Why you should AVOID the Honda Navi & Three Better Options for New Riders

I think the Honda Navi is a well made machine. I also think the use case for this bike is fundamentally flawed for traveling on American roads.

0:00 Preconceived Notions
1:32 What is this thing?
4:50 Flawed Use Case
8:57 Bad Influence
10:52 Questionable Hardware
12:12 Recommendations

Opinions are my own. Make wise choices based on the details of your life.
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[advmike]

Note: At 3:37 I got the petcock positions reversed. Thanks to @grover4035 for pointing this out!

Manual page 26 to confirm.

[samuelfritz]

Rode a navi from LA to Portland. Best time of my life

[pbisbad]

Not all people who buy motorcycles intend to "push it to the limit", some just want a dependable daily ride within the city.

[jonneet]

Helmet hair? A big deal? I rode my early 60's BSA 500 twin to my high school (class of '72). Never a worry or thought about helmet hair. Are modern college students really saddled with such shallow personalities? At 71 now, I started riding off road at 10. I've owned over 25 motocylcles and a few scooters made by all of the Japanese "big four", plus 2 Sportsters, the BSA, a Bultaco and a Royal Enfield 500 Bullet. All were street legal. I love to ride. Big bikes, small bikes, all are fun. Now I live on the big island near Hilo. I drove to Kona where the dealer is and test rode a Navi. I may buy one. I enjoyed tooling around on the Navi. We have a number of moped riders here, and we have generous shoulders for them, bicyclists, and pedestrians. If the Navi can do 50, for 5-8 miles to get me to Hilo, that would suffice, or I could take the shoulder. I Don't need a fast motorcycle, and don't ride two up any more. The Honda Ruckus is a big hit here, and I know how slow they are, as I've owned one. My only problem with the Navi is the number of dealer price gougers.

[EVERYBODYSFAVORITEPUPPY]

I currently have an Eahora M1PS Knight (electric motorcycle) with similar stats to the Navi. Only difference (aside from the obvious fact of being electric) Is I can't stop to fill up on empty. I have to lug a big charger with me if I want to go further than 50 or 60 miles. I think I would do well with a Navi

[crazyhikerdude]

Don’t listen to this reviewer hating on a Navi… it’s not designed for anything he’s whining about. 🙄

[mitchellflanders-ddkr]

This just affirms that I should in fact make the Navi my first motorcycle

[lder_thrin]

I purchased the Navi, and it was a great investment. I purchased the bike to ride from my home to work which is about 2 miles each way. It does the job for what I need it to do and no complaints. Yes, it is slow, but I am not looking at it as a race bike, just a piece of transportation back and forth and to work and home and it serves it purpose.

[Bluestar-]

I bought one because I just want to ride around locally mostly, and to do some shopping and other chores around town. Also, It fits it my hallway in my tiny apartment so I don't have to leave it outside where it can get weathered or stolen. I bought it used with only 14 miles on it for $1900 for a 2022 model and think it was totally worth it. I actually LOVE the bike. I may even go out of town on it on the backroads for an adventure trip. Theres nothing worth seeing on the expressways anyways.

[heithwatkins]

I think you missed the entire point of this bike.

[Starfireaw]

Almost all of his arguments against the Navi are also arguments against riding any bike.

[IAAporetic]

No helmet…no jacket. Drive on 25 mph roads from home around town. You don’t get the point, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t one. This is a cycle for people who don’t want a motorcycle.

[Robochop-vzqm]

I just bought the 2024 Honda Navi about a month ago here in Australia.
Im traditionally a big bike rider but I wanted fun and to do something a bit different.
This machine is brilliant, so economical and reliable and compact. Fits anywhere. Ive been 2up with my wife a few times and we have a ball. Its a no stress, fun machine and keeps pace with other traffic around town. The little storage section down below is handy if you have to run to the shop. So glad i got this bike.

[douglaslaroque]

i was at my Honda dealer yesterday may 3 / 2024. i was there in march also. There were 8 new honda navi bikes, yesterday they were all gone. these bikes are 100% excellent, i live in a heavy traffic city and have 0% problems in traffic. I also go on highways 0% problems . I'm 77 yrs old, been on bikes since i was 15. Never had an accident and I've never gone down. My navi will cruise all day at 45 mph. and I'm not at full throttle. just did a run to Mexico the other day on the highway, 50 mile.r/t from my house. these bikes are excellent. a guy on you tube had 16, 000 miles on his navi in less than a year. What ever size bike you ride every rider knows the dangers. I've seen motorcycle accidents in my lifetime. You need to be 110% alert at all times. Safe rides everyone .

[artofthefade]

I don’t know why I’m watching this, I already own the Navi, I ride to work everyday and I’m already about to put a new clutch, exhaust and weights in. I only need to go 50-55 comfortably, the speed limit here is 50 so people just go around me if they want to speed.

I paid around 2200 after taxes and registration/insurance and then 500 on protective gear and another 900 on mods so I can totally agree this bike isn’t for everyone but she’s mine, she’s paid off and she gets me to my paycheck.

[Leo-yoo]

I've had a honda grom, navi, ruckus, rebel 300, and honda 1100 dct. All new. I've enjoyed all of them. I enjoy riding and have never pushed mine to the limit. They're all great bikes. Each one is made for a certain way of riding. It just depends on what you are interested in. I enjoy scooters and motorcycles. I also have an ebike which also can be dangerous if you ride unsafely. I still have my navi and love it.

[gphilipc]

I own an "1100" cc metric MC that I purchased used, low milage in 2011. It is 2024 now and It still runs fine with proper repairs and matenence when needed. It will reach interstate speeds easily and keep up mile after mile. I payed $3, 800.00 for it. Probably cheaper then most of those little mopeds. Just be aware of what ya want or eventually will want. If ya want a Moped, accept the restrictions.

[thomascollins]

I've spent most of my life riding Harleys and I own a Honda 750 Shadow. I love my Navi. So disappointed in your review.

[jerroddooley]

Use mine for Uber eats delivery. Couple bucks a day on gas to make a couple hundred bucks. Can't beat it

[enduroxplorer]

This review is flawed. If we go by what is said you may as well obliterate anything on 2 wheels under 200cc. Grom, Navi, Monkey, Supercub, Zuma, Buddy, etc gone, all gone. Basically if it cant do 55 mph up hill it is gone, no place for it. Yet the best selling vehicle in the world is the Super Cub…how can that be? Well, simply put there is a place for all these smaller machines that this reviewer failed to appreciate because speed and power are the main consideration for him…so other considerations are lost to him. However, the fact that these smaller units sell well and manufacturers continue to make them is proof enough this review failed to identify and understand why. I have enjoyed bikes from 50cc to 800cc, I am glad this smaller segment exists.