Test riding the Honda Navi

Once in a blue moon one comes across something that doesnrsquot fit any preconceived notions A strange hybrid that has been created to merge a scooterrsquos soul in the body of a motorcycle the Honda Navi pronounced Nuvee is a totally outofthebox concept Itrsquos so unique that the average human which is used to classifying twowheelers either as a motorcycle or a scooter has grave difficulties placing the Navi On the ride back to Pune from Khopoli we saw throngs of curious folk saunter up to the Navi and then spend the rest of their time looking for the gear leverEverything about this little thing is very funky from the way it looks to the five colour options available to the customer Not to mention the array of optional accessories on offer for a price of course Perhaps the only two things we didnrsquot like much were the instrumentation and the fuel filler flap For a bike this cool the single dial of the speedo housing the lamps for high beam and turn signal indicator is just too plain Jane The Navi begged a more contemporary instrumentation The plastic fuel filler flap below which hides the real tank cap too feels flimsy and built to a cost Again on a machine that redefines cool a betterfinished and fitting fuel filler cap would only add and not subtract from the bikeFront forks are upside down unitsDimensionally even though the Navi seems quite small it is actually a smidge longer at 1805 mm than the Activarsquos 1761 mm length At 156 mm the Navirsquos ground clearance is a fraction higher as well Saddle height however is identical at 765 mm But why are we suddenly talking about the Activa Well you see under the Navirsquos motorcycle skin it is actually a somewhat tweaked ActivaHeadlamp design is contemporary PicsAditya DhiwarApart from the chassis the Navi also borrows the Activarsquos 1092 cc air cooled single coupled to a Vmatic transmission Peak output is rated at 794 PS at 7000 RPM and 896 Nm of max torque at 5500 RPM Despite the identical output figures the Navi feels far peppier than the Activa ever did The reason for this is that the Navirsquos kerb weight of 101 kg is lighter than the Activas 108 kg kerb weight With its scooterlike operation the Navi is also great for pottering around urban fun zonesAnd where fun is concerned the diminutive bike delivers by the loads Itrsquos nimble and agile and you can flick it left or right through a narrow S pick it up and then repeat the performance at the next narrow S without ever batting an eyelid Without the mass of a typical scooter weighing on the front suspension and the entire weight of the engine at the rear the front does feel a little flighty but that isnt really a problemBraking duties on the Navi are handled by a pair of 130mm drums Strangely enough the Navi does not have Hondarsquos signature Combibrake system which ensures greater stability and therefore safety when under braking For the most part braking is a stressfree affair on the Navi Although Honda is not providing it even as an option for now we hope the company recognises the constant need for greater safety The Navirsquos intended customer will be someone youthful and someone who is definitely aspiring to look cool To ride its a bike that can leave you smiling at 50 kmh it is so much fun But what about the cost of style and fun In Pune the Honda Navi carries a sticker of R41045 exshowroom which translates into R45302 onroad excluding the optional accessories extended warranty and annual maintenance contract So where the pricetovalue equation is concerned the bill fits the Navi too