The Hero Glamour X 125 and Honda SP 125 sit at the top of the 125cc commuter segment - both fuel-injected, both priced above Rs 88,000, and both targeting the buyer who wants more than a basic commuter without crossing into 150cc territory. The choice between them depends on what you're actually optimising for.
This is the most commercially significant comparison in the premium 125cc space. Both bikes are well-established sellers from India's two largest two-wheeler brands. Here's where each wins.
Price Comparison
| Hero Glamour X 125 | Honda SP 125 | |
|---|---|---|
| Base variant | Rs 88,391 (Drum CBS) | ~Rs 89,000 (Drum CBS) |
| Top variant | Rs 95,891 (Disc CBS Connected) | ~Rs 96,500 (Disc CBS) |
Prices are within Rs 500-1,000 across comparable variants - this is not a category where price separates them. What you get for the money is what matters.
Specs That Matter
| Spec | Hero Glamour X 125 | Honda SP 125 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 124.7cc, SOHC, air-cooled, FI | 123.94cc, SOHC, air-cooled, FI |
| Max Power | 10.76 bhp @ 7500 rpm | 11.4 bhp @ 7500 rpm |
| Max Torque | 10.6 Nm @ 6000 rpm | 10.9 Nm @ 6000 rpm |
| ARAI Mileage | 61.3 kmpl | 65 kmpl |
| Kerb Weight | 122 kg | 118 kg |
| Seat Height | 795 mm | 790 mm |
| Braking | 240mm front disc + 130mm rear drum, CBS | 240mm front disc + 130mm rear drum, CBS |
| Bluetooth | Yes (Disc variant) | No |
| LED Lighting | Full LED (all variants) | Partial LED |
The SP 125 leads on the performance metrics that matter: more power (11.4 vs 10.76 bhp), more torque (10.9 vs 10.6 Nm), better ARAI mileage (65 vs 61.3 kmpl), and lighter weight (118 vs 122 kg). The Glamour X 125 counters with Bluetooth connectivity in its top variant and full LED lighting across all variants.
Power and Performance: SP 125's Advantage
The Honda SP 125's 11.4 bhp versus the Glamour X 125's 10.76 bhp is the most meaningful spec gap between these bikes. It's a 6% power advantage - noticeable in real riding, particularly in the 60-90 kmph range where highway overtaking happens. The SP 125's additional 0.3 Nm of torque reinforces this: roll-on response from 40-70 kmph feels more effortless on the Honda.
The SP 125 also has Honda's PGM-FI fuel injection system, which has been refined across multiple generations of the engine. The result is smooth, linear power delivery with minimal jerkiness at low speeds - a quality that commuters notice daily. The Glamour X 125's FI system is competent, but the SP 125's calibration is more polished.
In ARAI mileage terms, the SP 125 claims 65 kmpl versus the Glamour X 125's 61.3 kmpl. Real-world figures typically run 10-15% below ARAI - expect 55-60 kmpl for the SP 125 and 52-58 kmpl for the Glamour X 125 in mixed riding.
Bluetooth Connectivity: Glamour X 125's Advantage
The Glamour X 125's Disc CBS variant at Rs 95,891 includes Bluetooth connectivity via the Hero Companion app. This enables turn-by-turn navigation alerts on the instrument cluster, incoming call and message notifications, and trip data logging - features not available on any Honda SP 125 variant at any price.
For a buyer who uses their bike for daily navigation in unfamiliar urban areas or wants smartphone integration, this is a genuine differentiator. No other Honda product in this segment offers it, and the Hero Companion app implementation has been functional and reliable since the Glamour X 125's 2024 launch.
The base Drum CBS variant at Rs 88,391 does not have Bluetooth - this feature is exclusive to the top variant.
LED Lighting
The Glamour X 125 offers full LED lighting - front and rear - standard across both variants. This is a premium feature at this price bracket; many competitors offer LED only on higher trims or partially.
The Honda SP 125 has LED headlight in its top disc variant but not full LED across all trims. For the Drum CBS buyer, the Glamour X 125 has better lighting specification.
Weight and Dimensions
The Honda SP 125 at 118 kg is 4 kg lighter than the Glamour X 125 at 122 kg. That difference is felt in city low-speed manoeuvring - U-turns in tight spaces, filtering through traffic, pushing the bike. The SP 125 also has a 790mm seat height versus 795mm, a 5mm advantage that improves flat-foot access for shorter riders.
Both are CBS-only in 2026 - no ABS option exists in this segment at this price point. The braking hardware (240mm front disc, 130mm rear drum) is identical.
Styling
The Glamour X 125's 'X' design language represents Hero's most contemporary styling in the commuter segment - sharper tank lines, blacked-out engine, revised tail section, and an instrument cluster with a modern layout. For the buyer who cares about how their bike looks, the Glamour X 125 is the more contemporary choice.
The Honda SP 125 has clean, conservative Honda styling - inoffensive and timeless, but not heads-turning. It's the design sensibility Honda has deployed across its commuter range for years. Some buyers prefer this understated approach; others find it bland next to the 'X' branding of the Glamour.
Service Network
Hero's service network is larger and deeper than Honda's across India - more authorised service centres, stronger tier-2 and tier-3 penetration, wider spare parts availability. In a metro, both networks are comparable. In smaller cities and towns, Hero's reach is a genuine advantage.
Honda's service quality in urban areas is strong, and its long-standing reputation for reliability means owners often wait longer between service visits.
Long-Term Reliability
Both bikes have proven track records. Honda's engine reputation in India is unassailable - the CB series of air-cooled SOHC engines has demonstrated multi-year reliability with minimal unplanned failures. The SP 125 continues that lineage.
The Glamour X 125 is a newer platform (launched October 2024) with less real-world long-term data. Hero's older Glamour and Passion platforms have been reliable; the X 125 is expected to continue that trend, but it hasn't had three years in the field yet.
Who Should Buy Which
Buy the Hero Glamour X 125 if:
- Bluetooth connectivity matters to you - it's not available on the SP 125 at any price
- You want full LED lighting on the base variant
- Contemporary 'X' styling is important in your buying decision
- You're in a smaller city where Hero's deeper service penetration is an advantage
Buy the Honda SP 125 if:
- You want the most powerful and torquey 125cc commuter in this segment - the SP 125 has 11.4 bhp vs 10.76 bhp
- Better mileage matters - 65 kmpl ARAI vs 61.3 kmpl is a meaningful difference for a commuter buyer
- You prioritise lighter weight and lower seat height - 118 kg and 790mm vs 122 kg and 795mm
- Honda's long-standing reliability reputation in India is important to you
- You don't need Bluetooth
The Honest Take
On specs, the Honda SP 125 is the stronger performer: more power, more torque, better mileage, lighter weight. Honda's engine calibration and long-term reliability record reinforce the case. For a buyer whose primary criteria is performance-per-rupee and dependable daily use, the SP 125 is the safer choice.
The Hero Glamour X 125 wins on features: Bluetooth connectivity in its top variant is a genuine differentiator that the SP 125 cannot match, and full LED lighting across both variants is better specification at the base level. The sharper design language appeals to buyers who want their commuter to look current.
If you use navigation daily or want smartphone integration, buy the Glamour X 125 Disc CBS Connected. If Bluetooth doesn't matter and raw daily-use performance with Honda reliability is the priority, buy the SP 125. The Rs 500-1,000 price difference between comparable variants does not affect the decision either way.
