Honda’s PCX125 and the Yamaha NMAX 125 are perennially Britain’s best-selling powered two wheelers. The twist and go automatic scooters almost always top the sales charts, shifting more units than giants like the BMW R 1300 GS adventure bike and Honda’s popular CB125F, which is usually the biggest selling geared motorcycle in the UK.
With a broad appeal which makes them popular with everyone from delivery drivers through to commuters, it’s no wonder these well priced scoots are so successful. And with both Honda and Yamaha making updates for 2025, there are even more reasons to make a resolution to get on two-wheels this year.
Both manufacturers have taken a similar approach when it comes to the 2025 versions of their most popular scoots. Faced with a need to update to meet the latest Euro5+ emissions laws, they’ve taken the opportunity to make a few upgrades while delivering an upspecced version to go alongside the base model.
In Honda’s case, the engine upgrades required to meet the tighter emissions are minimal, with new ECU settings, a relocated catalytic converter and an additional oxygen sensor being the mechanical differences between the 2025 PCX125 and the previous version, which was first introduced in 2021.
And as there was very little wrong with that 2021 model, this year’s edition gets minor upgrades. The new bodywork and headlight design is a bit sharper, you get more colour options and the handlebars are now faired in with plastic finishers. Personally we’re not totally convinced by that last one because, although they look more premium, we’re going to miss the ease with which the old exposed handlebars made it possible to fit a smartphone mount.
That said, there’s less need to use a phone mount with the DX version, which is available alongside the base model. This more premium version features a TFT dashboard with smartphone integration and turn-by-turn navigation. Both DX and standard variants benefit from a modified braking set up, with the weedy old rear drum brake upgraded to a more modern disc design. This should be a welcome modification, addressing one of the few weak points of the otherwise excellent PCX125. The rear suspension has also been upgraded too, with the DX featuring remotely mounted reservoirs on the shock absorbers for a more comfortable ride.
Yamaha has taken a similar approach with its 2025 NMAX, reducing the cost of the standard model while offering a more upmarket ‘Tech MAX’ variant. It would appear Yamaha was using the same market research as their long time rivals, with the main difference between the Tech MAX and standard being the dashboard, which features a 4.2” TFT screen below a 3.7” LCD. The LCD displays the speed and fuel gauge, while the TFT hooks up to a Garmin sat-nav system. The posher Tech MAX also gets some fancier colours (the base model comes in either white, red, blue or grey and the Tech MAX gives the option of Ceramic Grey or Dark Magma) and gets a leather effect seat, while all models get redesigned bodywork, new dual projector headlights and some small tweaks to the engine to meet Euro5+. We’ve already reviewed the standard version, which is in dealerships now, but you’ll have to wait a few months before the Tech MAX goes on sale.
Which is better, the Honda PCX125 or Yamaha NMAX? We’ll need to wait a few months before we can ride them back-to-back to find out, but when we’ve compared them in the past we’ve found them to be very, very similar in terms of their performance and all-round capability – and we expect the latest models to be even closer.
Away from the best selling NMAX and PCX, there remains plenty of choice for buyers of 125cc scooters in 2025. The rise in popularity in cheap Chinese scooters a few years back has seen the established manufacturers hit back with some entry level models of their own.
We’ve reviewed Suzuki’s 125cc range a few years ago. More basic (but less expensive) than the PCX and NMAX, the Address, Avenis and Burgman DX all share the same platform but with different styling, while we were also impressed by Yamaha’s RayZR when we tested it last year. Like Suzuki’s trio of scoots, the RayZR is built in India and, although simple, it brings brand name motorcycling to those looking for some inexpensive transport.
The Chinese brands too continue to develop year-upon-year. Lexmoto is the most recognisable name here in the UK, and they’re able to offer good levels of parts support and a wide dealer network.
At the other end of the scale, iconic Italian brand Vespa continues to combine fashion with practical commuter sensibilities. Their range has been updated for 2025, with the classic GTS125 blending 1960s chic with modern day engineering.
