Auto Expo 2016: Honda launches NAVI

[Jijo_Malayil]

Check out this comprehensive review done by Zigwheels.

Honda has launched the NAVI (New Additional Value for India). This is neither a bike nor a scooter! It's a bit of both and it sure looks fun Honda's approach in creating a two-wheeler which features strengths of both bike and scooter, is truly impressive.

Honda Navi dimensions stand at around 1805 mm in length, 748 mm in width and 1038 mm in height. The seat is positioned at a height of 748mm. NAVI gets storage bay placed near the engine and the tyres in front and rear are small as found in scooters. NAVI gets 130mm drum brakes up front and at the rear. A 90/90-12 inch tyre is equipped in front, while the rear gets 90/100-10 inch tyres.

With NAVI Honda creates a new segment in FUN riding. Powered by a 110cc Honda HET engine with automatic transmission. Honda showcased three possible models with NAVI Street, NAVI adventure and NAVI off-road. NAVI can be booked across India using an android application and is priced at Rs. 39,500 (ex-showroom Delhi). NAVI is available in five exciting colors, first impression- we like it!

What you will like:-

• Quirky design, loads of attention guaranteed.
• Performance betters an Honda Activa, which has the same engine.
• Attractive prices (10 grand cheaper than an Activa)
• Extremely fun to ride and handles better than a scooter
• Bike-like styling with a CVT transmission
• Loads of customisation option, will appeal to youngsters

What you will not:-

• You won’t be able to handle the attention
• Low on storage places
• Taller riders will find it cramped
• 3.8 litre fuel tank is quite small, even by scooter standards
• Plastic quality, dated instrument cluster and no fuel gauge
• Limited travel suspension, can’t hit large potholes.

Who should buy the NAVI:-

• First time two-wheel buyers
• Youngsters who wants a stylish, fun to ride bike
• Someone who is looking for a gearless bike
• For somebody who wants to stand-out from the crowd

[Roshun]

The Honda Navi reminds me of the AJS Bobby that used to be around a couple of decades ago. This is a fun looking bike, but I don't think it would really be a volume seller. It's cool to own one to just nip across to the local market and back though. A convenient local run about.

[Nikhil_Kalra_11_77868]

Love the looks #HondaNavi #Autoexpo'16

[Roshun]

So I just got back from a roundtable session with the management of Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India. They seem quite kicked about the response to the Navi - incidentally, the name too means "new" in Hindi. I quite like Honda's tagline for the Navi as well, which reads: "Whatever it is, it's fun!" That really seems to fit this product that's neither a bike nor a scooter, but something in between. Honda is targeting the Navi at 18-24 year olds, as it looks pretty "cool".
I got a closer look at the Navi, which was launched yesterday at Rs. 39,500 and will be available across the country by April 2016. Here's the basic Honda Navi - it's a unisex design - it looks cool with either sex riding it.

The Honda Navi has a top-speed on the speedometer marked till 120 kmph, but don't expect it to go over 80 kmph. The Navi has been 100% developed by Honda's R&D in India and is a vehicle meant for the Indian market.

The switch gear is shared with other Honda two wheelers. Notice the chunky choke for those cold morning starts.

The Navi comes with an electric start as standard - it shares most of its mechanicals with the Honda Activa, but the chassis and body is of course all new.

The heart of the matter, using a cliche, is the Honda Activa 110 cc engine. It puts out 8 bhp of power at 7,000 rpm and about 9 Nm of torque at 5500 rpm. It has a variomatic (constantly variable transmission-CVT) transmission. It has a kick starter as well, for those cold days when your 12 volt, 3AH battery just does not want to cooperate.

The design of the Navi is pretty unique - it's compact bikerette... er scootercycle... whatever! It has a seat and fuel tank like a regular bike, but the place where the engine usually is is hollow and is used as a storage space. The engine is under the seat, like a scooter.

The rear is Bike-like, with a raised mono-shock, bike-like exhaust, and tail-end. Yet, the lower half is scooter-like.

The Navi has plenty of modification potential. Check out this kitted-out concept version of the Navi.

If you want something more scooter-like, it's quite possible that Honda may get this step-through Navi design later (this is just a concept).

Here's the line up - the basic Navi's that will be available from April 2016. It comes with five colour options - patriot red, hopper green, shasta white, sparky orange and black. All pretty bright and youthful colours.

The Honda management consisting of the R&D team - Keita Muramatsu, president and CEO, HMSI, Takahiro Hachigo, president, CEO & representative director, Honda Japan are the two gentleman in the middle, and the brains behind the Navi.

I think the Navi has potential - it may not be a high volume player but will definitely appeal to youth, as well as older people looking for a convenient run about. It's automatic, it's powerful enough and fuel efficient enough - it has a mileage of about 58 kmpl! Future versions may include a hybrid and even an all-electric Navi.
Here are the technical specifications of the Honda Navi:

Oh, and a parting shot - the Adventure Navi, fully kitted out.

[vijay girhotra]

It looks very good, new design, price is reasonable. What is the average mileage figure?

[vijay girhotra]

How can I book the NAVI? Vijay Girhotra

[Roshun]

The Honda Navi can be booked via an android app, with a small deposit.

[Arjun]

The pricing is very competitive. And going by the looks and design of it, it seems to be lightweight. This may be a hit with teenagers who used to go for the Dio.
This will also give competition to the TVS XL if its sold at this price.
I think they should use the tagline "Why should girls have all the fun" for this bike.

[Roshun]

The pricing is very competitive. And going by the looks and design of it, it seems to be lightweight. This may be a hit with teenagers who used to go for the Dio.
This will also give competition to the TVS XL if its sold at this price.
I think they should use the tagline "Why should girls have all the fun" for this bike.

I think their tagline of "Whatever it is, it's fun!" is pretty cool as it is. The bike is pretty awesome to look at in the metal. It will sell quite well, like you said, with those who would have earlier considered a Dio, Pleasure or Activa

[piyush2227]

It looks very pretty, attractive design and color, reasonable price, fun to ride. Now at this tym those teenagers who want to ride scooty or bike they have another option HONDA NAVI...........

[Praveen]

@roshun Finally, an interesting product from Honda! After years and years of re-stickering (someone at Honda must've thought- change the stickers, bam! 5 bhp extra!) their previous products, Honda finally came up with something hip and unique. Although I don't see the point of the adventure kit. Nevertheless, it's a great effort by Honda. It's about time CBR 300R hit the Indian shores.

[Jijo_Malayil]

Honda has just got 500 booking in 15 days for NAVI in India, since it was opened through their mobile app. That is coming from a vehicle manufacturer which sells about two lakh Activas in a month! Only time will tell whether Honda is going to succeed with NAVI in India. I really hope it does!

[Roshun]

Honda has just got 500 booking in 15 days for NAVI in India, since it was opened through their mobile app. That is coming from a vehicle manufacturer which sells more 2 lakh Activas in a month! Only time will tell whether Honda is going to succeed with NAVI in India. I really hope it does!

What Jijo? Only 500 bookings for the Navi in two weeks? For a company like Honda that sells nearly 2 lakh Activa scooters a month, a scootercycle / bikerette based on the same engine and oozing cuteness should definitely have more takers right? It's just cool to have a Navi. Perhaps since there are no test rides / reviews yet for the Navi - it will come only in April 2016 - people are probably hesitant to plonk money for it right now.

[Arjun]

What Jijo? Only 500 bookings for the Navi in two weeks? For a company like Honda that sells nearly 2 lakh Activa scooters a month, a scootercycle / bikerette based on the same engine and oozing cuteness should definitely have more takers right? It's just cool to have a Navi. Perhaps since there are no test rides / reviews yet for the Navi - it will come only in April 2016 - people are probably hesitant to plonk money for it right now.

There is still a lack of awareness, and other than showing it in the Auto expo, the Honda Navi, has not been featured in any newspapers.
Also, booking via an android app is not something people would be comfortable with. Snapdeal had started the booking of many vehicles via its platform, but people would still want to go to a showroom physically and check it and would prefer to buy it via that route.
Right now, I believe only those who visited the Delhi Auto expo, and some other enthusiasts have come to know about the Navi. Also, most enthusiasts would not book a vehicle before a test drive.
Delhi population prefers cars, and a weird looking vehicle like Navi would not be taken very easily.
There is a very small population who would be knowing about the Navi, and would be ready to book it without seeing the vehicle.
Even I am interested in the vehicle, for its low price point, but as I am not in a hurry, I would prefer to wait for it to come for test rides and then buy one.
I believe there are many with similar thoughts. If the showrooms start to accept bookings or start showcasing the vehicle, the bookings would be much higher.

[NikilSJ]

A Hindu Business Line report has quoted Shinji Aoyama, HMSI’s chief operation, officer saying that Honda is not aiming at high volumes with this fun little scooterette or ‘whatever it is, it’s fun’ thingy. Aoyama is supposed to have said that the company is targeting the youth with this peppy little scooter and based on the response it gets in the initial few months, will chart out a way for a full-fledged sale.
The Navi is the first product by HMSI that was completely developed in our soil. It measures 1,805mm in length, 748mm wide and the saddle height is supposed to be 765mm. The Navi weighs in at 101kg and it comes with a 3.8-litre fuel tank capacity.