Honda quality on two wheels

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Mark K 2

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Location
Baldwin, WI
I've owned a 1984 Honda Aero 125 (NH125) scooter for many years. It has a two-stroke 125 cc engine, which is a torque monster. It's been in storage (with untreated gas in the tank) for two years. 6900 miles on the clock. Pretty rare beast since it was sold for only that year.



I installed a new battery, cranked it for a few seconds, and it fired up. She smoked like hell, but stayed running. Unfortunately, gasoline started pouring out of what looks like some sort of carb overflow, so I shut it off. This is the first problem I've ever had with it. Two hours later, it fired right up with no leaking. Took it on a ten mile run and now it runs like new and idles just fine. I was going to sell it, but I changed my mind. :love:



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Here is what we ride...



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1983 Yamaha Riva XC180. Gets 85 MPG and will top out at 70 MPH.



We also have this beast...



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1978 Honda CB550K "550 Four" this will get about 55 MPG and top out at 105 MPH.





Tom
 
That's funny. I just posted in another thread how I'm considering getting a Honda Elite.



And that last picture, Tom, :bwahaha:
 
You could probably sell it for more than it cost when it was new I bet..



Tom,

taking the jet ski's out this weekend for the first time this year. Make sure there are no bugs or issues. After that,,,, you are welcome to join me at any time....
 
And that last picture, Tom, :bwahaha:



Here is the story behind that picture.



On another website I visit sometimes, they had a thread called "Unintentional porn". One of the pictures of that thread was the sign. I realized that it was real. I had to get a picture of it to prove that pic was real.



The sign is only a couple miles from my house.





Tom
 
Wow, that Aero is unmistakeably 80s, it has that "postmodern Japanese" look. Reminds me of the 80s Nissan cars, though unlike those, it looks like your bike was progressive enough to not feature the heinous sealed-beam headlights.



I'm still amazed that there are these old scooters that can actually go 70+ MPH. They look so similar to those glorified Rascals that they sell at pepboys, that can only go 45-50 mph (apparently), that morons kept driving on major roads around here until the cops put a stop to that. (Then they used the bicycle/pedestrian-only trails which paralleled those major roads, until that too was thwarted.)



Maryland should have made the Motorcycle license mandatory for those worthless modern scooters, in my eyes it would have solved all of the problems they present today.



Point being, you guys are showing me that the scooter wasn't always a gimped, anemic POS driven by menaces to society :grin::grin:



That said, the Honda actual motorcycle in Caymen's 2nd pic looks so much more respectable than the 2 scooters. The 30 mpg sacrifice is so worth it.
 
That Riva 180 DOES require a motorcycle endorsement in Ohio. I actually took my riders test on that thing.



I do not mind riding that scooter. It is fast, fun, and easy to get around on. If I am running to the hardware store to pick up some small items, I will take the scooter over the Honda. The Yamaha can run with traffic better than the Honda can, plus it is tougher than the Honda is.



The Honda has a max load of only 300 LBS where the scooter is 600 LBS.



I would love to take Marks scooter out for a ride to compare it to my 180. I have checked out a 150cc Chinese scooter.



The Yamaha is better than the Chinese crap by a long shot. Power, performance, ride quality, braking, build quality, etc. all have the Chinese one beat.



They say the Honda scooters are WAY better than the Yamaha ones are.





Tom
 
I shopped for insurance on Friday. I used to have Progressive until I parked the scooter two years ago and an annual policy cost $120. I always had Progressive. I priced it out online on the Progressive.com and the price has gone up to $209. WTF? Clean record. No crashes. Riding motorcycles for 30 years. WTF? Screw 'em.



Went to Geico.com. $99 a year. I had a question, so I called them. The lady on the phone offered upped the coverage to 100/300/50 with $50 deductibles, and free towing and roadside assistance... for no extra cost. Sold.
 
$209.00? Are you freaking kidding me? Something doesn't seem right. We priced Geico for my CB550K. Price from Geico was about $115.00/year. Progressive was $99.00.



This includes roadside assistance, agreed value of $500.00, full coverage, and everything maxed out.



Go figure.



Enjoy the ride. We were shopping for bikes today. I think I may end up getting another. :banana:





Tom
 
not understanding how some despise honda/jap auto's trucks but will buy another item from the same mfg.

the hate is so strong, but on the other hand they are supporting the country of japan :banghead:
 
not understanding how some despise honda/jap auto's trucks but will buy another item from the same mfg.

the hate is so strong, but on the other hand they are supporting the country of japan



Weren't all the purchased asian scooters & motorcycles mentioned in this thread bought used? If so, Japan shouldn't be getting (directly) one red cent. :supercool:



That said, I'm really surprised that Caymen said this:

I have checked out a 150cc Chinese scooter.

If there was anyone on here who I'd bet on never buying a Chinese good willingly, it'd be he.

Then again, he didn't actually buy the Chinese hunk of junk, but to actually ride one, to actually consider it..I agree it does seem massively out of character for Caymen, a huge pro-Ford/pro-American proponent. :grin: :bwahaha:



BTW I am astounded that Caymen's scooter has more than double the weight capacity of his (first) motorcycle.
 
If there was anyone on here who I'd bet on never buying a Chinese good willingly, it'd be he.



I can see how that can be read wrong. I did not "check out" the Chinese Scooter with the idea to buy, but a friend got one in non-working condition and fixed it. I took it for a ride. No, I never looked at the Chinese ones with the intent to possibly buy.



BTW I am astounded that Caymen's scooter has more than double the weight capacity of his (first) motorcycle.



Not as shocked as I was though. Plus it will run at 60 MPH with the wife and I on it.





Tom
 
I have gone through my motorcycle (second childhood) many years ago. If I buy anything to save gas it will still allow me to ride inside and not exposed to the elements. Perhaps a Smartcar might be the ticket?



...Rich
 
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