The Scooter That's Actually Cool

Nobody wants to admit a scooter is fun. Scooters are what you ride when you don't own a "real" motorcycle, the story goes. Chase's ADV 160 first ride demolished that story for him mid-ride: "Bro, you all need to try a scooter out for sure. I love this thing." And this is from a guy who's ridden 1,800+ motorcycles on camera.

The ADV 160 is Honda's attempt at making a scooter that an actual motorcyclist would buy. The styling is adventure-derived (not "grandma's Burgman"). The rear suspension is dual Showa shocks. The same premium brand on $18k super sports. It's got underseat storage, keyless ignition, an adjustable windscreen, and a sticker price of $4,449. For the cost of half a set of Brembo Stylemas, you get an entire motorcycle. "Do you know how much shenanigans you can get into?"

Performance highlights

157cc single-cylinder (Honda rounded up to 160 for marketing), 16 horsepower, 11 lb-ft of torque, 294 lb wet, 30.7" seat height. CVT transmission: no clutch, no shifter, no gears to worry about. Throttle response scores 3. "Even if I give it full throttle, there's a little bit of a wind-up period." This is a small-displacement single hauling a scooter chassis; the power comes on progressively rather than urgently.

Acceleration earns 2. Getting from 20-40 mph is fine. Getting to 67 mph (the real-world top speed Chase documented. Honda claims 70) takes sustained throttle and patience. Trying to launch into fast-moving traffic from a red light requires planning. That's the honest read.

Agility is the brilliant 9 and the reason the ADV 160 works. 294 lb total, with the gas tank low in the frame (under the seat, not on top), creates a center-of-gravity effect Chase specifically called out: "The weight is focused down low. That's got to be what's making this thing feel so easily to move back and forth." You can flick this scooter into lane gaps normal motorcycles can't access. Through-traffic in a city, the ADV 160 is genuinely faster than a liter-bike.

Brakes rate 5. Front disc, rear disc, with proper motorcycle-style hand levers (no pedals, no foot brake. Scooter layout). "These brakes are probably terrible in the grand scheme of motorcycles, but in this package I have no problem with them at all." They stop 294 lb, which is the only thing they need to do.

Suspension is the surprise 6. Dual Showa rear shocks plus a basic front fork. The rear is what caught Chase's eye in the dealership showroom. And on the bumpy construction roads of the ride route, the suspension soaked up potholes that would've upset much more expensive motorcycles. "This suspension is just soaking up bumps."

Rider experience & tech

Comfort is 7. Classic scooter body position, legs out in front at about 90°, upright torso, arms down and slightly back. Chase flagged two seat hot spots but overall found the ergonomics easy for a short ride. For a 5'10" / 32" rider, the fit works. Chase passed on a 6'2" gentleman's pre-purchase test ride, the taller rider found the bars too close and passed on the bike.

Tech scores 7. Keyless ignition (wireless key in pocket unlocks the bike automatically), LED lighting, LCD dash with gear/speed/fuel/odometer, underseat storage, adjustable windscreen, center stand. No TFT, no ride modes, no traction control, no ABS options. Honda's approach: give you exactly the tech that matters on a $4,449 scooter, skip everything else.

Ease of use is 7. CVT means no clutch and no shifting. Your entire interaction is twist throttle, use brakes. 30.7" seat height with flat-foot accessibility for most riders. Chase's read: "There's not many more easier things than a scooter, especially a Honda scooter." This is literally the most approachable motorcycle Honda sells.

Versatility is 7. City: excellent (this is the bike's natural habitat). Downtown commuting with awful roads: even better (the suspension carries the mission). Short rural rides on back roads: surprisingly good. Chase documented 67 mph top speed as usable. Highway: technically survivable but the power curve means you're a rolling chicane in fast traffic. Off-road: the styling suggests yes but the geometry and tires say no. Touring: absolutely not.

Fun-for-the-money is 7. $4,449 for a bike that made Chase laugh out loud and admit "This is what people mean. It is so much more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow." That's the value equation in one sentence.

The Chase Score & final thoughts

With a Chase Score of 60/100, Good Tier, the ADV 160 is the bike that makes you reconsider what "motorcycle" means. 25 ride points + 35 usability points = a machine that gives up the raw-performance metrics and wins on fun-density-per-dollar.

Buy it if you live in a dense city, if your commute is under 20 miles one-way and mostly non-highway, if you want a second bike specifically for zipping errands, or if you just want the cheapest way to actually enjoy being on two wheels. Skip it if your commute includes interstate travel, if you need two-up passenger capability, or if your ego rejects scooters on principle. Chase's close: "Bro, you all need to try a scooter out for sure." From a guy whose garage is full of liter-class weapons. That endorsement actually carries weight.