We find out if the Suzuki Burgman Street 125 holds its own against its competitors on paper
The Burgman Street is due for launch in the coming days. Let's find out how it fares on the spec front against its competition.
Design -
Folks from Suzuki designed the Burgman Street 125 after the Burgman maxi-scooter range sold in European markets. The main design focus for the scooter is the imposing front apron which encompasses the LED headlight and a wide windscreen atop. The uniquely designed handlebar stretched out floorboard and wide seat make for a relaxed riding posture. These design attributes is what aids the family-oriented Burgman Street stand out from its competition.
The design of the TVS Ntorq, on the other hand, leans more towards the millennials of today. Its overall sharp lines and angles carried forward from the Graphite concept is said to be inspired from stealth fighters. Put them side-by-side and the attention to detail and resemblance is uncanny.
The stylish Grazia, with its sharp, angular panels all around makes it look the part. It’s the first scooter in its segment to boast an all LED headlight unit which certainly raised the stakes in the 125cc scooter segment.
Renowned for its neo-retro style the Vespa lineup of scooters are looked upon more as lifestyle products despite the high asking price. On the design front, the more male-centric Vespa SXL 125 gets new paint schemes, newly designed LED indicators, a restyled tail light, steel grab rail, a refreshed instrument cluster and blacked out five-spoked wheels.
Last but not the least, the Aprilia SR 125 looks properly sporty. The twin-pod headlight placed on the front apron along with the red and black graphics look aggressive, complimented by a short, slightly high tail and a red-black seat. With a short and narrow footboard, the SR clearly chooses sportiness over practicality.
The Burgman Street 125 may not be the sportiest of the lot. Hell, it isn’t designed to be, but it certainly ticks all the right boxes when it comes to a large scooter. And, if you are inclined more towards a stylish family commuter, the Honda Grazia and Vespa SXL fall quite close to the banner. On the contrary, the TVS Ntorq and Aprilia SR125, in terms of design, address to a younger generation of two-wheeler buyers.
Features -
Features are an integral part of the scooters of today and the Burgman Street isn’t short of them. It features an all LED headlamp unit and a windshield upfront, a multi-function key slot, a 12V charging socket and an LED tail lamp. The Burman Street also gets a digital instrument cluster derived from the Suzuki Gixxer, however, there’s no information on what the console features. Furthermore, the scooter also has some generous under-seat storage and two storage bins on either side, behind the front apron.
Up next is the TVS Ntorq which blew our minds with its feature list. To begin with, it sports a fully digital instrument cluster with smartphone connectivity. With the help of the SmartXonnect app, one can locate the scooter, generate the last ride report and navigate through traffic using maps. Not only that, but the Ntorq also has a pretty nifty ‘do not disturb’ and an auto-reply SMS feature which sends a customized message to the caller.
Moreover, you can search for nearby petrol pumps, hospitals, restaurants and authorized service stations. And if that’s not enough, you can also personalize the console to flash your name every time you start the bike. Additionally, the Ntorq also has LED DRLs along with the V-Shaped headlight and a T-shaped, all-LED tail light. Phew!
But that's not to say that the next scooter isn’t competitive enough. Honda’s Grazia was the first scooter in its segment to introduce an all-digital instrument console. The speedometer and tachometer are placed on top while the fuel gauge, odometer and trip meter sit below, backlit in red. Speaking of segment firsts, the Grazia was also the first scooter to sport an all LED headlamp with clear lens indicators on either side.
The Grazia also gets a cubby hole right next to the choke knob, big enough to accommodate your smartphone along with an optional charging socket for convenience. Not to mention the 4-in-one lock which helps you unlock the seat without getting off.
As for the Vespa SXL 125, it gets newly designed LED indicators, a restyled tail light, steel grab rails, a refreshed semi-digital instrument cluster and blacked out five-spoke alloys instead of the silver coloured three spoked ones available in the Vespa S.
The TVS Ntorq wins the battle, thanks to its top-notch features with the Burgman Street following close behind. The Grazia takes the third spot with the Vespa SXL and Aprilia following suit respectively. The sporty Aprilia SR 125 may be the least feature rich scooter here, but it holds its own in the power and handling department.
Engine -
The Burgman Street shares the 124.3cc air-cooled, single-cylinder SOHC engine with the Access 125. It’s rumoured to produce 8.7PS of peak power at 7000rpm and 10.2Nm of maximum torque at 5000rpm. It tips the scale at 110kg.
The Ntorq gets an all-new 125cc single-cylinder, air-cooled engine. It produces 9.4PS of power, second only to the Vespa SXL 125, and 10.5Nm of torque.
The Grazia may be the least powerful scooter here, making 8.5PS, but it also has the strongest torque output of 10.54Nm and weighs 107kg.
The most powerful engine on offer comes from the Vespa SXL 125. The 125cc, single-cylinder mill churns out 10.6PS of power and a peak torque of 10.6Nm. Although weighing in at 114kg, it’s also the second heaviest scooter here after the TVS Ntorq which weighs 116kg.
The Aprilia’s 125cc motor produces 9.52PS of power and 9.9Nm of torque which places it third spot. It weighs in at 122kg.
Underpinnings -
At 1985x703x1166 mm (LxBxH), the Aprilia is the longest scooter in this comparison, followed by the Burgman at 1884x661x1163 mm. The Ntorq measures in at 1865x710x1160 mm while the Grazia, being the second smallest on paper in terms of overall dimensions, measures 1812x697x1146 mm. However, with a seat height of 766mm, shorter riders would find it a lot more comfortable. Comparatively, the tall seat height of 780mm of the Aprilia SR 125 is more suitable for taller riders. The Vespa SXL 125 is the smallest, measuring 1770*690*1140 mm.
All the scooters in our comparison have telescopic forks at the front and a monoshock unit at the rear. Since Suzuki recently introduced Combined Braking System with the Access, expect to find this feature on the Burgman Street as well. For braking, the scooter will get drum brakes on both wheels, with the option of a front disc brake variant as well.
The sportiest scooters of the lot, the NTorq and Aprilia 125, come equipped with 220 mm discs at the front, and 130 mm and 140mm drums at the rear respectively. Neither of them come with CBS, even as an option. While the Aprilia has a firm ride, the Ntorq’s suspension is well sorted. The Aprilia SR 125 has 14-inch alloys, the biggest in its segment, and wider 120/70-section tubeless Vee Rubber tyres which are perfect for the twisties. The NTorq stands second with 100/80x12 TVS Remora tyres at the front and 110/80x12 at the rear.
The Grazia's braking setup consists of a 130mm drum/190mm disc at the front, and a 130mm drum at the back, combined with Honda's CBS technology, which enables you to operate both brakes by applying pressure on just the rear lever, a handy feature for novice riders.
The Vespa SXL 125 employs a single 200mm disc up front and a 140mm rear drum brake. It’s 11-inch five-spoke alloys come wrapped in 110/70 section tyres in the front and a fat 120/70 section at the rear. Much like the Aprilia the Vespa SXL 125 misses out on CBS.
Both the Burgman Street and Grazia - receive 12-inch five-spoke alloy wheels up front shod with 90/90-section tyres and 10-inch alloys shod with 90/100-section MRF or Ceat tyres at the back.
Pricing and Verdict -
The maxi-styled Suzuki Burgman Street 125 may not be the most feature-rich scooter in this comparo, or the most powerful, but it certainly holds its own in the looks department. Expected to be priced at Rs 65,000 (ex-showroom) give or take, it’s placed perfectly in between its competition, the Ntorq priced at Rs. 58,750, the Honda Grazia priced at Rs 63,448, and undercutting the Aprilia priced at Rs. 66,764. The Italian manufacturer’s Vespa SXL 125 is the most expensive scooter here, priced at Rs 86,858.
While the Suzuki Burgman and Honda Grazia are positioned at family-oriented scooters, the Ntorq and Aprilia appeal to the younger generation. The Vespa, on the other hand, positioned as a niche premium scooter with an unparalleled aspirational value. Also worth mentioning is that the Suzuki Burgman Street is the only maxi-scooter in its segment.
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