There is no faster way There’s no better way to feel like a kid again than jumping on a mini bike, but there’s more to the novelty and fond memories that fuel the minibike scene. These bikes are a fun way to get around and develop skills, but they’re also a gateway into the sport for the uninitiated, with low seat heights, easy ergonomics and manageable power levels.
Whether you’re getting ready to get your driver’s license or just want to make your morning commute more fun, any of these 2024 road-legal mini bikes prove that big things come in small packages.
Honda Grom 2025
Glance 124cc, four-stroke, air-cooled engine, 9.7bhp, 10.4Nm torque, standard 5-speed gearbox, 12-inch alloy wheels, 31mm upside-down forks, disc brakes.
Introduced nearly a decade ago, no conversation about street-legal mini cars is complete without Honda Grom. The Grom’s quirky and customizable personality has stood the test of time, and Honda has given its flagship mini a comprehensive upgrade for 2025.
Combining boxy sport bike styling with a compact size and 30-inch seat height, the Grom is all about fun and approachability. Its fuel-injected 124cc four-stroke engine and five-speed transmission deliver predictable performance for the novice rider, with a top speed of around 60 mph for city and country riding.
The Grom’s inverted forks, disc brakes, 12-inch wheels, and passenger pegs have become standard equipment in the minibike segment. Suspension travel is just about 4 inches. [101.6 mm]competitive with its rivals, but don’t expect big bumps to go unnoticed. Ready to ride, the Grom weighs 223 pounds and has an estimated fuel economy of 166 mpg and a fuel capacity of 1.6 gallons.
In surf lingo, a grom refers to an amateur who will one day turn pro, and this benchmark mini certainly delivers on excitement for all skill levels. Built with Honda’s legendary build quality and boasting some of the best aftermarket support in the business, expect the Grom to remain relevant for years to come. [Honda | Honda Grom customs]
2024 Benelli TNT135
Glance 135cc, four-stroke, air/oil-cooled engine, 11.3bhp, 7.4Nm torque, standard 5-speed gearbox, 12-inch alloy wheels, 41mm upside-down forks, disc brakes.
Crisp European beauty in a small affordable platform, Benelli TNT135 is a harmonious blend of Italian design and Chinese manufacturing. It is more than just an alternative to the Grom, and the influence of the Benelli 302S can be seen in the trellis frame and thin plastics.
Power comes from a 135cc air/oil-cooled four-valve engine that produces over 11 horsepower, and the gearbox is a standard five-speed unit. The TNT’s wheelbase is the same as the Grom’s, but the Benelli has beefier 41mm upside-down forks with 4.7” of travel. [120 mm] of the trip. You’ll feel the extra 30 pounds of curb weight, but the TNT holds more fuel and the extra meat seems to come from the right place.
Benelli’s TNT135 gets extra points for its turn signals, projector-style headlight and twin exhausts. While the model remains unchanged for its current model year, the TNT remains one of the most affordable bikes in its class and comes in four vibrant colours.
In the United States, the Benelli TNT135 is available through the SSR dealer network in the United States. [Benelli]
Honda Navi 2024
Glance 109 cc, four-stroke, air-cooled engine, 7.9 horsepower, 8.9 Nm torque, CVT automatic transmission, 12”F/10”R steel wheels, 27 mm inverted forks, drum brakes.
The minibike scene has exploded in recent years, but there’s no denying that manual transmissions and MSRPs remain some of the biggest barriers to entry for new riders. Boasting simple handling, respectable Honda build quality, and a price in the U.S. (only) under $2,000, Honda Navi is the perfect start to the world of two-wheelers.
Is the Navi a bike or a scooter? I guess it depends where you draw the line, as the Navi’s upright ergonomics and CVT automatic transmission are standard on motorcycles, but its controls are more in line with Honda’s other minibikes. It’s also more powerful than most scooters, with a 109cc air-cooled single that makes 7.9 horsepower and can reach speeds in excess of 50 mph.
The Navi comes with a surprising amount of standard equipment, including electric start with a spare kick, a 15-litre storage compartment and a dual-purpose seat with a passenger footrest. It also comes in four striking colours, and Honda’s level of fit and finish makes the Navi feel like a more expensive bike. Like the Grom, Honda is embracing the ease of customisation with the Navi from the start, as evidenced by this stunning custom Navi from Steady Garage.
If you’re nitpicking, you’re more likely to sense road imperfections thanks to the Navi’s 12″F/10″R wheels and suspension travel (3.5″F, 2.8″R). [88.9 mm F, 71.1 mm R]), but these figures are not far from the norm for this class. The bike is also equipped with drum brakes, which are paired when using the foot brake, and testers reported that they were perfectly capable of the task. [Honda]
Kawasaki Z125 Pro 2024
Glance 125cc, four-stroke, air-cooled engine, 8.3bhp, 7.1Nm torque, 4-speed standard, 12-inch alloy wheels, inverted forks—3.9in travel, disc brakes.
Kawasaki’s entry into the minibike market has been heavily compared to the Grom since its launch in 2015, and you’ll find plenty of people on the web advocating for both. With comfortable ergonomics and sporty dimensions, the Z125 Pro is built for minibike performance.
The Kawasaki Z125 Professional There’s a fresh level of fit and finish, with better-finished plastics and a sporty bench seat that can accommodate a passenger. You’ll sit a little higher on the Z, with a 31.7-inch seat height, which is a big plus for larger riders. Suspension travel is around 4” [101.6 mm] at both ends, and the bike weighs 224 pounds with a 2 gallon fuel fill-up.
The Kawasaki’s 125cc engine is fuel-injected and has a four-speed transmission, making 8.3 horsepower and capable of hitting around 65 mph. While the Z has a few decimal places less power and only has four gears to work with, its sporty 46-inch wheelbase, lower gearing, and high-revving performance make it potentially more fun to corner.
The Z125 comes in three striking paint schemes, but is otherwise identical to the model we saw in 2023. [Kawasaki]
MAKA CAKE 2024
Glance internal permanent magnet motor, 1.55 kW, 60 Nm, direct drive (hub motor), removable 31 Ah lithium battery, 14 inch spoked wheels, telescopic—3.54″ travel, disc brakes.
The best solution is often a simple one, and if you’re not a fan of changing oil and pumping gas, then a sophisticated solution MAKA CAKE Provides on-the-go convenience with just plug and play.
The Makka is one of the most versatile electric vehicles on the market, with a clean, street-legal design and endless customization. It’s much lighter than gas-powered minis at 154 pounds, and its 1.55kW motor will give it a range of 41 miles and a range of 28 mph.
The Makka features regenerative braking and multiple riding modes, allowing riders to balance top speed and battery life. It can be fully charged from 0% in three hours using a standard household socket, and the lithium battery pack can also be quickly swapped.
While urban commuting is certainly the name of the game, the Makka is packed with surprising features that certainly lend themselves to light off-road use, including a 6061-T6 aluminum frame, 14-inch Kenda trials rubber, tapered handlebars, and long-travel suspension. Best of all, CAKE offers a variety of accessories to customize the Makka to your taste and intended use, including surf racks, top boxes, passenger seats, and a colorful windshield that looks seriously cool. [CAKE]
CFMOTO XO Papio 2024 Racing Car
Glance 126 cc, four-stroke, air-cooled engine, 9.4 horsepower, 9.2 Nm torque, standard 6-speed gearbox, 12-inch alloy wheels, 150 mm ground clearance, disc brakes.
Incorporating classic sport bike aesthetics into a small minibike is a surefire way to create an instant classic—remember the YSR50? CFMOTO took a page from Yamaha’s book when designing XO Papio 2024 Racing Car (or Papio SS in the US), and while it’s nothing more than a Papio ST dressed up in luxury, it’s the smile-inducing cosmetics that make the difference.
The Papio platform starts with a steel chassis housing a 126cc, air-cooled, Bosch EFI engine. The transmission is a standard six-speed unit, making the most of the Papio’s 9.4 horsepower and 6.8 lb-ft of torque, and the 12-inch alloys are equipped with disc brakes with standard ABS. As accessible as any other bike in the group, the Papio Racer’s seat sits just 29.9 inches off the pavement and it weighs 251 pounds when stopped.
While we don’t want to overlook the little details, it’s the packaging that really gets us and makes the Papio Racer stand out. Twin LED headlights sit on the fixed front fairing, echoing the great sport bikes of the 80s and 90s, and the design carries over to the rear with twin taillights and a sculpted exhaust. The massive 1.9-gallon fuel tank is seamlessly integrated, and they even add a chin spoiler and clip-on handlebars.
While unique, the XO Papio Racer embodies everything we love about mini motos, and with CFMOTO’s growing presence in the US, we plan to launch one soon. [CFMOTO]
Honda Monkey ABS 2024
Glance 124cc, four-stroke, air-cooled engine, 9.3 horsepower, 8.1 Nm torque, standard 5-speed gearbox, 12-inch alloy wheels, 31mm upside-down forks, disc brakes.
A fun size with a big personality, the Honda Monkey brings a completely different twist to the Grom’s mechanicals. The design is derived from the iconic Honda Z50 of the 1970s, and despite the increased overall size, the visual impact is just as impressive.
In addition to the retro look, the Monkey ditches the Grom’s long seat and passenger footpegs in favor of a single-piece seat. Dual rear shocks replace the Grom’s monoshock, and the wheelbase is shorter at 45 inches. It’s also lighter at 231 pounds, which should help it get a few more mpg.
With its classic gas tank, big tires and fenders and high-mounted exhaust, the Monkey has a better off-road feel than the Grom, even if it has the same 4-inch size. [101.6 mm] of suspension travel. You’ll have to pay an extra $700 for this little piece of nostalgia, but we think it’s worth it if you’re a nostalgic type.
The Monkey ABS is the only model in the 2024 lineup and comes in Pearl Nebula Red and Pearl Black color schemes. [Honda | Honda Monkey customs]
