Honda recently released a quite unique (read: goofy) looking e-scooter, the Motocompacto, and I got the opportunity to take it on a test ride, and I think it’s safe to say that it made an impression.
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If you like attention, you’re going to want the Motocompacto. It is an eye-catching vehicle with its unusual briefcase-looking body and large canvas-like build. Honda said the idea for Motocompacto was, quite literally, to go for a ‘blank canvas’ that consumers can customize. This means decals, stickers, or skins—anything to make you stand out from the crowd and feel more connected to your ride.
While I get where Honda is coming from, a square design was chosen so that the scooter can easily be folded and stored. The idea is to fit in your car’s trunk or apartment easily. As the name suggests, the Motocompacto aims to be as compact as possible. I will say that the company did an excellent job in this area. I got to fold the bike multiple times and quickly got the hang of it.
Within a minute, it would turn from a full-fledged vehicle with wheels to a 40-pound suitcase with a handle for easy carrying. Living in a tiny Manhattan apartment with no bike room in the building, I am sold on the bike’s ability to fit under my bed when not in use.
Image: Honda
The seat and handle can easily be docked inside the scooter’s body, a slim and long container for storing your belongings when the bike is in use. Because of its shape, it’s suitable for storing some things better than others. For instance, it won’t be able to accommodate your bag but can fit your laptop easily. It carried my jacket during my ride, which was pretty helpful.
You can cruise up to 15mph on the Motocompacto and ride for up to 12 miles. Both the speed and range are pretty ordinary for a $1000 e-scooter. It takes just 3.5 hours to charge fully. The charger is a cute, small Motocompacto-shaped brick that looks like a miniature version of the scooter—points for its small size, minimal weight, and portable form factor.
Image: Honda
As far as the scooter’s build is concerned, it’s designed for cities and not rough terrain. Both the body of the bike as well as the tires can attest to that. So, if you’re looking for something that you can take on a rough adventure once in a while, you might want to look at a vehicle more sturdy and hardcore than the Motocompacto.
One gripe I had with Honda’s latest ride is that the seat and the handle aren’t adjustable. While Honda assured me multiple times that people of all body types have comfortably been able to ride the bike, I still feel it’s limiting not to offer adjustability, especially for folks with disabilities. It’s not quite really the most accessibility-friendly design.
The control panel on the scooter is straightforward and intuitive. There’s just one button that does everything from turning the vehicle on/off to cycling between the two modes. The first mode requires a little push from you to get the bike going, and the second one is more automatic and requires no effort from your feet.
Think of the former as a more beginner-friendly mode, which is for people who have gotten comfortable with the bike. I rode on the second mode the entire time, and it was pretty smooth. There’s also an LED display on top of the screen, which shows you your speed and whether any of the lights are on. Yes, there’s also a headlight and a taillight on the vehicle. However, there are no indicators on the Motocompacto.
Image: Honda
I think the only real advantage the Motocompacto has over other offerings in the same price tier is that it has that Honda label attached to it. If you run into any issues, you can always bring it to a Honda dealership. The $1000 price point might be a bit much for some, especially if you can’t get over its unique, rather untraditional design.