2027 Honda ADV125 Preview

The X-ADV’s little brother, about $5,100 in the UK

Summary: Honda’s all-new 2027 ADV125 shrinks the X-ADV and ADV350 adventure scooter formula to 125cc for A1 license riders. It uses the PCX125’s liquid-cooled eSP+ single, adds long-travel Showa suspension, 6.5 inches of ground clearance, block-pattern tires, a 5-inch TFT with RoadSync and traction control. UK price: £3,799 (about $5,100).

We’re in Milan for EICMA, and while the big stuff like the new 2027 Honda Africa Twin grabbed the spotlight in Honda’s Hall 7 booth, one of the more clever reveals was also the smallest. Meet the 2027 Honda ADV125, the newest and most affordable member of Honda’s “City Adventure” scooter family.

Honda invented the category back in 2017 with the X-ADV, a scooter dressed up like an adventure bike. It then followed up with the ADV350 in Europe. Now the formula drops down to 125cc, which in Europe means riders holding an A1 license can get in on the action. Honda’s development concept for it is “Beyond Boundaries – An Exclusive Urban Explorer.” We’d call it a scooter that isn’t scared of potholes, but that’s why Honda has a marketing department and we don’t.

Adventure Scooter Style, 125cc Size

Visually, the ADV125 looks like someone shrunk an X-ADV in the wash. Sharp bodywork, strong horizontal lines and a tall, SUV-like stance. But Honda says the attitude isn’t just for show. The ADV125 gets long-travel suspension, 6.5 inches (165mm) of ground clearance and block-pattern tubeless tires that Honda says are chosen to handle broken city pavement as well as the occasional unpaved road.

Seat height is an accessible 30.7 inches (780mm), and Honda says the seat is narrow to make it easier to get your feet down. The windscreen adjusts between two positions through 3.0 inches (75mm) of travel using Honda’s slide-lock mechanism. Down low for airflow around town, up high for weather protection on longer rides.

Honda is building the ADV125 at its Atessa factory in Italy, according to Honda’s EICMA release, which is a nice touch considering we’re standing in the country that basically wrote the book on scooters.

PCX125 Engine with Traction Control

Power comes from the same proven liquid-cooled, SOHC, four-valve eSP+ (enhanced Smart Power Plus) single used in the PCX125. Displacement is 125cc (7.6 cu. in.), with a 53.5 x 55.5mm bore and stroke and 11.5:1 compression. Honda claims 9.2 kW (12.5 PS), which works out to 12.3 hp, at 8,750 rpm, plus 8.6 lb-ft (11.7 Nm) of torque at 6,500 rpm. Fuel is fed through PGM-FI fuel injection with a 28mm throttle body, and power goes to the rear wheel through a V-belt CVT with a dry automatic centrifugal clutch.

Honda says the ADV125 will cruise happily around 56 mph (90 km/h) with a top speed of 60 mph (97 km/h). So no, it’s not a freeway bike. But that’s not the point.

The real headline is efficiency. Honda claims 47.6 km/L (2.1L/100km) on the WMTC cycle, which works out to about 112 mpg. With a 2.1-gallon (8.1L) tank, Honda quotes a range of about 239 miles (385km) between fill-ups. That’s a lot of commuting for the price of a fancy coffee in Milan.

Honda’s eSP+ engine tech includes an offset cylinder, a “spiny” cast-iron sleeve to reduce friction, piston oil jets (yes, like the CRF450R motocrosser), a hydraulic cam chain tensioner, and a brushless ACG starter that doubles as the alternator for quiet starts. Idling Stop shuts the engine off after three seconds at a standstill with the brakes on, then restarts instantly when you twist the throttle.

Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) is standard. It manages rear-wheel traction to limit wheelspin, flashes a “T” on the dash when it’s working, and can be switched off entirely if you want to make some noise in a gravel parking lot.

Showa Suspension and Wavy Discs

Honda’s release describes a duplex steel cradle frame built for everyday durability and rough-road use. Suspension is by Showa, with a 1.2-inch (31mm) telescopic fork offering 4.6 inches (116mm) of travel and twin rear shocks with external reservoirs offering 4.1 inches (103mm) of travel. Rake is 26.5 degrees with 3.3 inches (85mm) of trail, and the wheelbase measures 52.1 inches (1,324mm).

The ADV125 rolls on cast wheels, 14 inches up front and 13 inches out back, wearing Pirelli Tourance block-pattern tires in 110/80-14 and 130/70-13 sizes. Braking comes from a 9.4-inch (240mm) front wavy disc squeezed by a Nissin two-piston caliper, and an 8.7-inch (220mm) rear wavy disc with a single-piston Nissin caliper. Honda says the wavy design cuts unsprung weight and helps clear dirt and water off the pads. ABS is a single-channel system, and Emergency Stop Signal flashes the turn signals under hard braking to warn the driver behind you who’s probably texting.

Claimed curb weight is 293 pounds (133 kg) with a full tank of fuel. Turning radius is just 6.6 feet (2.0 meters), which is handy when the parking garage was clearly designed for Fiat 500s.

TFT, RoadSync and Real Storage

Here’s where the ADV125 punches above its class. It gets a full-color 5-inch TFT display with Honda RoadSync smartphone connectivity for navigation, music, messaging and more. There’s a USB Type-C charging socket, full LED lighting, and Honda SMART Key for keyless operation of the ignition, seat and fuel filler. The key also adds anti-theft and answer-back functions, so you can find your scooter in a sea of other scooters.

Storage is generous for a 125. The 29-liter under-seat compartment fits a full-face helmet, and a 2-liter front glovebox holds the small stuff, for 31 liters total. A center stand is standard.

Genuine Honda Accessories include heated grips, a security buzzer, a body cover, and a rear carrier with a 40-liter Smart Top Box that unlocks with the SMART Key system.

Colors, Price and U.S. Outlook

The 2027 ADV125 comes in four new colors: Pearl Falcon Gray, Pearl Cool White, Mat Cynos Gray Metallic and Mat Pearl Diaspro Red. Honda UK lists the ADV125 at £3,799, which converts to about $5,100 (at £1 = $1.34).

For U.S. riders, Honda hasn’t announced any plans to bring the ADV125 here. Our closest relative is the 2026 Honda ADV160, which uses a larger 157cc engine and sells for $4,499 plus $600 destination. Interestingly, Honda’s U.S. spec sheet lists the ADV160 at 294 pounds with a full tank, basically the same as the ADV125, and with a 130mm rear drum brake where the European 125 gets a 220mm rear disc. If you’ve ever wanted a reason to be jealous of European commuters, here it is.

Small bikes are having a moment, as our Honda XR150L vs. Yamaha WR125R comparison proved. And the adventure scooter class is heating up fast. Yamaha just revealed its own RW Series at this show, including the 2027 Yamaha RW700. Honda also showed the 2027 Honda CBR500R Four to the public for the first time here in Milan. For more, check out our Honda motorcycle coverage and our 2026 EICMA Preview.

2027 Honda ADV125 Specs

Specs are Honda Motor Europe’s figures from its 27YM ADV125 press kit (Nov. 2, 2026) and Honda UK spec sheet; all are provisional. Imperial conversions are ours.

2027 Honda ADV125 FAQ

What is the Honda ADV125?

It’s Honda’s new entry-level adventure scooter, a 125cc A1 license-friendly model styled after the X-ADV and ADV350, revealed at EICMA 2026.

How much horsepower does the ADV125 make?

Honda claims 9.2 kW (12.5 PS), or about 12.3 hp, at 8,750 rpm and 8.6 lb-ft (11.7 Nm) of torque at 6,500 rpm. Top speed is 60 mph (97 km/h).

What fuel economy does the ADV125 get?

Honda claims 47.6 km/L (2.1L/100km) on the WMTC cycle, or about 112 mpg, for a range of roughly 239 miles (385km) from its 2.1-gallon tank.

How much does the 2027 Honda ADV125 cost?

Honda UK lists it at £3,799, or about $5,100. U.S. pricing and availability haven’t been announced.

Is the ADV125 coming to the U.S.?

Honda hasn’t confirmed it. The U.S. market currently gets the ADV160 at $4,499 plus $600 destination.