Honda Navi first look review

Now there’s no denying that one of the most exciting bikes, and one from the handful that were launched at Auto Expo 2016, was the Honda Navi. Its diminutive proportions, motorcycle-like stance and chunky design make it look adorable and even the most seasoned bikers amongst us have been  waiting for a chance to get our hands on one of these. So when we were at the MMRT circuit in Chennai for the last round of the Honda One-Make Championship, we spotted an opportunity to have a closer look at it.

Swing a leg over, and you realise just how tiny the Navi is. Its stocky lines make it look larger than it actually is, and in real life, the low handlebar height and even lower seat height of just 765mm makes it feel somewhat like a pocket bike. While some six-footers might find it a little too small, for most, from the shortest to the slightly-above-average heighted, it makes for a fairly comfortable perch and it is really easy to get on or off.

Powering this little “monkey bike” are the exact same internals from the current Honda Activa, albeit in a slightly different state of tune. Peak horsepower has been reduced very slightly to 7.83bhp at 7,000rpm but the peak torque has increased to 0.91kgm at 5,500rpm. Interestingly, the Navi’s kerb weight is just 101kg, which means it will mostly have the same get-up-and-go as the Activa.