Honda Navi [2016-2017]

I bought the honda navi adventure edition in july, 2017. After months of intensive research on scooters, i finally opted for this quirky little devil. I did not want to go with the "boring" old safe choice of the activa and also did not want to burn a hole in my pocket, and this was just the perfect choice. I'll summaries my overall experience as briefly as possible-1) ride experience- an absolute joy, couldn't have asked for better. What makes it unbelievably fun to ride is the fact that the riding posture is a natural 2-wheeler posture, so you immediately feel a sense of ease, unlike other scooters where the seating is akin to that of a simple chair, with your feet just resting in front. Just this simple point takes the balance, maneuverability and ride comfort to a whole new level. As far as ride comfort goes, other scooters probably don't even come in the same bracket for comparison, and this has been agreed to by all people who have borrowed my scooter and ridden. Pick-up is buttery smooth, braking is more than decent, and speeds of upto 65-70 kmph are almost vibration-less. The light weight ensures flickability through city traffic a breeze, further enhanced by, again, the natural 2-wheeler riding posture. The front telescopic suspension works like a charm, while the single rear monoshock suspension does make one jump a bit on bumpy roads, and could do much better with some refinement or potential modifications in future. But then, one is dealing with a 110cc scooter, so it is not expected to be fun over potholes! overall, once one gets into the habit of riding a navi, the entire concept of scooter-riding changes. For such a small and light scooter, it packs more than a punch. The ride quality is the biggest clincher if one is going for the navi. 2) looks- the appearance may generate polarising views. Personally, looks was the first thing that caught my attention. I went with the adventure edition to get more of that bike-ish feel. Whether or not people like the design, it doesn't fail to capture people's attention nonetheless. I personally love the overall looks, and although opinions may differ, the most negative comment i have come across is "toy bike" (which is understandable from a first time looker's perspective).3) performance- no complains whatsoever. Returns a decent mileage between 45-50 kmpl in regular city traffic. Engine is refined as beautifully as can be, and daily commuting is a breeze- and fun too!4) servicing and maintenance- same as any conventional scooter. Regular servicing keeps the little guy fit and fine and greatly ups the overall fun quotient.5) pros- pretty much summed up above. For those looking to make the navi a little more practical, the storage box (priced separately) is pretty handy. One can also make small modifications to enhance the overall practicality- a side-bag/box, helmet-lock and things like that. 6) cons- since navi is my first scooter, i was prepared for a few small issues, and so personally i haven't been greatly troubled by them, unlike other scooter (read riders for whom the definition of a scooter is activa), who may take a little time to get adjusted.The biggest blunder honda made is the absence of a fuel gauge (which has thankfully been rectified in 2018 i believe). For a scooter that has been completely designed and manufactured in india, where around 110% of people ask "kitna deti hai?" (alongwith "kitne ki hai", accounting for 85-90% of the population!) it is unbelievable how a seasoned campaigner like honda went ahead without it. Top that off with a small fuel tank (3.8 l), it was a recipe for disaster. However, now that it has been rectified, it is a much more practical for the indian market. Honda also could have done better than that 3.8l fuel tank, say, around 4.5l would have been much better. Another little issue is the position of the pillion footpegs, which results in the rider's calf frequently brushing against the pillion's foot, especially in stop-go traffic. Finally, i feel alloy wheels would have made this a complete package (this is not a con exactly). For a scooter designed as a bike, this could have easily been done, and since the scooter is the cheapest in its segment by a long way, another 2k wouldn't have been much of a problem, esp. Considering that the navi isn't aimed at the conventional scooter market.Overall, the navi is an absolute piece of joy in a very, very affordable price range. It is sad that the sales figures don't do much justice to the bike, and i believe that the fuel-gauge and fuel capacity are the biggest culprits to that. I've seen people borrowing it from me and could not believe the comfort levels, and yet these same people would invariably go and spend around 10-15k extra to go for the "safe" (and dull, boring) option of activa with the same 110cc engine with not half the fun, essentially because of:1) fuel gauge (this should not be an issue any more) and larger fuel tank2) the front foot board and underseat storage (not possible in the navi because of the different design)3) the navi is not what you see at every street corner. The navi is a prime example of why two-wheeler manufacturers are so reluctant and apprehensive to introduce fun, exciting new concepts to the indian market, in-spite of the tremendous prospects. I do hope the navi concept does not die as a one-off conceptual disaster. It is nothing like we've ever had in india, and it deserves to live on respectably. It certainly has the promise to create a legacy of its own. It is the best 110 cc scooter in the indian market by a distance. It is not something that an average person will recommend, but if you're a connoisseur in terms of ride quality.

About the Reviewer

1.Buying experience is good and dealer was good.2.Vehicle is very smooth and quiet when compared to activa and other honda scooter like dio,activa i.3.Nice looking small and light weight scooter and best handling capacity also.4.Servicing and maintenance costs is also low 450 per servicing.5.Pros:- front large wheel and telescopic front suspension.Cons:-meter is not digital and has less features, and it is little bit short scooter honda should increase the height of the scooter.

About the Reviewer

Awesome bike.. Swift ride.. Loved it... Everything..Is beautiful ride is comfortable . Easy to drive during traffic. Ride daily commute... Even on long rides...Looks really good. Average really good... Comfortable ride . Every one loved it..Peppy colors. Trusted engine . You ride it and you know it.

About the Reviewer