Honda Forza 125
Honda's premium A1-license touring scooter. Same eSP+ 125cc engine as the PCX125 wrapped in a larger, more touring-oriented body — taller windscreen, larger storage, more comfortable ergonomics, traction control, smart key. The default choice for 125 commuters who do longer distances than the PCX is designed for.
- Engine
- 125 cc
- Power
- 14.8 PS
- Weight
- 162 kg
- Seat height
- 780 mm
- A2 licence
- —
eSP+ liquid-cooled SOHC single
wet
The short version
Forecourt score
Value 64 · Insurance 63 · Theft 65
The Honda Forza 125 holds its value about as well as most bikes (around 25% lost over three years, against the 25-32% bike norm) and costs about average to insure (group 7). Theft risk is moderate.
A bike-specific blend of value retention, insurance and theft risk (weighted 40/35/25). Bikes carry no MOT reliability data, so reliability isn't scored. Higher is better.
Variant: Forza 125
Engine
Petrol · 125cc
Power
14.8 ps
Torque
12.2 Nm
Weight
162 kg
Seat
780 mm
Transmission
CVT automatic
Economy
102 mpg
Volume Forza 125. eSP+ 125cc with 14.8 PS, CVT, belt drive. 162 kg wet. 780mm seat. Adjustable screen, smart key, HSTC.
Tell us about the one you're looking at
Tidy and well looked-after for its age — the typical clean bike.
Estimated market value
£3,712
Range £3,341 – £4,083
HIGH CONFIDENCE
Holding value
Bikes hold value far better than cars — typical motorcycle 3-year depreciation is 25–32%, against cars' 40–50%. Some bikes (Hayabusa, Gold Wing, classic Z1000) actually appreciate in the 7–15 year zone as cult demand outstrips supply.
New
£5,199
At 5 years
£3,431
At 10 years
£2,516
Value loss by phase
Each band shows the share of original value lost during that window — not cumulative. Appreciation (green, marked +X% gained) is real for bikes that develop cult status.
UK new price by year
How we estimate this
Phase depreciation derived from observed UK used-bike pricing — classified ads, dealer asking prices, and end-of-auction figures. Bike residuals depend heavily on theft history, service-stamp count, and crash-damage signatures. The figures here are indicative for clean, fully-stamped examples.
What it costs to own
Indicative running costs at 8,000 miles a year — the UK rider average. Belt or shaft drive eliminates the chain/sprocket consumable; tax (typically £25–£100/yr) and depreciation are excluded — see the section above for value retention.
3-year total
£1,889
Per year
£630
Per mile
£0.08
Service costs assume independent specialist labour and OE parts. Tyre intervals reflect typical UK road riding — track-day usage burns through rear tyres in <2,000 miles. Fuel uses the variant MPG at £1.45/L. Lower-mileage riders see proportionally lower totals; higher-mileage commuters pay roughly linearly more.
Estimated insurance
Group 7 of 17 (mid — mainstream) · Comprehensive · 5 yr NCB
Indicative annual comprehensive premiums for this bike. Bike insurance is far more sensitive to licence tier and rider age than cars — pick the combination closest to your circumstances.
Licence
Age
No-claims bonus
5 yearsRisk profile
Estimated annual premium · typical, age 30-39
£360/ year
Roughly £30 per month
Typical
Suburban postcode, 3+ years NCB, standard security (Thatcham chain + disc lock), no recent claims.| Age band | Lower risk | Typical | Higher risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age 17-21 | £594 | £792 | £1,109 |
| Age 22-29 | £365 | £486 | £680 |
| Age 30-39Selected | £270 | £360 | £504 |
| Age 40-49 | £238 | £317 | £444 |
| Age 50+ | £216 | £288 | £403 |
How we estimate this
Premiums combine licence tier, rider age, no-claims bonus and a risk-profile multiplier on top of a bike-specific baseline. Bike insurance is materially more sensitive to licence tier (CBT / A1 / A2 / A) than car insurance, and young riders pay considerably more than older riders even on the same machine. Always get individual quotes before buying.
Theft risk
Bike-specific · Met Police + insurance reporting
UK bike theft rates are an order of magnitude higher than car theft. Nakeds and supersports lose more to professional gangs; large adventure bikes and tourers are statistically much safer.
Theft risk score · 1 to 4
2/4Medium risk
Medium risk
Some theft pattern, particularly in urban postcodes. Thatcham-approved chain plus disc lock recommended; secure overnight parking helps premiums.Theft hotspot postcodes
Postcode prefixes only; full London hot zone runs across E, N, NW, SE, SW, W boroughs depending on the model.
What this means for you
Premium scooters are stolen in London — chain + disc lock advised, garage overnight.
How we set this band
Bands derived from Met Police bike-theft reporting (most-stolen lists) cross-referenced with insurance industry underwriting data. Model + postcode are the two biggest factors in motorcycle theft risk in the UK, materially more than vehicle value.
What goes wrong
5 known issues · sorted by severity
Documented failure modes from UK owner forums, dealer service bulletins, and aggregated mechanic feedback. Mileages are approximate — different riders see different intervals depending on use and maintenance. Always address "high"-severity items before resale.
High severity
0
Medium
1
Low / cosmetic
4
| Severity | Part / issue | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| medium | CVT drive belt 15-18k mi | £200 |
| low | Smart key fob battery every 2 years | £20 |
| low | Front fork seals 25k+ mi | £100 |
| low | Steering head bearings 30k+ mi | £150 |
| low | Battery every 3 years | £60-80 |
How we score severity
High — strands the bike or causes consequential damage if left. Medium — service item that affects ride quality or risks failure. Low — cosmetic or minor inconvenience. Costs are independent-specialist UK rates for parts and labour together; main dealer prices typically run 30–50% higher.
Safety recalls
Manufacturers occasionally issue safety recalls to fix a fault free of charge. You can check whether the Honda Forza 125, or your exact vehicle, has any outstanding recalls on the official DVSA service.
Check on GOV.UKOpens the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency recall checker. Choose the make, model and year of manufacture — no registration needed.
Variant comparison
The premium A1 touring scooter. Cross-shop Yamaha XMAX 125 (similar money, slightly less power, different ergonomics), Piaggio Beverly 400 S (more cylinders but bigger licence requirement). Forza 125 wins on Honda dealer network and proven engine.
Known issues
- CVT belt at 15-18k mi (£200)
- Smart key fob batteries fail (£20)
- Steering bearings at 30k+ mi (£150)
- Front fork seal leak at 25k+ mi (£100 — heavier than PCX)
- Otherwise eSP+ engine bulletproof
Strengths
- +Same eSP+ engine as PCX125 — proven reliable
- +Adjustable windscreen — proper touring weather protection
- +Large underseat storage — fits a full-face helmet plus shopping
- +Smart key + LED lighting standard
- +HSTC traction control standard from 2021
- +More comfortable than PCX over 30+ mile commutes
Watch-outs
- −Larger and heavier than PCX (162 kg vs 130 kg)
- −£1.5k+ pricier than PCX
- −Same CVT belt wear (£200 at 15k+ mi)
- −Premium scooters are sometimes targeted in London