There’s no quicker way to feel like a kid again than hopping on a mini bike, but there’s more than just novelty and fond memories powering the mini moto scene. These bikes are a fun way to get around and grow skills, but they’re also the gateway to the sport for the uninitiated, with low seat heights, easy-going ergonomics and manageable power levels.
Whether you’re preparing for your license or just looking to spice up your morning commute, any of these 2024 street-legal mini bikes prove that big things come in small packages.
- Honda Grom
- Benelli TNT135
- Honda Navi
- Kawasaki Z125 Pro
- CAKE Makka
- CFMOTO XO Papio Racer
- Honda Monkey ABS
2025 Honda Grom
At a glance 124 cc, air-cooled four-stroke single, 9.7 hp, 10.4 Nm, standard 5-speed, 12-inch alloy wheels, 31 mm inverted fork, disc brakes.
Introduced nearly a decade ago, there’s no conversation about street-legal minis without the Honda Grom. The Grom’s quirky, customizable character has stood the test of time, and Honda gave its staple mini a full facelift for 2025.
Combining blocky sport-bike flair with scaled-down dimensions and a 30-inch seat height, the Grom has always been about fun and accessibility. The fuel-injected, 124 cc four-stroke engine and five-speed transmission provide predictable performance for entry-level riders, with a top speed of around 60 mph for urban and backroad commuting.
The Grom’s inverted fork, disc brakes, 12-inch wheels and passenger pegs have become standard equipment in the mini moto class. Suspension travel is right around 4 inches [101.6 mm], which is competitive among its peers, but don’t expect large bumps to go unnoticed. Ready to ride, the Grom weighs 223 pounds and has an estimated economy of 166 mpg and a 1.6-gallon fuel capacity.
In surfing language, grom refers to an amateur who will someday go pro, and this benchmark mini certainly provides thrill for all skill levels. Assembled with Honda’s legendary build quality, and boasting some of the best aftermarket support in the industry, expect the Grom to remain relevant for years to come. [Honda | Honda Grom customs]
2024 Benelli TNT135
At a glance 135 cc, air/oil-cooled four-stroke single, 11.3 hp, 7.4 Nm, standard 5-speed, 12-inch alloy wheels, 41 mm inverted fork, disc brakes.
Sharp European looks in a tiny affordable platform, the Benelli TNT135 is a pleasing synergy of Italian design and Chinese manufacturing. It’s more than just a Grom alternative, and the influence of Benelli’s 302S model can be seen in the trellis chassis and svelte plastics.
Power comes from a 135 cc air/oil-cooled, four-valve engine, making a tick above 11 hp, and the transmission is a standard five-speed. The TNT’s base dimensions are on par with the Grom, but the Benelli is fit with a beefier 41 mm inverted fork with 4.7” [120 mm] of travel. You’ll feel the extra 30 pounds of curb weight, but the TNT holds more fuel, and the extra beef seems to come from the right places.
Benelli’s TNT135 gets extra points for its flush signals, projector-style headlight and twin-tip exhaust. While the model remains unchanged for the current model year, the TNT is still one of the most affordable bikes in its class and is available in four vibrant colorways.
Stateside, the Benelli TNT135 is available through SSR’s U.S. dealer network. [Benelli]
2024 Honda Navi
At a glance 109 cc, air-cooled four-stroke single, 7.9 hp, 8.9 Nm, CVT automatic, 12”F/10”R steel wheels, 27 mm inverted fork, drum brakes.
The mini moto scene has exploded in recent years, but there’s no denying that manual transmissions and MSRPs are still some of the biggest barriers to entry for new riders. Boasting simple twist-and-go riding, Honda’s venerable build quality and a U.S. price (just) under $2,000, Honda’s Navi is the perfect initiation to the world of two wheels.
Is the Navi a bike or a scooter? I guess it depends on where you draw the line, as the Navi’s upright ergonomics and CVT automatic transmission are standard moped fare, but its controls bear a stronger resemblance to the rest of Honda’s mini-moto fleet. It’s more powerful than most scooters as well, with a 109 cc air-cooled single producing 7.9 hp, and it’s capable of speeds over 50 mph.
The Navi brings an astonishing amount of standard equipment to the table, including electric start with a backup kicker, a 15-liter storage compartment and a two-up seat with passenger pegs. It’s also available in four striking colors, and Honda’s level of fit and finish makes the Navi feel like a pricer bike. As with the Grom, Honda is leveraging the ease of customization with the Navi right out of the gate, evidenced by this killer Navi custom from Steady Garage.
If you want to nitpick, you’re more likely to feel imperfections in the road given the Navi’s 12”F/10”R wheel combo and suspension travel (3.5”F, 2.8”R [88.9 mm F, 71.1 mm R]), but these figures aren’t far from the norm for the class. The bike is also fit with drum brakes, which are coupled when the foot brake is used, and testers report they’re more than up to the task. [Honda]
2024 Kawasaki Z125 Pro
At a glance 125 cc, air-cooled four-stroke single, 8.3 hp, 7.1 Nm, standard 4-speed, 12-inch alloy wheels, inverted fork—3.9″ stroke, disc brakes.
Kawasaki’s entry in the mini bike market has been fiercely compared to the Grom since its debut in 2015, and you’ll find plenty of advocates for each on the web. Boasting comfortable ergonomics and sporty dimensions, the Z125 Pro was built for mini moto performance.
The Kawasaki Z125 Pro has a refreshing degree of fit and finish, with more complete plastics and a sporty full-length seat accommodating a passenger. You’ll sit a little higher on the Z, with its 31.7-inch seat height, which is a big plus for larger riders. Suspension travel is roughly 4” [101.6 mm] on both ends, and the bike weighs 224 pounds at the curb with a full 2 gallons of fuel.
Kawasaki’s 125 cc engine is fit with fuel injection and a four-speed transmission, good for 8.3 hp, and capable of around 65 mph. While the Z is a couple of decimals lower on power and has just four gears to play with, its sporty 46-inch wheelbase, lower gearing and rev-happy performance make it arguably more enjoyable in the twisties.
The Z125 is available in three high-impact paint schemes but is otherwise the same machine we saw in 2023. [Kawasaki]
2024 CAKE Makka
At a glance interior permanent magnet motor, 1.55 kW, 60 Nm, direct drive (hub motor), removable 31 Ah lithium battery, 14-inch spoked wheels, telescoping—3.54″ stroke, disc brake.
The best solution is often a simple one, and if you’re not the type who relishes changing oil and pumping gas, the sophisticated CAKE Makka offers easy twist-and-go commuting with plug-and-play convenience.
The Makka is one of the most versatile electrics on the market, with a clean step-through design that’s street-legal and infinitely customizable. It’s much lighter than gas-powered minis at 154 pounds, and its 1.55 kW power plant will return a range of 41 miles and 28 mph.
The Makka is equipped with regenerative braking and multiple riding modes, allowing riders to balance top speed and battery life. A full charge from 0% can be achieved in three hours with a standard home outlet, and the lithium battery pack can also be quickly swapped.
While urban commuting is certainly the name of the game, the Makka is fit with surprisingly rugged features permitting light off-road use, including a 6061-T6 aluminum frame, 14-inch Kenda trials-type rubber, tapered handlebars and long-travel suspension. Best of all, CAKE offers loads of accessories to customize the Makka for your taste and intended use, including surf racks, top boxes, passenger seats and trick-looking colorful windscreens. [CAKE]
2024 CFMOTO XO Papio Racer
At a glance 126 cc, air-cooled four-stroke single, 9.4 hp, 9.2 Nm, standard 6-speed, 12-inch alloy wheels, 150 mm ground clearance, disc brakes.
Incorporating classic sport bike aesthetics in a pint-sized mini moto is a surefire way to create an instant classic—remember the YSR50? CFMOTO took a page from Yamaha’s book in designing the 2024 XO Papio Racer (or Papio SS in the U.S.), and while it’s nothing more than a Papio ST in fancy clothes, the grin-inducing cosmetics make all the difference.
The Papio platform starts with a steel chassis wrapped around a 126 cc, air-cooled single fed by Bosch EFI. The transmission is a standard six-speed, making the most of the Papio’s 9.4 hp and 6.8 lb-ft of torque, and the 12-inch alloys are fit with disc brakes with standard ABS. As approachable as any other bike in the group, the Papio Racer’s saddle sits just 29.9” off the pavement, and weighs 251 pounds at the curb.
While we wouldn’t want to discount the nuts and bolts, it’s the packaging that trips our trigger and makes the Papio Racer stand out. Twin LED headlights front the blocky, fixed bodywork, emulating great sport bikes of the ’80s and ’90s, and the design carries back to the rear with twin taillights and sculpted exhaust. The chunky 1.9-gallon fuel tank is incorporated seamlessly, and they’ve even fit a chin spoiler and clip-on bars.
As unique as they come, the XO Papio Racer embodies everything we love about the mini moto scene, and given CFMOTO’s growing presence stateside, we intend to throw a leg over one ASAP. [CFMOTO]
2024 Honda Monkey ABS
At a glance 124 cc, air-cooled four-stroke single, 9.3 hp, 8.1 Nm, standard 5-speed, 12-inch alloy wheels, 31 mm inverted fork, disc brakes.
Fun size with huge character, the Honda Monkey puts a completely different spin on the Grom’s mechanicals. The design comes from the iconic 1970s Honda Z50, and despite increased overall dimensions, the visual effect is just as striking.
In addition to its retro cosmetics, the Monkey ditches the Grom’s full-length seat and passenger pegs for a solo saddle. Dual rear shocks replace the Grom’s single, and the wheelbase is shorter at 45 inches. It’s also lighter at 231 pounds and squeaks out a few extra mpg.
With a retro fuel tank, chunky tires and high-mounted fenders and exhaust, the Monkey feels more off-roady than the Grom, even if it has the same 4 inches [101.6 mm] of suspension travel. You’ll pay a $700 premium for this pint-sized throwback, but we’d consider that money well spent if you’re the nostalgic type.
The Monkey ABS is the only model in the range for 2024 and comes in Pearl Nebula Red and Pearl Black colorways. [Honda | Honda Monkey customs]
