The Honda Navi is perhaps the most fun to ride scooter there is in the Indian market. The ergonomics of a bike with the heart of a scooter is like a dream for many commuters and the Navi does just that. It is smaller compared to other bikes but it has the traditional bi...
The Honda Navi is perhaps the most fun to ride scooter there is in the Indian market.
The ergonomics of a bike with the heart of a scooter is like a dream for many commuters and the Navi does just that. It is smaller compared to other bikes but it has the traditional bike structure with the CVT engine of a modern scooter. It looks funky and grabs attention wherever you go. Also it is based on the existing Activa 3G frame and with a plastic body and weighs around 100 kgs in kerb weight.
The 110 cc automatic HET engine is as refined as any Honda engine should be and delivers a very linear power. The power is enough for city traffic and the torque is pretty decent. You get a good pickup too. The initial throttle response is well tuned to give the rider enough power without intimidating him. The exhaust note too is pretty good for a scooter.
The handling is top-notch compared to any other scooters. You can take corners very well and it is very nimble in city traffic. It is light at around 108 kgs wet weight and is very flickable.
The front wheel is 12 inch and the rear wheel is 10 inch and both are MRF Nylogrip Zappers. They provide good grip and stability in all basic conditions. The rear wheel could have been 12 inch too to provide better stability.
The brakes are good with 130 mm drum brakes both on the front and on the rear. They offer good stopping power considering the hardware. The 2019 model is launches with CBS though which is a nice addition.
The instrument console is a basic analog unit with a speedometer and odometer. The headlights are not LED but they offer decent visibility at night.
The switchgear quality is really good. No cost cutting has been done here. It has same switch gear as more pricier Honda bikes like the Shine SP or the Hornet. The rear view mirrors are good and offer good visibility.
The storage under the tank is a nice addition as it is enough to store documents and often groceries and stuff. Very thoughtful of Honda.
The first major con is the fuel tank. It is just 3.8 lts in the BS-III version and it doesn't have a fuel meter. The reserve is 0.8 lts out of the total. Even though you get a decent mileage of around 38-44 kmpl, you still need to keep track of your fuel so that you don't end up pushing it down the road. The fuel tank size is understandable given the compact size of the scooter but the model needed a fuel meter which is now included in the BS-IV model.
The only other fault is the comfort. You can feel vibrations from potholes on the handlebars and from the rear shockers as well. They can handle regular road undulations with ease but a little deeper pothole poses challenges for them. Also it gets cramped if you have a healthier pillion on board. The seat size could have been longer to provide better comfort.
I have been riding this scooter for a little over 2 years now. I use it almost regularly except the rainy season for office commute and it registers an approx of 50 kms each day. The odometer now reads around 15000 kms and there has not been any major issue except the shockers. The comfort from the shockers are not up to the mark. But the engine is top-notch. A very refined and smooth engine with a linear power delivery with good thrust when needed. Also with an average mileage of 40-42 kmpl, it is a pretty decent city commuter with the ease of riding.
I will recommend it to any person who is not a huge fanatic of big bikes and needs a two-wheeler to commute. This bike is a fun ride. Also, many of my friends who own bigger geared bikes have taken a ride on this and said that it's a really fun machine. Some of them have also considered using a Navi for local use. Go for it. You won't regret. Just don't compare it with a KTM. Take it for what it is and enjoy.
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