American Honda announced today that it will release the Navi on U.S. shores, a 110 cc addition to the company’s miniMOTO line, with a base MSRP of $1,807.
The Navi’s architecture is essentially a scooter made to look like a small motorcycle. Its engine and CVT transmission attach the steel-tube frame to the rear wheel, but instead of a fully underbone frame that allows for a step-through chassis the Navi’s seat and fuel tank reach forward to the base of the handlebar. The result is Grom-like styling with a lockable, removable, 15-liter storage pod between the rider’s feet, and a seat height of 30.1 inches.
That’s where most of the similarities to the Grom end. Honda disclosed that the two-valve, 109.2 cc engine and drivetrain in the Navi are lifted from the Honda Activa scooter, and in comparing spec sheets it looks like the pressed-steel wheels — a 12-inch rim up front and a 10-inch one in the rear — are Activa equipment as well. Overall weight is in the noise, too, claimed at 236 pounds.
Considering the Navi’s price, it's no surprise there are certainly signs of cost savings. It is not fuel-injected, instead sipping gas through a 16 mm carburetor and out of a 0.9-gallon fuel tank. Honda is confident that a few liters of juice will be enough with a claimed consumption number of 110 miles per gallon. There are drum brakes front and rear and the dash is a simple analog unit with a speedo and a fuel gauge.
Of all the motorcycle companies to release a small, easy-to-ride machine for an amazingly low price, Honda isn’t necessarily at the top of the list, considering Big Red already has in its lineup a slew of 125 cc bikes in the Grom, Monkey, Super Cub, and Trail 125. However, to that point, Honda has sold 750,000 Groms over the life of the model globally, and 40,000 of the machines the company has sold so far in the U.S. market in 2021 have been 125 cc and 300 cc offerings.
Point being, if less is more then perhaps a lot less will be a lot more. The average MSRP of the four miniMOTO machines listed above is about $3,800, and the Navi cuts that barrier of entry by more than half. And it would seem that the margins are getting thin enough that Honda felt it necessary to list the price at $1,807, not $1,800 or $1,799.
The bike will be available at dealers in January of 2022 (February in California). Fortunately, we will have a chance to ride the new Navi in just a couple of days, so stay tuned for a first-ride review on Common Tread soon.
| 2022 Honda Navi | |
|---|---|
| Price (MSRP) | $1,807 |
| Engine | 109.2 cc, air-and-fan-cooled, overhead-cam, two-valve single |
|
Transmission, final drive |
CVT and automatic centrifugal dry clutch, belt |
| Claimed horsepower | N/A |
| Claimed torque | N/A |
| Frame | Steel-tube |
| Front suspension | 26.8 mm inverted fork; 3.9 inches of travel |
| Rear suspension | Single shock; 2.8 inches of travel |
| Front brake | Single mechanical 130 mm drum |
| Rear brake | Single mechanical 130 mm drum |
| Rake, trail | 27.5 degrees, 3.2 inches |
| Wheelbase | 50.6 inches |
| Seat height | 30.1 inches |
| Fuel capacity | 0.9 gallons |
| Tires | 90/90-12 front, 90/100-10 rear |
| Claimed weight | 236 pounds |
| Available | January 2022 |
| Warranty | 12 months |
| More info | hondapowersports.com |
