Rummage between the couch cushions or dip into the piggy bank for some spare change, Honda’s low-cost Navi joins the collection of miniMOTOs for another year. Part scooter, part motorcycle, the Navi is made for budget-minded riders seeking easy and affordable transportation.
The idea with the Navi is that it’s designed to make motorcycling available to everyone, as such, a simple-to-use engine is par for the course. The carbureted, fan-cooled 109cc single-cylinder does not require shifting thanks to the V-matic automatic transmission. There’s no clutch lever, shift lever, or even neutral, which makes it as easy to operate as a twist-and-go scooter. In scooter fashion, the engine is mounted toward the rear, which makes room for a lockable storage compartment in front.
Not only is the Navi economical in price ($1,807), but it is also fuel efficient with a claimed 110 mpg. Many trips to and from campus, the store, or a friend’s house can be made before refilling the 0.9-gallon tank with petrol.
It won’t require much to slow down the light 234-pound moto-scooter, so a pair of 130mm drum brakes manage (plus, these help keep MSRP low). On the left of the handlebar is a parking brake lever to help keep the bike from rolling when parked. A 30-inch seat height inspires confidence when it’s time to put feet down.
With its light curb weight, tiny 12- and 10-inch wheels, and short 50.6-inch wheelbase the Navi will maneuver around town and in packed parking lots with ease. It uses a 26.8mm telescopic fork and left-side-mounted shock to keep the ride composed.
MSRP and color choices are the same as when it first launched in 2022, a measly $1,807 for the bike in Red, Grasshopper Green, Nut Brown, or Ranger Green.