On November 14, Wuyang Honda fulfilled its previous promise when launching the new car and live-streamed the entire NPF new car delivery process online. As far as I know, this is the first time that a domestic brand has live-streamed the process of its own products coming off the production line. The inherited Seiko gene is presented to you to the fullest!
This year, there are too many 125 and 150 tool-type scooters for daily use. But to be honest, in the field of small-displacement scooters, it is still very difficult to shake the current position of the four major manufacturers, Suzuki, Haojue, Honda and Yamaha.
Although they are called the Big Four, Yamaha has been unable to come up with stronger products for a long time. At present, except for fuel consumption, it has almost no bright spots. In this market, Haojue and Suzuki have obviously occupied a considerable advantage. In terms of the proportion of single vehicles, Haojue AFR and Suzuki UY have almost taken away most of the sales in the entire level.
If we observe carefully, we can see that both cars have a steady temperament with a business style. Such simple and unpretentious models will always be the main force in market sales.
As the absolute leader in the world’s motorcycle industry, how could Honda be willing to fall behind?
Honda has launched many models since it officially introduced the new esp (no +) 125 power platform last year. However, experts know the ins and outs. A brand builds cars for sales. It’s not that the sports and retro models lack product power, but I think AFR and UY style models are the models with the greatest market demand at this level, and they are the ones that Honda should compete head-on.
During the Chongqing Auto Show, Wuyang Honda finally unveiled the NPF125, a high-end commuter scooter with Honda’s independent logo, which can directly compete with the above-mentioned models.
Not long ago, the price of this popular car that has attracted much attention was officially announced.
Actually, Wuyang Honda’s “Wings to Move Your Dreams” press conference is quite thoughtful. I don’t know if you noticed that the press conference unveiled four products, namely CGX150, Spacy125, NWX125 and NPF125, but only announced the prices of the first three products. It also revealed that the price of SCR125 will be announced soon (it has been announced before National Day), but the price of NPF125, which seems to be the most ordinary, has not been announced yet.
I personally think there are two reasons. First, Honda already has models with similar positioning to NWF125 and Spacy on sale in China. Second, I think Honda also knows that the mission of NPF125 is to compete with Haojue and Suzuki for the largest urban commuter market in China.
So the burden on NPF125 is really heavy.
Today I finally got this NPF125, so how is its product strength? Let’s experience it today to see if it can carry the banner of Honda in the field of small-displacement scooters in China.
·· Static performance ··
#Overall appearance
Whether you and I are willing to admit it or not, many car enthusiasts are still obsessed with car logos and brands. It is even a necessity for everyone to choose a car: especially Japanese brands like NPF with Honda’s independent logo are still quite lethal to everyone. This LOGO is worth 2,000 yuan, right?
As mentioned before, NPF may not look as passionate as NWX, nor as cute as Spacy or NWF, but it is definitely a car that grows in the hearts of the target consumer group. What does maturity mean? First of all, it must be stable, without excessive decoration, calm and firm.
This is the style of NPF, with a solid sculpture-like front face, a strong body curve and the silver-gray paint color of the car, giving off a simple and elegant vibe.
Looking at the paint performance, to be honest, the overall spraying level of motorcycles in my country is already quite high, and NPF seems to be quite outstanding at present.
In terms of assembly technology, NPF’s body thickness and seam treatment are significantly better than UY’s. This is a point in which the performance of both models has been improving recently.
To be honest, from the previous generation of Honda models to the latest ESP series, the 12-inch front and 10-inch rear wheels do look noticeably small against the wider rear of the model.
However, even so, NPF125 can still maintain a minimum ground clearance of 134mm, which is much better than models such as Haojue ADX and Suzuki UY, which also have a front 12 and rear 10 wheel hub combination.
Storage space
For this level of car, the target consumers obviously value storage capacity the most. How can the actual space performance created by the wheelbase of NPF1246mm?
As you can see, the width of the narrowest part of the flat pedal is 25cm; the lateral width of the flat pedal is 44cm. This time, NPF designed a front inclined pedal with a large area but not too steep a slope.
Compared to its direct competitors AFR and UY, this angled footrest is simply lethal to me.
With it, not only can I have more riding posture options, but I can also reduce the force of supporting the handlebars with both hands when braking heavily. Most importantly, it can provide an extra comfortable footrest when I fill the flat pedals, and it also invisibly increases the storage capacity of the vehicle.
The front double open storage space is also a must for this type of vehicle. NPF adopts the UY method of maximizing storage on both sides. Two 500ml bottles of mineral water can be placed on each side, and the maximum depth of the storage compartment is 15cm.
There is a 5V3A fast charging C port above the storage box on the right, which is great! It is worth mentioning that the soft cover of LD and F was not easy to put back with one hand before, but NPF has improved it a lot!
There is a hook in the middle, which is the soul of flat pedals, but it would be better if it could be made into a closed one.
The space volume of the NPF seat bucket is 14.3 liters. In fact, the number is not important. I think the most important things about the seat bucket are the width, shape, bottom shape and the inner shape of the seat cushion.
But for the sake of intuitive comparison, I will use my family’s size M 3/4 half helmet as an example:
UY’s performance is as follows:
You can see that such a small helmet can only be placed upside down, and it cannot be placed at other angles. The performance of NPF is indeed much better. In general, the storage space of NPF is the most practical among all the Honda ESP125 models I have tried so far.
Cycling triangle
The seat height of 755mm is in line with the overall level of this small scooter.
The narrow front seat does not significantly affect the difficulty of foot placement. I am 172cm tall and my foot placement is as follows:
The seat is quite soft and has a rare level of support during intense driving. The surface friction of the seat is also excellent, and it is not easy to slide back and forth or left and right while riding.
In terms of size, the NPF’s seat cushion is 676mm long, and there is no obvious difference between the front and rear seats of the integrated design.
Handlebars, buttons, instruments
The handlebar height and width are similar to those of mainstream 125 pedals, so there is nothing special to say.
In terms of buttons, there will be an additional start-stop system switch on the right hand.
The lack of an overtaking button on the left hand side is a complaint, but at the same time, the fact that it comes with a parking switch from the factory must be praised, which is an improvement over its predecessor model NCR125.
The switch of NPF still uses Honda’s SMART KEY module, which is a benchmark and very easy to use. The instrument is a brand new LCD instrument, which displays various mainstream information such as time, speed, mileage, fuel consumption, etc. in the middle, and ABS, sensor key, engine fault light, start-stop status and other prompts on both sides.
Visibility and focus are very well done.
Lighting performance
Let’s first look at the shape of the headlights. I personally like it more.
Without so many complicated edges and corners, it is a more spirited shape with a “cold and arrogant” look.
When the taillights are turned on, they naturally form an H shape, which is more recognizable.
The following are the low beam performances:
The following is the high beam performance:
It can be seen that whether it is high beam or low beam, the brightness of NPF is definitely the top performance in this class, but in terms of paving width, NPF still has room for improvement.
Other aspects
In fact, among the four major brands, Honda is the first to equip a side stand shutdown switch so far.
The pulse start and start-stop must be praised. Personally, I care more about the pulse start. The sharp feeling of the conventional pedal ignition at that moment still greatly affects the sense of elegance.
However, for Honda’s start-stop function to work, the ECU will deliberately increase the engine speed at idle to quickly reach the working temperature of the engine oil, which causes the engine noise to be loud when the engine is just started; while Haojue and Yamaha models with start-stop will not deliberately make the engine noise loud at idle, but will quietly turn on the start-stop function after driving for a while and waiting for the oil temperature to rise. I personally prefer the latter, after all, my two Mazda cars are like this, and they are uncomfortably noisy when they are started when they are cold all year round, and the whole parking lot is filled with the roar of its engine.
·· Dynamic performance ··
Engine performance
In fact, Honda has always been less keen on showing off its latest technology and strength.
For example, in the super street car category, Honda’s super street car for a long time was the CB1000R equipped with the previous generation Blade engine and a single-beam frame; for example, the Africa Twin used the 1000 engine before, and later it was replaced with the current 1100 engine; the middleweight twin-cylinder model used to have only the horizontal 750 engine, and last year the new inline twin-cylinder 750 engine was officially introduced…
Even the previous generation of 125 engines seems to be half a generation lower than ESS, Super Core, and even Blue Core engines (except Lead’s ESP+). This time, ESP125 can be said to have leapt to the top level of the four major brands of engines.
I judge the quality of an engine mainly by comparing its comprehensive performance in terms of power, fuel consumption, durability and running quality. Let me give you some simple data: the maximum power of the NPF is 7.0kW/7750rpm, the maximum torque is 10Nm/5750rpm, the compression ratio is 10:1, and the most important thing is that the curb weight is only 104kg.
In fact, the data on paper is very good. In fact, it is true. According to my test, the temperature in Chengdu is 16 degrees, and the NPF speed meter shows that I can run 101 kilometers on a flat road without wind, and the GPS can reach 91.9 kilometers per hour. Needless to say, this has an overwhelming advantage over the past RX and NCR, and even compared with UY (87.8 kilometers per hour).
However, I still hold the same view that top speed is not very meaningful for small scooters. You should try not to drive too fast with a small-wheeled, short-wheelbase 125 scooter. It is really dangerous. If you need to drive at high speed frequently, please choose a large scooter. I also tested the 0-80km acceleration data at the same venue. Both cars were almost empty of fuel. The performance of NPF and UY are as follows:
(Honda NPF125 0-80 acceleration picture)
(Suzuki UY 0-80 acceleration screen)
I know some people are wondering why I tested so much faster than Teacher Sha Xia? There is no way. When I tested, the temperature in Chengdu was around 16 degrees. My weight plus equipment totaled 160+ pounds, while Teacher Sha Xia only weighed about 110 pounds. The 50-pound weight has a huge impact on the acceleration of such a small-displacement scooter. But since I tested both, the difference between the two cars can be clearly seen.
Fuel consumption performance
I tested the lowest fuel consumption limit of NPF. Today was a warm day, and I wore three layers of clothing, with a total weight of about 160 catties. I filled up the gas at the gas station near my home, drove about 5 kilometers on the city road, drove about 45 kilometers on the expressway and then turned back. The total mileage displayed was exactly 100 kilometers. I returned to the gas station to fill up the gas, and used a total of 1.71 liters of gasoline.
Even considering the 5% error, the NPF’s fuel consumption per 100 kilometers is 1.79 liters/100 kilometers, which is definitely the top fuel consumption performance in this class! In terms of throttle response, the NPF is very well adjusted, giving as much as you give it, very accurate and responsive, without any feeling of dragging. When starting, the electronic fuel injection setting will spray a little more fuel, so the NPF feels quite powerful when starting, and the power rises relatively linearly afterwards, which can be analyzed from the 0-80 acceleration results above.
Next is the operating quality, which is what I value most. In this regard, NPF has made great progress over its past products, especially the most obvious idling vibration, which has been much better. In the past, the noise made by NCR when running was quite loud, and this time NPF has also made great improvements in this regard. In the entire speed range, the noise of NPF will start to get louder at more than 50 kilometers.
The sound of NPF during the whole acceleration process is still relatively heavy, but not noisy. It is no problem to say that it has a strong sense of luxury. At present, NPF also does very well in terms of vibration. Whether it is idling or starting up and pulling to the top speed, the vehicle vibration suppression is generally ahead of UY.
Control performance
The biggest impression that NPF’s handling gave me was that the front shock absorber setting has been greatly improved compared with the past. In the past, I felt that the support of the RX and NCR front shock absorbers was slightly insufficient, but NPF obviously discovered this and strengthened the front shock absorber, and now the support is much stronger; the performance of the rear shock absorber is not much different from the past.
In general, the shock absorption characteristics of NPF are still relatively comfortable, which is a very reasonable adjustment method for a car of this positioning.
The whole vehicle is very good in terms of cornering direction and stability, straight-line driving stability, and continuous turning and quick direction changes. This frame has received rave reviews!
Braking performance
As Honda’s independent brand, the NPF is equipped with Hitachi’s single-channel ABS and Nissin’s dual-piston calipers.
I found this set of ABS very useful when I first tested NS125RX. It intervenes accurately, not too early or too late, and the intervention process is not rough, nor does it push the handle up stiffly. It can provide the maximum braking force at the critical point to ensure that the front wheel does not lock. I also tested the 60-0 braking performance, and the NPF was 16.86 meters, which is very good. The front shock absorber has excellent support when braking heavily.
I didn’t test the brakes of the UY in the same field, which is always a weak point. I have also experienced many bikes with this NPF frame. Generally speaking, it is still excellent. When braking heavily, it will not twist or compress obviously due to insufficient strength, and the body stability is good.
Summarize:
Among the series of ESP pedals launched in the previous two editions, it is obvious that NPF is perhaps the most important model that Honda values. With its excellent dynamic performance that obviously exceeds the best UY and AFR, as well as its rich configuration, spacious and appropriate stable positioning, it has laid a solid foundation in terms of product strength.
Let’s briefly summarize the advantages and disadvantages of NPF125:
1. The appearance is calm and reliable, the design is simple and elegant, and the storage capacity is strong.
2. In terms of power performance, Honda’s ESP platform is already at the top level among the mainstream brands currently on sale.
3. The configuration is rich but not ostentatious, including keyless start, side stand shutdown switch, hill parking switch, pulse start automatic start and stop, 5V3A fast charging C port… almost every configuration is extremely practical.
4. NPF’s overall braking performance, vehicle body posture during braking, and ABS intervention performance are all top-notch in the same class.
5. The handling is stable, the body is stable at high speeds, the directional stability is very strong when cornering, and the frame performance is excellent.
6. The headlights are extremely bright.
·· Points that can be improved ··
1. The high and low beams of the headlights have a smaller horizontal road coverage area.
2. There is no overtaking gear button on the left hand side.
3. Compared with ESS and Super Core, I personally always mind the lack of fire stick.
·· Purchase advice ··
NPF is divided into CBS version (10,990 yuan) and ABS version (11,990 yuan).
I strongly suggest that you don’t consider the CBS version. The actual performance of Nissin calipers with Hitachi ABS is very, very good . If you fall off the bike due to front wheel locking, the loss will be more than 1,000 yuan. In the field of domestic big brand 125 commuter pedals, Honda has really jumped to the leading position with its ESP engine. This platform will be popular for at least 5 years!
The NPF is a high-end and comfortable commuter pedal that puts pragmatism first, and it is bound to be a hot star product! Currently, NPF has 5 colors for riders to choose from.
So the question is, if it were you, which color would you choose? Welcome to visit all Wuyang Honda dealers offline to experience the extraordinary experience of NPF! That’s about it. As usual, if you think my review is helpful for your car selection, I would be honored. If possible, I would be even more grateful if you can like, comment, collect, and forward it. Thank you very much for your support!
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