Which 125cc scooter?

@Crazy_Eddy
Depends on the end user.

If family then Activa or TVS Jupiter - 110cc if tight on budget or 125cc deluxe editions. Access is also good but Suzuki service is good in T1 cities though somewhat good if found in other places. I have seen in Madurai and Aluva their service is not good just washing, top up oil and claiming a full change and not servicing other parts. This was for Corporate vehicles. Company intends to sell these next year (5yr ending) and replacing with EV2W.

If others nTorq>Dio fancy and performance oriented.

In my view these 2w vehicles are good for first 3-5 years with regular maintenance, then require massive service which will cost 10-15k and then good for another 2 years. Oil and Battery change regularly and engine tuning is mandated in every service. Tyres as and when you find it slippery. Filters and Sparks needs to be cleaned every service. If consoles are digital then it costs a lot for a simple service as it has to be replaced in total. But most service centres do a shoddy job just an eyewash.

Do look at EV2W from Tvs and Ather if not budget constrained.
 
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Either TVS Jupiter 125 or Honda Activa 125. Both are good scooters. But TVS Jupiter's buttons stops working after 3 years after which we need to buy replacements. Not with Honda Activa scooters though as this brand parts are strong and sturdy even after 11 years of service to me. Both give 40kms per litre.
 
@Crazy_Eddy
Depends on the end user.

If family then Activa or TVS Jupiter - 110cc if tight on budget or 125cc deluxe editions. Access is also good but Suzuki service is good in T1 cities though somewhat good if found in other places. I have seen in Madurai and Aluva their service is not good just washing, top up oil and claiming a full change and not servicing other parts. This was for Corporate vehicles. Company intends to sell these next year (5yr ending) and replacing with EV2W.

If others nTorq>Dio fancy and performance oriented.

In my view these 2w vehicles are good for first 3-5 years with regular maintenance, then require massive service which will cost 10-15k and then good for another 2 years. Oil and Battery change regularly and engine tuning is mandated in every service. Tyres as and when you find it slippery. Filters and Sparks needs to be cleaned every service. If consoles are digital then it costs a lot for a simple service as it has to be replaced in total. But most service centres do a shoddy job just an eyewash.

Do look at EV2W from Tvs and Ather if not budget constrained.
Luckily no major cost (like 10k) on my father's 14+ year old Activa 110 yet. Now its condition ain't great for sure, some body parts have rusted, cold starting is an issue (need to use kick starter almost always), NVH has increased but I have driven Activas which are newer but in much worse condition because of lack of basic maintenance or accidents.
 
I have both Honda Activa and Suzuki Access. I have found that Access is more robust and feel rock solid. If you are above 5'6", Access seating position has better posture than Activa.

But I have heard from my friends, who have driven Access, Activa and Jupiter that the Jupiter is the best for city driving and the ride is very comfortable.
 
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I was too on same dilemma of buying a 125 cc scooter. After test drive jupiter 125,access,avenis & burgman i finally got the Suzuki Burgman on july 2024.Its dam comfortable as its a maxi scooter & engine is peppy to ride.I would say just test drive it to know it.
 
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I am kinda veering towards Jupiter 125cc for its practicality and balanced drive over Indian roads.

If you like pushing the throttle, then Burgman and access might suit you. But Jupiter has a 33L bootspace so comes in handy whn doing regular shopping for family, wifey needs, etc. No other ICE vehicle has that boot space. Also the acceleration is linear with Jupiter, so you won't be blown away unlike with Suzuki.

Regardless, the 125cc is nimble to drive with a 3-step adjustable suspension, so you can choose soft, medium or hard depending on your load.

Apart from the cons stated by others above, do note that it has a front filling fuel cap. So it has a lower CoM. This causes slight vibration at 70+ around footboard. Nothing uncomfortable, but it'll make you aware. Also front filling means, there's no auto cutoff so there are very good chances of gasoline spillage. You'll end up filling less and as the air gets pushed up from the bottom to the top, it gives a fake alert that the tank is full. There's a jugaad though, pull the pillion bar backwards, so that the fuel flows in to the floorboard. Kinda defeats the purpose of not getting down for refilling, but if you want that boot space, nothing can be done. I was hoping TVS would rectify it in their new 113 cc 2025 model, but those guys adopted the 125 chassis for 113 so it has the same flaws as it's older sibling.

Yes, service is questionable, but Southern India has relatively better standards than in other parts of India.

TLDR, for aggressive power demanding, Suzuki. For a family, Jupiter.
 
Could you please elaborate on what does "pull the pillion bar backwards" mean?
Getting the tank full is a real annoyance for me.
If you have the 125 or a pillion grab rail, you push it down, meaning the rear end goes down and the front end lifts up. This causes the gasoline stuck in the fuel pipe flow down to the fuel tank. It won't be a 100% effective solution, but atleast it will help you fill a decent amount.

Refer this video.

 
Someone I know is looking for a 125cc scooter.
A dealership recommended the TVS Ntorq 125.
Is it a good scooter? What other options should they be looking at?
Are they lightweight college student who just needs it for short commutes? If yes, Ntorq.
If they are somewhat of a heavier build and/or older who ride distances longer than 15kms and need plush ride quality, I would suggest they go with Jupiter.

I deeply regret buying a Ntorq. It's a decent scooter, but just not suitable for longer rides and as a result I have clocked only 10,000km on mine since 2018.
 
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Are they lightweight college student who just needs it for short commutes? If yes, Ntorq.
If they are somewhat of a heavier build and/or older who ride distances longer than 15kms and need plush ride quality, I would suggest they go with Jupiter.

I deeply regret buying a Ntorq. It's a decent scooter, but just not suitable for longer rides and as a result I have clocked only 10,000km on mine since 2018.
I have both of them, I find the ntorq better for longer rides, the jupiter doesn't feel smooth, it feels bouncy in comparison. Also the Ntorqs engine smoothens out nicely above 40 kmph. I have clocked 40,000 kms on mine since 2019.
 
I find km traveled kinda useless tbh
You can change seats, probably. Stiffer seats are usually better for longer rides, and posh/"luxury" seats feel better for shorter rides.

I've clocked 40 Mm (40, 000 km) on a 125cc bike in 3 years, total distance during whole ownership is over 200 Mm (the odometer has reset twice lol). It's a Glamour. Not the most comfortable, but I'm young and I needed to drive that much.

Is it more comfortable than Activa/Ntorq/Jupiter? Yep, love the posture.
Would I have said the same when I first used it? Nope, it took me a little bit of time to find the seat and position most comfortable to me for longer rides.
Would I care between Ntorq or Jupiter on the basis of comfort? Probably not.
 
Honda Dio 125!
Friend had it, and I enjoyed riding it. Really smooth. Ntorq sounds better, and has a better pull, but I enjoyed using the Dio 125 more!

Though, it's not a family scooter, unlike what the Honda tag would suggest. The grab bar at the back is weirdly designed and pretty high, and every female member had trouble getting on or off of it, with their footwear and some dresses sticking to the grab bar. I suppose you should get that changed to something similar to what Activa has. It'd look kinda out of place, but it's so much better for the pillion.

Ntorq seemed the same, but I never had many people sitting behind me who were not riders themselves :P
I have the Honda 125, smooth ride..using since 5 yrs