2025 Honda ADV 160 first impression review

I took a bus from JB to KL and collected the new 2025 Honda ADV 160 from Wheelergate KL on 7 April 2025. Immediately rode up the Genting mid level to enjoy 2 nights stay in cool weather and the great company of Ronnie and Anil. 

Wheelergate specialist, Yao as usual was helpful and spend more than 30 mins helping me install the quad lock. Why 30 mins? The new mirrors twin nuts refused to come loose even after using 2 spanners and wheel auto screw driver, so the quad mirror mount cannot be installed.

Finally used masking tape as workaround to make the handle bar thick enough to use the Quad handle bar mount without the rubber, as the rubber was too thick. Interesting that the ADV handle bar is thicker than my Deluxe handle bar. I like the looks of thick handlebars.  I need the quad lock on the handle bar so that I can mount my iphone there and use the phone’s GPS to navigate to Genting Highlands.

Like many newbie in KL, I made a wrong turn on the KL highway with 5 way spit and ended up on the wrong highway. Took me 30 mins to get off that wrong highway, look for a petrol station, pump petrol so I do not run out of petrol on the highway, and get back to where I was before. From KL to Genting mid level, the ADV160 consumed only 1.3l of petrol, which cost a grand sum of Rm2.70. Amazingly frugal.

As my daily rider is a 2012 Harley Deluxe with 103CI engine and lots of power and torque, it’s not surprising I find the ADV160 initially feels underpowered and very weak, even though I was not expecting much from a single cylinder. 

However after 30 mins of riding the KL streets, around heavy traffic and smooth highway, I recalibrated my expectations and find that the ADV160 is more than enough for quick city riding, and also for 70kmh on mountain roads.

Later on way from Genting > KL > JB, I was surprised to find that I can cruise seeming all day at 100km. 115kmh was possible too if you give it time to speed up. However the extra oomph was not there so at 100+kmh overtaking takes a long time. Such overtaking require more planning. 

As the NS highway KL to JB was not crowded I drove the ADV160 on the slow lane all the time, only coming out to the faster lane briefly to overtake the slower trucks. I’m not used to riding on the shoulder even though in certain places it was quite wide and many riders use it, so I did not ride on the road shoulder. Riding on the slow lane works well as there was always 1 or 2 faster lanes for the faster traffic to overtake me. 

Around KL the other scooters riders zoom pass me as they are not used to riding below the speed limit which is 110kmh on the highway and 70kmh in some places, 50kmh in the city, but I’m happy to cruise at the speed limit. And not need to watch out for speeding cameras or traffic police. 

Started ride early 7 am first light from Genting mid level on 9 April and made good progress on the relatively light traffic from Genting > KL > JB.  Good to see the early morning weekday jam going the opposite direction while my direction has smooth traffic. Nice to be able to take the smooth 16km highway (KL highway E39) above the KL city, even though the speed limit was 70kmh. 

Great that I do not need to pay any highway toll for motorbikes during this trip as no toll is needed for bikes in Msia. 

The Good – ADV 160

1. The ADV160’s design looks great to me. I like the sporty stance, bar handles, Showa rear shocks, front headlights and windshied. Both Front and rear disk brakes.
2. The ADV is exceptionally well build, befitting the reputation of Honda. I think the build quality is so good it feels like it can easily last 30+ years with normal maintenance, and doing the mandatory CVT replacement when needed. 
3. Switch gear, handle bar, body panels, seat etc all works well and looks good to my taste.
4. I like exposed handle bars of the ADV160 and Vespa GTV.  They make the these scooters look more like a motorcycle to me.
5. I overtake at 100+kmh an old vespa PX doing 80+ on the highway. I like the looks, sound and classic design of the PX, but it’s highway capability is nowhere near the ADV160. 
6. The new ADV160 in Msia cost around RM15k on the road. A good price.

The Bad – ADV 160

1. On a few occasions, after cruising at 100+kmh, slowing down to 80+ feels rough as the CVT struggle to find the correct ratio. I hope this is only temporary as the bike is still new. The manual says refrain from full throttle for first 500km and I’ve followed that.
2. The left mirror nut could not be removed to install the quad phone mount
3. Seat and suspension is good and comfortable enough for long rides and on city, mountain and highways. Was not expecting more here.
4. On several occasions, I need to keep bike stable when overtaking trucks at 100+. This is probably due to the light weight of the bike.
5. I hear the CVT gear is one weak point, which needs replacement when worn. I hope that the CVT gear will last long time, especially as I ride gently.
6. There is a convenient USB port in the mini glove box the below the left handle car, which is great for charging the phone if kept in the glove box. However it’s USB A so I need a USB A>C cable to use it on my iphone. A USB C port will be much more modern and convinent.
7. The door to the mini glove box with this USB port close tightly to be somewhat water tight from rain and does not have a slot to allow my USB cable to be connected to the phone on the handlebar when close. So as a workaround I ride the bike with the door open so that my phone can be charged while using the high power consumption GPS features of the phone.

Final thoughts. 

1. The ADV 160 exceeds my expectations of what a 160cc scooter can be. I was expecting less of comfort, suspension compliance, engine performce and fast cruise than what the ADV160 delivered. That capability and with good luggage rails and I can see why some people are perfectly happy to be riding scooters all of the time.
2. The ADV and other small scooters are perfect bikes for town, city, beach and short distance riding. Fast, slim, manoeuvrable, easy to park, able to pack some stuff in the body and hang stuff from handlebar.
3. Started riding from Genting mid level at 7am in the morning and reach JB Medini at 1:30pm, after a couple of stops for 95 octance petrol, drinks and food.
4. The mystery: ADV160 fuel consumption was 2.66 l/100 km, while Harley Deluxe is double at 4.99 l/100 km. While the 160cc single’s fuel consumtion is so frugal and good, I’m suprised that the 1704cc twin fuel consumption, at 10x the size of 160cc, is only 2x of the 160cc and not much more than that. Perhaps the fact the the CVT automatically leaves the ADV at 6000+ rpm all the time, while on the Harley I normally ride at 2,500 rpm has something to do with it. Go figure.
5. It’s weird to ride a scooter with both knees together instead of a tank and engine between the legs. I cannot use the legs to grip the tank to hold the bike steady, so need to put in extra effort to hold handle bar steady instead. The ADV’s steering and suspension was very plush, neutral and confortable, so it was easy and low efford to ride.
6. I wonder about Wondering Wasp, how she can ride a scooter around South East Asia and around the world. She has extraordinary patience and endurance.
7. There were occasions when I was trying to accelerate faster on the ADV160, when I thought maybe the ADV 350 (RM35k) or the ADV750 (RM70k) will be better and more fun. However those occasions were few and I am happy with the ADV160 (RM15k).
8. I am spoiled by the Harley Deluxe for comfort and torque. With the Harley I can easy speed up and place the bike where I want to be on the highway without delay, all the time with a smooth suspension and low rumbing soundtrack. Also love the 6 speed manual gears. Nothing beats 6MT for me in bikes and cars. So for long distance riding or slow crusing,the Harley is the way for me. Nothing beats that.
   

Genting Highlands

The weather of Genting Highands, like Cameron Highlands is perfact for me, and great for plants, trees, vegetables and fruit trees. The tropical forest in this regions has a diverse trees, plants. and bushes. In April the temperate range of Genting Highlands is a cool balmy 20 to 27 degrees C, while the temp in SG and KL are warmer 25 to 31 degrees C. Cameron Highland is a cool 3 degress cooler than Genting Highland. Perfect.

10 April 2025