New Suzuki Access 125 review

• Published On: 9 March 2017
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Does the new Suzuki Access stay true to its ‘all-new’ tag?

Suzuki’s Access 125 is the scooter that got the company noticed in the 125cc scooter segment. It was a robust, peppy little scooter that gained a strong following, and to further the scooter’s appeal, the bike maker has launched a new version of it in the all-new Access 125.

On the outside
Styling on the new Access is clearly inspired from the retro-chic Vespa and the Yamaha Fascino, and is a bit of a departure from the bland and rounded looks of the first Access. What’s evident is that Suzuki has made quite the effort to make the scooter look premium – the chrome bezel for the headlamp, the alloy wheels and the body’s swoopy lines help it look more modern.

The scooter’s design still sticks to a 'safe and solid' school of thought. However, what buyers will appreciate is that the bike comes with a solid and robust metal front fender and apron. Its instrument panel, although simple, is easy to read, and gets an LCD display for the fuel gauge, odometer and trip meter.

Running gear
The scooter’s mechanicals are where it’s all-new. To start with, it’s 10kg lighter than the older model, and it’s also longer (15mm longer in the wheelbase and a 90mm overall). While the engine displaces 124cc as before, the unit itself is all-new, and it alone contributes to a 6kg weight loss. It also uses lower-friction components and is designed for improved performance and efficiency, and the numbers speak the same story. At 8.7hp, the power is marginally more, and there’s 10.2Nm of torque that the scooter sends to the rear wheels via a CVT gearbox. Also, Suzuki claims that the new Access 125 will deliver 64kpl.

From the saddle
The first thing you notice when you straddle the scooter is that the seat is quite long. In fact, it will even accommodate two heavyset riders quite comfortably. More importantly, even with two on board, the Access is easy to ride. The engine is quite a smooth unit too, and pulls cleanly in a relaxed manner.

Just like the engine, the suspension works nicely, and the scooter can easily cope with our city roads without getting ruffled. The front forks absorb even the worst of potholes comfortably and the bike never feels skittish over bumps and undulations.

It’s quite impressive out on the highways too. You can hit up to 96kph on the new Access and it is also quicker by 0.6sec than the older model when accelerating from 0-60kph. It does all that while staying refined throughout; you never feel nervous even when riding it hard! Overall, this is an impressive package as far as performance is concerned.

The optional front disc brake also comes in handy when you want to cut down speed. What also helps is that the brakes engage in a progressive manner, and it’s not a sudden bite when clamping down on the brake lever. That said, the tyres do squeal and skid when braking hard.

How about convenience?
When it comes to scooters, practicality is always a high priority, and the Access is quite impressive here. For a start, it comes with a brake-lock clamp (a feature that many scooters miss out on), which will make it easy to park the bike on inclines. There are two hooks to hang bags from and there’s a cubby hole up front to store a bottle of water. Under that new, long seat, there’s obviously more space, plus you can even opt for a storage box up front. Accessories on the scooter also include a mobile charging point.

Is it worth the money?
In short, yes. At ₹59,668 and ₹63,225 (for the disc brake variant), the new Access is slightly pricier than the older model. However, the scooter is clearly a step-up from the original, and is worth the extra asking price. It looks smart, runs smoothly, is comfortable and comes with all the conveniences that you would like on a city commuter, all of which make it one of the finest 125cc scooters you can buy today.