2023 Honda Navi First Look Preview

The 2023 Honda Navi is part motorcycle, part scooter. Looks are very Grom-like, but engine location and usability is very much like a scooter. In fact, the powerplant comes from the Honda Activa, a scooter that is popular in Asia.

The 2023 Honda Navi is part motorcycle, part scooter. Looks are very Grom-like, but engine location and usability is very much like a scooter. In fact, the powerplant comes from the Honda Activa, a scooter that is popular in Asia. (Honda/)

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.

Related: 2022 Honda Navi Scooter MC Commute Review

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.

Grasshopper Green is one of four color options for the Navi.

Grasshopper Green is one of four color options for the Navi. (Honda/)

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.

Lockable storage space in front of the Navi’s engine can hold textbooks, laptop, or a jacket.

Lockable storage space in front of the Navi’s engine can hold textbooks, laptop, or a jacket. (Honda/)

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.

The Navi welcomes customization. Its solid colors are a blank canvas for graphics kits (sold separately) that were made in collaboration with gear manufacturer Icon or hunting-apparel manufacturer TrueTimber.

The Navi welcomes customization. Its solid colors are a blank canvas for graphics kits (sold separately) that were made in collaboration with gear manufacturer Icon or hunting-apparel manufacturer TrueTimber. (Honda/)

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.

2023 Honda Navi Technical Specifications and Price

PRICE: $1,807
ENGINE: 109cc, SOHC, fan-cooled single-cylinder; 2 valves/cyl.
BORE x STROKE: 55.0 x 55.6mm
COMPRESSION RATIO: 9.5:1
FUEL DELIVERY: Carburetor w/ 16mm bore
CLUTCH: Automatic centrifugal dry
TRANSMISSION/FINAL DRIVE: V-matic CVT/chain
FRAME: Steel
FRONT SUSPENSION: 26.8mm telescopic fork; 3.9 in. travel
REAR SUSPENSION: Single shock; 2.8 in. travel
FRONT BRAKE: Mechanical 130mm drum
REAR BRAKE: Mechanical 130mm drum
WHEELS, FRONT/REAR: Steel, 12 in./10 in.
TIRES, FRONT/REAR: 90/90-12 / 90/100-10
RAKE/TRAIL: 27.5°/3.1 in.
WHEELBASE: 50.6 in.
SEAT HEIGHT: 30.0 in.
FUEL CAPACITY: 0.9 gal.
CLAIMED WET WEIGHT: 234 lb.
WARRANTY: 1 year
AVAILABLE: March
CONTACT: powersports.honda.com

Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *