Eight Great Minimotos for Everyone

Most modern motorcycles are bulky, heavy, and intended for trained riders. If you are young or inexperienced, you will find only a handful of motorcycles that suit your skill level. However, for older and underage riders who cannot handle large and bulky motorcycles, minimotos are the best options. Minimotos, also known as mini or pocket-sized motorcycles, are small in size, lightweight, and compact. Despite being built for novice, young, and older riders, minimotos have become popular among riders who want to learn and improve their skills. Minimotos are useful motorcycles due to being easy to handle, affordable, and maneuverable. They are usually powered by small-displacement engines and are highly fuel efficient due to being lightweight, which makes them suited for regular use. Read this article to learn about eight great minimotos for everyone.

Minimotos were built drawing inspiration from scooters. Scooters were also a popular mode of transportation as they were lightweight and fitted with small engines. Minimotos were initially hand-built and only used as a pit bike by drag racers. The first minimotos prototypes were hand-built by three brothers, Regis, Larry, and Ray Michrina, and were sent to Troy Ruttman, a drag racer and dealer. Unfortunately, the Michrina brothers failed to get a patent. This allowed Lil Indian to start producing and selling thousands of minimotos in 1959. These mini motorcycles quickly gained popularity, with several large and small motorcycle manufacturers starting to produce their own minimotos.

The older minimotos were too small, resulting in their popularity declining over time as the new adult-sized minimotos became more common. Honda is one of the leading manufacturers of adult-sized minimotos and produces several successful models mentioned in this article.

The Honda Grom is a sporty-style mini motorcycle in the standard category. It was introduced in 2014 and immediately became popular due to its stylish design and versatile performance. It revolutionized the minimoto market due to being cheap, reliable, stylish, and beginner-friendly. Apart from vast global recognition, the Honda Grom also received the USA Motorcycle of the Year Award in 2014.

The 2024 Honda Grom is available in three trims: the basic, ABS, and SP versions. It is one of the coolest and most easily customizable mini motorcycles. The Honda Grom is powered by a 124 cc engine capable of a horsepower of 9.7 hp and a torque of 10.44 Nm. With a fuel mileage of 166.5 mpg, the Honda Grom is an economical motorcycle. It is also equipped with a programmed fuel injection, LED lights, and hydraulic disc brakes, along with an optional ABS for reliable braking. The 2024 standard Honda Grom model is available for $3,599. Meanwhile, the ABS model costs $3,799.

Introduced in 2019. the Honda Monkey was based on the Honda Grom and drew inspiration from the Honda Z50M. The Honda Monkey is a cruiser-style mini motorcycle with a retro front-end look, padded rider seat, and fat tires. It is powered by a 125 cc engine capable of a horsepower of 9.7 hp and a torque of 10.98 Nm. The Honda Monkey ensures a thrilling riding experience due to being nimble and easily maneuverable. It is equipped with a standard ABS, five-speed transmission, and a 1.5-gallon fuel tank. With its small size, small engine, and programmed fuel injection, the Honda Monkey is an economical motorcycle with good fuel mileage. Being a cruiser, it is also easy to customize. The Honda Monkey costs $4,249 due to being fitted with a standard ABS and cruiser styling.

The Honda Trail 125, or the Honda CT125, was introduced in America in 2021. This motorcycle’s looks drew inspiration from the original Honda CT110. This minimoto is not shaped like a regular motorcycle and has a hidden fuel tank under the seat. Despite being a retro motorcycle, it is equipped with programmed fuel injection, a four-speed semi-automatic transmission, and a standard ABS. The 124.9 cc single-cylinder engine is capable of a horsepower of 8.71 hp at 7,000 rpm and a torque of 11 Nm at 4,500 rpm.

The 2023 Honda Trail 125 received a new stroke and bore to ensure better power delivery, low-end torque, and fuel efficiency. It has a simple and compact design with a solo rider seat and a large luggage rack installed on top of the rear mudguard. Being a lightweight and compact motorbike, it can be easily loaded and unloaded from an RV. The semi-automatic transmission allows riders to shift gears without having to engage the clutch. Gear shifting can be easily done by using the heel-toe shifter with your left foot like with standard motorcycles. The Honda Trail 125 also comes with an electric starter, along with a supplementary kickstart option. Despite being an efficient minimoto, it costs only $3,999.

The Honda Navi is one of the most simple, standard minimoto, ideal for city travel and daily use. It has a modern and compact design with a 109 cc single-cylinder engine capable of a horsepower of 8 hp at 7,000 rpm and a torque of 8.69 Nm at 5,500 rpm. The 2023 Honda Navi is available in four stylish single-tone color schemes. You can also customize it using the factory-made Honda Navi graphics kits. Despite being a small motorbike, the Honda Navi can be used for two-up riding. The most prominent feature of this motorcycle is the automatic transmission. You can comfortably ride this motorcycle without needing to engage the clutch and shift gears. The CVT transmission does not have a park or neutral gear. You only have to turn it on and twist the throttle.

Despite its compact design, the Honda Navi also comes with a small integrated storage space. The electric starter, supplementary kickstart, telescopic front suspension, and unique styling make this a great minimoto for beginners, costing only $1,807.

The Honda Super Cub is one of the oldest and most highly produced motorcycles since 1958. Despite still being in production, this motorcycle’s styling has not changed much. Honda has produced several variants over time, with the engine displacement ranging from 49-124 cc. Besides being a highly useful motorcycle, the advertising and branding dedicated to the Honda Super Cub helped make it a great success. It became the highest-selling motorcycle worldwide due to being economical, reliable, useful, and simple.

The Honda Super Cub C125 was introduced in the U.S. in 2018. Its programmed fuel-injected 124 cc engine is capable of a horsepower of 9.7 hp and a torque of 10.33 Nm. The 2023 model features a front-wheel ABS, programmed fuel injection, and an electric starter. The standard semi-automatic transmission allows riders to ride smoothly without needing to engage the clutch. The rider only needs to shift gears using the heel-toe shifter.

The Kawasaki Z125 Pro is a stylish naked/standard mini motorcycle with a distinct look and aggressive styling. Despite being low-powered, this motorcycle is suitable for beginners and experienced riders. The Kawasaki Z125 Pro comes with a sharp headlight design and an aggressive-style fuel tank to give this vehicle an overall sporty look. It is also fitted with a single-piece saddle for comfortable two-up riding.

The Kawasaki Z125 Pro is available in three unique single-tone color schemes with different wheel colors, including the gold-anodized telescopic front fork. The backbone-style steel trellis frame gives this motorbike a compact design that improves its handling and cornering capabilities. The Kawasaki Z125 Pro’s wet weight of 224.8 lbs makes it highly maneuverable and nimble. The 125 cc engine provides a horsepower of 9.24 hp and a torque of 9.6 Nm at 6,000 rpm. The 2023 Kawasaki Z125 Pro features a digital fuel injection and a 2-gallon fuel tank, making it ideal for city travel and daily use. It is robust and easy to navigate through traffic thanks to its good throttle response. To keep the price low at $3,399, the Kawasaki Z125 Pro does not include an ABS.

The Benelli TNT135 is one of the Honda Grom’s main competitors, along with the Kawasaki Z125 Pro. It is manufactured in Italy, assembled in China, and distributed in the U.S. by SSR Motorsports. The Benelli TNT135 has a more aggressive look with its chiseled fuel tank design, exposed frame, distinct headlight design, and sporty-style front mudguard. This motorcycle is powered by a 134.7 cc single-cylinder engine capable of a horsepower of 11.3 hp at 8,500 rpm and a torque of 10 Nm at 7,000 rpm. The Benelli TNT135 has electronic fuel injection, a final chain drive, and a five-speed transmission for smooth power delivery and throttle response. It has a slightly bigger wheelbase than other minimotos, ensuring better linear stability.

Despite being a mini motorcycle, the Benelli TNT135 looks like a full-sized standard bike due to being fitted with beefier parts. It is available in four color schemes. The Benelli TNT135 offers a sportier riding style due to being fitted with backward-mounted footpegs and has a taller seat height. Despite its high-class performance and unique look, this motorcycle costs only $3,199.

The UBCO 2x2 is a uniquely designed electric bike with a plain build. It has a basket-like frame with luggage racks at the front and rear. The UBCO 2x2’s minimalist design includes a battery, a solo rider seat, a small LED headlight, turn signals, and electric-powered front and rear wheels. It is available in three trims, including a special edition, an on- and off-road variant, and an off-road-only version. The UBCO 2x2 electric bike features a powerful 3.1 kWh battery and brushless DC motors to power the front and rear wheels, making it ideal for off-roading on rough terrain. It is extremely lightweight, weighing only 155 lbs, and can carry a maximum weight capacity of 330 lbs (including the rider).

The only drawback of the standard UBCO 2x2 is its high price tag. The least expensive UBCO 2x2 trim is the off-road-only version costing $3,999. Meanwhile, the on- and off-road UBCO 2x2 costs $4,999. According to the test run, it has a maximum range of 75 miles while riding at a constant speed of 20 mph. The UBCO 2x2 also features hydraulic brakes and adjustable suspension for a comfortable off-roading experience. Due to being extremely lightweight, it is highly maneuverable and can navigate dirt trails with ease.

Minimotos are a suitable choice for riders who are young, inexperienced, and looking to learn how to ride a motorcycle. They are equally popular among experienced riders due to being capable of robust performance and unmatched agility. You can also learn how to maintain and repair a motorcycle with a minimoto. Mini motorcycles are also quite handy for older riders who cannot handle bulky motorcycles. Due to being nimble and robust, minimotos are quite versatile and easy to ride. If you are looking to buy a lightweight, entry-level motorcycle, any of the minimotos mentioned in this article will do.

If you are looking to customize your street motorcycle or cruiser, Viking Bags has a variety of aftermarket parts you can install to improve the look, performance, storage capacity, and comfort. For street motorbikes, Viking Bags offer saddlebags, tail bags, backpacks, and tank bags. For cruisers, there are several modifications and luggage options to choose from, including sissy bars, fairings, crash bars, backrests, handlebars, saddlebags, trunk bags, and sissy bar bags.