Honda Click vs Honda ADV for Chiang Mai

Best choice for most travelers

Verdict	Choice
Old City / Nimman errands only	Click 125i or Click 160
Mixed city + mountain day rides	Click 160
Mountain routes, Samoeng Loop, two-up	ADV 160

Specifications

Spec	Honda Click 160	Honda ADV 160
Engine	156.93cc, liquid-cooled, eSP+	156.93cc, liquid-cooled, eSP+
Power	11.3 kW (15.1 hp) @ 8,500 rpm	11.8 kW (15.8 hp) @ 8,500 rpm
Torque	13.8 Nm @ 7,000 rpm	14.7 Nm @ 6,500 rpm
Kerb weight	116–118 kg	133 kg
Seat height	778mm	780mm
Ground clearance	138mm	165mm
Fuel tank	5.5L	8.1L
Under-seat storage	18L	30L (fits full-face helmet)
Front brake	Disc	Disc
Rear brake	Drum (CBS) / Disc (ABS)	Drum / Disc (ABS)
Traction control	None	HSTC
ABS	Optional (single-channel)	Single-channel (front)
Suspension travel	Standard telescopic / single rear shock	Showa 31mm telescopic forks / twin Showa shocks with sub-tanks
Keyless ignition	Yes	Yes
USB charger	USB-A	USB-C
Rental/day (Chiang Mai)	฿350–฿500	฿480–฿700

Side-by-side comparison

Factor	Honda Click 160	Honda ADV 160
City nimble feel	Sharper, lighter, narrower bars	Wider, heavier — less easy in tight gridlock
Mountain / hill margin	Adequate solo, limited two-up	Excellent — torque + suspension + HSTC
Two-up riding	Limited — smaller seat, single shock	Good — stable under load
Storage	18L — one half-helmet only	30L — fits full-face helmet
Suspension quality	Budget single rear shock	Showa long-travel — soaks up Thai road surfaces
Ground clearance	138mm — scrape on steep entries	165mm — handles broken mountain surfaces
Wet road confidence	CBS drum — not ideal for mountain wet runs	HSTC + ABS + block-pattern tires — confident
Beginner feel	Easier at low speed (lighter, lower seat)	Intimidating at walking pace (top-heavy, 133kg)
Fuel range	~200 km (5.5L tank)	~280–320 km (8.1L tank)
Wind protection	Minimal	Adjustable 2-stage windscreen

What the bikes actually feel like on the road

Click — on Chiang Mai roads

At walking pace and low speed, the Click is the more intuitive bike. The flat floorboard means you can plant both feet at a red light without negotiating a center tunnel. The handlebars are narrower — on Huay Kaew Road or Sriwichai in rush-hour traffic, the Click fits through gaps that require hesitation on the wider ADV.

The throttle is smooth and predictable. eSP+ delivers clean take-up from standstill — no snatch, no hesitation. The single rear shock is firm at city speeds but not uncomfortable. On the broken tarmac of inner-ring side streets, you feel every patched drain cover, but the bike remains composed.

On Doi Suthep solo, the Click handles the climb without complaint. The 13.8 Nm torque keeps momentum in third gear on grades that would slow a 110cc noticeably. Under two-up the Click runs out of margin on steeper sections — the rear compresses and the front gets light on grades above 10%. In the wet, the CBS rear drum is the limiting factor on fast descents.

ADV 160 — on Chiang Mai roads

The ADV 160 feels immediately taller and more serious at rest. At 133 kg it sits heavily and demands respect at walking pace — in tight moat traffic or a Nimman car park, the ADV’s width and top weight make low-speed maneuvering deliberate rather than instinctive. First-time riders should expect this learning curve.

On the climb to Doi Suthep — especially two-up — the ADV 160 is in a different class. The 14.7 Nm torque and Showa sub-tank suspension keep the bike composed where the Click starts to struggle. On the Samoeng Loop’s tight hairpins, the ADV’s suspension soaks up mid-corner surface irregularities that would make a Click rider tighten their line. The HSTC cuts wheelspin on damp surfaces without the abruptness of older traction systems.

At 80 km/h on the run to Hang Dong or on Route 121 (Mae Rim), the ADV feels planted and stable. The adjustable windscreen on the 2-stage setting deflects wind at speed — on the highway run to Doi Inthanon at 100 km/h, the ADV holds steady where the Click would be fighting wind pressure.

The center tunnel is a real ergonomic fact. If you carry a backpack between your feet at fuel stops or coffee stops, you can’t rest it flat on the ADV the way you can on the Click. Test this before you leave the rental lot.

Source: ASEAN Now Honda ADV 160 owner review (2024); Reddit r/Thailand ADV 160 owner thread (2023); Reddit r/scooters Honda ADV 160 2023 honest review (2023); Facebook group “Foreign Riders Thailand” (2025).

The real difference

These bikes share the same 157cc eSP+ engine platform, which means they have similar top speeds and comparable fuel efficiency. The performance gap is real but not dramatic — what separates them is how the chassis, suspension, and bodywork serve different riding days.

Click 160 is a city bike with a mountain capability upgrade. At 116–118 kg it is significantly lighter than the ADV, making it feel nimble in slow Old City traffic and easy to park. The trade-off is budget suspension — the single rear shock on rough Chiang Mai roads (the patched drain covers, the broken tarmac on outer ring roads) will jar your spine on longer rides. Storage is minimal — 18L fits a half-helmet or a small bag, not a full-face. The 5.5L fuel tank means a Samoeng Loop requires a fuel stop. For pure Nimman-to-Old-City errands with maybe one temple-hop, the Click is the right tool.

ADV 160 is a city adventure bike built for Chiang Mai’s mountain roads — with one catch. Like the PCX, the ADV has a center tunnel across the floorboard. You cannot hang a bag between your feet at a fuel stop. If you travel light, this doesn’t matter. If you carry a backpack or market haul, test this before you leave the shop. The Showa suspension (130mm front travel, twin rear shocks with sub-tanks) is in a different class — it soaks up the uneven surfaces that make other scooters feel dangerous on the Samoeng Loop. The 165mm ground clearance means you won’t scrape the stand on steep driveways or mid-corner bumps. HSTC traction control cuts wheelspin on damp mountain switchbacks. The 30L under-seat storage fits a full-face helmet. The 8.1L tank gives ~300 km range. For any day that includes Doi Suthep, Samoeng, Mae Kampong, or Chiang Dao — the ADV is the correct choice.

The ฿150/day premium is worth it if your itinerary leaves the city. It is not worth it if you are staying within the Old City and Nimman grid — the ADV’s extra weight and wide bars make it slightly harder to filter and park in tight moat traffic.

ADV 160 recall check before you sign: NHTSA Recall 25V-195 (April 2025) covers 2024-2025 production units. Ask the rental shop to confirm the recall service has been completed. Affected bikes can show symptoms as low as 300-1,000 km.

Known issues to ask the rental shop about

• ADV 160 oil pump recall: NHTSA Recall 25V-195 (April 2025) covers 2024–2025 production units. Ask the rental shop if the bike has had the oil pump service completed. Affected bikes can show wear symptoms as low as 300–1,000 km.
• ADV 160 seat comfort: Multiple rider reports from Thai forums note the seat firms up noticeably on rides over 90 minutes. Worth asking before a long day.
• Click 160 rear brake: CBS (rear drum) variant requires more lever pressure — check brake function before leaving the lot.

Rental notes

• Click 160: ฿350–฿500/day at BudgetCatcher (CBS from ฿350; ABS from ฿400), ฿500/day at Riders Corner
• ADV 160: ฿480–฿700/day; CityGlide lists ABS at ฿487–฿552/day, Riders Corner at ฿700/day
• Deposit typically 3,000 THB for both bikes
• Both require a standard driving license; IDP recommended
• Shops carrying both: Cat Motors, Bikago, Riders Corner