption level, especially given the performance. The scooter is homogeneous and easy to handle while offering a real urban solution for a duo, or even a solution to go for a weekend in the countryside. At 4,949 euros, we are now also typing in the high end and even justified, the buyer can look towards less expensive solutions and perhaps sufficient on a daily basis for the single person like a SH. .

Strong points

  • engine / start & stop
  • consumption
  • comfort
  • convenient
  • finishing

Weak points

  • price

The Forza 125 technical sheet

Test conditions

  • Itinerary: town, small varied roads + interurban highways with a little town
  • Motorcycle mileage: 500 km

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