There are tons of questions regarding scooter rental in Chiang Mai. But, mostly, people want to know which bike comes out on top between our most popular models: Honda’s Click 125i and Yamaha’s GT125. These scooters rule the 125cc roost and are, arguably, the best all-rounders on offer.

Power

Okay, no one is pretending either the Click 125i or GT125 are high-performance motorcycles. But, when you’re riding around Chiang Mai or the neighbouring areas, you still don’t want to be left behind at the lights. Thankfully, on these bikes, you won’t be.

Honda’s Click pumps out 11.1 horsepower and 8.2 lb.-ft of torque making it a surprisingly peppy machine. But the key to this bike’s agility is how it delivers its power.

There’s a very noticeable surge when you take off initially. This lump of torque propels you to around 30 km/h before things calm down. Which is impressive when you consider the Click is 106 kg (dry).

Honda Click 125i

The Yamaha GT’s 125cc engine is comparatively down on power, producing 9.39 horsepower and 7.1 lb.-ft of torque. But, since it comes in at just 96 kg (dry), both bikes have almost the same power to weight ratio. The GT doesn’t have the same lump of power at low speeds like the Click, but it still offers brisk responsive acceleration even above 30 km/h.

The Honda’s extra horsepower means it’ll top out at around 110 km/h, while the GT will be out of puff at 100 km/h. This isn’t a huge difference but worth noting.

Practicality

Scooters are, for all intents and purposes, about practicality; here is where the Click starts to show its dominance.

The Click 125i got a major update for 2015. One of the biggest improvements came in the form of its powerful LED front beams. This is a stand-out feature, as scooters in this class aren’t known for having high-quality headlights.

Fuel economy is fantastic on both models. While there are no official numbers for the GT125, this writer suspects they’re not too far either side of 42 km/l. Again, Honda hasn’t released km/l figures for the Click but online sources have reported up to 59 km/l.

Yamaha GT125

For 2017 Yamaha upgraded the GT 125’s fuel capacity to an impressive 4.2 litres, but the Honda trumps this figure with its 5.5-litre tank. The Click’s fuel efficiency and larger tank make it a clear winner for long distance riding.

In terms of under seat storage, the Click just edges the GT, although both scooters have enough space to hold a regular helmet.

Handling

Lots of factors come into play when determining how a bike will handle. But a very basic formula is that longer bikes feel more stable around corners and shorter ones are more agile.

The Click’s 50.4-inch wheelbase and 106 kg weight make it longer and heavier than most of its rivals. This results in a sure-footed and planted machine, even when things get twisty.

A front disc and rear drum brake do more than enough to bring the Honda to a standstill. But, with that said, it would be nice to have some more stopping force from the rear brake.

The GT is both shorter and lighter than its rival, having a 49.6-inch wheelbase and weighing in at 96 kg. Ultimately, it just doesn’t feel as planted as the Click around faster bends, although it still does a more than adequate job. When it comes to rush hour traffic, on the other hand, the GT comes alive and is fantastically agile.

Honda Click 125i

Like the Click, the GT has a front disc and rear drum brake but its brakes offer more bite and bring everything to a halt that bit quicker. There’s also a parking lock feature on both bikes, meaning there’s no need to worry when leaving them on an incline.

Styling

Just because these are small capacity bikes, it doesn’t mean they can’t wow you with their looks. Both Honda and Yamaha’s design teams put a lot of time into styling these machines, and it shows.

When Honda updated the Click 125i in 2015 they gave it a fresh, angular, and somewhat aggressive look. The long rows of LED lights do more than just illuminate the road, they make this bike stand out from the crowd. The instrument setup too got a much-needed change and now features an LCD screen which well and truly brings the Click into the 21^st century.

The Yamaha GT125 is about as modern-looking as 125cc scooters come. Its angular front light cluster gives it a ‘ready for action’ look. Some people have likened its appearance to something out of a Transformers movie, but it has stolen the hearts of many riders. Even from a distance, there is no mistaking this bike for another model.

Honda Click 125i versus Yamaha GT125

Scooter Rental Chiang Mai: Our Verdict

Honda’s Click edges Yamaha’s GT in a few departments, making it the more complete all-rounder. But, ultimately, there’s not much separating these bikes and the one that’s right for you will depend on what you hope to get from your stay in Chiang Mai.

Contact Mango Bikes today for more information about our current stock levels.