Honda Dax 125 ST 2022 — Specifications

Forty years of absence and not a single wrinkle. The Honda Dax 125 ST lands in 2022 as if it had never left the lineup, carried by decades of Chinese copies that unwittingly kept the myth alive. The little dachshund on wheels, born in 1969 in 50 and 70 cc displacements, crosses the 125 cc mark for the first time. And the result is as much a time machine as it is an unabashed toy for grown-ups.

Under the hood, nothing to set off any speed cameras. The air-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke, borrowed from the Grom and MSX, puts out 9.4 horsepower at 7,000 rpm for 12.7 Nm of torque at 5,000 rpm. The Honda Dax 125 ST's spec sheet speaks for itself: we're firmly in the realm of pleasure here, not performance. The four-speed gearbox operates without a manual clutch thanks to an automatic centrifugal system. The left lever disappears, replaced by a foot-shift logic with a quirk that catches the inattentive off guard: neutral sits at the very bottom, not between first and second. Around town, on country lanes, or through campsite paths, this little powerplant is more than up to the task. Top speed caps out at 90 km/h, exactly enough to never feel in danger or bored on back roads.

The pressed-steel frame traces that famous T-shape recognizable from a mile away, a visual signature that nobody has ever managed to replicate with quite the same accuracy. This chassis houses a mere 3.8-liter tank, which looks laughable on paper but proves perfectly consistent given the little single's miserly fuel consumption. At 107 kg wet, it's a featherweight in the motorcycle world, even if hoisting it overhead to load the beast into a van requires a fair bit of determination. On the cycle part side, the 31 mm inverted fork and twin side-mounted shocks set to a soft tune frame 12-inch wheels shod with surprisingly wide tires in 120/70 and 130/70. Braking is handled by two discs, 220 mm up front and 190 mm at the rear, backed by standard ABS. The seat perched at just 775 mm welcomes riders of all sizes without hesitation.

Despite its retro mug, the Honda Dax 125 ST hides thoroughly modern electronics. Full LED lighting with a daytime running signature integrated into the round headlight, a digital display showing speed, fuel gauge, and trip odometer. The high-mounted side exhaust, scrambler-style, honors the tradition of nearly every previous generation. The chrome air filter cover adds a fresh touch of shine, while the vintage logo on the frame sides and the chrome passenger grab bar cultivate nostalgia without tipping into caricature. Against its cousin the Monkey 125, the Dax plays a different card with its more road-friendly ergonomics and stretched-out silhouette.

What's the price of the Honda Dax 125 ST in France? Count on 4,249 euros, a price tag that puts it in direct competition with far more conventional but infinitely less endearing machines. This little rig is aimed neither at track riders nor long-distance tourers, but at anyone looking for a two-wheeler capable of turning every ride into recess. A1 license, B license with a 7-hour training course: the Dax casts a wide net when it comes to its audience. Honda proves once again its unique ability to produce serious touring bikes and downright offbeat machines within the same catalog. The Dax 125 ST firmly belongs to the latter category, and that is precisely what makes it so compelling.