SH150i (KF40)

The SH150i is Honda's big-wheel answer to the city. Where most scooters roll on small rims, this one runs 16-inch wheels front and rear, and that one decision defines it. Cobblestones, tram tracks and broken pavement stop being events and become background. The 157 cc liquid-cooled eSP+ single makes 17 hp and 11 lb-ft, tuned for smooth, frugal delivery rather than a jump off the line, and it returns 106 mpg. Around that sits what a daily rider actually uses: ABS, traction control, keyless ignition, a TFT display with smartphone connectivity, a USB port and an LED headlight. It's a tool, and a very well-sorted one.

At 296 lb (134 kg) wet, with an upright seat and a flat step-through floor, this is a machine you stop thinking about. For a commuter, I can't give higher praise. It's built to start every morning, run for years with minimal fuss and keep running costs low, which is exactly what Honda buyers expect. The honest caveat is scope. With a 67 mph (108 km/h) top speed, the interstate is not its home, and the fork has no adjustment at all. Only the rear shock takes preload. For dense urban miles and short suburban hops, few machines make more sense.