Scooters are a very, very common sight in the European and Asian markets, but not so much in the U.S. market. The long distances in between towns and cities, and not to mention the generally fast-paced traffic on the interstates and open roads just aren't conducive to riding scooters, unless, of course, you confine your scootering within the urban jungle.
Nevertheless, there's quite an interesting selection of scooters to choose from. Apart of course from the fancy Vespas, there are also other alternatives for riders looking for a more adventurous machine. Case in point: the Honda ADV 150. First launched in the Gaiikindo Indonesia International Auto Show in 2019, the ADV 150 would prove to be quite a popular scooter, and even make its way to the U.S. market, where it retailed for $4,299 USD.
Not long after, Honda updated the ADV 150 in the Asian market, and launched the ADV 160. Here, the bigger engine gave the scooter a tad more power, while making it compliant to new emissions regulations. As such, the new ADV 160 is set to hit the U.S. market, as well, where it's expected to be made available by July, 2023. Indeed, the 2024 Honda ADV 160 has already been listed in American Honda's website, where it has a sticker price of $4,499 excluding a $400 destination charge and $100 freight surcharge. Out the door, you'll be looking at a $5,000 scooter.
Given that price point, the Honda ADV 160 is priced at just a spitting distance away from a Vespa Sprint 150, retailing for $5,799. That being said, there are quite a few compelling reasons as to why one would opt for an ADV 160 as against a charming, classy Vespa. For starters, it's all in the name – who doesn't love a little scooter with a sense of adventure? Granted, don't expect to be tearing up the singletracks on the ADV 160, but a light gravel road, or a driveway leading up to a farmhouse? You can surely go full send.
Like the ADV 150 before it, the ADV 160 sports long-travel suspension when compared to other commuter scooters. It also rolls on dual-purpose tires, and has angular bodywork inspired from the styling of adventure bikes. On the performance-side of the equation, the ADV 160 gets a 156.9cc, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, single-cylinder engine with 15.8 horsepower and 10.3 pound-feet of torque. There's another plus here, as given its bigger displacement, it's now a freeway-legal scooter in most parts of the U.S., though I'm not so sure you're going to want to spend so much time on the highway on this scooter.
