Honestly, the first time you see someone unfolding a Honda Motocompacto, it looks like they’re performing a low-budget magic trick with a piece of carry-on luggage. It’s white. It’s flat. It has no visible wheels when it’s closed. Then, suddenly, a seat pops up, handlebars click into place, and someone is whizzing down the sidewalk at 15 mph looking like they stepped out of an 80s anime.
It’s weird. It’s definitely quirky. But in a world of oversized electric SUVs and heavy e-bikes that are a nightmare to carry up stairs, Honda might have actually cracked the code for the "last mile" problem.
The Ghost of the Motocompo
You can’t talk about this thing without mentioning the 1981 Honda Motocompo. Back then, Honda sold a tiny, gas-powered folding scooter designed to fit perfectly into the trunk of the Honda City subcompact car. It was a cult classic, but it was also oily, smelly, and leaked gasoline if you tipped it the wrong way.
The new Honda Motocompacto is the spiritual successor, but it’s swapped the 50cc smoker engine for a permanent magnet motor. It’s clean. It’s quiet. And it doesn't smell like a lawnmower. Honda engineers basically looked at the original blueprint and asked, "What if we made this out of an iPhone and a folding chair?"
👉 See also: iPhone Type C Adapter: Why Most People Are Still Buying the Wrong One
Speed, Range, and Reality
Let’s get the numbers out of the way because they’re usually the first thing people ask about. The Motocompacto isn’t a Harley. It’s not even a high-end Vespa. It tops out at 15 mph.
That sounds slow on paper.
In practice, when you’re zipping past pedestrians on a college campus or navigating a crowded pier, 15 mph feels plenty fast. It has a range of about 12 miles on a full charge. If you’re trying to commute across Los Angeles, you’re going to have a bad time. But if you parked your car a mile away from your office because parking was $40 cheaper there? This is your best friend.
The battery is a 6.8Ah unit, and the whole thing reaches a full charge in about 3.5 hours using a standard 110v outlet. You don't need a special charging station. You just plug it in next to your laptop at the coffee shop.
It’s Literally a Suitcase
The most impressive part of the engineering isn't the motor; it's the folding mechanism. When folded, the Honda Motocompacto is only 3.7 inches wide. It’s 21.1 inches tall and 29.2 inches long.
It fits in a locker.
It fits under a subway seat.
It fits in the trunk of a Miata with room to spare.
Weight is the only real "gotcha" here. It weighs 41.3 pounds. That’s light for a scooter, but it’s heavy for a briefcase. You aren't going to want to carry it for five blocks, but luckily, Honda included a sturdy handle and the wheels still roll when it's tucked away, so you can mall-walk it like a rolling suitcase.
Build Quality and the "Honda" Feel
A lot of cheap electric scooters feel like they’re made of recycled soda cans and prayer. The Motocompacto feels solid. The frame is heat-treated aluminum. When the footpegs click out, they feel deliberate. Even the kickstand has a satisfying "clack" to it.
The seat isn't exactly a sofa—it's a high-density foam pad—but for a ten-minute ride, it's fine. There's also a tiny bit of storage inside the body when it's unfolded, enough for a charger or a very small laptop sleeve.
Why Most People Get the Use Case Wrong
Critics love to point out that you can buy a faster scooter for $995. They aren't wrong. You can go to a big-box store and buy a generic black e-scooter with bigger wheels and a 20 mph top speed for less money.
But those scooters don't fold into a flat box.
The Honda Motocompacto isn't competing with the Bird or Lime scooters you see littered on street corners. It’s competing with the frustration of "the last mile." It’s for the person who takes the train into the city and still has a 20-minute walk to the office. It's for the RV owner who needs a way to get from the campsite to the general store without unhooking the whole rig.
The Customization Rabbit Hole
Honda intentionally left the side panels of the Motocompacto blank and white. It’s a canvas. Almost immediately after release, people started sprawling decals, vinyl wraps, and custom paint jobs across them.
You see them with vintage Rothmans racing liveries, Hello Kitty stickers, or corporate branding. Because it’s flat, it’s the easiest vehicle in the world to wrap. Honda even offers an official line of decals, but the community has gone way beyond that. It’s turned a utilitarian tool into a fashion accessory, which is something most scooter companies completely miss.
What it’s Like to Actually Ride
There is no suspension. That is the first thing you notice.
If you hit a pothole, your teeth will rattle. The tires are solid rubber to prevent flats, which is great for maintenance but less great for dampening vibrations. You have to be an active rider—keep your knees slightly bent and eyes on the pavement.
The acceleration is surprisingly zippy. Since it’s front-wheel drive, if you pin the thumb throttle on a dusty surface, the front wheel might even chirp a bit. It’s got two power modes. Mode 1 is for "I'm learning and don't want to fall," while Mode 2 gives you the full 15 mph.
Braking is handled by a rear drum brake operated by a lever on the left handlebar. It’s simple, effective, and requires almost zero maintenance compared to disc brakes that can get bent or squeaky.
The Competitive Landscape
How does it stack up against the competition?
- Segway Ninebot Series: Faster, better range, but bulky. You can’t easily hide a Segway under your desk without someone tripping over it.
- Electric Unicycles (EUCs): Much faster and more portable, but they have a massive learning curve. You can learn to ride a Motocompacto in about 30 seconds.
- Folding E-Bikes: More comfortable, but they usually weigh 60+ pounds and are oily.
The Motocompacto exists in this weird middle ground of "lifestyle tech" and "actual transportation." It’s for people who value aesthetics and storage space over raw performance specs.
Maintenance and Longevity
Because it’s a Honda, there’s an expectation that it won't die after six months. Most "disposable" scooters use proprietary parts that are impossible to find. Honda has a massive dealer network. While you might not take this to the same guy servicing a Goldwing, the parts availability for tires, brakes, and batteries is theoretically much better than a random brand from an online marketplace.
The water resistance rating is IPX4. This means it’s fine if you get caught in a light drizzle, but don't go riding through deep puddles or pressure washing it. The electronics are tucked safely inside the "suitcase" shell, which offers more protection than the exposed wires you see on most budget scooters.
Is the Price Justifiable?
At roughly $995, you’re paying a "Honda Tax." You’re also paying for the R&D that went into making a vehicle fold into a 3.7-inch wide rectangle.
If you just need a scooter to go fast, don't buy this. You’ll be disappointed by the 15 mph limit and the stiff ride.
However, if you live in an apartment where every square inch matters, or you commute via a crowded train where a bike would be a nuisance, the value proposition changes. It’s a tool. It’s a gadget. It’s a conversation starter.
Actionable Steps for Potential Owners
If you're looking to pick up a Honda Motocompacto, don't just walk into a car dealership expecting them to have fifty in stock. Most dealers handle these through their parts department.
- Check the Official Site: Honda has a dedicated Motocompacto site to check local dealer inventory. Some dealers allow for direct shipping, while others require in-store pickup.
- Measure Your "Locker": If you plan on storing this in a specific spot (like a gym locker or a specific trunk), double-check the folded dimensions. 29.2" x 21.1" x 3.7" is the magic number.
- Plan Your Route: Use an app like Google Maps to check the elevation of your commute. This scooter has a 490W peak motor, but it’s not a hill climber. If your commute involves steep inclines, it will struggle.
- Think About Security: Since it looks like a suitcase, you can often bring it inside. But if you have to leave it outside, there isn't a traditional place to put a U-lock through. You'll want a heavy-duty cable lock that can loop through the carry handle or the frame gaps.
- Get a Helmet: 15 mph is enough to cause a serious injury if you take a spill. Since the wheels are small, they are more susceptible to being caught in cracks or trolley tracks.
The Honda Motocompacto isn't going to replace the car for most people. It isn't even going to replace the bicycle. But for that specific person who needs to bridge the gap between their parking spot and their destination without breaking a sweat or carrying a heavy, greasy machine, it’s a brilliant piece of industrial design. It's fun, it's weird, and it's quintessentially Honda.