.jpg?w=480&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max)
- News
- Cars
- Bikes
- Features
- Motorsport
- Tuned
- GBNF
- Tried and Tested
- Tech
- Magazine
- About UsAbout Us
A market for larger scooters is opening up in India. More and more manufacturers are finding sense in the 125cc space and are positioning these scooters as ‘premium’ offerings rather than simple commuters. There is also a case for larger scooters, but more on that later. Aside from that, neo-retro seems to be the ‘in’ theme right now—case in point, the 2024 Hero Destini 125. Hero MotoCorp has given it a significant facelift for the current model year, with changes spanning from aesthetic to functional. But has the company done enough to make the Destini 125 a relevant choice in the 125cc space, dominated by veterans like Honda, Suzuki, and TVS?
Neo-retro scooters aren’t new; we’ve had models like the Vespa and the Yamaha Fascino. But with the ongoing trend in motorcycles, I foresee more of that happening in scooters as well. A good example of that is the Destini 125. This is the first major visual overhaul the scooter has undergone since its launch in 2018, with a design approach that blends modern and vintage quite well. There’s a new headlight with an H-shaped DRL that sits above a projector LED lamp (standard across variants). The indicators are placed below on the apron, where you will also notice the chrome trim. The top-end ZX+ variant, which I spent the day riding in Goa, gets a bronze treatment to all the chrome garnishing. This looks good on both colourways of the + variant, but I’m not too fond of the brown plastic used around the instrument cluster, inner apron, and floorboard of the scooter. The seat on the Destini 125 is now much longer at 780mm and sits 770mm off the ground, where the rider will be seated.
The rear section has been completely redesigned as well, with a new H-shaped motif on the tail lamp and the indicators placed on top in their own compartment. This is another design element that I’m not sold on. However, design is subjective, and you might like it.
The Destini 125 is available in three variants: VX with no chrome accents and solid colours, ZX with chrome accents and more metallic colours, and ZX+ with bronze chrome accents.
The Hero Destini has undergone some major TLC in the chassis department as well, with the major change being the use of 12-inch wheels at both ends, replacing the 10-inchers on the outgoing model. The rear wheel also wears a wider 100-section tyre, while the front is a 90/90 section tyre. Additionally, Hero has increased the wheelbase by 57mm to improve the stability of the scooter—a byproduct of which is the longer seat. To compensate for the increase in wheelbase, the rake angle has been made slightly sharper. This ensures that the extra stability does not come at the cost of agility, and upon riding the scooter, it certainly feels that way. No, I’m not going to recommend that you get this over the TVS Ntorq 125 if a sporty scooter is what you’re after. But you can comfortably weave through traffic and avoid obstacles with the more responsive front end. And should you happen to go into one of the potholes you tried to avoid, the Destini 125 handles that much better, courtesy of the larger 12-inch wheels and retuned suspension. The rear is also preload adjustable, ensuring that you can enjoy the robust ride quality, even when riding two-up.
The seat is comfortable, and combined with the taller handlebars, it meant that the handlebar never got in the way of my knees. At five foot ten inches, this is usually a problem on most scooters, mitigated only by sitting further back and sacrificing pillion space. That is a non-issue here, and the longer seat also means that there is much more space for both rider and pillion to enjoy. Braking on the ZX and ZX+ variants is provided by a 190mm disc at the front and a drum at the rear, with Hero’s IBS combi-brake system. The IBS also introduces a lean sensor that can detect when the scooter has fallen, immediately cutting the ignition. Braking performance is solid, but the levers are quite tight, and you need a fair bit of effort before you can harness the stopping power.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. To that end, the powertrain on the Destini 125 remains largely unchanged. You still have the same engine, producing 9bhp of power at 7,000rpm and 10.4Nm of torque at 5,500rpm. Performance is familiar and as you would expect from a 125cc scooter. Acceleration is brisk until about 55-60kmph, and there is good roll-on ability between 20-60kmph. Refinement levels are solid, and everything works as it should. The i3S system works as advertised, and Hero claims to have improved the kickstarter for easier operation. Hero also claims that fuel efficiency is now class-leading, with a figure of 59kmpl. This is something we can only verify with a proper road test.
The Hero Destini 125 gets all the connected features you’ve come to expect from scooters in this class today. Turn-by-turn navigation, phone pairing, notifications, and more are accessed via a new negatively lit LCD screen. The switchgear placement is much better than on most scooters, with buttons like high beam and pass accessible without needing to have practised yoga for a decade. The LED projector is another interesting feature that I want to properly test in appropriate conditions.
In terms of purchasing this scooter, prices haven’t been revealed yet, but it’s fair to presume a ₹2,000-₹3,000 increase over the current model, which is similarly specced. If that’s the case, I feel that Hero MotoCorp has done a good job of revamping the Destini 125 without changing its core values. It still feels like a premium commuter scooter, accommodating everyone in the family, but now wears fresh neo-retro clothes. The styling is fairly inoffensive and not too bold, which should help it appeal to a wide range of riders. So, if all these things are what you’re looking for, the Hero Destini 125 is a solid contender in the 125cc premium scooter space. But it wouldn’t hurt to do a comparison test, right?
