Hero MotoCorp has some scooters in its portfolio but they didn't have any produce in the 125cc segment. The company introduced the Destini 125 and with the recent launch in Delhi, they had organized a test ride of the scooter too. We rode the Destini and were really surprised by how practical it is. Right from the heart of Delhi, a 125cc scooter is now out and ready to face the competition.
Styling - The Hero Destini 125 looks very similar to the already existing 110cc scooters by Hero MotoCorp. The front has been taken from the Maestro while the rear design has been lifted from the Duet. The Destini 125 can be availed in two variants – LX and VX. The VX variant gets all the jazz with body coloured mirrors, cast alloy wheels, chrome bits at the front and rear and a dual-tone seat as well. The LX misses out on all these and looks more like a raw scooter as it gets steel rims. There are no LEDs on offer and all the bulbs are halogens. Also, the overall design looks very neat and the body clues go with a flow.
Instrument Cluster and Switchgear - The simplicity in design is carried over to the instrument cluster and switchgear. The instrument cluster looks similar to the one on the Maestro as it has both analogue and digital units. The analogue unit consists of the speedometer while odometer, trip meter, fuel gauge and service reminder are included in the digital LCD. The tell-tale lights are big and include a side stand indicator and turn indicators. On the right-hand side, the i3S switch is placed with the starter button and the left-hand side has the horn, turn indicator switch and high beam switch with integrated pass light.
Ergonomics - Just like the design, the ergonomics too come from the other Hero scooters. At 775 mm of seat height, the scooter is quite comfortable and there is a good amount of room at the footboard too. The seating posture is upright while the handlebars aren’t too wide. However, with a jacket, you will not see anything behind as the mirrors aren't kept wide either. The pillion also sits in a very comfortable manner but the cushioning of the seat is slightly hard. The footpegs for the pillion are also slightly wide as the body design goes. And to match it the grab rail design is quite convenient and good to hold.
Performance - The Hero Destini gets a 124.6cc engine which produces 8.7 BHP of power and 10.2 Nm of torque. All this power comes in the mid-range and hence it does not have a great low-end or top-end. However, the throttle response between 30-60 km/hr is very good and can handle city duties very nicely. The Destini has a top speed of 90 km/hr but it rides the best at 55 km/hr. It is the first scooter to get the i3S technology due to which Hero claims an increase in fuel efficiency by 10%. This tech only comes in handy in stop-go traffic. After 3 seconds of idle time, the engine shuts and can be turned back on by just holding the brake and twisting the throttle. This system is also very smart as it won’t work on the first start-up of the day and when the battery goes down to a certain level. The 125cc motor feels very refined as compared to order Hero engines and scooter is quite silent too.
Riding Dynamics - The riding dynamics of the Hero Destini 125 are spot on. The scooter is very easy to ride and flickable in traffic conditions. The suspension setup is good as the telescopic forks work just right while the rear suspension sometimes has a bounce-back effect on worse roads. The handling is feedback rich and the scooter has good straight-line stability while it can corner nicely too. The tyres are just fine as you can select an option from MRF or CEAT or TVS tyres. These are the 90 section tyres mated on 10-inch rims making them very easy to procure. The 130 mm drum brakes have a standard combi-braking system ensuring great braking feedback. There is no disc on offer even in the top variant but the scooter stops when needed.
Verdict - The Destini 125 is the first scooter by Hero MotoCorp in the 125cc segment. It is actually the latest competitor in the category. While it is available in two variants, the Destini is priced very attractively. It has great performance, decent comfort and feedback-rich dynamics and yet it undercuts all the 125cc scooters. The Hero Destini 125 isn’t loaded with many features and misses out on what the competition offers but it is a very raw scooter made for the tier-2 and tier-3 cities where Hero excels. This makes the Destini 125 the cheapest upgrade option from the 110cc scooter category.
