A scooter is something considered to be more utilitarian than sporty. But what if we tell you that there is a scooter which is fun to ride too? Well, Suzuki Access had taught us how to do just that. When it was launched, 125 cc scooters were unheard of in the Indian market. Now the Access is back with its new iteration which promises to offer even more for your money. Suzuki has updated the speedometer and added new features too to the Access.
It goes up against its rivals like the TVS Ntorq and Honda Grazia which entered the 125 cc market after Suzuki but have been doing well. Where the other two scooters try to adopt a more modern approach to the design, Suzuki has decided to keep the looks retro. But it has made sure that the Access is relatively modern under the skin. Hence, now it gets a BS6 compliant engine and fuel injection instead of a carburetor. Now its time to see if a scooter launched 13 years ago can compete with its current-day rivals with minor changes.
Tried and tested motor
Comfortable ride quality
Robust build quality
Neutral handling
Not as feature-loaded as some of the competitions
Only minor updates have been done
Gets new features
The Access now comes in 3 variants which are differentiated on the basis of wheels and brakes. The base variant gets a steel wheel and does not come with disc brake on the front wheel, hence both wheels get drum brakes. The top of the line variant comes with alloy wheels and disc brakes. The difference in price of the base and the top variant is of about Rs. 3000. All the variants come with CBS which stands for Combined Brake System. It applies both the brakes regardless of which brake lever is pressed. Hence, it prevents the scooter from skidding making it a must-have safety feature.
Variant | Disc Brake Variant with CBS | Drum Brake Variant (Alloy Wheel) with CBS | Drum Brake Variant with CBS |
Ex-Showroom Price(Delhi) | Rs. 61,982/- | Rs. 60,640/- | Rs. 59,013/- |
Features | Combined brake system | Alloy wheels | Combined brake system |
LED Headlamp | Drum brakes | LED Headlamp | |
Push-button start system | Push-button start system | Push-button start system | |
USB Charging port | LED Headlamp | New Digital Meter | |
Front disc brake | Combined brake system | One push central lock system |
We would suggest you go with the top-spec variant which comes with alloy wheels and disc brake. For just Rs. 3000 more it provides you with alloy wheels for better looks and also disc brakes for better safety. The top variant also gets a USB charging port which is quite useful for long-distance journeys.
As there have been minor changes done in this facelift, the Access gets the same 124cc, single-cylinder motor which was used in the outgoing model. It even carries the same bore x stroke values at 52.5 x 57.4 mm. Now the Access offers a BS6 compliant engine and a result of that it has ditched the carburetor for a fuel injection system. Fuel injection systems are relatively more modern and help reduce harmful emissions. All the changes have not impacted its performance in any way which is a good thing for Access buyers. Power figures remain the same at 8.7hp which comes 250rpm earlier at 6750 rpm. This gives the new Access slightly better drivability than the earlier one, especially on open roads.
The peak torque, however, has reduced by a slight margin from 10.2 Nm to 10 Nm. But the new Access feels as lively as the previous one and you would not be able to feel any difference in real-world conditions. The performance remains punchy until the speedo hits the 65kph mark after which it tapers off considerably. New Access is 2kgs heavier than the outgoing model but it is still quicker than the queen of the segment, the Activa 125.
Scooter | Suzuki Access | TVS Ntorq 125 | Honda Grazia |
Ex-Showroom Price (Delhi) | Rs.59,013 | Rs. 59,462 | Rs. 62,025 |
Engine | 124cc, 2-valve | 124.7cc, 3-valve | 124.9cc, 2-valve |
Power | 9.4hp @ 7500 RPM | [email protected] 6500 RPM | |
Torque | 10.2 [email protected] 5000 RPM | 10.5Nm @ 5500 RPM | 10.5 [email protected] RPM |
Fueling | Fuel Injection | Carburated | Carburated |
ARAI Mileage figure(kmpl) | 53.0 | 47.0 | 60.0 |
Fuel tank capacity(Litres) | 5.6 | 5.0 | 5.3 |
TVS Ntorq trumps the Access in terms of power and torque figures. But the access gets the new fuel injection system which makes it more advanced than the other two rivals. It also comes with the biggest fuel tank in its segment.
Scooters are the champions of nipping through city traffic. But how fast can the Access nip through it? Well, it turns out that Access is the fastest scooter in its segment. It can do a 0-60 kmph sprint in 7.11s which is quite fast for a scooter in this segment. Hence, closing in on the gaps in traffic is not only easy with the Access but fun as well.
Scooter | Suzuki Access | TVS Ntorq 125 | Honda Grazia |
Transmission | CVT | CVT | CVT |
0-60 kmph | 7.11 s | 9 s | 9.03 s |
Top Speed(kmph) | 93.4 | 95 | 85 |
Even with more power and torque figures, the TVS Ntorq is slower than the Access. This is due to the heavier kerb weight of the Ntorq as it is 14 kgs heavier than the Access. Although, Ntorq can reach a higher speed than the Access. The slowest scooter in this comparison is the Honda Grazia due to a lower power to weight ratio.
Suzuki’s new Access not only offers a Combined Braking System but also an option of a disc brake on the front wheel. It offers adequate stopping power and the brakes feel confident even at high speeds. The brakes also don’t judder unlike some of its rivals and offer good feedback.
Scooter | Suzuki Access | TVS Ntorq 125 | Honda Grazia |
Front / Rear | Drum or Disc/Drum | Drum or Disc/Drum | Drum/Drum |
Front Rotor Size(mm) | 120 | 130(drum)/220(Disc) | 130 |
Rear Rotor Size(mm) | 130 | 130 | 130 |
80-0 kmph(m) | N/A | N/A | 41.78 |
ABS (Single or Dual Channel) | - | - | - |
TVS Ntorq and the Honda Grazia get a bigger front brake rotor than the Access. But as the Access is lighter you would not be left wanting for more braking prowess. Overall, the braking performance of the Access is satisfactory for a scooter of its size.
The Suzuki Access has always been known for its comfortable ride and the same thing continues with the new one as there are no changes done to the ride setup. The access feels composed even at high speeds and offers a good ride at high speeds too. The seat cushioning is neither too soft nor too hard which is great for undertaking long-distance journeys.
Scooters have lower available wheel travel which results in bouncy rides. But the Suzuki Access amongst the best of the scooters in terms of ride quality. It does not bounce around like some scooters in its segment on speed bumps and potholes. The relatively longer wheelbase at 1,265mm helps it feel stable and neutral rather than top-heavy like some of its rivals.
Scooter | Suzuki Access | TVS Ntorq 125 | Honda Grazia |
Chassis | Underbone | Underbone | Underbone |
Tyre-Wheel Size(Front) | 90/90-12 | 100/80-12 | 90/90-12 |
Tyre-Wheel Size(Rear) | 90/100-10 | 110/80-12 | 90/100-10 |
Front Suspension | Telescopic forks | Telescopic forks | Telescopic forks |
Rear Suspension | Swingarm | Hydraulic Type Coil Spring Shock Absorber | 3-Step adjustable spring-loaded Hydraulic |
Seat height(mm) | 780 | - | 766 |
Ground Clearance (mm) | 160 | 155 | 155 |
Kerb Weight(kg) | 102 | 116 | 107 |
Starting System | Kick/Self | Kick/Self | Kick/Self |
The Access gets the highest ground clearance in its segment which helps it clear larger speed bumps easily. Due to the higher ground clearance, you also sit higher than other scooters. While this helps in clearing obstacles easily, it loses some of the agility that the rivals have on offer.
With more and more contemporary looking scooters getting launched into the market every day, the Access continues to adopt a retro-style language. From the front, it gets chrome surrounds around the headlamp which gets an LED bulb instead of Halogen. The Access looks very much like the famous Vespa now, especially from the front.
Scooter | Suzuki Access | TVS Ntorq 125 | Honda Grazia |
Length (mm) | 1870 | 1865 | 1821 |
Width (mm) | 655 | 710 | 697 |
Height(mm) | 1160 | 1160 | 1146 |
Wheelbase(mm) | 1265 | 1285 | 1260 |
Suzuki Access also features a beige-colored seat to go along with the new paint job. Aside from this, the scooter remains unchanged. In this comparison, the Ntorq and the Grazia are styled quite similarly and the Access manages to stand out.
The Suzuki Access does not come with some ultra-advanced features like Bluetooth connectivity or smartphone access like the Ntorq. But it does offer a healthy list of features. It comes with a USB charging port on the top-spec variant through which you can charge your phone on the go. The speedometer has also received an update. It gets two light strips which turn green or red depending on the fuel consumption.
If you go hard on the throttle the lights turn red indicating low fuel economy, it turns green again once you ride it sedately. The multi-information cluster also gets an oil change indicator and a dual trip meter.
Scooter | Suzuki Access | TVS Ntorq 125 | Honda Grazia |
Ex-Showroom Price (Delhi) | Rs. 64,800 | Rs. 59,462 | Rs. 62,025 |
Features | Combi-Braking System | USB charging port | Disc brakes |
Glossy compact panel | High speed alert | Telescopic Front Suspension | |
Front disc brakes | Disc brakes | 3-step rear adjustable suspension | |
Chrome Muffler Cover | Split grab rail | Split grab rail |
In this comparison to the Ntorq gets the most advanced set of features and information clusters. The Honda Grazia also offers a full digital cluster but does not get as many connectivity options as the Ntorq. The Access continues to offer a similar-looking speedometer with additional features.
Features
USB Charging port
Front Pocket
One Push Central Locking
Suzuki Easy start system
Multi-function digital meter
Eco assist illumination
The Grazia comes with bold colors and turns out to be reasonably aggressive in looks. The scooter looks more like a facelifted Dio and that’s not a bad thing. The LED headlight is designed with sharp edges in order to give it a sporty stance. Like the Ntorq, the Grazia also features a fully digital instrument cluster with an rpm gauge. Honda Grazia is the only scooter to offer rpm gauge. In comparison to the Access, the Grazia offers modern features and looks. It is the only scooter in this range to offer a rev meter as well. If you are willing to spend more, then Grazia is certainly a better option.
The Ntorq seems to offer quite a bang for the buck in this comparison. It comes with the most contemporary styling and modern features. The Ntorq is also priced quite attractively and is aimed at the younger generation riders. In comparison, the Access 125 takes us to old days with its retro appeal. The Access 125 comes fitted with a simple digi-analog unit which is no match for Ntorqs Bluetooth enabled cluster. Hence, if you want a more advanced scooter then Ntorq should be your choice.
Suzuki had launched the Access 13 years ago in India. That time it was a scooter ahead of its time. But with the new launches heating up the competition, the Access starts to look a bit aged. It does not offer a full digital cluster like its rivals or smartphone connectivity options. What it offers is a strong engine with best in class ride quality. It is a scooter that has been around in the market for quite some time and hence a tried and tested product. If reliability and ride quality is what you are looking for then Access is the scooter for you.