Honda Navi vs Rajdoot 'Bobby' GTS: Comparison Review

Gallery Introduction The Similarities The Ride Conclusion

Introduction

It most definitely isn’t what it reads like. How could it be; one is a relic from the 60s, and the other, a new movement of sorts. This isn’t a Rajdoot ‘Bobby’ GTS vs Honda Navi comparison in the most serious sense. It is, instead, our way of tracing the journey of so-called ‘Monkey Bikes’ in India.

And it all began with the granddad, which is the Rajdoot ‘Bobby’ GTS; a motorcycle, which surprisingly even Google, couldn’t tell me much about. But, here’s what I know. Escorts Limited manufactured the Rajdoot GTS. It has a 175cc, two-stroke, single cylinder, air-cooled engine borrowed from a Polish motorcycle maker called Cekop. The donor bike was also known as the SHL M11. Escorts meanwhile developed the frame for the GTS in-house.

Then came the super-duper Bollywood hit, Bobby, in 1973. It starred the cute and hot (and in equal measure, mind) Dimple Kapadia, alongside teen heartthrob (at the time) and still one of my favourite actors, the supercharged Rishi Kapoor. And with them was a small and yellow motorcycle; one they eloped on. A motorcycle, which would never sell well, lose its given name, but be immortalised simply as ‘Bobby’.

Now, I might be wrong about this, but to me – based on all the research my laziness would allow – the Rajdoot ‘Bobby’ GTS was the first monkey bike designed and manufactured in India. Though the world over, it was Honda with something called the Z100 that started the monkey bike revolution. And it started it all over again more recently with the Grom.

The Honda Navi is a more affordable and a slightly unconventional take on the Grom. But, it is India’s second monkey bike after the Bobby; even though some might argue the Navi isn’t a bike at all.

The Similarities

The Bobby and the Navi might be separated by half a century, but they still have so much in common. These are tiny, cute and luring in a very amiable way. You don’t feel jealous of the person riding either bike, like you would if you spotted some undeserving, good-for-nothing, incapable guy on an Aprilia Tuono for instance. For the Bobby and the Navi, you just give an appreciative nod acknowledging the individual’s taste.

Moreover, the Bobby and the Navi are an epitome of simplicity. The Rajdoot GTS uses a two-stroke, air-cooled engine making the construction simple and robust. The brakes are drums, the wheels are steel, and there’s nothing fancy about its suspension either. It’s all old-school, humble stuff. And as far as things like clocks and switchgear go, well, it’s as rudimentary as it gets.

The Navi, even though a modern day offering, has embraced simplicity with equal enthusiasm. It runs a four-stroke engine, so it has more moving parts and a higher level of complexity, but it is air cooled too. And like the Bobby, it too runs drum brakes and steel wheels. But, it has modern day suspension – USDs upfront and a monoshock at the rear, and of course, much better tyres. Clocks and switchgear too are a little more elaborate on the Honda Navi, but nothing that you might call fancy.

The Ride

Here’s where the 50 year wide generation gap shows. The Bobby is smaller, narrower and doesn’t come with an electric start! It also only gets three gears. So, once I had the Bobby started and was done enjoying inhaling two-stroke fumes (a fine mix of unburnt fuel and 2T oil), it was time to get a move on. And immediately, the light clutch, the slick shifting gearbox and the light throttle made riding the GTS super easy. The cramped, almost monkey like riding position, did take time getting used to, as did the effectiveness of the brakes, which were as efficient as my know-it-all lectures to my nine year old. So yes, the brakes didn’t work at all. And neither did the Bobby’s ride and handling.

But, that’s not the point of a bike like the Rajdoot GTS. It was built for a time when one didn’t NEED to do more than 30kmph; one didn’t NEED to make thousands of sales pitches a day; and one didn’t NEED to be at the destination in the shortest time possible just to tweet, insta or FB it. So, with a Bobby, one must instead relish the journey, the sights, the people, and the lovely two-stroke fumes.

The Honda Navi is about slow travel as well. Okay, 30kmph might seem a little slow on the Honda given it is way more stable, it has way better brakes, and it is effortless under acceleration. So, its natural pace is about 50kmph. But, even so, it serves exactly the same purpose the GTS was designed for, including that monkey like seating posture…

Conclusion

Even with 50 years between the two, the Rajdoot ‘Bobby’ GTS and the Honda Navi are looking to deliver the exact same thing. These are designed for the young. These are small and easy to ride. These are light and efficient. And because these are simple and unpretentious, these are super cool. The question is, will the Navi also need a ‘Bobby’ to be immortalised… or will it sell enough to get there…

Photography by Kapil Angane

Bobby courtesy all round good guy Sushant Raut. Also, owner of Authentic Point in Vasai and ace motorcycle fixer.