Ryan Nitzen | December 8, 2021
Honda has learned that smaller can indeed be better—enter the new Navi.
Photography by Drew Ruiz and Nitzen
There’s no guaranteed formula for repeating success. Sure, they say history repeats itself and there are certainly things that can increase your odds like hard work, determination, etc. But nothing can truly guarantee success. The team at Honda struck gold with their miniMOTO category, seeing unprecedented results with both the Ruckus and the Grom. Consumers created a complete subculture around these two models that even Honda didn’t see coming. Now the red riders are at it again with their latest iteration, hoping to repeat history and go for the mini moto three-peat.
Honda added the new Navi to its increasingly popular miniMOTO line.
Enter the Honda Navi. It’s truly a mash-up of Honda parts, taking the best features from three different models. From the outside, the cute little two-wheeler looks to be a half-and-half blend of the Ruckus and the Grom. But on the inside, it’s another Honda model that powers their latest miniMOTO endeavor. The 109.2cc gas-powered engine comes from the Honda Activa, an ultra-popular model in the scooter-friendly Asian market. The single-cylinder, carbureted motor is paired up with Honda’s V-Matic automatic transmission. That’s right, no clutch and no shifter. Just get on and go. In theory it’s the styling of a motorcycle with the simplicity of a scooter. Oh, and the best part? The new Navi retails for only $1807. Yes, under $2000! Honda is going for more mini moto mayhem, and we took to the streets of Newport Beach, California, to take our first ride.
Like the rest of the bike, the instrumentation is simple and cool looking.
Like the Rukus, the Navi uses an automatic CVT transmission. No shifting.
We were greeted to a beautiful day with the Honda crew and their fun-sized new bike. We knew this wouldn’t be our typical high-performance road test since the Navi is geared for new riders. Remember, no gears and no clutch. The comfortable cockpit offers a Grom-like riding position with traditional footpegs and handlebars. There’s even passenger pegs and enough room to squeeze your lucky date on the back. Up front, a 0.9-gallon fuel tank gets a claimed 110 mpg while a simple analog speedometer and fuel gauge give traditional readouts. Down below, there’s a convenient storage compartment with room for some groceries, textbooks or a blanket and speaker to hit the beach. The Navi is not approved for freeway riding.
Out on the road, the Navi is everything you’d expect. Its simple design rides on a 12-inch front and a 10-inch rear wheel, slowed down by 130mm drum brakes, and cushioned by a 26.8mm inverted fork and a single monoshock.
Drum brakes all around. Suspension is handled by a single non-adjustable shock.
With the engine out back, the Navi comes standard with this convenient storage compartment.
What it might lack in “performance” it more than makes up for in the fun department. The Navi is perfect for riding around town and offers more power than a scooter but still less than something like a Grom. You can make passes with reasonable confidence and cruise at speeds of 40-50 mph with ease. While there’s no intimidating power at the throttle, the Navi still possesses enough juice to put a big smile on your face. The bike is super nimble and easy to turn and negotiate through traffic. Both the suspension and brakes leave a little to be desired, but they hold up good enough for local around-town speeds. Our crew clocked over 40 miles on the Navi, grinning for the duration of our trip.
You could describe the Navi as cross between Honda’s sporty Grom and Rukus scooter.
The 109.2cc engine pumps out just enough “fun-power.”
Back at the basecamp, Honda already had a few custom bikes on display from So Cal’s Steady Garage and Tennessee’s MNNTHBX (Man In The Box). Both brands are well-known for their insane Grom and Ruckus builds and took right to the new Navi. Steady Garage’s modern tuner-esque look is always unique and MNNTHBX did up a full-factory HRC tribute. Seeing their takes on this pint-sized pit bike made us even more excited to see what regular consumers will do with it.
Ah, the fun part! The Navi was born to be customized.
The 2022 Honda Navi can be summarized in one simple word: fun. It’s incredibly easy to ride, looks cool, and does exactly what it’s designed to do. New riders will love it for its simplicity and confidence-inspiring qualities, while experienced riders can enjoy a capable grocery getter or a street-legal pit bike. And we’re sure everyone will enjoy the price tag.
It will be interesting to see if Honda can repeat history in the mini moto segment with the Navi. We think it will. CN
2022 Honda Navi Specifications
| MSRP: |
$1,807 |
| Engine Type: |
Single cylinder, 4-stroke |
| Displacement: |
109cc |
| Valvetrain: |
OHC, 2 valves |
| Cooling System: |
Air |
| Bore x Stroke: |
55.0 x 55.6mm |
| Compression Ratio: |
9.5:1 |
| Induction: |
Carburetor |
| Ignition: |
Fully transistorized |
| Starting System: |
Electric |
| Transmission: |
Automatic CVT |
| Frame: |
Underbone, steel |
| Front Suspension: |
26.8mm, inverted telescopic fork |
| Rear Suspension: |
Single shock |
| Front-Wheel Travel: |
3.5 in. |
| Rear-Wheel Travel: |
2.76 in. |
| Front Brake: |
Drum |
| Rear Brake: |
Drum |
| Front Tire: |
90/90-12 in. |
| Rear Tire: |
90/100-10 in. |
| Rake x Trail: |
27.5° x 3.2 in. |
| Wheelbase: |
50.6 in. |
| Seat Height: |
30.1 in. |
| Fuel Capacity: |
0.9 gal. |
| MPG (claimed): |
110 miles |
| Weight (curb, claimed): |
236 lbs. |
| Colors: |
Red, Grasshopper green, Nut brown, Ranger green |
| Warranty: |
Unlimited mileage, limited warranty |
