Photography by Joseph McKimmy.

The Adventure segment has been on a tear, and Honda felt the time was right to extend its ADV tendrils into the scooter scene with the 2021 Honda ADV150. A concept contest among Honda?s various global motorcycle design teams spawned the ADV150. Each market?s needs were reflected in their designs, and the Thai team?s off-road themed scooter won the day.

Honda?s latest ADV-styled scooter is exactly that ? a Honda PCX150 with longer travel Showa suspension, 5.1-inches up front, and 4.7-inches in the rear. It also features a larger ABS-equipped 240mm disc brake at the bow and a drum brake without ABS in the stern. The brakes lack feeling, and power is biased to the rear, but there?s no issue of getting you stopped in a hurry. Plus, it has Honda X-ADV (not sold here) and Africa Twin-inspired dress to spice it up.
Big Red sees the ADV150 as an urban dicing, dirt-road capable scooter. But if the developing world has taught us anything, it?s that scooters don?t need an ADV moniker to tackle the dusty trail, and a lot of their pilots do it while wearing sandals, too.

The ADV150?s 149cc single-cylinder engine has enough gumption to put 55 mph on the LCD instrument panel relatively quickly. I even saw 65 mph displayed, but roll-on power has waned by then. With a centrifugal clutch, all you need to do is twist the grip and go. It?s fuel-efficient, too, averaging upward of 75-plus mpg.  

Balance and handling are more than grin e...