Kolli Hills. A name that evokes excitement, caution, and awe all at once. Known for its treacherous 70 continuous hairpin bends, this Tamil Nadu mountain range is both a motorcyclist’s dream and nightmare. It’s not just a road, it’s a trial. A trial that tests your brakes, your throttle control, your agility, and your patience. And that’s exactly where I took the newly updated 2025 Honda X-ADV, the SUV-scooter hybrid that dares to tread where others hesitate. In the crisp morning air, I thumbed the ignition, listened to the faint thump of its parallel-twin engine, and pointed the sharp-nosed front of the X-ADV toward the serpentine ascent. With fog clinging to the trees and monkeys watching from the cliffs, I discovered just how different this “scooter” really is.
More striking front, bright special edition
The first time I saw the 2025 X-ADV parked under the morning sun at the base of the hills, it didn’t look like any scooter I’d ever ridden. The redesigned dual-LED headlight, steeper and more angular than before, immediately caught my eye. It’s not just an aesthetic upgrade, it slices through darkness with clarity. The integrated DRLs and indicators are not just practical; they give the bike a cybernetic edge. I was riding the Matte Gold Finch Yellow special edition, and let me tell you, it’s not subtle. The black swingarm exclusive to this trim looks menacing. This thing screams futuristic and urban, and yet, somehow looks perfectly at home on a gravel-strewn hairpin halfway up the mountainside. Honda wasn’t kidding with the “cyberpunk-like look.” It gets stares, it gets questions. And when you’re ducking through jungle turns and flashing past tiny hillside villages, it stands out like a mechanical cheetah.
Four colors for the 2025 model year
While the Matte Gold Finch Yellow grabbed all the attention on this trip, it’s not your only option. The 2025 X-ADV comes in four color variants:
- Graphite Black for those who love stealth mode.
- Matte Deep Mud Gray, giving off rugged vibes.
- Pearl Glare White, clean and sharp.
- And of course, the special edition Matte Gold Finch Yellow, with that delicious contrast black swingarm and exclusive graphic elements.
Riding through the lush green corridors of Kolli, the golden hue of my ride glinted like a blade, making me feel like I was piloting something between a Dakar rally bike and a sci-fi commuter.
2025 model comes standard with cruise control
Ah, cruise control, finally. On the long straights before the ascent, this feature was a godsend. Engaging it with the redesigned switchgear was a breeze. You feel it kick in with a gentle pulse, and then the bike just hums along without demanding your wrist’s constant attention. It’s particularly handy when you’re recovering from a technical section and want to relax your arms a bit, or when you’re navigating the flatter stretches of mountain terrain. With the better-padded seat, still set at 820 mm, and the now one-handed adjustable windshield, the X-ADV’s touring capability has taken a definite step forward. The ergonomics just feel… dialed in. Long stints are less tiring, and that TFT dash? It’s no longer a mess of circles but clean bars, more intuitive, especially while in motion.
DCT more sensitive at walking pace
This, right here, is what sets the 2025 model apart: the refined DCT (Dual-Clutch Transmission). In the village of Solakkadu, where people, livestock, and parked trucks all fight for narrow roads, the walking-pace sensitivity was a miracle. Feathering the throttle through low-speed chaos, I could feel the smoothness, the clunky hesitation of earlier versions is gone. U-turns on gravel? No jerks. Hairpin crawls at 5 km/h while dodging tuk-tuks? No problem. The transmission now reads your inputs like it’s listening with empathy. Couple that with the three-stage HSTC (Honda Selectable Torque Control), and I felt supremely confident even on patches where moss and water threatened grip. Flick it to Gravel mode, and the X-ADV lets the rear dance just enough before stepping in.
More sustainable materials
Here’s something I didn’t feel, but I definitely appreciate, Honda’s serious sustainability push. Parts of the fairing, seat base, and even the under-seat tray are now made with biomass-derived plastics and recycled materials. It’s cool to think that something as rugged and aggressive as this ride is also kinder to the planet. Even in the secluded ecosystems of Kolli Hills, you realize how much this matters. The chirping birds, the damp scent of wild ginger, the silence you don’t want to pollute, all of it makes you respect Honda’s shift towards eco-conscious design.
Prizes will probably be awarded at EICMA 2024
Let’s not beat around the bend, this thing is award material. Honda’s best-selling adventure scooter in Europe isn’t just a fluke. With over 76,000 units sold, and a place in the top five adventure bikes, the X-ADV is earning respect in a segment it practically invented. It’s likely to walk away with something shiny at EICMA 2024, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that Gold Finch Yellow special edition takes center stage at the Honda pavilion.
Conclusion
The 2025 Honda X-ADV isn’t just a niche experiment anymore, it’s a full-blown adventure machine that blurs the line between scooter and motorcycle, city and mountain, form and function. Climbing Kolli Hills with it wasn’t just a ride; it was a revelation. It climbed like a mountain goat, maneuvered like a jungle cat, and when the road straightened out, cruised like a luxury SUV. It’s a machine made for the modern adventurer, someone who wants daily comfort, weekend thrill, and eco-conscious innovation in a single aggressive package. Would I ride it again up those 70 bends? In a heartbeat. Would I take it through Chennai traffic the next day? With a smile. And that’s what makes the X-ADV so unique, a paradox that works. Honda has done more than upgrade a model here. They’ve refined a category.