Honda’s gas-sipping mini rides pack a punch for city living

Motorcyclists are enthusiasts.

We love speed, quickness and capability. And since we’re out there in the elements when dabbling on these things, we tend to see ourselves as more hardcore than our cousins driving their enclosed vehicles.

Truly, the only way to bring out our softer side is to place a motorcycle — one that is small, slow, cute and cuddly — in front of us. A motorcycle like the Honda miniMOTO.

No rider worth their leathers can resist one of these things. So, when Honda kindly sashayed four of them my way, my helmet could barely contain the explosion of joy. Here are the results of my test drives.

NAME: Honda Ruckus

COST: $3,699

THE TEST DRIVE: First things first. There has never been a better name for a vehicle, ever. Ruckus. Honda’s smallest miniMOTO offering — which is known as the Zoomer in some foreign markets — is a bare-bones mount, designed with utility in mind.

Powered by a 4.3-horsepower, 49 cc single-cylinder engine, the Ruckus is up for some fun, but you will have to run wide-open throttle nearly all the time. In my books, this makes the Ruckus a blast to ride, and can be helpful in learning speed management.

With my legs positioned in front of me — the Ruckus is a step-through design — leaning into corners does feel a bit different the first few times, but it’s incredibly nimble and extremely communicative. Oh, and even running at the ragged edge, it sips fuel to the tune of around two litres per 100 kilometres so expect that five-litre tank to score about 170 kilometres of travel.

WHO IS IT FOR: It is more than capable for urban commuting. There is plenty of storage space, thanks to the open frame design, and you can lock your helmet under the padded seat when parked.

NAME: Honda Navi

COST: $2,299

THE TEST DRIVE: If step-throughs aren’t your thing and you’d like a little more oomph for a little less money, Honda’s Navi might be for you. Originally designed for the Indian market, the Navi is a 109 cc, 7.8 horsepower commuter vehicle. Like the Ruckus, the Navi is a twist-and-go affair, but its looks are clearly more moto in inspiration.

The Navi that had been left to me was a custom creation by way of Oregon moto-gear maker, Icon Motosports. It had been treated to an intergalactic graphics package that is very much in keeping with the brand’s style.

Swinging a leg over the Navi greets with a familiar yet shrunken position. Below the fuel cell, where an engine would typically whirl away, the Navi has a lockable storage container (the engine is mounted to the rear wheel) that can easily stow a small bag or backpack.

Riding around town, I immediately appreciated those couple extra ponies the Navi was packing and the familiar ergonomics. It made the experience feel more natural and the Navi is decently quick to get up to speed but will run out of puff around the same 80 kilometres per hour mark.

WHO IS IT FOR: I hope Honda sells them by the boatload. I know if they had existed in my university years, I would ride one to class every day.

NAME: Honda Grom

COST: $4,149

THE TEST DRIVE: Although it’s only been on the market for eight years, the Grom has developed an extensive cult following. This new model marks the third generation, but the changes are more substantial this go round. And the tweaks feel like they’ve paid off.

Power still comes from a 125 cc, single cylinder engine, and it still doesn’t break the two-digit mark (there is 9.7 horsepower on tap) but compression has been boosted for quicker response, and the little mill burns even cleaner. The fuel tank has grown to accommodate six litres of fuel and even with a wide-open approach, you can expect to see more than 200 kilometres of travel between fill-ups.

Most importantly, the new Grom packs a five-speed transmission (up from four), so the gearing across the range is more optimally distributed to keep you in the meat of that minuscule powerband.

WHO IS IT FOR: If you want something that delivers a full-sized motorcycle experience in a pint-sized package, the Grom is an incredible value. It can even be optioned with ABS braking.

NAME: Honda Monkey

COST: $5,299

THE TEST DRIVE: If the futuristic looks of the Grom isn’t your thing, but you’ve been sold on the experience it can deliver, the retro-ish Monkey is a fantastic choice. Looking like a slightly beefier version of Honda’s original monkey-bikes (also known as the Z-series), it debuted south of the border in 2019.

Beneath the scrambler bodywork, the Monkey is underpinned by the Grom’s mechanicals, so performance is the same (admittedly the Grom feels quicker, though). There are changes to the suspension — the Monkey gets a twin outboard shock in the rear — and it comes standard with ABS braking. The classically shaped, metal fuel tank holds a bit less fuel, but you can still expect to see returns around 1.5 litres per 100 kilometres.

WHO IS IT FOR:

Riding the Monkey instantly turned me back into a 10-year-old on my BMX bike. Honda is cashing in on nostalgia, but it’s also an incredibly cute and competent mount that will probably draw more attention than any of the others.