The Gladiator Stylish and Sporty 125
(SS in short) was a revamp for the earlier Gladiator model, which entered the
125 cc segment to cater the void left by the RX 100, 135 series when there
wasn’t much aesthetic appeal needed for commuter bikes, and mileage was king. Sporty
when the mood is right, calm and peaceful when you just want to commute, this
bike was one of a kind in the 125 cc segment. It’s a shame this bike was
discontinued due to perceptions that carried over with the YBX, which was
considered a failure model. Despite many
auto magazines giving thumbs up to this sporty 125 cc of a commuter and many satisfied
owners including me, it failed to attract new buyers due to the arrival of
Honda’s own 125 cc commuter, the CB Shine which became an instant success when
launched.
I bought this motorcycle back in
January 2010, after much pondering. FZ? Unicorn? Pulsar? All those were very
accomplished motorcycles with great track records but also needed deeper
pockets. I was looking for a good looking sporty motorcycle in my budget range for
my daily commute to college and to hone my skills as a rider. The Gladiator
just about seemed to check all those boxes after I rode one of my friends’
SS125, from college to back home, many times. So, after much convincing and
pestering later, my dad bought me this shiny new Gladiator SS 125, which looked every bit stylish as a ramp-walk model! The joy of riding your shiny new bike to college, back home
and to various other road trips was nothing short of exhilarating!
Looks, features and
design
The SS 125 is a visually pleasing
motorcycle. The sculpted tank with extensions, the side cowls and the engine
fairing cover with the impressive decals make it an attention grabber. The
boomerang-shaped tail lights with integrated clear lens
indicators is a welcome change from the amber color indicators of the earlier
version. The grab handles also blend well with the design. The instrument
console has an analog speedo, tacho, fuel indicator, and odometer. The all black
windshield has an air vent; the number plate sits on top of the headlamp on the
windshield. Though many won’t appreciate the design, it doesn’t feel awkward.
The flat handlebar position allows for a relaxed commuter and highway
cruising. Some of the features were much ahead of its time and not available in
any bikes in the 125 cc class like the engine kill switch, the all aluminum foot
pegs, sporty brake pedal, 5 - spoke alloy wheels, black finish for engine,
and toe only gear shift. The stylish exhaust with its machine gun inspired end
piece looks simply beautiful. I personally like the rear three-quarter view
of the bike, which makes it look mean and smart.
The controls are also placed in an
easily accessible way, fit and finish of switchgear is top notch in this
segment. Add to it the red and silver combination of colors, the sleek look of
the bike with all the curves at right places making it one of the smartest looking
125cc motorcycle in its class and can put bigger 150cc bikes to shame.
Engine and performance
The heart of the SS 125 is a 123.7cc
4 stroke single-cylinder air-cooled engine that produces a peak power of 11 PS at
7500 rpm and 10.4 Nm max torque at 6500 rpm. This engine is coupled to a silky smooth five-speed manual gearbox and the power is transmitted to its rear wheel
via chain drive. This gem of an engine is one of the most refined, vibe free in
the segment. The engine loves to be revved and has a sporty top end grunt that
makes people sit up and take notice. But due to its small capacity, it isn’t suited
for aggressive riding. The short gear ratios make it feel like a performance
motorcycle but it feels short footed when riding on highways as it makes your
left toe to go up more often for that extra gear. The motorcycle can also be
moved from the second gear if given the right amount of twist of the throttle,
without any protest from the engine.
Ride and handling
The SS 125 is a nimble motorcycle and
city riding is where it shines. The compact dimensions combined with a light
weight of 125 kgs and the short gearing make it a quick motorcycle to navigate
tight spots with ease. The tall stance gives a better view of the way ahead
even in traffic snarls. The handling improves vastly when riding on hills. Throw
her a set of winding roads and the fun begins; tackling corners is done
effortlessly. The seats are very comfy and make long distance riding fatigue
free. The suspension setup is slightly stiff and aids in the dynamic
characteristics well. Braking is taken care by a 240mm disc brake at the front
and 130mm drum brakes at the rear with sufficient bite to bring it to a stop
without any fuss. The skinny MRF Zappers take away the fun and handling are
grossly affected at speeds more than 60kmph. An alternative is to go for wider
tyres with bigger buttons to get better grip and handling but fuel economy will
take a hit. A gamble worth taking to exploit the bike’s full potential.
The maintenance cost of the
motorcycle is reasonable, except for some plastic parts which are absurdly
expensive (the side parts, cowl, windshield assembly) to replace. Overall this
is a very dependable motorcycle, oozing style, still looking fresh after 7
years (and counting) amongst newer competitions.
