Honda Navi: 2,000km Long Term Review

The Honda Navi was Sarmad’s parting gift to me, after both Cyrus and Saeed had had their share of fun with it, and it proved to be a blessing in disguise as I tackled my first monsoon at the job. The scooter (or bike?) is a handy, exciting and truly enjoyable proposition for traffic conditions like Mumbai’s, especially when the rain gods refuse to hold their horses. 

Before I begin describing my experiences with the Navi, it is worth mentioning that our comparison of it with its cousin, the Activa, has sure received plenty of traction. This should come as little surprise, though, since the small wonder has also broken into the top 10 selling scooters list in the country recently. 

Coming back to my muse, I’ve ridden it till the outskirts of Mumbai, hogged all the iftaar in Bandra’s busy evening streets during the month of Ramzaan, and even helped a cousin shop for her wedding on the scooter, apart from my daily hustles between work and home. 

It goes without saying that the Navi has made riding more convenient since I don’t have to worry about shifting gears or engaging/disengaging the clutch any more. Moreover, its agility levels are higher than anything I’ve ever ridden. Given the small size of the scooter, squeezing it into the tiniest of parking spaces also feels like a cakewalk.

The 110cc single cylinder, air-cooled petrol engine that it shares with the Activa is powerful enough, and with the lighter body of the Navi, one can comfortably cruise at speeds between 40 and 50kmph. The engine wakes up at one go every morning and returns close to 45kmpl. However, one has to refuel pretty often, given the smaller 3.8-litre fuel tank. In the absence of a fuel gauge, the reserve knob is a blessing if you find yourself in a crisis situation. 

Despite no Combi Braking System (CBS) on the scooter, the stopping duties are handled fairly well by the drum brake duo, even on slippery monsoon roads. The tyres (12-inch at the front and 10-inch at the back), though, are tiny and could tip you off balance while riding too enthusiastically in the potholed post-monsoon roads that are also a good test for the rather firm suspension.

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I’ve also been helping my new colleague Kanaad commute these days. Riding pillion, he pointed out the lack of space for the rear passenger which makes long rides for two an almost improbable task. Another downside is the lack (or absence) of storage space on my moto-scoot – something I realised while shifting stuff to my new rented apartment from the old one. 

However, what I’ve also inherited with the Navi from Sarmad is all the attention that comes along. And I hope that helps me create new adventures in the times to come. I’m also planning to hit the highway with the Navi on one of these weekends. Stay tuned for the results!