Scooter Resource

Honda Reflex Group Digest Number 4703

noreply@blogger.com (The Guy who knows....) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 12:57:00 +0000

Messages In This Digest (9 Messages)

1a.: Final Drive Oil Question From: Chris W
1b.: Re: Final Drive Oil Question From: BruceK
1c.: Re: Final Drive Oil Question From: Chris Walsh

2a.: Re: 26,2 From: Carla Williamson
2b.: Re: 26,2 From: Joe Barnhart

3.1.: Re: File - REMINDER - Check your oil each ride day From: ShayneH

4.: tanks for bringing me onboard From: Tim Miller

5.: The new vs the old From: ShayneH

6.: What kind of antifreeze goes to 2004 Honda Reflex? From: yevgenyshine

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Messages

1a.: Final Drive Oil Question

Posted by: "Chris W" chriswwalsh@yahoo.com chriswwalsh

Sun Jan 3, 2010 2:08 pm (PST)

Is Valvoline 80-90 Gear oil ok to use for the final drive lube?

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1b.: Re: Final Drive Oil Question

Posted by: "BruceK" bruce@aplusservices.com bruceakoehler

Sun Jan 3, 2010 2:58 pm (PST)

yes

bruce

--- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, "Chris W" <chriswwalsh@...> wrote:
>
> Is Valvoline 80-90 Gear oil ok to use for the final drive lube?
>

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1c.: Re: Final Drive Oil Question

Posted by: "Chris Walsh" chriswwalsh@yahoo.com chriswwalsh

Sun Jan 3, 2010 4:48 pm (PST)

Thanks

Sent from my iPhone

On Jan 3, 2010, at 2:58 PM, "BruceK" <bruce@aplusservices.com> wrote:

yes

bruce

--- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, "Chris W" <chriswwalsh@...> wrote:
>
> Is Valvoline 80-90 Gear oil ok to use for the final drive lube?
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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2a.: Re: 26,2

Posted by: "Carla Williamson" csw02231958@yahoo.com csw02231958

Sun Jan 3, 2010 2:51 pm (PST)

Well my coldest was up in the Rockies and Grand Tetons on our way to and from Sturgis. We were up in the alpine past the tree line during July and it was fricking cold. I cannot remember the Temp on the GOPS. Will have to ask S.O.
Carla
Into a each life a little rain must fall......Will we allow it to benefit us or will it be our Nemesis.

Carla S. Williamson

________________________________
From: Richard Brunner <brunneraa1p@comcast.net>
To: hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sat, January 2, 2010 11:06:16 AM
Subject: Re: Honda Reflex Group Re: 26,2

Re:
> > Well here goes the coldest ride I've ever done.

My coldest ride was when I went for the scooter/motorcycle road test. I
had been practicing circles and 8's diligently, called in for a test
date in mid-September, and was shocked when they scheduled me for late
October. It was cold weather, 28 degrees, so I put a 100 Watt lamp
under the engine and covered the scoot to be sure it would start. I
wore an extra sweater and wound a scarf around my neck, and didn't get
any colder during the 20 minute run to the inspection station. I
passed, it was about as hard as falling off a log, and the ride home was
much warmer. This was with my old Vento with no wind shield.

Richard

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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2b.: Re: 26,2

Posted by: "Joe Barnhart" flaboye@gmail.com jtbgnsv

Sun Jan 3, 2010 3:00 pm (PST)

Record lows are expected in the area for the entire week.

I suspect tomorrow morning through Friday morning will be below 20 degrees
when I head out
in the mornings on the flexer, brrrr.

On Sat, Jan 2, 2010 at 1:29 PM, Carla Williamson <csw02231958@yahoo.com>wrote:

>
>
> Well my coldest was up in the Rockies and Grand Tetons on our way to and
> from Sturgis. We were up in the alpine past the tree line during July and
> it was fricking cold. I cannot remember the Temp on the GOPS. Will have to
> ask S.O.
> Carla
> Into a each life a little rain must fall......Will we allow it to benefit
> us or will it be our Nemesis.
>
> Carla S. Williamson
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Richard Brunner <brunneraa1p@comcast.net <brunneraa1p%40comcast.net>
> >
> To: hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com<hondareflexowners%40yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Sat, January 2, 2010 11:06:16 AM
> Subject: Re: Honda Reflex Group Re: 26,2
>
>
>
> Re:
> > > Well here goes the coldest ride I've ever done.
>
> My coldest ride was when I went for the scooter/motorcycle road test. I
> had been practicing circles and 8's diligently, called in for a test
> date in mid-September, and was shocked when they scheduled me for late
> October. It was cold weather, 28 degrees, so I put a 100 Watt lamp
> under the engine and covered the scoot to be sure it would start. I
> wore an extra sweater and wound a scarf around my neck, and didn't get
> any colder during the 20 minute run to the inspection station. I
> passed, it was about as hard as falling off a log, and the ride home was
> much warmer. This was with my old Vento with no wind shield.
>
> Richard
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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3.1.: Re: File - REMINDER - Check your oil each ride day

Posted by: "ShayneH" shayneh2006@yahoo.com shayneh2006

Sun Jan 3, 2010 7:50 pm (PST)

G'day.

Thats very interesting about the oil check proceedure. I now have a Forza 250-x 07 (new shape)that was puchased new 6 months ago after my 2001 Forza was wrecked in a collision. On my earlier model bike, i think i checked the oil as you have described. Before leaving for work and after sitting for a full night on the center stand i would check it.

Now, heres where i get a little confused. It says in the manual for the new bike that the oil check proceedure should be as follows-

1. Place bike on center stand
2. Start engine and let it idle for 2-5 mins (i guess to get the oil
distributed through the engine) without snapping at the throttle.
3. Turn off ignition and let sit for 2-3 mins

Then you just check the oil in the normal way.

What i dont get about it all is why and how could it be so much different to the old model???

--- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com wrote:
>
>
> MONTHLY WELL-INTENTIONED REMINDER
>
> Fuel System:
>
> Keep the fuel tank full - especially during prolonged storage - to avoid rust.
>
> Exhaust System:
>
> Check all of the fasteners along the exhaust system and PAIR Emission system at each preventive maintenance check to help avoid blown exhaust gaskets and damaged PAIR items. Torque on headpipe studs is 7ft/lb, 9 Nm.
>
> Fork Tubes:
>
> Clean them to prolong fork tube seal life.
>
> OIL LEVEL:
>
>
> At least two members have experienced a catastrophic engine failure
> due to oil loss!!!!
>
> NEITHER observed tailpipe smoke or seepage or a puddle of oil.
>
> At least one - a conservative rider - checked his oil (among other things)
> WEEKLY - so his oil loss happened in a week's time of LOCAL ridng!
>
> Hopefully, they will find out how the oil escaped when they
> disassemble the engine so that we can learn from that
> and avoid such a failure.
>
> Meanwhile, check the oil each day you ride!!!
>
>
> If one simply unscrews the dipstick and looks at the level on it, that dipstick was inserted about 1/2 inch FURTHER than the way it is to be done!!!!! - because it was SCREWED IN!!!!
>
> It will give an artificially HIGH oil level indication.
>
> It is imperative to:
>
> 1. Park the scooter on the centerstand - on flat ground.
> NEVER DO THIS CHECK ON THE SIDESTAND!!!
>
> 2. Remove the dipstick, then wipe it with a clean lintfee wipe.
>
> 3. Reinsert the dipstick WITHOUT SCREWING IT IN
> in order to get a correct check on the oil level.
>
> 4. Withdraw the dipstick without having screwed it in.
>
> 5. Check that the oil level is within the level marks on the dipstick.
>
> Be careful to not overfill.
>
>
> THe following addition from Rick in Ny:
>
> P.S. The crosshatch squares are clear of oil when you wipe the dip stick
> clean. When you insert it and remove it these little squares will have oil in
> them to show how high you oil level is.
>
> P.P.S. Too much oil has caused some people to loose power also. (Such as oil
> dripping out when you take the dip stick out) Rick in KY
>
> That's because the excess oil is sucked up into the the air filter
> via the crankcase breather - Bruce
>

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4.: tanks for bringing me onboard

Posted by: "Tim Miller" timmill29@yahoo.com timmill29

Sun Jan 3, 2010 8:45 pm (PST)

hey guys just got excepted and wanted to say thank you and look forward to meeting so new Friends

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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5.: The new vs the old

Posted by: "ShayneH" shayneh2006@yahoo.com shayneh2006

Sun Jan 3, 2010 9:19 pm (PST)

Here is a picture (if i can attatch the pic sucsessfully)of my poor old Forza with my brand newie. I have to admit it was sad to see her go but, in saying that, the new model is sooooo nice to ride!!!

[IMG]http://i953.photobucket.com/albums/ae16/shayneh2006/quintrex/picturesofdaddiesaccident043.jpg[/IMG]

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6.: What kind of antifreeze goes to 2004 Honda Reflex?

Posted by: "yevgenyshine" yevgenyshine@yahoo.com yevgenyshine

Sun Jan 3, 2010 10:04 pm (PST)

What kind of antifreeze goes to 2004 Honda Reflex?
Can I add Peak antifreeze 50/50 ?

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Honda Reflex Group Digest Number 4702

noreply@blogger.com (The Guy who knows....) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 12:44:00 +0000

Messages In This Digest (7 Messages)

1a.: Re: double darksider From: william page
1b.: Re: double darksider From: tailmaster

2a.: Re: 26,2 From: Michael
2b.: Re: 26,2 From: Richard Brunner
2c.: Re: 26,2 From: Joe Barnhart

3a.: Re: Headlights died suddenly From: cccajohn
3b.: Re: Headlights died suddenly From: Joe Barnhart

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Messages

1a.: Re: double darksider

Posted by: "william page" gasmanox@msn.com wcpage3725

Sat Jan 2, 2010 5:38 am (PST)

ya its 20 degrees here also

-20 degrees fingers wont even bend around the grips

yuper bill

in the u p

w c page

To: hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com
From: tonymarchman@att.net
Date: Fri, 1 Jan 2010 17:36:58 +0000
Subject: Honda Reflex Group double darksider

Actually I had purchased a Pirelli Diablo 150/70-13 for my majesty and removed the BS Hoop 150/70-13 which had 5k miles on it and that is what I put on the front of the reflex. The hoop still has a lot of life in it and should last until 2020 (smile). It gives the reflex a sportbike look with that massive tire. Another amusing note is both tires maintain full contact with the pavement when I put it on the center stand. This makes it so easy to use the center stand now. The side stand is almost too short. Anyway, I plan to get a lot of use out of it this spring.
Tony in Tenn (it was 20 degrees this morning and getting colder tonight)

__________________________________________________________
Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free.
http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222985/direct/01/

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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1b.: Re: double darksider

Posted by: "tailmaster" freedomfyter@yahoo.com tailmaster

Sat Jan 2, 2010 1:38 pm (PST)

Hey Tony & Mike,

I'm interested in the "improved ride" characteristics.

My 'flex is already very smooth with its 110/90 front Hoop and 145/80R rear Goodyear. But, the ride on Hoops was smooth BEFORE that change.

All the doubledark tires are heavier, much wider, taller, more costly, and reportedly "look better." In fact, I'm speculating that the factors mentioned above may reduce the "flickability" that I like about the 'flex. Won't a wider and heavier tire reduce front end response, making it more sluggish?

A case in point. I once rented a brand new '98 Cadillac Fleetwood. Smooth ride. Quiet. Roomy. Comfortable. Luxurious. But, it was hell to drive! The "adaptive" power steering was so sensitive, especially at highway speeds, that "smooth" steering was impossible. The rental agency was very apologetic and let me use another. SAME THING! I swore off Cadillac from that day on.

I'm FAR more interested in performance than appearance. So, what is the performance gain over the standard front Hoop; traction, frontline stability, braking, etc.? Just wondering...

TailMaster Jim

--- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, "tonymarchman@..." <tonymarchman@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Mike, Yes, we did mount the tire so the rotation direction is correct. This is the same size tire as the majesty rear. I am sure it will last for years.
> Thanks for being the one to lead the way into the double darksider world. The reflex has a much improved ride now with all that rubber on the road.
> Tony in Tenn with 41k on old yellow
>

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Messages in this topic (9)

2a.: Re: 26,2

Posted by: "Michael" mbr987@comcast.net bandito_two

Sat Jan 2, 2010 9:38 am (PST)

--- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, Joe Barnhart <flaboye@...> wrote:
>
> Well here goes the coldest ride I've ever done.
>
> It's 26.2 outside grrrrrr......
> Flexer was very uhhappy about cranking this morning, lol.
>
> Joe
>
>
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Coldest for me was once upon a time ago when I used a Yamaha Riva 125
to deliver papers in the wee hours of the morning. It was near zero
or below and the front brake wouldn't work right with cables so cold
and stiff.

BTW, I did go for a short ride New Years Day. About a mile and a half
tooling around the neighborhood. 25F degrees with wind chill of only
17 and the road was pretty slippery in a bunch of places. But what
fun!!! (and I didn't fall down.) Also, in its heart it wanted to do
wheelies and refused to allow donuts with the car tire on back though
it certainly would slide when grabbing the rear brakes hard while
moving. I just put a pic of me on the scoot in the car tires and swingarm mods album.

Mike B.

(Rochester Hills Michigan Double Dark Side Rider)
(2007 Honda Reflex Sport "Scarlet")
(Hercules G2000T 155/80R12 car tire on the back.)
(Pirelli Diablo 150/70-13 scooter rear tire on the front.)

(2006 Honda FSC600A Silverwing) "?"
(Michelin Destiny 175/70/R13 car tire on the back.)
(Michelin Gold Standard 150/70-14) scooter rear tire on the front.)

**** While knowledge has power, It is what you do with what you
know that is important.
It gives the knowledge validity and demonstrates it's worth.
Use it wisely. **** (I wish I knew more)

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Messages in this topic (10)
2b.: Re: 26,2

Posted by: "Richard Brunner" brunneraa1p@comcast.net berlindresdenmichelstadt

Sat Jan 2, 2010 10:06 am (PST)

Re:
> > Well here goes the coldest ride I've ever done.

My coldest ride was when I went for the scooter/motorcycle road test. I
had been practicing circles and 8's diligently, called in for a test
date in mid-September, and was shocked when they scheduled me for late
October. It was cold weather, 28 degrees, so I put a 100 Watt lamp
under the engine and covered the scoot to be sure it would start. I
wore an extra sweater and wound a scarf around my neck, and didn't get
any colder during the 20 minute run to the inspection station. I
passed, it was about as hard as falling off a log, and the ride home was
much warmer. This was with my old Vento with no wind shield.

Richard

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Messages in this topic (10)
2c.: Re: 26,2

Posted by: "Joe Barnhart" flaboye@gmail.com jtbgnsv

Sat Jan 2, 2010 10:18 am (PST)

Looks like we may see under 20 degrees Sunday night and Monday night here in
North Florida, I'll let you guys know.

Delivering papers, I did that when I was a youngster too Mike. Glad to hear
the car tires held! Will go check out your new pics.

Richard, sounds like you knew how to dress! In layers!

Joe

On Sat, Jan 2, 2010 at 1:06 PM, Richard Brunner <brunneraa1p@comcast.net>wrote:

>
>
>
> Re:
> > > Well here goes the coldest ride I've ever done.
>
> My coldest ride was when I went for the scooter/motorcycle road test. I
> had been practicing circles and 8's diligently, called in for a test
> date in mid-September, and was shocked when they scheduled me for late
> October. It was cold weather, 28 degrees, so I put a 100 Watt lamp
> under the engine and covered the scoot to be sure it would start. I
> wore an extra sweater and wound a scarf around my neck, and didn't get
> any colder during the 20 minute run to the inspection station. I
> passed, it was about as hard as falling off a log, and the ride home was
> much warmer. This was with my old Vento with no wind shield.
>
> Richard
>
>
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Messages in this topic (10)

3a.: Re: Headlights died suddenly

Posted by: "cccajohn" johnfugatt@prodigy.net cccajohn

Sat Jan 2, 2010 10:00 pm (PST)

Joe, sorry I never got back to you on your question. I did not see the lights on the dash while my headlights were not working. This I am sure is because they were getting no voltage due to the bad wire on my starter switch.

--- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, Joe Barnhart <flaboye@...> wrote:
>
> Thanks! I'll be waiting to hear from you, thanks again.
>
> On Thu, Dec 3, 2009 at 1:09 PM, cccajohn <johnfugatt@...> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Mine turned out to be the wire came loose from the solder inside the
> > starter switch. If you manually place it back, all is okay. Those solder
> > points are so small, not sure I can fix it.
> >
> > I ordered a replacement on Ebay for the entire assembly. If I can fix mine,
> > I will at least have a back up.
> >
> > I will check to see what the dash shows as I have not actually fixed the
> > starter switch yet. I will let you know if the light comes on even though
> > the high beam is not working.
> >
> > --- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com<hondareflexowners%40yahoogroups.com>,
> > Lisa Cassell <lisacassell@> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > No. Actually I didn't even know the headlights were out until I got it
> > inspected and it didn't pass. I checked the bulbs, pulled off the front,
> > checked the fuse and the relay (or whatever is all the things in the front
> > of the bike under the plastic) and everything was good. So the friend that
> > was helping me just started asking me some questions about when the
> > headlights come on. I told him that the headlights are on when the key goes
> > into the on position but turn off when you hit the starter. So he just
> > thought 'maybe it's the starter'. So we took off the cap and he just jiggled
> > the wires in there, and then the headlights worked. So we sprayed it with
> > the wd-40 and it's worked every since.
> > > Lisa
> > >
> > >
> > > --- On Wed, 12/2/09, Joe Barnhart <flaboye@> wrote:
> > >
> > > > From: Joe Barnhart <flaboye@>
> > > > Subject: Re: Honda Reflex Group Re: Headlights died suddenly
> > > > To: hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com<hondareflexowners%40yahoogroups.com>
> > > > Date: Wednesday, December 2, 2009, 8:07 AM
> > > > Did your high beam indicator quit
> > > > working when your switch went bad before
> > > > you sprayed it?
> > > >
> > > > On Wed, Dec 2, 2009 at 9:00 AM, Lisa Cassell <lisacassell@>
> > > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > My '01 also did this. We sprayed some wd-40 into the
> > > > starter switch box and
> > > > > they worked fine.
> > > > > Lisa in Cowtown, TX
> > > > >
> > > > > --- On Wed, 12/2/09, Joe Barnhart <flaboye@
> > > > <flaboye%40gmail.com>>
> > > > > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > > From: Joe Barnhart <flaboye@
> > > > <flaboye%40gmail.com>>
> > > > > > Subject: Re: Honda Reflex Group Re: Headlights
> > > > died suddenly
> > > > > > To: hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com<hondareflexowners%40yahoogroups.com>
> > <hondareflexowners%40yahoogroups.com>
> > > > > > Date: Wednesday, December 2, 2009, 5:13 AM
> > > > > > My '01 did this and Bruce, after
> > > > > > working with me for a bit on it, predicted
> > > > > > it was my starter switch. I rewired mine to
> > > > run both
> > > > > > high and low beams,
> > > > > > and be on all the time with the key.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I do have a question for you if you
> > > > remember. When
> > > > > > this happened, if you
> > > > > > used the bright/low beam switch did the bright
> > > > beam
> > > > > > indicator light down on
> > > > > > the dash or not? (even though the
> > > > headlights were
> > > > > > dead)
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I haven't tested the switch since I was in a jam,
> > > > needed
> > > > > > lights and rewired
> > > > > > them. But, I am curious if your high beam
> > > > indicator
> > > > > > quit working also after
> > > > > > your lights went dead, mine does not by the way,
> > > > even to
> > > > > > this day.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Joe
> > > > > > On Wed, Dec 2, 2009 at 1:17 AM, cccajohn <johnfugatt@
> > ...<johnfugatt%40prodigy.net>
> > > > > >
> > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Well guys, not sure anybody is interested
> > > > but I
> > > > > > figured out that the sudden
> > > > > > > death of both of my headlights was due to a
> > > > bad
> > > > > > starter switch. The starter
> > > > > > > switch does great starting the scooter but
> > > > the lights
> > > > > > never work. So,
> > > > > > > experimenting with an extra switch, I was
> > > > able to
> > > > > > confirm that was my issue
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I am told this is a relatively common issue
> > > > with Honda
> > > > > > motorcycles and
> > > > > > > scooters. I imagine I will not be the last
> > > > in the
> > > > > > group to experience it.
> > > > > > > So, thougth I would share. Thanks!
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > --- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com<hondareflexowners%40yahoogroups.com>
> > <hondareflexowners%40yahoogroups.com>
> > > > > <hondareflexowners%40yahoogroups.com>,
> > > > > > > "cccajohn" <johnfugatt@> wrote:
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Guys, I had my headlights (both low and
> > > > high) go
> > > > > > out at one time. I don't
> > > > > > > believe it is the bulbs as I don't actually
> > > > seem to be
> > > > > > getting juice to the
> > > > > > > lights themselves. I pulled the front off
> > > > and got to
> > > > > > the connector that runs
> > > > > > > to the lights.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > My sidelights and blinkers work fine.
> > > > When I put
> > > > > > a tester on the hot side
> > > > > > > of the connector, I get no or a very small
> > > > reading. I
> > > > > > checked the fuse, it's
> > > > > > > good (even swapped it out just in case).
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Could it be the headlight (high beam)
> > > > switch? Any
> > > > > > ideas out there?
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Thanks guys. If it matters, it is a
> > > > 2001.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been
> > > > removed]
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > ------------------------------------
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > hondareflexowners-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com<hondareflexowners-fullfeatured%40yahoogroups.com>
> > <hondareflexowners-fullfeatured%40yahoogroups.com>
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ------------------------------------
> > > >
> > > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > hondareflexowners-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com<hondareflexowners-fullfeatured%40yahoogroups.com>
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

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Messages in this topic (10)
3b.: Re: Headlights died suddenly

Posted by: "Joe Barnhart" flaboye@gmail.com jtbgnsv

Sun Jan 3, 2010 4:21 am (PST)

Thanks!

I will probably take it apart when it warms up, we're in for a rough winter
they say with El Nino.

It's 25 this morning, and supposedly going into the teens starting Monday
night through Friday morning then warming up just a few degrees then going
back again the following week, bleh!! And, yes, we're riding every morning,
18 degrees or not.

For now, both lights come on with the key but I cannot control dim/bright,
which, I guess, I'd like to be able to do.

I guess on bright sunny days out on the country runs I would only use the
dim side.

Thanks again for getting back on it!

Joe

On Sun, Jan 3, 2010 at 12:57 AM, cccajohn <johnfugatt@prodigy.net> wrote:

>
>
>
> Joe, sorry I never got back to you on your question. I did not see the
> lights on the dash while my headlights were not working. This I am sure is
> because they were getting no voltage due to the bad wire on my starter
> switch.
>
> --- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com<hondareflexowners%40yahoogroups.com>,
> Joe Barnhart <flaboye@...> wrote:
> >
> > Thanks! I'll be waiting to hear from you, thanks again.
> >
> > On Thu, Dec 3, 2009 at 1:09 PM, cccajohn <johnfugatt@...> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > Mine turned out to be the wire came loose from the solder inside the
> > > starter switch. If you manually place it back, all is okay. Those
> solder
> > > points are so small, not sure I can fix it.
> > >
> > > I ordered a replacement on Ebay for the entire assembly. If I can fix
> mine,
> > > I will at least have a back up.
> > >
> > > I will check to see what the dash shows as I have not actually fixed
> the
> > > starter switch yet. I will let you know if the light comes on even
> though
> > > the high beam is not working.
> > >
> > > --- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com<hondareflexowners%40yahoogroups.com>
> <hondareflexowners%40yahoogroups.com>,
> > > Lisa Cassell <lisacassell@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > No. Actually I didn't even know the headlights were out until I got
> it
> > > inspected and it didn't pass. I checked the bulbs, pulled off the
> front,
> > > checked the fuse and the relay (or whatever is all the things in the
> front
> > > of the bike under the plastic) and everything was good. So the friend
> that
> > > was helping me just started asking me some questions about when the
> > > headlights come on. I told him that the headlights are on when the key
> goes
> > > into the on position but turn off when you hit the starter. So he just
> > > thought 'maybe it's the starter'. So we took off the cap and he just
> jiggled
> > > the wires in there, and then the headlights worked. So we sprayed it
> with
> > > the wd-40 and it's worked every since.
> > > > Lisa
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --- On Wed, 12/2/09, Joe Barnhart <flaboye@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > From: Joe Barnhart <flaboye@>
> > > > > Subject: Re: Honda Reflex Group Re: Headlights died suddenly
> > > > > To: hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com<hondareflexowners%40yahoogroups.com>
> <hondareflexowners%40yahoogroups.com>
> > > > > Date: Wednesday, December 2, 2009, 8:07 AM
> > > > > Did your high beam indicator quit
> > > > > working when your switch went bad before
> > > > > you sprayed it?
> > > > >
> > > > > On Wed, Dec 2, 2009 at 9:00 AM, Lisa Cassell <lisacassell@>
> > > > > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > My '01 also did this. We sprayed some wd-40 into the
> > > > > starter switch box and
> > > > > > they worked fine.
> > > > > > Lisa in Cowtown, TX
> > > > > >
> > > > > > --- On Wed, 12/2/09, Joe Barnhart <flaboye@
> > > > > <flaboye%40gmail.com>>
> > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > From: Joe Barnhart <flaboye@
> > > > > <flaboye%40gmail.com>>
> > > > > > > Subject: Re: Honda Reflex Group Re: Headlights
> > > > > died suddenly
> > > > > > > To: hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com<hondareflexowners%40yahoogroups.com>
> <hondareflexowners%40yahoogroups.com>
> > > <hondareflexowners%40yahoogroups.com>
> > > > > > > Date: Wednesday, December 2, 2009, 5:13 AM
> > > > > > > My '01 did this and Bruce, after
> > > > > > > working with me for a bit on it, predicted
> > > > > > > it was my starter switch. I rewired mine to
> > > > > run both
> > > > > > > high and low beams,
> > > > > > > and be on all the time with the key.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I do have a question for you if you
> > > > > remember. When
> > > > > > > this happened, if you
> > > > > > > used the bright/low beam switch did the bright
> > > > > beam
> > > > > > > indicator light down on
> > > > > > > the dash or not? (even though the
> > > > > headlights were
> > > > > > > dead)
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I haven't tested the switch since I was in a jam,
> > > > > needed
> > > > > > > lights and rewired
> > > > > > > them. But, I am curious if your high beam
> > > > > indicator
> > > > > > > quit working also after
> > > > > > > your lights went dead, mine does not by the way,
> > > > > even to
> > > > > > > this day.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Joe
> > > > > > > On Wed, Dec 2, 2009 at 1:17 AM, cccajohn <johnfugatt@
> > > ...<johnfugatt%40prodigy.net>
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Well guys, not sure anybody is interested
> > > > > but I
> > > > > > > figured out that the sudden
> > > > > > > > death of both of my headlights was due to a
> > > > > bad
> > > > > > > starter switch. The starter
> > > > > > > > switch does great starting the scooter but
> > > > > the lights
> > > > > > > never work. So,
> > > > > > > > experimenting with an extra switch, I was
> > > > > able to
> > > > > > > confirm that was my issue
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > I am told this is a relatively common issue
> > > > > with Honda
> > > > > > > motorcycles and
> > > > > > > > scooters. I imagine I will not be the last
> > > > > in the
> > > > > > > group to experience it.
> > > > > > > > So, thougth I would share. Thanks!
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > --- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com<hondareflexowners%40yahoogroups.com>
> <hondareflexowners%40yahoogroups.com>
> > > <hondareflexowners%40yahoogroups.com>
> > > > > > <hondareflexowners%40yahoogroups.com>,
> > > > > > > > "cccajohn" <johnfugatt@> wrote:
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Guys, I had my headlights (both low and
> > > > > high) go
> > > > > > > out at one time. I don't
> > > > > > > > believe it is the bulbs as I don't actually
> > > > > seem to be
> > > > > > > getting juice to the
> > > > > > > > lights themselves. I pulled the front off
> > > > > and got to
> > > > > > > the connector that runs
> > > > > > > > to the lights.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > My sidelights and blinkers work fine.
> > > > > When I put
> > > > > > > a tester on the hot side
> > > > > > > > of the connector, I get no or a very small
> > > > > reading. I
> > > > > > > checked the fuse, it's
> > > > > > > > good (even swapped it out just in case).
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Could it be the headlight (high beam)
> > > > > switch? Any
> > > > > > > ideas out there?
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Thanks guys. If it matters, it is a
> > > > > 2001.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been
> > > > > removed]
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > ------------------------------------
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > hondareflexowners-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com<hondareflexowners-fullfeatured%40yahoogroups.com>
> <hondareflexowners-fullfeatured%40yahoogroups.com>
> > > <hondareflexowners-fullfeatured%40yahoogroups.com>
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > ------------------------------------
> > > > >
> > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > hondareflexowners-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com<hondareflexowners-fullfeatured%40yahoogroups.com>
> <hondareflexowners-fullfeatured%40yahoogroups.com>
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
>
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Honda Reflex Group Digest Number 4701

noreply@blogger.com (The Guy who knows....) — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 12:56:00 +0000

Messages In This Digest (6 Messages)

1a.: double darksider From: tonymarchman@att.net
1b.: double darksider From: tonymarchman@att.net
1c.: Re: double darksider From: Joe Barnhart

2.: STO Wishes You Happy New Year From: jrgrammer98

3a.: Re: the unthinkable From: lcoop99

4a.: Re: Rear Trunk Shopping. From: MichaelB

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Messages

1a.: double darksider

Posted by: "tonymarchman@att.net" tonymarchman@att.net tonymarchman@att.net

Fri Jan 1, 2010 6:06 am (PST)

Hi Mike, Yes, we did mount the tire so the rotation direction is correct. This is the same size tire as the majesty rear. I am sure it will last for years.
Thanks for being the one to lead the way into the double darksider world. The reflex has a much improved ride now with all that rubber on the road.
Tony in Tenn with 41k on old yellow

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1b.: double darksider

Posted by: "tonymarchman@att.net" tonymarchman@att.net tonymarchman@att.net

Fri Jan 1, 2010 9:42 am (PST)

Actually I had purchased a Pirelli Diablo 150/70-13 for my majesty and removed the BS Hoop 150/70-13 which had 5k miles on it and that is what I put on the front of the reflex. The hoop still has a lot of life in it and should last until 2020 (smile). It gives the reflex a sportbike look with that massive tire. Another amusing note is both tires maintain full contact with the pavement when I put it on the center stand. This makes it so easy to use the center stand now. The side stand is almost too short. Anyway, I plan to get a lot of use out of it this spring.
Tony in Tenn (it was 20 degrees this morning and getting colder tonight)

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1c.: Re: double darksider

Posted by: "Joe Barnhart" flaboye@gmail.com jtbgnsv

Fri Jan 1, 2010 9:50 am (PST)

Sounds good, will be interested in reports from you how you fare with them.

We're going down to the 20's on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights (so they
say)

I will be riding the flexerator all 3 mornings, brrrrrr !!

I thought Florida was supposed to be the sunshine state!

On Fri, Jan 1, 2010 at 12:36 PM, tonymarchman@att.net
<tonymarchman@att.net>wrote:

>
>
> Actually I had purchased a Pirelli Diablo 150/70-13 for my majesty and
> removed the BS Hoop 150/70-13 which had 5k miles on it and that is what I
> put on the front of the reflex. The hoop still has a lot of life in it and
> should last until 2020 (smile). It gives the reflex a sportbike look with
> that massive tire. Another amusing note is both tires maintain full contact
> with the pavement when I put it on the center stand. This makes it so easy
> to use the center stand now. The side stand is almost too short. Anyway, I
> plan to get a lot of use out of it this spring.
> Tony in Tenn (it was 20 degrees this morning and getting colder tonight)
>
>
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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2.: STO Wishes You Happy New Year

Posted by: "jrgrammer98" stoshopkeeper@centurytel.net jrgrammer98

Fri Jan 1, 2010 8:49 am (PST)

Happy New Year! And with this New Year comes a New Surprise for our rally!
Scooting the Ozarks will be September 15-18 in Eureka Springs, AR. Riders of all scooters, modern and classic, moped to maxi are all welcome. This year we will be giving away a New 2009 Kymco Agility 125cc Scooter MSRP $2049. You must pre-register for the rally and be present to win. Pre-registration is open from now until Sept. 1. For complete details on just how you could win this scoot, visit our webpage here http://scoottheozarks.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=prize This scooter was furnished by your STO Staff, Lanny from Lanny's Cycle World, http://www.lannyscycleworld.com/ & Kymco USA.

Tressa
STO Rally Volunteer
http://scoottheozarks.proboards.com
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=214958106109

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3a.: Re: the unthinkable

Posted by: "lcoop99" lcoop99@yahoo.com lcoop99

Fri Jan 1, 2010 12:24 pm (PST)

the curves - consciously practice your leaning & countersteering in curves out on the road - (safely) "experiment" with it - may save ur butt in an absent-minded moment - as it has mine a couple of times -
--LC

--- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, "tonymarchman@..." <tonymarchman@...> wrote:
>
> You are not alone, I did something similar a few years ago. Entered the curve too fast and almost got it stopped and then the wheels slipped off the pavement. I landed on my butt while the scoot slid down the bank. Then the wheels caught and it did a roll over, a complete 360. When it came to a rest, it was sitting upright and the motor was still running. I was totally amazed, the windshield was not broken, the givi box was intact, no visible damage. I slid down the bank, jerked it around a bit to get the belly off the high ground it landed on and rode it out of the cornfield. I was a little bruised and much wiser. I have managed to avoid a repeat performance. I now have the nerve to just lean it on over and trust it to make the curve instead of trying to stop. (this was before I installed the car tire)
> Tony in Tenn. with 41k on a yellow reflex with "a few light scratches"
>

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4a.: Re: Rear Trunk Shopping.

Posted by: "MichaelB" mikeveg@yahoo.com mikeveg

Fri Jan 1, 2010 2:11 pm (PST)

The shipping is indeed $30.00, and the looks are a matter of individual taste. I like the look a lot, and it'll hold 2 full face helmets. As far as those morrors are concerned, I took them off, as they vibrated too much and wouldn't stay aligned. You'll find I covered that in a couple of previous posts. If you do try them, be aware that yu can't reach them to adjust them while moving without risking a nasty spill.

Mike

--- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, "brian_cirulnick" <techrat@...> wrote:
>
>
>
> --- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, Joe Barnhart <flaboye@> wrote:
> > I see the shipping on that 88.00 trunk is 30.00 !!!!
> >
> And while it holds a lot, I think it's a little wide and ruins some of the "look" I like about the Reflex, but maybe I'm just too picky. However, I love those Empi Spider Mirrors, I'll have to look into that mod as well, because those really give the reflex a good sporty appearance.
>
> At $70 shipped the Bestem T-Box 2012 may be the winner. As long as it doesn't pop open when you hit a bump we should be OK. I was looking on JC Whitney's site, and while their boxes looked good, there were complaints that the latch mechanism was flawed.
>
> While I'm snowed in, I want to get as much done in the garage as possible to prep the bike for the first warm day I can get, so, I'm buying stuff now like it's going out of style, I'll have it all installed before Feb's done, and by March I should be riding to work again on a regular basis.
>

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Honda Reflex Group Digest Number 4700

noreply@blogger.com (The Guy who knows....) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 12:08:00 +0000

Messages In This Digest (13 Messages)

1.: Thank you for writing (Re: Honda Reflex Group Digest Number 4699) From: > Hunter

2a.: double darksider From: tonymarchman@att.net
2b.: Re: double darksider From: Michael
2c.: Re: double darksider From: tailmaster
2d.: Re: double darksider From: tailmaster

3.: Re: Rear Trunk Shopping From: Duane Ridenhour

4a.: Re: Rear Trunk Shopping. From: MichaelB
4b.: Re: Rear Trunk Shopping. From: Joe Barnhart
4c.: Re: Rear Trunk Shopping. From: brian_cirulnick

5.: Hidden key on reflex From: jfolander

6.: fork seals hard to get out From: Loii

7.1.: File - REMINDER - Check your oil each ride day From: hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com

8.1.: File - Monthly Information Update Reminder.txt From: hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com

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Messages

1.: Thank you for writing (Re: Honda Reflex Group Digest Number 4699)

Posted by: "> Hunter " Hunter@HouseHunterAtlanta.com househunteratlanta

Thu Dec 31, 2009 4:55 am (PST)

Hi,
Real estate often takes me out of the office so I check email only twice daily. IF you need my attention immediately, you can reach me here:

http://awayfind.com/hunter

Be sure to store this link with my contact information in case of an emergency.
Hunter

--

Opt out of future auto-replies: http://orchant.awayfind.com/oo?h=be2b02d5&e=187f64bb

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2a.: double darksider

Posted by: "tonymarchman@att.net" tonymarchman@att.net tonymarchman@att.net

Thu Dec 31, 2009 5:01 am (PST)

Hi MikeB, I am now a double darksider on my reflex, It does rub the fender some, did this happen to you? If so, what was your soultion? I was thinking of making a bracket to raise the fender a bit.
Tony in Tenn

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2b.: Re: double darksider

Posted by: "Michael" mbr987@comcast.net bandito_two

Thu Dec 31, 2009 11:35 am (PST)

--- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, "tonymarchman@..." <tonymarchman@...> wrote:
>
> Hi MikeB, I am now a double darksider on my reflex, It does rub the fender some, did this happen to you? If so, what was your soultion? I was thinking of making a bracket to raise the fender a bit.
> Tony in Tenn
>
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Yes it rubs.....well, actually it can't be mounted without making a
bracket fix of some sort AND some reshaping of the fender close to
the forks. That is something I am partially through and will get done
before spring and before I hand the 2004 Reflex over to my brother. I
need to do this also for my 2007 Reflex and 2006 S-wing. BTW, what tire
are you using up front and is it set to roll the same way as if it were
on the rear, or is it turned around in reverse? For the record, I have
mine mounted on the rim so that it rolls as it does on the rear. My
thinking on that is that the tire is for a heavier bike and should be
well able to withstand the reverse force on the tread from braking.
But the main reason for me is that I think it is more important that
the tread orientation be so for proper water evacuation.

Mike B.

(Rochester Hills Michigan Double Dark Side Rider)
(2007 Honda Reflex Sport "Scarlet")
(Hercules G2000T 155/80R12 car tire on the back.)
(Pirelli Diablo 150/70-13 scooter rear tire on the front.)

(2006 Honda FSC600A Silverwing) as yet unnamed
(Michelin Destiny 175/70/R13 car tire on the back.)
(Michelin Gold Standard 150/70-14) scooter rear tire on the front.)

**** While knowledge has power, It is what you do with what you
know that is important.
It gives the knowledge validity and demonstrates its worth.
Use it wisely. **** (I wish I knew more)

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2c.: Re: double darksider

Posted by: "tailmaster" freedomfyter@yahoo.com tailmaster

Thu Dec 31, 2009 12:54 pm (PST)

Hi, Tony,

Did you also go with the Pirelli Diablo 150/70-13? Just when I thought I was getting a handle on these clearance measurements, I cannot make these numbers work on paper without pulling the fender off completely. I get 5.91" tread width for a 150. That's 1.6" over stock! Even using a measuring stick, I can only find about 1.1" available under the fender. Half an inch is more than a big rub!

BMW used a 140/70-13 in Europe a few years ago. It's a virtual height match for the 110/90. More tire and no clearance or speedo problems. I'm going to try to find one in an all-weather compound.

I'll go measure again.

Where are the pictures?

Now, you too are moving faster than your speedo reads.

I demand that you reveal your dark secrets! :)

--- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, "tonymarchman@..." <tonymarchman@...> wrote:
>
> Hi MikeB, I am now a double darksider on my reflex, It does rub the fender some, did this happen to you? If so, what was your soultion? I was thinking of making a bracket to raise the fender a bit.
> Tony in Tenn
>

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2d.: Re: double darksider

Posted by: "tailmaster" freedomfyter@yahoo.com tailmaster

Thu Dec 31, 2009 9:13 pm (PST)

How's this for a coincidence?

According to the '09 Forza specs, their rear is a 140/70-13.

Can you tell that I really DON'T want to mod the fender? :)

Diggin' in the darkness.

--- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, "tonymarchman@..." <tonymarchman@...> wrote:
>
> Hi MikeB, I am now a double darksider on my reflex, It does rub the fender some, did this happen to you? If so, what was your soultion? I was thinking of making a bracket to raise the fender a bit.
> Tony in Tenn
>

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3.: Re: Rear Trunk Shopping

Posted by: "Duane Ridenhour" duanevickie@mindspring.com duanevickie

Thu Dec 31, 2009 5:42 am (PST)

We have just purchased our third Bestem Top Box. $65 total including shipping. Delivery in two days. Large enough for a helmet plus. Sharp looking. Givi is an excellent product, but we can't find any difference in these two boxes. They come with a heavy duty mounting plate and hardware. Before you decide on a box, please visit their website at http://www.bestemusa.com/product_info.php?cPath=142&products_id=682. I think you will be impressed.

Vickie Meader

Duane Ridenhour
duanevickie@mindspring.com
EarthLink Revolves Around You.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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4a.: Re: Rear Trunk Shopping.

Posted by: "MichaelB" mikeveg@yahoo.com mikeveg

Thu Dec 31, 2009 6:55 am (PST)

Brian,

I'll recommend the following box, which sells for $88.00 plus freight wholeheartedly. I had to use a bit of creativity and shimming (about 6 minutes and one Miller Lite's worth) to secure the mount to the luggage wing (I do not have a Sport Reflex, but, if I recall, there was plenty of hardware in the kit to mount the baseplate to a tubular rail/rack) and I bought a bit of weatherstripping to stop a tiny lid rattle, but it holds my XL helmet and any riding jacket I own, or a load of groceries that you wouuldn't believe. the link is

http://cgi.ebay.com/LARGE-MATTE-BLACK-MOTORCYCLE-TRUNK-LUGGAGE-TOP-CASE_W0QQitemZ360220463099QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCycling_Parts_Accessories?hash=item53ded00ffb

and the gold Honda Reflex pictured is my own ride. I was so happy with the trunk that I sent the seller some pics showing what it looks like on a Reflex (nope, I'm not the seller)!

Pictures of my trunk (the Reflex's trunk...) can be found in the group's photo album at

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hondareflexowners/photos/album/1313779759/pic/list

including the pic of the grocery haul I made the second day I had it on the bike.

--- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, "brian_cirulnick" <techrat@...> wrote:
>
> Ok... I have ordered Nelson's Air Deflectors, I've ordered a Givi 211 Windsheild, but I can't seem to find a decent Top-Box.

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Messages in this topic (6)
4b.: Re: Rear Trunk Shopping.

Posted by: "Joe Barnhart" flaboye@gmail.com jtbgnsv

Thu Dec 31, 2009 7:19 am (PST)

That one looks good. I'm sold on the Bestem's however. They are removable
like the Givi's are, (you can carry it like a suitcase) and they come with
light kits. All the things Givi charges extra for. They're built very
well. I compared an E52 to my Bestem and don't see any reason to spend the
$$ on a givi trunk.

Also, the price is 69.95 and that includes shipping, they also have a
backrest for the passenger.

I see the shipping on that 88.00 trunk is 30.00 !!!!

On Thu, Dec 31, 2009 at 9:51 AM, MichaelB <mikeveg@yahoo.com> wrote:

>
>
> Brian,
>
> I'll recommend the following box, which sells for $88.00 plus freight
> wholeheartedly. I had to use a bit of creativity and shimming (about 6
> minutes and one Miller Lite's worth) to secure the mount to the luggage wing
> (I do not have a Sport Reflex, but, if I recall, there was plenty of
> hardware in the kit to mount the baseplate to a tubular rail/rack) and I
> bought a bit of weatherstripping to stop a tiny lid rattle, but it holds my
> XL helmet and any riding jacket I own, or a load of groceries that you
> wouuldn't believe. the link is
>
>
> http://cgi.ebay.com/LARGE-MATTE-BLACK-MOTORCYCLE-TRUNK-LUGGAGE-TOP-CASE_W0QQitemZ360220463099QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCycling_Parts_Accessories?hash=item53ded00ffb
>
> and the gold Honda Reflex pictured is my own ride. I was so happy with the
> trunk that I sent the seller some pics showing what it looks like on a
> Reflex (nope, I'm not the seller)!
>
> Pictures of my trunk (the Reflex's trunk...) can be found in the group's
> photo album at
>
>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hondareflexowners/photos/album/1313779759/pic/list
>
> including the pic of the grocery haul I made the second day I had it on the
> bike.
>
> --- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com<hondareflexowners%40yahoogroups.com>,
> "brian_cirulnick" <techrat@...> wrote:
> >
> > Ok... I have ordered Nelson's Air Deflectors, I've ordered a Givi 211
> Windsheild, but I can't seem to find a decent Top-Box.
>
>
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Messages in this topic (6)
4c.: Re: Rear Trunk Shopping.

Posted by: "brian_cirulnick" techrat@obsolyte.com brian_cirulnick

Thu Dec 31, 2009 11:11 am (PST)

--- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, Joe Barnhart <flaboye@...> wrote:
> I see the shipping on that 88.00 trunk is 30.00 !!!!
>
And while it holds a lot, I think it's a little wide and ruins some of the "look" I like about the Reflex, but maybe I'm just too picky. However, I love those Empi Spider Mirrors, I'll have to look into that mod as well, because those really give the reflex a good sporty appearance.

At $70 shipped the Bestem T-Box 2012 may be the winner. As long as it doesn't pop open when you hit a bump we should be OK. I was looking on JC Whitney's site, and while their boxes looked good, there were complaints that the latch mechanism was flawed.

While I'm snowed in, I want to get as much done in the garage as possible to prep the bike for the first warm day I can get, so, I'm buying stuff now like it's going out of style, I'll have it all installed before Feb's done, and by March I should be riding to work again on a regular basis.

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5.: Hidden key on reflex

Posted by: "jfolander" jfolander@yahoo.com jfolander

Thu Dec 31, 2009 9:05 am (PST)

A spare key will fit inside a folding footpeg. When neatly taped in with silver duct tape It's almost invisible. Tip from dad.

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Messages in this topic (1)

6.: fork seals hard to get out

Posted by: "Loii" lucas.mills@cox.net lmioo

Thu Dec 31, 2009 2:50 pm (PST)

just a heads up ,i found something at autozone in the tool loan section that might work to pull out those very tight seated fork seals its called a pilot bearing puller that spreads out and attaches to a slide hammer i haven't measured so i dont know if it will work

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7.1.: File - REMINDER - Check your oil each ride day

Posted by: "hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com" hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com

Fri Jan 1, 2010 3:53 am (PST)

MONTHLY WELL-INTENTIONED REMINDER

Fuel System:

Keep the fuel tank full - especially during prolonged storage - to avoid rust.

Exhaust System:

Check all of the fasteners along the exhaust system and PAIR Emission system at each preventive maintenance check to help avoid blown exhaust gaskets and damaged PAIR items. Torque on headpipe studs is 7ft/lb, 9 Nm.

Fork Tubes:

Clean them to prolong fork tube seal life.

OIL LEVEL:

At least two members have experienced a catastrophic engine failure
due to oil loss!!!!

NEITHER observed tailpipe smoke or seepage or a puddle of oil.

At least one - a conservative rider - checked his oil (among other things)
WEEKLY - so his oil loss happened in a week's time of LOCAL ridng!

Hopefully, they will find out how the oil escaped when they
disassemble the engine so that we can learn from that
and avoid such a failure.

Meanwhile, check the oil each day you ride!!!

If one simply unscrews the dipstick and looks at the level on it, that dipstick was inserted about 1/2 inch FURTHER than the way it is to be done!!!!! - because it was SCREWED IN!!!!

It will give an artificially HIGH oil level indication.

It is imperative to:

1. Park the scooter on the centerstand - on flat ground.
NEVER DO THIS CHECK ON THE SIDESTAND!!!

2. Remove the dipstick, then wipe it with a clean lintfee wipe.

3. Reinsert the dipstick WITHOUT SCREWING IT IN
in order to get a correct check on the oil level.

4. Withdraw the dipstick without having screwed it in.

5. Check that the oil level is within the level marks on the dipstick.

Be careful to not overfill.

THe following addition from Rick in Ny:

P.S. The crosshatch squares are clear of oil when you wipe the dip stick
clean. When you insert it and remove it these little squares will have oil in
them to show how high you oil level is.

P.P.S. Too much oil has caused some people to loose power also. (Such as oil
dripping out when you take the dip stick out) Rick in KY

That's because the excess oil is sucked up into the the air filter
via the crankcase breather - Bruce

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8.1.: File - Monthly Information Update Reminder.txt

Posted by: "hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com" hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com

Fri Jan 1, 2010 3:53 am (PST)

Please visit the Polls section monthly to see if you can add some information regarding things like:
> Tire life
> Belt life
> Brake pad life
etc., based on YOUR recent experiences.
You can also take a look at other member's experiences with these and other items.

Also take a look at the Database section and add your info -
or view that posted by others on topics like:
> Member's locations and other info
> K-mod experience
> equipment
> Dealer experince
and other topics that may be added.

By providing your information, you are helping everyone
to have a better scootering experience.

THanks
Bruce

PS - even if you have "voted" previously in a Poll, you can update your previous entry anytime.

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Honda Reflex Group Digest Number 4699

noreply@blogger.com (The Guy who knows....) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 12:53:00 +0000

Messages In This Digest (13 Messages)

1a.: Re: 26,2 From: Michael
1b.: Re: 26,2 From: Joe Barnhart
1c.: Re: 26,2 From: neclark
1d.: Re: 26,2 From: Michael

2.: The Unthinkable From: riderxt56

3a.: Rear Trunk Shopping. From: brian_cirulnick
3b.: Re: Rear Trunk Shopping. From: Carla Williamson
3c.: Re: Rear Trunk Shopping. From: TubaTim

4.: the unthinkable From: tonymarchman@att.net

5a.: Re: Who is missing a Reflex? From: tailmaster

6a.: Re: 40k club From: tailmaster
6b.: Re: 40k club From: tailmaster

7a.: Re: OT - Have a Blessed Christmas! From: Michael

View All Topics | Create New Topic

Messages

1a.: Re: 26,2

Posted by: "Michael" mikeestlick@elpasoco.com michaelestlick

Wed Dec 30, 2009 5:31 am (PST)

My Reflex is my main mode of transportation here in Colorado and as long as there is no ice or snow on the road I ride. The coldest morning I have had in the past three years is 7 deg. The average morning is betwen 15 and 20 deg. It really is not that bad with good winter gear and my Reflex has never complained once.

I have close to 10K on my 2006 Reflex that I bought new and have performed all required matenance and have replaced tires and break pads once. She starts right up without issue no matter how cold so far. :)

Mike

--- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, Joe Barnhart <flaboye@...> wrote:
>
> Well they say to be courage and foolishness share commonality!
>
> There was actually ice on the windshield and the tires, which I had to rinse
> off with a bucket. The roads here never ice over though, so once I was on
> the road all was well.
>
> I survived it, this Saturday night they're saying mid to low 20's so I may
> break the 26.2 record on my Sunday ride.
>
> In Florida we get to ride all year no matter the temp. I remember 18
> degrees one winter here, but wasn't riding bikes then.
>
> I have the 210 givi shield which doesn't do anything for your hands, it does
> keep most wind to the top of my helmet, I'm 5'11.
>
> I do not have the leg shields or hand shields that are available.
>
> I put on thermals, then jeans, then a long sleeve t over the thermal top.
>
> Then the Joe rocket textile with liner.
>
> Then I put on some balloon pants to cover the jeans as jeans nor thermals
> cut the wind.
>
> Then I put on Cortech scarab winter gloves.
>
> It wasn't all that bad, but I did keep the face shield sealed the whole way.
>
> The temp guage never got over 1/4, on normal Florida days it would run a
> little over 1/2 where everyone said theirs usually runs.
>
> So the motor was very cool today!
>
> Joe
>
> On Tue, Dec 29, 2009 at 1:02 PM, Mike <Ursamajor@...> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > You're either Very brave or Very foolish. I'll let you decide which. ))
> >
> > --- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com<hondareflexowners%40yahoogroups.com>,
> > Joe Barnhart <flaboye@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Well here goes the coldest ride I've ever done.
> > >
> > > It's 26.2 outside grrrrrr......
> > >
> > > Flexer was very uhhappy about cranking this morning, lol.
> > >
> > > Joe
> > >
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

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Messages in this topic (7)
1b.: Re: 26,2

Posted by: "Joe Barnhart" flaboye@gmail.com jtbgnsv

Wed Dec 30, 2009 5:56 am (PST)

Awesome!

Yea, I use mine every day for about 60-100 miles depending on how many trips
I make, but at least 60'ish a day.

Yesterday the battery seemed a little weaker than normal that's probably
normal this battery at least has never experienced that temp.

The coming week is supposed to be mid to low 20's!

I survived the ride, as you said bundling up in layers works miracles for
warmth!

Everybody thought I was an idiot for not taking the car, but hey, I can
spend 3.00 or 9.00, I opt for the 3.00 and I enjoy riding the thing anyway,
so two birds with one stone.

Joe

On Wed, Dec 30, 2009 at 8:28 AM, Michael <mikeestlick@elpasoco.com> wrote:

>
>
> My Reflex is my main mode of transportation here in Colorado and as long as
> there is no ice or snow on the road I ride. The coldest morning I have had
> in the past three years is 7 deg. The average morning is betwen 15 and 20
> deg. It really is not that bad with good winter gear and my Reflex has never
> complained once.
>
> I have close to 10K on my 2006 Reflex that I bought new and have performed
> all required matenance and have replaced tires and break pads once. She
> starts right up without issue no matter how cold so far. :)
>
> Mike
>
> --- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com<hondareflexowners%40yahoogroups.com>,
> Joe Barnhart <flaboye@...> wrote:
> >
> > Well they say to be courage and foolishness share commonality!
> >
> > There was actually ice on the windshield and the tires, which I had to
> rinse
> > off with a bucket. The roads here never ice over though, so once I was on
> > the road all was well.
> >
> > I survived it, this Saturday night they're saying mid to low 20's so I
> may
> > break the 26.2 record on my Sunday ride.
> >
> > In Florida we get to ride all year no matter the temp. I remember 18
> > degrees one winter here, but wasn't riding bikes then.
> >
> > I have the 210 givi shield which doesn't do anything for your hands, it
> does
> > keep most wind to the top of my helmet, I'm 5'11.
> >
> > I do not have the leg shields or hand shields that are available.
> >
> > I put on thermals, then jeans, then a long sleeve t over the thermal top.
> >
> > Then the Joe rocket textile with liner.
> >
> > Then I put on some balloon pants to cover the jeans as jeans nor thermals
> > cut the wind.
> >
> > Then I put on Cortech scarab winter gloves.
> >
> > It wasn't all that bad, but I did keep the face shield sealed the whole
> way.
> >
> > The temp guage never got over 1/4, on normal Florida days it would run a
> > little over 1/2 where everyone said theirs usually runs.
> >
> > So the motor was very cool today!
> >
> > Joe
> >
> > On Tue, Dec 29, 2009 at 1:02 PM, Mike <Ursamajor@...> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > You're either Very brave or Very foolish. I'll let you decide which. ))
> > >
> > > --- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com<hondareflexowners%40yahoogroups.com>
> <hondareflexowners%40yahoogroups.com>,
> > > Joe Barnhart <flaboye@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Well here goes the coldest ride I've ever done.
> > > >
> > > > It's 26.2 outside grrrrrr......
> > > >
> > > > Flexer was very uhhappy about cranking this morning, lol.
> > > >
> > > > Joe
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
>
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Messages in this topic (7)
1c.: Re: 26,2

Posted by: "neclark" neclark@rc-recon.com neclark90723

Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:26 am (PST)

I dunno...26.2 degrees Celsius wouldn't be too bad...(which would be 79.2F).

Right now, it's drizzling on preparations for Friday's Rose Parade in Pasadena, CA

NC in (normally) Sunny SoCal

--- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, Joe Barnhart <flaboye@...> wrote:
>
> Well here goes the coldest ride I've ever done.
>
> It's 26.2 outside grrrrrr......
>
> Flexer was very uhhappy about cranking this morning, lol.
>
> Joe
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

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Messages in this topic (7)
1d.: Re: 26,2

Posted by: "Michael" mikeestlick@elpasoco.com michaelestlick

Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:28 am (PST)

You sure put more miles on it a day than I do. My ride is usually around 25 miles a day. What is interesting is that I am not alone anymore, even on the cold mornings. I usually see half a dozen to a dozen other scoots on the road with me all bundled up!

My main reason is gas. I can spend around $10 to $15 a month on my Reflex or drive my truck at $160 to $200 a month. For that much of a savings I choose my Reflex when it's not icy or snowing.

What do you use for a helmet? I found an HJC Snowmobile helmet that really works well. It is exactly the same helmet as the street helmet but the visor is different. It actually has dual pane widshield that does not fog up as easy in the extream cold.....very nice feature.

Mike

--- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, Joe Barnhart <flaboye@...> wrote:
>
> Awesome!
>
> Yea, I use mine every day for about 60-100 miles depending on how many trips
> I make, but at least 60'ish a day.
>
> Yesterday the battery seemed a little weaker than normal that's probably
> normal this battery at least has never experienced that temp.
>
> The coming week is supposed to be mid to low 20's!
>
> I survived the ride, as you said bundling up in layers works miracles for
> warmth!
>
> Everybody thought I was an idiot for not taking the car, but hey, I can
> spend 3.00 or 9.00, I opt for the 3.00 and I enjoy riding the thing anyway,
> so two birds with one stone.
>
> Joe
>
> On Wed, Dec 30, 2009 at 8:28 AM, Michael <mikeestlick@...> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > My Reflex is my main mode of transportation here in Colorado and as long as
> > there is no ice or snow on the road I ride. The coldest morning I have had
> > in the past three years is 7 deg. The average morning is betwen 15 and 20
> > deg. It really is not that bad with good winter gear and my Reflex has never
> > complained once.
> >
> > I have close to 10K on my 2006 Reflex that I bought new and have performed
> > all required matenance and have replaced tires and break pads once. She
> > starts right up without issue no matter how cold so far. :)
> >
> > Mike
> >
> > --- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com<hondareflexowners%40yahoogroups.com>,
> > Joe Barnhart <flaboye@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Well they say to be courage and foolishness share commonality!
> > >
> > > There was actually ice on the windshield and the tires, which I had to
> > rinse
> > > off with a bucket. The roads here never ice over though, so once I was on
> > > the road all was well.
> > >
> > > I survived it, this Saturday night they're saying mid to low 20's so I
> > may
> > > break the 26.2 record on my Sunday ride.
> > >
> > > In Florida we get to ride all year no matter the temp. I remember 18
> > > degrees one winter here, but wasn't riding bikes then.
> > >
> > > I have the 210 givi shield which doesn't do anything for your hands, it
> > does
> > > keep most wind to the top of my helmet, I'm 5'11.
> > >
> > > I do not have the leg shields or hand shields that are available.
> > >
> > > I put on thermals, then jeans, then a long sleeve t over the thermal top.
> > >
> > > Then the Joe rocket textile with liner.
> > >
> > > Then I put on some balloon pants to cover the jeans as jeans nor thermals
> > > cut the wind.
> > >
> > > Then I put on Cortech scarab winter gloves.
> > >
> > > It wasn't all that bad, but I did keep the face shield sealed the whole
> > way.
> > >
> > > The temp guage never got over 1/4, on normal Florida days it would run a
> > > little over 1/2 where everyone said theirs usually runs.
> > >
> > > So the motor was very cool today!
> > >
> > > Joe
> > >
> > > On Tue, Dec 29, 2009 at 1:02 PM, Mike <Ursamajor@> wrote:
> > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > You're either Very brave or Very foolish. I'll let you decide which. ))
> > > >
> > > > --- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com<hondareflexowners%40yahoogroups.com>
> > <hondareflexowners%40yahoogroups.com>,
> > > > Joe Barnhart <flaboye@> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Well here goes the coldest ride I've ever done.
> > > > >
> > > > > It's 26.2 outside grrrrrr......
> > > > >
> > > > > Flexer was very uhhappy about cranking this morning, lol.
> > > > >
> > > > > Joe
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

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Messages in this topic (7)

2.: The Unthinkable

Posted by: "riderxt56" dwheeler2652@yahoo.com dwheeler2652

Wed Dec 30, 2009 12:35 pm (PST)

I was cruising along enjoying a beautiful, clear, crisp afternoon. Instead of paying attention to the road I was daydreaming and I hit a twenty mph curve at about sixty five. The moral of the story - always pay attention. I know, it was stupid. I have ridden for three years and seventeen thousand miles and never laid down. Monday I did and was able to walk, or limp, away. My message is pay attention, wear good protective gear, dont skimp on a helmet, and dont think it wont happen to you. My 06 Reflex performed beautifully. I stayed with it as long as possible and laid it down on its side and was ejected. I was in the ditch by this time. My best guess is it is repairable for less than $800 in parts. My pride and ego will take a while. We reflex riders are driving a well built machine. Unless I can recover some leverage I may have a damaged 06 which still runs for sale.

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Messages in this topic (1)

3a.: Rear Trunk Shopping.

Posted by: "brian_cirulnick" techrat@obsolyte.com brian_cirulnick

Wed Dec 30, 2009 1:54 pm (PST)

Ok... I have ordered Nelson's Air Deflectors, I've ordered a Givi 211 Windsheild, but I can't seem to find a decent Top-Box.

The ones under $200 seem to either garner reviews that they are awful, or the ones that aren't awful don't look appealing. I have a Silver Reflex (2001), and I'm trying to find something that doesn't ruin the look of the bike, but is also not made out of flimsy plastic.

I fail to understand why a decent plastic box has to cost more than $200 in order to be any good. I went through some of the photos to see what others have used, and sadly, some of those top-boxes are no longer made.

I have a basic Emgo box on my Vino 125 which looks nice on that, but somehow that same box just looks wrong on the Reflex.

I doesn't have to light up, but it should have a reflector built-in. Passenger seat-back is optional, not a deal-breaker either way. Anybody want to recommend something -- and make sure it's still available? (i.e. don't recommend unobtanium)...

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Messages in this topic (3)
3b.: Re: Rear Trunk Shopping.

Posted by: "Carla Williamson" csw02231958@yahoo.com csw02231958

Wed Dec 30, 2009 2:52 pm (PST)

I am not sure what you paid for your Givi, but I sell Cee Baileys for the Flex for $90.00 + $10.00 for shipping
Carla S. Williamson
Into a each life a little rain must fall. It is what we choose to do with it in the end that matters. Will we allow it to benefit us or will it be our Nemesis.
Carla S. Williamson

________________________________
From: brian_cirulnick <techrat@obsolyte.com>
To: hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wed, December 30, 2009 2:51:21 PM
Subject: Honda Reflex Group Rear Trunk Shopping.

Ok.... I have ordered Nelson's Air Deflectors, I've ordered a Givi 211 Windsheild, but I can't seem to find a decent Top-Box.

The ones under $200 seem to either garner reviews that they are awful, or the ones that aren't awful don't look appealing. I have a Silver Reflex (2001), and I'm trying to find something that doesn't ruin the look of the bike, but is also not made out of flimsy plastic.

I fail to understand why a decent plastic box has to cost more than $200 in order to be any good. I went through some of the photos to see what others have used, and sadly, some of those top-boxes are no longer made.

I have a basic Emgo box on my Vino 125 which looks nice on that, but somehow that same box just looks wrong on the Reflex.

I doesn't have to light up, but it should have a reflector built-in. Passenger seat-back is optional, not a deal-breaker either way. Anybody want to recommend something -- and make sure it's still available? (i.e. don't recommend unobtanium). ..

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Messages in this topic (3)
3c.: Re: Rear Trunk Shopping.

Posted by: "TubaTim" phreadbarnz@gmail.com phreadbarnz

Wed Dec 30, 2009 3:16 pm (PST)

--- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, "brian_cirulnick" <techrat@...> wrote:
>
> I fail to understand why a decent plastic box has to cost more than $200 in order to be any good. I went through some of the photos to see what others have used, and sadly, some of those top-boxes are no longer made.
>

I love my Givi E52.
Givi can charge >$200 because of quality and reputation. Also you are paying for a custom fitted box for YOUR vehicle. You are also paying for R&D.

TravlinTim (who is going to the Parade tomorrow) Hansen
phreadbarnz@iwon.com

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4.: the unthinkable

Posted by: "tonymarchman@att.net" tonymarchman@att.net tonymarchman@att.net

Wed Dec 30, 2009 5:01 pm (PST)

You are not alone, I did something similar a few years ago. Entered the curve too fast and almost got it stopped and then the wheels slipped off the pavement. I landed on my butt while the scoot slid down the bank. Then the wheels caught and it did a roll over, a complete 360. When it came to a rest, it was sitting upright and the motor was still running. I was totally amazed, the windshield was not broken, the givi box was intact, no visible damage. I slid down the bank, jerked it around a bit to get the belly off the high ground it landed on and rode it out of the cornfield. I was a little bruised and much wiser. I have managed to avoid a repeat performance. I now have the nerve to just lean it on over and trust it to make the curve instead of trying to stop. (this was before I installed the car tire)
Tony in Tenn. with 41k on a yellow reflex with "a few light scratches"

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5a.: Re: Who is missing a Reflex?

Posted by: "tailmaster" freedomfyter@yahoo.com tailmaster

Wed Dec 30, 2009 6:29 pm (PST)

'05 is dark red
'06 is dark blue

Security is a Bully chain/lock and a Xena disc lock. :)

--- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, "steve.stansberry" <steve.stansberry@...> wrote:
>
> Yes, I have been a ggod boy!! Maybe Santa left it for me knowing how much I miss riding!! What were the colors for '05/'06 Reflex's??
> Dark red/wine berry...pretty color!!
>
> Steve
> Roseville, CA
>
> --- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, Carla Williamson <csw02231958@> wrote:
> >
> > Now that is even more strange..........you have been a good boy this year, haven't you.
> > Â Carla S. Williamson
> > Â Into a each life a little rain must fall.Â It is what we choose to do with it in the end that matters.Â Will we allow it to benefit us or will it be our Nemesis.
> > Carla S. Williamson
> >
> > Â
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ________________________________
> > From: steve.stansberry <steve.stansberry@>
> > To: hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com
> > Sent: Mon, December 28, 2009 9:30:11 AM
> > Subject: Re: Honda Reflex Group Who is missing a Reflex?
> >
> > Â
> >
> > Even more weird...2 keys, on a key ring, were left in the ignition! My ChiP friend is having it towed to CHP impound. If they can't find any more inf, which I doubt, he asked if I wanted it back!?! Of course I do!!! I guess the color is kind of a 'wine berry'?? I don't know!!
> >
> > Steve
> > Roseville, CA
> >
> > --- In hondareflexowners@ yahoogroups. com, wingit3611@ .. wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > wierd, especailly that it was in your driveway? That's all that Santa had
> > > left for you Steve! Rick in Lou KY
> > >
> > >
> > > In a message dated 12/28/2009 10:43:25 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
> > > steve.stansberry@ ... writes:
> > >
> > > Last night I got home, from being gone since Friday, to find a Relex
> > > parked on my driveway! wierd!! Anyway, my neighbor is a CHP and this am we went
> > > to check vin# lic tag etc., etc.. Nothing! The vin has been removed, no lic
> > > and no other id on the scoot! What gives?? He, the CHiP did finally find a
> > > frame #. This is a dark red, almost black color, in very good shape,
> > > meaning no scratches or dings and has approx 17,000 miles. We think it might be
> > > a '04 or '05, but the only scratches on this scoot are the #'s on the
> > > lenses, all of them, have been scratched off. My CHipPer friend is checkin CHP
> > > computer as I write this! This is way off the wall!!
> > >
> > > Steve (scratching his head on this one)
> > > Roseviulle, CA
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Rick
> > > __l__
> > > '---o--(_)-- o---'
> > >
> > > " " "
> > > It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless
> > > minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds. Samuel Adams
> > >
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>

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6a.: Re: 40k club

Posted by: "tailmaster" freedomfyter@yahoo.com tailmaster

Wed Dec 30, 2009 6:31 pm (PST)

There is a poll just made for you.

--- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, Joe Barnhart <flaboye@...> wrote:
>
> I flipped 40k on Christmas eve.
>
> I know there are a couple of polls in the group but I'm curious who is
> currently active here
> and what your mileage is, if you are over 40,000.
>
> I'm putting on about 1800 a month, so I'm wondering who has maybe 50k or
> higher. As I'm
> in Florida, there is no interruption to my riding.
>
> I wonder what the mileage record is for a reflex that's still running and
> hasn't had the engine
> torn into (current members, not old polls)
>
> Joe
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

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6b.: Re: 40k club

Posted by: "tailmaster" freedomfyter@yahoo.com tailmaster

Wed Dec 30, 2009 6:36 pm (PST)

wingit3611 got 75K miles/120K kilometers before needing a new top.

--- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, Joe Barnhart <flaboye@...> wrote:
>
> I flipped 40k on Christmas eve.
>
> I know there are a couple of polls in the group but I'm curious who is
> currently active here
> and what your mileage is, if you are over 40,000.
>
> I'm putting on about 1800 a month, so I'm wondering who has maybe 50k or
> higher. As I'm
> in Florida, there is no interruption to my riding.
>
> I wonder what the mileage record is for a reflex that's still running and
> hasn't had the engine
> torn into (current members, not old polls)
>
> Joe
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

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7a.: Re: OT - Have a Blessed Christmas!

Posted by: "Michael" mbr987@comcast.net bandito_two

Wed Dec 30, 2009 10:29 pm (PST)

--- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, "BruceK" <bruce@...> wrote:
>
> May you and yours have a very Blessed Christmas!
>
> Bruce and Janet Koehler
>
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
And a prosperous (as possible, despite the current circumstances)
New Year to all.
As a New Year resolution, I will endeavor to put more miles on both of my darkside scoots than I have before. (I know it sounds tough,
but somebody's got to do it. Might as well give it a go.) I may
continue a tradition that I started for myself at the start of 2009
and get out of the driveway (however short and brief) and ride a
scooter New Year's day. Failing that, watch for donuts in the driveway. (scooter created in the snow kind.) =8-)

Mike B.

(Rochester Hills Michigan Double Dark Side Rider)
(2007 Honda Reflex Sport "Scarlet")
(Hercules G2000T 155/80R12 car tire on the back.)
(Pirelli Diablo 150/70-13 scooter rear tire on the front.)

(2006 Honda FSC600A Silverwing) as yet unnamed
(Michelin Destiny 175/70/R13 car tire on the back.)
(Michelin Gold Standard 150/70-14) scooter rear tire on the front.)

**** While knowledge has power, It is what you do with what you
know that is important.
It gives the knowledge validity and demonstrates it's worth.
Use it wisely. **** (I wish I knew more)

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Honda Reflex Group Digest Number 4698

noreply@blogger.com (The Guy who knows....) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:56:00 +0000

Messages In This Digest (3 Messages)

1a.: 26,2 From: Joe Barnhart
1b.: Re: 26,2 From: Mike
1c.: Re: 26,2 From: Joe Barnhart

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Messages

1a.: 26,2

Posted by: "Joe Barnhart" flaboye@gmail.com jtbgnsv

Tue Dec 29, 2009 5:48 am (PST)

Well here goes the coldest ride I've ever done.

It's 26.2 outside grrrrrr......

Flexer was very uhhappy about cranking this morning, lol.

Joe

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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1b.: Re: 26,2

Posted by: "Mike" Ursamajor@ceoexpress.com ursamajor35235

Tue Dec 29, 2009 10:02 am (PST)

You're either Very brave or Very foolish. I'll let you decide which. ))

--- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, Joe Barnhart <flaboye@...> wrote:
>
> Well here goes the coldest ride I've ever done.
>
> It's 26.2 outside grrrrrr......
>
> Flexer was very uhhappy about cranking this morning, lol.
>
> Joe
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

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1c.: Re: 26,2

Posted by: "Joe Barnhart" flaboye@gmail.com jtbgnsv

Tue Dec 29, 2009 10:11 am (PST)

Well they say to be courage and foolishness share commonality!

There was actually ice on the windshield and the tires, which I had to rinse
off with a bucket. The roads here never ice over though, so once I was on
the road all was well.

I survived it, this Saturday night they're saying mid to low 20's so I may
break the 26.2 record on my Sunday ride.

In Florida we get to ride all year no matter the temp. I remember 18
degrees one winter here, but wasn't riding bikes then.

I have the 210 givi shield which doesn't do anything for your hands, it does
keep most wind to the top of my helmet, I'm 5'11.

I do not have the leg shields or hand shields that are available.

I put on thermals, then jeans, then a long sleeve t over the thermal top.

Then the Joe rocket textile with liner.

Then I put on some balloon pants to cover the jeans as jeans nor thermals
cut the wind.

Then I put on Cortech scarab winter gloves.

It wasn't all that bad, but I did keep the face shield sealed the whole way.

The temp guage never got over 1/4, on normal Florida days it would run a
little over 1/2 where everyone said theirs usually runs.

So the motor was very cool today!

Joe

On Tue, Dec 29, 2009 at 1:02 PM, Mike <Ursamajor@ceoexpress.com> wrote:

>
>
> You're either Very brave or Very foolish. I'll let you decide which. ))
>
> --- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com<hondareflexowners%40yahoogroups.com>,
> Joe Barnhart <flaboye@...> wrote:
> >
> > Well here goes the coldest ride I've ever done.
> >
> > It's 26.2 outside grrrrrr......
> >
> > Flexer was very uhhappy about cranking this morning, lol.
> >
> > Joe
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
>
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Honda Reflex Group Digest Number 4684

noreply@blogger.com (The Guy who knows....) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:07:00 +0000

Messages In This Digest (5 Messages)

1a.: Re: 2005 Honda Reflex Sport For Sale From: TubaTim
1b.: Re: 2005 Honda Reflex Sport For Sale From: Joe Barnhart
1c.: OBO (was Re: Honda Reflex Group 2005 Honda Reflex Sport For Sale) From: TubaTim
1d.: Re: 2005 Honda Reflex Sport For Sale From: Bruce

2a.: K-mod Variator tool, was Re: K-Mod or New Variator w/Sliders From: BruceK

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Messages

1a.: Re: 2005 Honda Reflex Sport For Sale

Posted by: "TubaTim" phreadbarnz@gmail.com phreadbarnz

Tue Dec 15, 2009 8:58 am (PST)

Good luck with that. Your price seems a little high. You are selling a 5 year old scooter.
According to a quick web search I found this.

Kelly Blue Book
Retail: $3,325
Trade In: $2,265

Nada Guides:
Low Retail: $2,555
Avg Retail: $3,360

I'll give you $2,300 for it sight unseen.

TravlinTim (who hasn't paid more than $3,600 for a 3 year old scooter) Hansen
phreadbarnz@iwon.com

--- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, "herucomm1" <herucomm1@...> wrote:
>
> I have decided to sell my Silver Reflex Sport:
>
> -original owner
> -excellent condition
> -always garage kept
> -3725 miles
> -includes cover
> -title on hand
> -all service records
> -asking $4,000 O.B.O
>
> send e-mail for pictures. I will also post some pictures within the next 48 hours.
>
> local craigslist ad:
>
> http://greenville.craigslist.org/mcy/1504513018.html
>
> Thanks
>

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1b.: Re: 2005 Honda Reflex Sport For Sale

Posted by: "Joe Barnhart" flaboye@gmail.com jtbgnsv

Tue Dec 15, 2009 11:34 am (PST)

Well he did say O.B.O., so hopefully someone will offer him something he can
live with.

And, yes, I would have to agree with Tim, your asking price is way out of
whack, so much so, you may prejudice your ad against anyone even contacting
you, but hopefully not.

They are great machines!

Good Luck with your sale, I'm sure it'll make a great bike for someone.

Joe

On Tue, Dec 15, 2009 at 2:31 AM, herucomm1 <herucomm1@yahoo.com> wrote:

>
>
> I have decided to sell my Silver Reflex Sport:
>
> -original owner
> -excellent condition
> -always garage kept
> -3725 miles
> -includes cover
> -title on hand
> -all service records
> -asking $4,000 O.B.O
>
> send e-mail for pictures. I will also post some pictures within the next 48
> hours.
>
> local craigslist ad:
>
> http://greenville.craigslist.org/mcy/1504513018.html
>
> Thanks
>
>
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Messages in this topic (5)
1c.: OBO (was Re: Honda Reflex Group 2005 Honda Reflex Sport For Sale)

Posted by: "TubaTim" phreadbarnz@gmail.com phreadbarnz

Tue Dec 15, 2009 4:54 pm (PST)

Here's the thing about O.B.O.
Timimg. Today's 'Best Offer' is tomorrow's missed opportunity.
TravlinTim (whose offer of $2,300 is still good) Hansen
phreadbarnz@iwon.com

--- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, Joe Barnhart <flaboye@...> wrote:
>
> Well he did say O.B.O., so hopefully someone will offer him something he can
> live with.
>
> And, yes, I would have to agree with Tim, your asking price is way out of
> whack, so much so, you may prejudice your ad against anyone even contacting
> you, but hopefully not.
>
> They are great machines!
>
> Good Luck with your sale, I'm sure it'll make a great bike for someone.
>
> Joe

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Messages in this topic (5)
1d.: Re: 2005 Honda Reflex Sport For Sale

Posted by: "Bruce" BSBVETSURG@AOL.COM vetbonedoc

Tue Dec 15, 2009 6:01 pm (PST)

--- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, "herucomm1" <herucomm1@...> wrote:
>
> I have decided to sell my Silver Reflex Sport:
>
> -original owner
> -excellent condition
> -always garage kept
> -3725 miles
> -includes cover
> -title on hand
> -all service records
> -asking $4,000 O.B.O
>
> send e-mail for pictures. I will also post some pictures within the next 48 hours.
>
> local craigslist ad:

>
> http://greenville.craigslist.org/mcy/1504513018.html

Seems high for 2005 Reflex even in great condition. I purchased a 2004 Reflex in excellent condition with 3000 miles for $2500 less then six monts ago. If your market can get it good for you, but if you dont get any inquiries Id definitely drop the price below retail book value.

Bruce B

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2a.: K-mod Variator tool, was Re: K-Mod or New Variator w/Sliders

Posted by: "BruceK" bruce@aplusservices.com bruceakoehler

Tue Dec 15, 2009 1:23 pm (PST)

Clarification - I said that if you were going to build the tool TO SAVE MONEY (per my instruction sheet in the FILES Section) - it will cost you more in "real total expenses" (if you consider the value of your time. [i.e. for example, a self-employed person with billable work available would be better off doing the billable work and charging for it than spending an hour or more INCLUDING TIME TO GO GET THE RAW MATERIALS, etc]

I hope that makes my point.

Any Honda dealer can get the tool for you - around $40 if I recall correctly.

Hope that helps

Bruce Koehler - the Koehlerizer
Santa Cruz, CA

--- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, "akwms1" <akwms1@...> wrote:
>
> Bruce K
>
> Apologize for the confusion - but again, thank you for the very well description of the K-mod. After reading it I realized that this is something that's within my skill level, with the help of a friend - he has to the tools.
>
> Bruce, I see that you recommend purchasing the variator tool instead of fabricating it. Is there a good source for purchasing the tool?
>
> Also, generally, for the purchase of replacement parts in general. I realize that I may be able to do some of the routine maintenance.
>
> Again, thank you hosting the terrific forum.
>
> Aloha,
> Allen
>
> --- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, "BruceK" <bruce@> wrote:
> >
> > First - note that replies from "Bruce" (not "BruceK") are not from me - Bruce Koehler.
> >
> > I remain a polite skeptic about rollers of other shapes (read: I doubt it - but not antagonistically).
> >
> > However, why not give them a try? The cost is small, and I don't feel that they would be a problem - worse case: go back to the stock beige rollers if you don't like them.
> >
> > For what it's worth
> >
> > Bruce Koehler - the Koehlerizer
> > Santa Cruz, CA
> >
> > --- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, "akwms1" <akwms1@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Bruce -
> > >
> > > Thanks - you have a very well description of the procedure.
> > >
> > > I just don't want to damage the pulley face if I change the belt too.
> > >
> > > I checked with a friend, and he has the metric sockets, and impact wrench and torque wrench. He's offered to help too.
> > >
> > > Question Bruce - you remove the black rollers in the shorter ramp slot. Is there any benefits replacing the other rollers with new ones since it's taken apart or replace those rollers with the DP sliders?
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > Allen
> > >
> > > PS - Great group site....
> > >
> > > --- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, "BruceK" <bruce@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > You can TRY the K-Mod for FREE.
> > > >
> > > > And as for time, it will take you LONGER to take it to the dealer, leave it, get a ride, go back and pick it up - than it will just to do it (about an hour for the inexperienced...
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > For what it's worth
> > > >
> > > > Bruce Koehler - the Koehlerizer
> > > > Santa Cruz, CA
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, "akwms1" <akwms1@> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > New to the group and proud owner of a recently acquired 2002 Reflex with 9k mileage. Excellent condition and well maintained by original owner.
> > > > >
> > > > > I'm coming up on 10k mileage soon and will be taking it in for my first maintenance visit.
> > > > >
> > > > > Decision time...
> > > > >
> > > > > I am experiencing a shuttering between 2500 - @4000 rpm / 25 to 40 mph when starting out. Very smooth after that.
> > > > >
> > > > > I live on a somewhat steep hill - about a 2 mile trip - and I can maintain about 30 to 40 going up hill - shouldn't go faster.
> > > > >
> > > > > I'm going to ask to replace the belt and I'm going to ask the Honda dealer if they would check the variator and see if they're open to removing the rollers for the K-mod.
> > > > >
> > > > > Since I don't have time or tools to do the mod myself, I'd like to ask the Honda maintenance shop to do it. But I'm wondering if I should just spend some money now and replace the variator (what type/model?) that would use the traditional roller ramps, and put in the Dr. Pulley Sliders (size and gram?).
> > > > >
> > > > > Any thoughts that can be shared by the group?
> > > > >
> > > > > PS - A Suzuki salesperson I met wants me to trade in Reflex for an new 09 Burgman 400. He said don't spend any money on Reflex maintenance now, but use it for the Burgman purchase. I live in Honolulu - daily driving under 10 miles, typically 40 mph, and freeway speeds are typically 40-50 during the day, and 55 at night. He said I would have no shuttering when going up hill.
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>

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2010 Models from Piaggio

noreply@blogger.com (The Guy who knows....) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 23:12:00 +0000

2010 Piaggio Vespa Scooters: New models, hybrid coming

Scooters thrive in the city, making New York’s Central Park a well-suited venue for sampling the 2010 Piaggio Vespa scooters. We recently met with Piaggo executives to learn what they are bringing to the scooter scene since we last reported on a group of scooters and small motorcycles this past spring.

The biggest news is an announcement that Piaggio will produce a hybrid model for 2010. The hybrid will be a version of the company’s large MP3 three-wheeled scooter, which can handle the extra battery weight of the hybrid. An example was not available to ride at this event, but executives claim prototypes have been getting between 100 and 120 mpg. The company didn’t release any more details about the bike except that it will have a lithium-Ion battery.

We did ride the latest Vespa scooters, including the Vespa GTS 300 Super with a 22-horsepower, 278 cc engine. Shown above, the GTS rides mostly like a traditional Vespa: It’s smooth and easy to maneuver. But unlike some other Vespas, it has a lot of torque. It’s very quick off the line and can unload the front wheel so much you want to lunge forward to make sure it stays down. The company claims a top speed of 80 mph.

We also rode the company’s luxury model, the GTV 250, which has as much power as the GTS, but less torque, so it doesn’t jump suddenly from a start. What sets the GTV apart is its throwback styling, with the headlight mounted to the fender like early Vespas. It has beautifully grained, piped leather seat, as well as handlebars angled for a more relaxed riding position. Unfortunately, the leather seat makes you sit farther forward, so the GTV feels cramped for taller riders.

In our report last year, the two Vespas we tested performed well, but we noted that their charm and cachet comes at a price premium , sometimes costing over $1,000 more than other comparable scooters. The GTV 250 retails for $6,899--the price of either a larger, more powerful motorcycle or scooter. The GTS 300 Sport sells for $6,199.

We also rode an Aprilia Scarabeo 200, the brand’s most popular model. (Aprilia is owned by Piaggio, which also makes Vespas.) The Aprilia scooters have a more modern design, with larger 16-inch wheels for improved ride quality and better high-speed stability than the 12-inch wheels on the Vespas. The Scarabeo 200 is designed more for beginners, with a gentle take-off and much less torque than the big Vespas. It felt more like the Kymco People 150 we tested last year, which many of us liked. Like most 16-inch scooters, the storage compartment under the seat is not big enough for a full-face helmet. The Scarabeo sells for $3,499, $700 more than our Kymco.

Riding these scoots around Central Park and the surrounding city streets reminded of the advantages of a small, simple vehicle that’s easy to weave through downtown traffic and also park in a dense urban environment. Dicing with double-parked trucks and seas of yellow cabs in every lane was a little too entertaining at times, but there is clear appeal in the scooting way of city life.

AllThoseArticles.info

Yamaha C3 Review

noreply@blogger.com (The Guy who knows....) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:32:00 +0000

It’s easy to have an opinion on Yamaha’s C3, but take a moment to think about the C3’s purpose. Where does the C3 fit into the world of motor scooters?

Well, I believe the Yamaha C3 is an experiment in efficiency. When you add up the specs you can really see how Yamaha has successfully squeezed the most out of the smallest package with this baby. First, Yamaha took a tiny 50cc, 4-stroke engine and added a tuned fuel injection system to achieve a reported 115 mpg. Then on its tiny frame they built a huge, side-hinged storage bin with a nine-gallon capacity.

The whole package weighs less than 200 lbs and that’s with oil and a full tank of gas. Even with all that efficiency the C3 manages to hit the 40 mph mark on her speedometer.

You might expect that an efficiency experiment so successful might have some hideous shortcomings in the aesthetics department, but I tell you what; I think the C3 is a real eye catcher.

I look at a lot of scooters and I can’t think of another modern scooter that looks anything like a C3. She’s got this old-school Cushman charm about her. Boxy and slim but sturdy looking and very maneuverable, the C3 puts some much-needed fun in functionality.

So, what’s up with that name, ‘C3’? Yamaha’s model number is XF50. People commonly refer to her as the C-Three, but the name is really ‘C-Cubed’, making reference to her surprisingly large under seat cubic storage capacity. I said nine gallons, but to put that in perspective I rode mine around with a video camera, still camera, laptop and more.

In another experiment I was able to hold a dozen 12oz beverages under there, though you should note that anything cold in the storage chest won’t stay that way for long due to the close proximity to the engine.

If you need even more storage space you can add an optional rear rack. Don’t get too carried away with the C3’s carrying capacity though, as the owner’s manual states that the maximum capacity is 187 lbs.

One thing to note about the storage area is that it’s a bit shallow. You’re not going to fit a full face or even a ¾ helmet under the seat. To make up for it, the C3 has a helmet hook at the front of the seat that allows you to effectively secure your helmet using the locking seat closure.

The Ride
She may not be fast, but she’s still fun! The lightweight, short wheelbase and small but chunky 10” tires make her very maneuverable. You could even coax the C3 up a curb with her 4.5 inches of ground clearance. Like nearly all modern scooters, the C3 has a constantly variable automatic transmission (CVT). Just twist and go.

The seat is pretty wide and low at just under 29 inches from the pavement. It’s relatively comfortable for short jaunts but one owner, who has put 900 miles on his, says the seat “starts to feel like an old oak church pew after 25 miles”.

Let’s talk about the whisper-quiet engine. Yamaha’s fuel-injected 49cc liquid-cooled, SOHC, 4-stroke, 3-valve engine is built and tuned to be efficient. The speedometer stops at 40 mph and it makes it there in just less than 36 seconds. If the top speed of 40 mph doesn’t cut it for you, I hear that she can be derestricted to hit 48 mph if you don’t mind blowing your 115 mpg and potentially damaging your scooter.

The Rest

The instrumentation is very simple; one gauge for the speedometer and odometer, one for the fuel gauge and three lights to indicate high beams, engine maintenance and temperature warning.

Besides the optional rear rack, the C3 also has an optional windscreen to protect you from wind and debris while you race down the road at 40 mph.

The C3 features an electric starter with a backup kick start (very handy) and also has a standard, motorcycle-style handlebar to give you some custom options (did I hear ape hangers?) and a single headlight mounted just above the front fender for a very clean and simple style. Speaking of style, the C3 takes a unique approach to the traditional scooter leg shield. Instead of a fixed shield the C3 has a narrow shield that turns along with the front forks. I’m not sure if that makes it any more functional as a leg shield, but it looks cool.

The C3 has a pretty narrow design which means more agile in tight spaces, but there is little in the way of leg protection, so watch those puddles.
The C3 is available in Red, White and Yamaha Blue for the 2008 model year, Red or Silver for 2009 and they all include a one-year manufacturer’s warranty. You’ll be able to pick up this unique feat of Japanese engineering for just $1,999 MSRP ($2099 for 2009).

If you’re looking for a scooter to get you around campus, you’re not going to find a better-suited ride. The C3 has room for you and your books. She’s clean, quiet and efficient with a look that is somehow rugged and cute at the same time. As long as you’re not racing or touring, the C3 will make an excellent road companion.

GreensboroOnlineMarketing.com

Peugeot HYmotion Hybrid Scooter

noreply@blogger.com (The Guy who knows....) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 14:59:00 +0000

Peugeot HYmotion Hybrid Motorcycle Goes On Sale in 2010

It looks like something out of the new Transformers movie and it gets 117 miles per gallon. Interested? It's the Peugeot HYmotion 3 Motorcycle, but this is no ordinary bike. It's a three-wheeled (two in front, one in back) scooter, powered by a 125cc gas engine and two electric motors - one for each front wheel. Not to mention that it has a roof, so you won't have to hide under an overpass when it rains.

The HYmotion will compete directly with the Piaggio MP3, another three-wheeled scooter, sans roof, currently sold only in Europe. The MP3 also uses a 125cc engine, but differs from the HYmotion in that only the rear wheel is powered both by the gas engine and the electric motor. The MP3 might trump the HYmotion in fuel economy, as it's expected to offer 140 miles per gallon and 12 miles of gas free travel on a fully charged lithium-ion battery pack.

The HYmotion 3 is expected to go on sale next year, so if you're looking for a fun to drive, high mpg machine, start saving now.

AllThoseArticles.info

Piaggio MP3 Hybrid is Coming !!

noreply@blogger.com (The Guy who knows....) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 18:52:00 +0000

Finally, a hybrid vehicle that makes economical and environmental sense. The Piaggio MP3 Hybrid has just been launched in Europe, becoming not only the first plug-in hybrid vehicle to enter mass-production, but also the first hybrid vehicle, of any kind mind you, to use lithium ion batteries. It's also the most fuel efficient, returning up to 141mpg in normal use. Let's take a look at why the MP3 Hybrid makes so much sense.

Configuration:
A leaning three-wheeler combines the advantages of a scooter -- traffic busting, easy parking -- with something that's easy-to-use and, most importantly, unintimidating to new riders. Unlike other, supposedly eco-friendly vehicles like the Toyota Prius, the MP3 Hybrid will never get stuck in traffic nor create congestion for other road users, thereby further reducing its impact on the environment.

Since the gasoline engine only displaces 124cc, European riders will be able to ride it on nothing but a car license or a motorcycle learner's permit.

Fuel Economy:
The MP3 Hybrid performs like a 250cc scooter, most of those return about 90-95mpg. In similar urban conditions, the MP3 Hybrid adds 50% to that figure. In comparison, the 2010 Toyota Prius, the most fuel-efficient car sold in the US, returns only 50mpg in the combined EPA cycle.

The Plug:
A common modification for super nerdy Prius owners is a plug, enabling them to recharge their batteries at home or at the office and then run on electricity-only for longer and faster. That also enables them not to suck down gasoline to recharge the battery when electricity, even from coal-fired power plants, is created far more efficiently and is so easily available.

Electric-Only Operation:
Many European cities are rapidly defining areas open only to electric vehicles. In electric mode, the MP3 can access these areas. Additionally, you never need use gasoline for short trips just super-cheap electricity.

Lithium Ion Battery:
More energy density and reliability than NiMH or LiPo cells, Lithium Ion means higher performance, lighter weight and increased longevity. Expect the batteries to last the vehicle's lifetime.

Range:
Unlike all-electric competitors, the MP3 Hybrid's range is indefinite. Need to take a long trip? Just stop at gas stations and top up.

It's Coming To America:
Piaggio Group President and CEO Paolo Timoni exclusively revealed to us that the MP3 Hybrid will go on-sale in the US Q1 2010 for around $8 or $9,000.

Piaggio MP3 Hybrid – Technical Specifications

Internal combustion engine capacity: 124 cc (bore x stroke - 57 x 48.6 mm)
Thermodynamic cycle: Otto cycle – 4 stroke
Valve gear: Single overhead cam, four valves
Cooling system: Liquid
Ignition system: Inductive discharge digital electronic ignition
Hybrid powertrain power: 11 kW (15 CV) at 8,500 rpm
Hybrid powertrain torque: 16 Nm at 3,000 rpm
Electric motor: Synchronous brushless permanent magnet motor
Power supply voltage: Three-phase alternating current
Electric motor control: Digitally controlled inverter
Electric motor cooling system: Air
Electric motor power: 2.6 kW (3.5 CV)
Electric motor torque: 15 Nm
Drive modes 4 modes: 2 hybrid, 2 electric (including reverse)
Battery charge modes: During braking and deceleration on the move, and from the mains (battery charger integrated in on-board electronics)
Traction batteries: Lithium ion batteries
Transmission: Variator with centrifugal and torque control
Engine control system: Ride-by-Wire with closed loop fuel injection system
Exhaust: Catalytic converter
Chassis: Double cradle in high strength tubular steel
Front suspension: Articulated quadrilateral consisting of four aluminium arms sustaining two steering tubes, and pull rod suspension geometry with offset wheel axle
Rear suspension: Two dual action hydraulic shock absorbers with adjustable spring preload
Front brake: Two 240 mm Ø stainless steel discs and floating calliper with two 30 mm Ø pistons
Rear brake: 240 mm Ø stainless steel disc and calliper with horizontally opposed 30 mm Ø pistons
Front wheel rim: Die-cast aluminium alloy 12" x 3.00
Rear wheel rim: Die-cast aluminium alloy 14" x 3.75
Front tyre: Tubeless 120/70-12”
Rear tyre: Tubeless 140/60-14”
Length/Width: 2,140 mm / 760 mm
Wheelbase: 1,490 mm
Seat height: 780 mm
Fuel tank capacity: 12 litres (including 1.8 litre reserve)
Consumption: (2/3 of cycle in hybrid mode – 1/3 in electric mode) 60 km/l
CO2 emissions: (2/3 of cycle in hybrid mode – 1/3 in electric mode) 40 g/Km
Emissions: compliance Euro3

AllThoseArticles.info

Longtime Scooterist

noreply@blogger.com (The Guy who knows....) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:41:00 +0000

I may not drive a Prius (though I would if Toyota needed me to test drive one for a year or so!) and my car does not run on recycled vegetable oil, but I can say that I have been the proud owner of a motor scooter.

I am a stereotypical white person so it should come as no surprise that I have dreamed of owning a vespa at numerous points throughout my adult life. A vespa for me is kinda like a Ford F350 truck, it would be cool but it’s not going to happen. But something else happened and its name was Honda. It’s colour was blue, it was mostly made of plastic, it was born in 1984 and cost $2.49 to fill up - there was nothing not to love. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Bush and I drove cross country from Jacksonville, FL to ‘California’. I say it like that because we had no idea where we were going, we were just ‘moving to California’. We arrived in Encinitas eventually found a place and got jobs etc. I had no license as I forgot to renew my visa about 5.5 years before, so getting a vehicle was going to be tricky. Luckily my friend Pat worked at the car lot I walked or cycled past every day on the way to and from the garden centre where I worked. My new Mexican work mates assured me it was no big deal to get a car (or other vehicle) without a licence and they were right! Pat hooked me up and I was soon the proud owner of a 1984 Honda Elite. It was a little out of my price range, but Pat and his manager were able to finance me for the whopping price of $300. I didn’t think life could get any better. Dave didn’t have a car either at this point, so the scooter gave us so much freedom, but not from each other, we still did everything together. Grocery shopping was fun, a little uncomfortable by the time we got home as I had to carry all of the groceries in a backpack, skateboarding was more fun, the scooter had a little luggage rack at the back so we were able to strap the skateboards on, but surfing before work was the most fun of all.
Bush would drive to the beach with our boards in her truck and I would cruise down in my wettie on the scoot-scoot. Encinitas didn’t know what had hit it.

I continued to ride the scooter well into my pregnancy with Ethan, until the bumps at the bottom of Moonlight Hill got WAY to much for a chick in her third trimester.

Everyone was down with the scooter, people were stoked when I would let them borrow it. I mean, who was I to hold back if they were picking up more classy vodka such as Popov or Wolfschmidt for Bush and I?

Even Dave’s friends who would visit from out of town loved the scooter, check out pro-skater Kyle getting amongst the scoot with Dave Jack, he won $10,000 the day before in a skate contest but all he wanted to do was ride the scooter of style.

I had only one treacherous moment when driving the scooter. We had cleaned out a shed at work and I found an awesome Jerry Garcia painting done in oils that we HAD to have for apartment in Tortilla Flats. I was quite sure that if I rested one corner of the painting on the foot peg and tied the back end up with some garden string I could get Jerry home in one piece. I was wrong – Moonlight Hill struck again and Jerry fell off and it was all quite traumatic but I eventually made my way back to the spanish ghetto where we lived and Bush loved him!

The scooter represents everything wonderful about out time in Encinitas, that easy, carefree time before we were parents, before we had bills, when all we had to worry about was whether we were having fish or chicken tacos for dinner. The little blue beauty never broke down, never gave us a lick of trouble and I would buy another Honda Elite again in a heartbeat.

AllThoseArticles.info

Vespa S150 Scooter Lesson

noreply@blogger.com (The Guy who knows....) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 19:44:00 +0000

It occurred to me that other riders with far more experience might be reading this for some technological tidbit or real cool motorcycle slang talk about a riding technique. Then it occurred to me that I’m not even called a rider. Recently I found out I was a co-rider. I enjoy my “co” existence. And while I agree it takes a certain type of courage to get on a motorcycle essentially taking your own life in your hands, might I also add it takes even more courage to get on a motorcycle and put your life in someone else’s hands. After 5 plus years of riding behind RD, I want to learn to drive my own bike. Enter a white with black seat, 150cc, Piaggio scooter. I’m calling her Venture.

Every rider should know how to turn on his or her own darn bike. It went something like this:

“To turn on your Vespa. Insert the key here. Turn the “Kill” switch on. See, it’s this red button. Squeeze back break like this. Hit start button.”

“What? I have a kill switch? Why? What for? Where’s the start button? Oh, the kill switch is red, does that mean it kills the bike or me? RD, let me do it, so I know how.”

“Do you want me to show you again?”

“Yes.”

And that’s how we started. My first sentence of encouragement from RD was, “it’s just like riding a bike.” I thought about the scar on my knee. I only rode my bike in a tomato patch once. Then I got a scar. So I wondered if he meant it’s like riding a bike and not falling off.

The first thing any budding motorcycle rider should master, as per RD, is stopping and starting. After you figure out how to turn the scooter on. And after you figure out which foot you are. Are you a left foot on the ground guy or a right foot on the ground guy? Turns out, I am a both feet on the ground guy.

My second sentence from RD was, “Don’t take both feet off the ground until you are going forward!”

According to him, I have to choose because taking off is easier if at least one foot is still on the ground. He’s right. I didn’t feel comfortable balancing on two wheels while I tried to remember which direction to turn the throttle.

As per my wishes he took me to a huge parking lot with no trees. I had plenty of room to stop, start, turn and not worry about traffic. My first surprise was learning the throttle turns towards the rider. Don’t know why I thought it turned the other way. But I did. It doesn’t. Next thing.

Getting your balance, keeping your balance and losing your balance. Balance as in staying upright. Balance as in not wobbling. Balance is easier while moving than while standing still trying to figure out which left foot I’m going to put on the ground.

On the second lesson, I added a tiny little bit of speed. Only about 15 mph. Still in the parking lot. Only the balance wasn’t as hard. I finally reached far enough back into my childhood and remembered the years I did ride a bicycle.

By now RD decided I should do some figure 8’s and practice starting and stopping. Preferably without wobbling or falling over. I had to wiggle around on the seat a little to find the right position. Before long I could start and stop smoothly.

Lucky for me the Venture is an automatic transmission. So I pretty much just need to worry about brakes, throttle and balance right now. I’m not pushing for speed. I just want to know what the Vespa can do, can’t do, will do, and won’t do.

I only had one scary moment. Almost hitting RD doesn’t count because he was on foot and always had the ability to jump out of the way. But I do feel embarrassed about the pole. In the middle of a high school parking lot are two light poles. They’re not camouflaged or concealed in any way. I was very busy trying to turn. RD told me not to stop in a turn, and I was focusing on not stopping while turning when the pole just popped up in front of me.

In an instant it was the “tree incident” all over again. I was staring at the pole, not thinking about balance or breaking or even which foot to put down. Experience paid off. I stopped fixating on the pole, looked past it, swerved around the pole and abruptly stopped in the neighbor’s yard without turning.

Do you think I’m a natural?
AllThoseArticles.info

Ruckus Disappoints

noreply@blogger.com (The Guy who knows....) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:41:00 +0000

After a couple dicey turns dodging minivans and pickup trucks, I pull over to take stock of the situation. First, I realize the initial five minutes of my maiden Honda Ruckus voyage are five minutes too many. Second, I make the grim recognition that either I turn around and re-run a gauntlet of near misses and sketchy left turns back to the office, or navigate a half-mile stretch of 45-mph surface street to get home.

Anxious, I pull up to the right hand turn and head home - the 45 mph speed limit sign right there taunting me. Traffic is busy, so timing is critical. With a half block gap I wick up the throttle and pin it, slowly spooling up to 20 mph, 25 mph, 30 mph… 30 mph… 30 mph. I see the stoplight ahead – but good lord that’s a long, long ways away...

The Ruckus is abysmal for street riding, unfit for the majority of public roadways.

There, I said it. Not what Honda, or prospective Ruckus owners, want to hear – but it’s the truth. This isn’t the 250cc-powered Big Ruckus of years past. Nor is it a buzzy 49cc 2-stroke powering the bare-boned Honda scooter design. The 2009 Ruckus sources a 49cc liquid-cooled, 4-stroke Single, which is simply too small for real-world roads.

The low-30s top speed severely limit the practical turf a Ruckus is fit to prowl. A lagging throttle and meager acceleration complete the overall poor engine performance. And it only gets worse with the slightest elevation change, as top speeds drop to freakish levels – not even 20 mph in some instances.
On top of it all, the Ruckus is cold-blooded. During one week-long layover (one of many rider-less gaps, such was the disdain it generated…) the little scoot only started after about 20 frustrated minutes of deft throttling to warm up – even with its internal choke. Oh, and did we mention it’s really, really slow?

As for the reason why such a pitiful motor powers the scooter, our best guess is that some states don’t require a permit or training to operate sub-50cc scooters – making the Ruckus a popular, easy sell. The perverted logic makes less sense the more you analyze it: Give a completely un-roadworthy machine to riders yet to prove their riding ability. In fact, they may be purchasing one specifically to avoid doing so! It used to be sub-50cc scooters were more potent 2-strokes, but now 4-strokes are the default, casting the road-worthiness of the whole class in doubt – at least if the Ruckus is a fair representation.

“After my first few rides I could hardly find the words to describe how disappointed I was,” says Motorcycle USA Dirt Bike editor JC Hilderbrand. “There’s simply no power. Big Red makes a 50cc, 4-stroke dirt bike that will stomp this thing in a drag, and they sell them to kids who aren’t old enough to read. Why would you strap a full-sized adult on it and throw them into city traffic?”

Stick a 125 or 150cc motor in the Ruckus and this review would be quite different
At first the Ruckus drum brakes seemed a perfect counterpoint to the anemic acceleration! Coasting stops were met with amused disbelief, but after an adjustment and a modest amount of commuting miles (modest because we honestly avoided riding it) the dual drum units scrubbed in, somewhat. But the overall braking performance almost made us grateful the Ruckus is so slow.

“The brakes are woefully underpowered, not that it matters since it barely gets up to residential speed limits before the next stop sign,” deems JC. “We haven’t formulated a way to accurately quantify the drag coefficient of sneakers, but I would estimate putting your feet down offers an additional 30-50% stopping power.”

At this point, bagging on the suspension and riding position doesn’t quite seem fair – like kicking the little Ruckus on the ground after a bully just stole his lunch money. True, it’s a tiny scooter, with a low 28.9-inch seat and short 49.8-inch wheelbase. And, yes, it feels small in the saddle. The suspension units, a front fork (2.2 in. travel) and rear single shock (2.6 in. travel), aren’t meant for test riders of our size (180-205 lbs). But to be honest, we don’t have many complaints here, as the suspension/riding position is the least of your worries while rolling down the road.

By now compassionate readers are begging for clemency. Stop baggin’ on the Ruckus, right? I mean it has to do something well…
“It actually turns quickly, but only if you throw your knee out like a road racer to avoid having the handlebar hit your leg,” confirms JC after riding the lightweight Ruckus (197-lb curb weight – 89 front/108 rear), before adding. “Bulbous tires aid in shock absorption but it still rides like a scooter, not a Caddy.”

The big tires on the small 10-inch wheels do deserve some props, as they deliver good feel and even allow for some mild dirt excursions. In fact, the most fun we had aboard the Ruckus was after I made it home and spun it around in my backyard garden – of course, I was in a euphoric/celebratory mood having survived the treacherous ride home. Lightweight and maneuverable, apt descriptions all. If you never left a parking lot, the Ruckus would rule with absolute authority, parking wherever it pleased.

But back to the negatives… One of the regular perks of a scooter is the built-in storage capacity, of which the Ruckus has zero. Well, you can strap things down or jam it into the open space under the seat, but nothing even close to helmet storage.

“A complete lack of storage is the next major issue, and the ultimate deal-killer for me,” admits JC. “What’s the point in riding this thing around town if you still have to wear a backpack? The only ruckus this causes is with the owner who wishes they bought something else.”

Enough, enough… Mercy please.

“On the bright side (pun intended), it has awesome headlights,” continues JC. “Considering how wimpy the rest of it is, these Baja-inspired twin beams feel like overkill, but when it comes down to it, there’s no substitute for illumination.”

True, the dual lamps are bright, though you should stop sniffing glue if you compound the safety factor by willingly riding it in the dark.

“Oh, the horn is loud too,” adds JC. “Honda apparently realized after they built this cute little folly, that if riders wanted to stay alive they had better be seen and heard. Well, thanks for that.”

For all its negative traits, we get the Ruckus’ minimalist stylistic appeal – it’s one of the reasons we requested a test unit. That and the promised gas-sipping fuel efficiency, which in our limited mileage registered above the 75 mpg mark.
The Ruckus could shine in limited applications as a micro-commuter. Zippy scoot for the college campus? Yeah, maybe. Ride for grandpappy to roll down the dirt road from farm house to mailbox? Sure, it’ll do that. Be the coolest guy in the RV park? No question. But pit bike is the true calling of the Ruckus and we’d like to believe the majority of them are used in such ancillary transportation functions.

The problem is Honda pitches the $2499 Ruckus (2008 MSRP was $350 lower) on its website as a capable street machine with marketing tags like “it struts onto the urban scene” or that “zipping around town couldn’t be easier.” Trust us, the Ruckus doesn’t strut anywhere, and zipping around could be easier. Much, much easier!

On a more positive note, Honda is adding more variety to its 2010 scooter lineup with the 100cc Elite and 150cc Honda SH150i. In Europe the Honda SH is an incredibly popular mount, confirmed by a recent trip to Barcelona. Judging from our sidewalk view of the downtown Barcelona scooter GP, the SH150 is a far better street mount for real-world urban commuters.

In fact, we look forward to sampling the SH150 in the near future (provided Honda is still speaking to us…). As for another Ruckus test ride, we’ll pass
AllThoseArticles.info

SYM Fights Clones !

noreply@blogger.com (The Guy who knows....) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:20:00 +0000

Late yesterday, Jonathon Arm, CEO for Carter Brothers (the USA's importer of SYM products) issued the following statement in regards to Lance Scooter's Vienna, a clone of the SYM's own Fiddle.

June , 2009
Dear SYM Dealers:

Carter/SYM USA, along with SYM Corporate Headquarters in Taiwan, would like to make you aware of a very serious situation that has recently come to our attention.

Lance Powersports, Inc. of Ontario, California, has been advertising and marketing a scooter by the name of the Vienna 50/125 which they claim to be manufactured by SYM's China subsidiary.

The truth is Lance Powersports tried to obtain this product illegally through a China trading company; SYM Taiwan management had no knowledge of this transaction or intent to allow Lance to import this model into the U.S. market. It is in fact a triangle trade through a trading company for product originally intended for Mexico. Note: The Vienna 50/125 will not be sold through Lance Powersports into the U.S. market period; SYM Taiwan Headquarters has not authorized Lance to do so.

Lance Powersports has gone as far as downloading Carter and SYM generated images and verbiage used on the SYM-USA website for promotional purposes. Unfortunately this incident may have been just a way for Lance to promote their own brand and agenda by trying to sabotage the SYM dealer network as well as capitalize on all of our marketing efforts and, of course, the success of the SYM brand and products in the U.S. Chinese distributors never cease to amaze us with the schemes they come up with to make a quick dollar!

Carter and SYM together have invested millions of dollars in promoting and establishing a viable SYM Dealer Network in the U.S. We have always promoted SYM as a great Taiwanese Brand and Company that conducts business with honesty and integrity. SYM has always been well known for producing the highest quality scooters in the world which exceed the quality, style and performance of equivalent Japanese and Italian scooters in many cases, and offer value to SYM Dealers and Riders alike!

Carter/SYM USA, as well as SYM Taiwan, pledge our continued support in making your exclusive SYM dealership a successful and profitable business venture and we will certainly continue to do our part to make sure your investment in SYM is secure.
Sincerely,
Jonathan C. Arn
CEO
Carter Brothers Mfg. Co., Inc.
SYM USA
1871 US Highway 231
Brundidge, AL 36010
AllThoseArticles.info

Scooter Sales Down, Along With The Economy

noreply@blogger.com (The Guy who knows....) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:40:00 +0000

The motor scooter market is looking for a tune-up.

Scooter sales, which along with fuel prices set a record in 2008, have fallen back to earth. In the first three months of 2009, scooter sales were off 37 percent. And dealers, who last year had trouble keeping scooters in stock, now have showrooms brimming with them.

“Frankly I wouldn’t mind fuel prices picking up a bit and steering (people) toward two-wheelers,” said Ty van Hooydonk, the director of product communications for the Motorcycle Industry Council, a trade group.

It has been quite a comedown from last year, when an estimated 222,000 scooters were sold, a record that was up roughly 40 percent from 2007.

Last July alone, some manufacturers saw sales double as consumers facing $4-a-gallon gasoline couldn’t resist scooters, including some fuel-sipping models that got more than 100 mpg.

But just as plummeting gas prices and the recession brought growth to a screeching halt, the industry now is confident that another surge in gas prices at some point will reignite sales.

Meanwhile, the scooter business is relying on a core group of customers who simply like the bikes for their fun and flexibility, regardless of where gas prices are.

The federal stimulus package, which allows sales tax deductions for people buying scooters or motorcycles, also should attract some customers.

John Redmond, the owner of Vespa Crossroads in Kansas City, said he still expected sales to be good this year, though they won’t reach last year’s levels. Gas prices, which were often on customers’ minds last year, aren’t mentioned now as a reason for buying a scooter.

Kevin Stewart of Kansas City, Kan., was shopping for a scooter recently when he stopped in at Skooters in North Kansas City, a store where the bikes start at $1,500. He took a look at one boasting 110 mpg. But the price of the bike, not the gas mileage, was on his mind.

“I just want one for recreation,” he said.

Selling fuel-efficient products is proving a fickle business as consumer concerns about higher gas prices change quickly. Last July, for example, 52 percent of Americans responding to a Gallup poll said they were worried that $4 gasoline would be a lot higher by year’s end. Another poll taken a month later, after prices had begun to decline, found only 12 percent of respondents said they were worried about higher prices.

Sales of fuel-efficient vehicles such as hybrid cars quickly began to slide and are still struggling. Although gas prices have risen recently, they still are about $1.40 a gallon cheaper than a year ago.

The scooter market has ebbed and flowed over the years. When motorcycles enjoyed new popularity in the 1990s, scooters dawdled along. In 1992, there were 18,000 scooters sold in the United States. Five years later, sales had declined to 12,000. But that soon changed, in part as younger consumers in urban markets took a liking to the distinctively styled bikes.

Scooters came into their own in a decade that saw gas prices gradually rise. By 2006, sales were at 120,000. Last year, annual sales nearly doubled from where they were two years earlier.

And this year, when green transportation is getting attention, scooters seem to have a role.

“We have a product that is right for the times,” said van Hooydonk.

But this year it looks as if scooter sales will slide for the first time in more than a decade.

Dan Dowdy, the owner of Skooters, became a dealer last year after he saw sales plummet at his custom-clothing business. He sold every scooter in his showroom and had 20 other bikes on order for customers.

“You couldn’t keep them on the floor,” he said.

Then came the recession, lower gas prices — and a showroom suddenly crowded with scooters. Tightening credit kept many younger customers from buying scooters, and most of the scooters that Dowdy now sells are to customers age 50 and older.

That includes Bob Allison, who last year when he was near 70 bought his first scooter. He recently bought a fancier model, not for any fuel savings, but for the thrill of the ride.

“Freedom,” was his one-word answer when asked why he bought it.

The end of the recession will boost sales, Dowdy said. What is unclear is where gas prices will land. Analysts are divided on whether prices will go much higher this year.

Generally, gas prices need to rise above $3 before consumer behavior is affected. That could happen if a recent prediction by Goldman Sachs comes true and oil prices reach $85 a barrel by year’s end. That possibility is sure to be lurking in consumer minds, said Dowdy, and he has heard more chatter in the last few weeks about gas prices.

“Their memory is coming back,” he said

AllThoseArticles.info

Ride to Work Day

noreply@blogger.com (The Guy who knows....) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:57:00 +0000

To save green and be green, Americans need two-wheelers more than ever, so the Motorcycle Industry Council is celebrating the annual Ride to Work Day by inviting local motorcyclists and industry staff to start the morning at its national headquarters with a free breakfast gathering in Irvine, Calif.

The June 15 national grass-roots effort is more relevant than ever. Motorcycles and scooters are a great way to save a lot of green while being more environmentally green at the same time.

“Two wheelers are exactly right for the times,” said Larry Little, chairman of the MIC and vice president and publisher of Cycle World magazine. “Two-wheelers are a practical part of the answer to our economic and ecological troubles. They are real and readily available. There’s no new technology to invent and no new infrastructure required. Right now, motorcycles and scooters reduce traffic congestion and parking problems, benefiting every motorist.”

Americans are adopting this message. The latest Motorcycle Industry Council Owner Survey found that, among reasons for riding, “commuting and errands” jumped to the No. 2 spot only behind “riding for pleasure.” In 2008, as gas prices topped $4 a gallon, scooter sales rose to 222,000 for the year - the highest level yet seen by the MIC.

There are far more riders than ever. The number of American households that own motorcycles or scooters jumped 26 percent from 2003 to 2008, while the overall number of U.S. households increased roughly 5 percent. During the same period, the motorcycle and scooter population grew 19 percent while the U.S. population rose by about 5 percent. Some 25 million Americans swung a leg over a bike and rode last year. That’s a 7 percent increase, from 2003, in the number of people who ride but may or may not own scooters.

BACKGROUND ON BIKES

SAVING GREEN

Scoters cost much less to buy. There are many fine, capable bikes available for less than $4,000
Maintenance costs are much less on a bike.
Registration is less money.
So is insurance.

BEING GREEN

Hundreds or even thousands of pounds less in raw materials, and that can include the toxic elements used in hybrid car batteries.
Less energy required to ship a scooter from factory to dealership.
With smaller engines and fewer components, there’s less use of motor oil and chemicals throughout the life of a bike.
Less use of gasoline, as a motorcycle or scooter can get two, three, sometimes four times the MPG of four-wheelers using the same roads. Many motorcycles can deliver 50 to 70 miles per gallon. Many scooters can return 60 to 80 MPG.
Less fuel use means less CO2 emissions, now recognized as a pollutant and long known to cause climate change.
AllThoseArticles.info

Senior group sees country by scooter

noreply@blogger.com (The Guy who knows....) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 17:51:00 +0000

A gang of far-riding and well-traveled motorcyclists made Salisbury their home Thursday.

But it wasn't a raucous gaggle of biker misfits. The group, largely made up of riders 65 and older, is an off-shoot of the larger Wandering Wheels program.

The program is the brainchild of Robert Davenport, 76, who still leads many of the expeditions. Back in the 1960s, he began taking young men and boys across the country on bicycles in order to teach them something about the toughness of life and how to temper it with church.

"This was where the rubber really hit the road," Davenport said. "Not some goody two-shoes stuff."

Davenport knows a thing or two about toughness. In his younger days, he played football at the University of California at Los Angeles and became a two-time All-American fullback for the Bruins. After winning a championship and playing in two Rose Bowls, Davenport went on to become the youngest college football head coach of his era at Taylor University, in Indiana, in 1958.

After leaving the football world behind, Davenport sought a way to build more interest in church for young men. Out on the road, there is plenty of time to talk about the deeper things in life. At night, the groups typically rely on the hospitality of churches and civic centers.

These days, Davenport has put away his bike but is determined to stay on the highways and byways. His latest initiative involves people his age riding motorized scooters in lieu of pedal power. This allows people to stay out and enjoy the country regardless of age.

Their run through Salisbury,NC was part of a trip inspired by the "Dragon Trail," a road in the Appalachians that boasts about 160 turns in 11 miles.

The 150cc KymCo scooters they use are relatively bullet-proof. Davenport's model has nearly 14,000 miles on it, including three trans-continental trips. The team is followed at a distance by a large GMC commercial truck, which carries spare parts, tools, and a trailer in case of breakdowns, which aren't too common.

Davenport's scooter isn't the only thing that's bullet-proof. Over the course of his life he's managed to ride across the United States 43 times, a world record.

Wandering Wheels has been across the U.S. and Canada, but also to Russia, China, New Zealand, Israel and parts of Central Europe. It's the longest running bicycle touring experience in America. You should have your own scooter that is in top condition, as well as spending money for several days of stops.

There is a fee of several thousand dollars, depending on the trip you have in mind.

Check out their excursions at www.wanderingwheels.org

AllThoseArticles.info

Scooter Resource -- Yamaha Morpheus Review

noreply@blogger.com (The Guy who knows....) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 12:59:00 +0000

Comparison done by Ride.com

_________________________________________________________________

Morpheus Review

Zipping through the Black Hills of South Dakota will test a rider's skill to the limit and the little 250cc Yamaha Morphous scooter takes a back seat to no one.

The long wheelbase and low CG guarantees flying sparks off the under carriage and the 25 inch seat height allows your feet to work as very effective outriggers. If the road has more tight curves than straight-aways, you'll likely be the one in front of the pack. Highway cruising is at a comfortable 70 mph.

Don't misunderstand, I'm 67 years old (riding 50 years) and am dedicated to safety, which is kind of my point. If you expand your skills you're safer on the road and the Morphous is extremely stable in tight situations and a joy to ride.

2008 was the last year for the Morphous and for an American market, Yamaha probably knew they'd made some unforgivable mistakes.

The windshield is about as effective as a bumper sticker and after about an hour, the seat feels like Godzilla's suppository. Worst of all, the endless number of plastic body panels will scratch and craze at the slightest provocation. It also makes maintenance a real pain.

As a concept, the Morphous is functionally the best scooter on the road. Yamaha just forgot that Americans won't plunk down several thousand dollars on a scoot that looks old and tired in six months.

Quadrophenia opened in Bath

noreply@blogger.com (The Guy who knows....) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:24:00 +0000

Scooter enthusiasts rolled into Bath this week to celebrate the arrival of a period musical based on the popular machines.

Around 45 riders of all ages brought their prized possessions to the city centre ahead of the opening night of rock opera Quadrophenia: The Musical at the Theatre Royal.

The show tells a coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of the 1960s in Brighton and London with a soundtrack written by Who guitarist Pete Townshend.

Long time scooter fan Euan Barker travelled more than 80 miles from Devon on his iconic Lambretta to lead a procession through Bath.

The 42-year-old has followed his passion for scooters for 30 years and said the album Quadrophenia and the subsequent film created a culture of fans united by a love for the fashion and music that went hand in hand with the movement.

The father-of-four said: "It means a lot to people.

"Quadrophenia is a story about growing up and people in their teenage years.

"Its not just about scooters, and everybody can relate to growing up.

"Some people in Bath have some really nice original 1960s scooters in fantastic condition and they look brilliant."

Father-of-three Stewart Sheppard was in the procession and brought his Lambretta SX 200 CC which he bought secondhand for £144 in a shop in Bath in 1973.

The 53-year-old consigned his bike to the depths of his garage in 1979 but dug it out in 2000 after his children left home and spent around £2,500 restoring it to its former glory.

Mr Sheppard said: "In the early 1970s, teenage boys were not really interested in cars and we only wanted motorbikes and scooters.

"That was what the girls wanted.

"If you had a scooter or motorbike they were willing to ride with you."

Quadrophenia opened at the Theatre Royal on Tuesday and now runs until Sunday as part of a major UK tour.

How to Restore and Maintain Your Vespa Motorscooter (Motorbooks Workshop)

Scooter Resource -- 1 Year Test Ride ?

noreply@blogger.com (The Guy who knows....) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:51:00 +0000

An offer you can't refuse ?

NEW YORK, June, 2009 – Piaggio Group Americas, Inc., the importer of Vespa, Piaggio, Aprilia and Moto Guzzi scooters and motorcycles, has an offer that you just can’t refuse. If you’ve been tempted to join America’s rapidly growing scooter community but your plans have been on idle because you’re not sure whether you were born to ride, the time to discover your inner scooteristi is right now.

Effective today, Piaggio invites consumers on a risk-free 12 Month Test Ride, an industry-first program that offers qualified buyers the opportunity to experience all the fun, savings and environmental benefits of select Piaggio, Aprilia and Vespa scooters without a long-term commitment. The 12 Month Test Ride offer includes the option to return the scooter to participating dealers after 365 days of ownership if the buyer decides that the two-wheel lifestyle just isn’t right for them after all.

The Piaggio scooters included in the 12 Month Test Ride are the Piaggio FLY 50, Piaggio FLY 150, Piaggio BV Tourer 250 and the Piaggio MP3 250. You can also choose from the Vespa S 50, Vespa LX 150, Vespa GTS 300 Super or the Aprilia Sportcity 50, Aprilia Sportcity 125, Aprilia Scarabeo 100 and Aprilia Scarabeo 200 (shown above).

"It’s our mission to remove any roadblocks keeping even more Americans from discovering just how much money and time they can save, and how much fun they can have, by adding two wheels to their garage,” said Paolo Timoni, President and CEO, Piaggio Group Americas. “The economic, environmental and lifestyle benefits of scooters are proven on a daily basis in major markets
around the globe, and we think this hassle-free introduction to scooter ownership is a risk-free way for U.S. consumers to take a trial membership in our American scooter nation.”

Timoni believes that newcomers to the scooter lifestyle will quickly be convinced to make two wheels a permanent addition to their personal transportation fleets. Existing scooter owners already know that life on two wheels delivers fun and thrills. Practical benefits such as an average 70 mpg fuel economy and an average ownership and operating cost savings of $6,000 per year provide even more incentive to ride. With the majority of American households still owning two, three or more vehicles, swapping just one set of four wheels for two is an immediate solution to rev up personal savings while throttling back on foreign oil dependence, urban congestion and carbon dioxide emissions.

The 12 Month Test Ride is open to buyers who qualify for a 36-month closed-end finance term, exclusively offered through Piaggio Group America’s partner Sheffield Financial. To take advantage of the offer, the purchase must be completed by July 31, 2009. The risk-free return guarantee requires the completion of 12 scheduled loan payments and excludes upfront license, vehicle preparation, freight and tax fees as well as a 10% down payment based on the vehicle’s manufacturer’s suggested retail price.

For more details about the 12 Month Test Your Ride, please visit www.PiaggioUSA.com.

SYM Citycom 300i

noreply@blogger.com (The Guy who knows....) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:46:00 +0000

I’ve always felt that the sweet spot for scooters is in the 125-200cc range. 50cc bikes have always seemed like a letdown, and Barcaloungers like the Honda Helix (at a whopping 250cc) and its descendants (pushing towards 1000cc these days) were just not interesting to me. Obviously, different people have different tastes and needs, and it’s great to see such a wide range of scooters available these days, but to get around the city and the occasional longer ride, 150 cubic centimeters was always sufficient for me.

For reasons an engineer might be able to explain to me someday, 300cc is a rare displacement, and SYM’s new Citycom 300i (and its only “300cc” competition, the Vespa GTS 300 Super,) actually feature notably lower-than-300cc displacement engines (262.8cc and 278cc, respectively). The next step up, 400cc, is equally rare, with 500cc being a more common benchmark. But the lack of 300cc scooters is a shame, because the Citycom is a joy to ride, and features more than enough power for anything short of extended highway touring.

Commuting on the highway (especially on Chicago’s Eisenhower Expressway) is a bit frightening on any 150cc scooter, but on the Citycom, it was downright pleasant, with quick and even acceleration on the ramps, a balanced and comfortable ride at highway speed, and no problem keeping up with moderate traffic (top speed is allegedly 80mph, I hit 70 a few times with plenty of throttle left). In fact, I felt every bit as confident on the interstate as I did on Piaggio’s MP3 250.

Ergonomics are good, if you prefer the upright seating position of mid-sized scooters, as opposed to the laid-back, feet-forward design of larger touring scooters. Like most modern scooters, there’s not a lot of footroom (the gas tank is located in the channel), but it seems well-placed. Controls are well-designed, and the console is easy to read. I generally don’t care for windscreens, but the Citycom windscreen was a good height and shape, and I didn’t find myself smacking my faceshield into it, like I did on the Kymco Bet&Win, for instance. (Actually, if you liked the Bet&Win but hated the screen and seat, you may really like the Citycom.) My only complaint about the screen was that the curved plastic made it hard to see obstacles on the ground when travelling at very low speeds on uneven ground (like the pothole-riddled alley behind my office).

The seat was very comfortable, after a 30-mile ride, I hopped off the saddle and realized that the seat had never crossed my mind, and my crotch hadn’t fallen asleep. (Ron thought it tilted forward a bit too much.) The seat is also great for 2-up riding, the passenger has a good deal of room and isn’t sitting too high. At a hair over 33″, the seat height might be troublesome for smaller riders, I’m 5′10″ with a 32″ inseam, and I was able to sit on the seat flatfooted, but just barely.

Handling and suspension were good, especially for a scooter this large. Despite the somewhat-high riding position, the center of gravity was low and the bike was quite maneuverable. While not as nimble as a smaller bike with smaller wheels, it certainly didn’t feel as big as it looks. The suspension was great, an invisible pothole on Lake Shore Drive that might have been bad news on a lesser scooter simply bounced me into a graceful arc and a clean landing. The front and rear disc brakes were solid enough, though Ron and I both felt the front brake could have been beefier considering the speed and weight of the bike.

At first glance, storage seemed to be a big problem. the locking glovebox might fit a pair of gloves and the cellphone that’s charging therein, maybe even at the same time, but not much more. There’s no rear rack, and thus nowhere to place a topbox. So the only storage area was under the seat. With no helmet hooks (!?), you’d expect to be able to fit a helmet under the seat, but our fullface helmets (we tried a few) didn’t fit. A 3/4 helmet fit easily, and I suspect some smaller full-face lids might just fit, but if you wear an XL, I’m not sure where you’d put it.

The good news is that what the underseat storage lacks in depth, it gains in width. It’s deceptively large, big enough even to fit a stack of 12″ records or a couple 12-packs of cans. The battery takes up the front section of the storage, but there’s still a lot of room under there (and an extra ignition killswitch to prevent hot-wiring, which is kind of a neat idea). Though the lack of a rear rack means no third-party topbox could be mounted, SYM says a custom topbox is in production, it’ll be interesting to see how it’s mounted.

A couple of other features worth mentioning: The ignition lock, as usual, also locks the steering column and pops the seat open, and the top of the key can be used to protect the lock with a pivoting metal cover. Vintage motorcycles and scooters often had a similar cover, presumably to prevent rust, this one would prevent tampering or lock-picking as well. The locking gas cap is located in the center channel between your feet, when unlocked, it comes all the way off and isn’t tethered to the bike. Once you’ve been spoiled by a pop-up fuel cap (opened with the ignition switch), it’s a bit of a drag (especially in gloves) to remove the key, open the gas cap, and keep track of it while you’re filling up.

Here’s where I admit that the Citycom 300i is the highest-displacement scooter I’ve ever ridden for any length of time. At 262.8cc, it’s a good deal more powerful than my usual 150, and it was strange to ride for a few days without ever touching the throttle stop. It’s a good deal larger too, but unlike some scooters in its range, the Citycom preserves the seating position and rider experience of a smaller scooter, while offering the speed and comfort of a larger scooter. It’s a nice compromise, and after spending a few days riding it, I’d consider extending my “sweet spot” to 300cc on the high end.

If you’re a regular reader, you’ll know that we feel Taiwanese scooters are generally the best value for the money, usually featuring most of the benefits of European and Japanese scooters (aside from brand recognition and top-tier styling) at a lower price (and none of the false economy found in most mainland Chinese scooters).

Even in that context, at $5498 MSRP, the Citycom is perhaps a hard sell. Many riders may prefer to save a few hundred bucks and have their choice of several great 250cc scooters that compare favorably with the Citycom’s performance. Even SYM’s own competition is tough, their RV250 offers a higher top speed for $500 less, and their very popular HD200 (actually 171.2cc) is $1500 cheaper, and not all that far off, performance-wise.

Those who wouldn’t balk at the Citycom’s price tag may be likely to look at more expensive higher displacement scooters, or consider the Vespa 300’s arguably superior styling, brand recognition, and resale value. The Citycom is a good-looking and thoughtfully-designed bike (the turn signals are particularly well-integrated, for instance) but not particularly “stylish” or distinctive.

But even if the styling doesn’t do it justice, a ride on the Citycom may justify the price. It’s a very powerful, well-engineered, and fun-to-ride scooter, with all the benefits of electronic fuel injection and very impressive build quality. There’s nothing particularly glamorous about it, it will never spawn a subculture, but for a suburban commuter facing a stretch of highway and fluctuating gas prices (SYM cites an impressive 94.1mpg), it’s like a confidence-inspiring 2-wheeled Toyota Corolla.

Scooter Resource -- Road Trip !

noreply@blogger.com (The Guy who knows....) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 21:32:00 +0000

Initial feedback showed interest from various folks --

so a trip summary follows. The quick, unscheduled trip was needed to get
to my dad's funeral. I've been reading blogs and working too much.

This is a stock 2007 SWing with a Givi windshield. (With a
custom seat, 1k miles a day might have been easy.) I had just
put on new Hoops and completed the 12K maintenance. (I had
changed my belt at 8K and kept it for a spare -- almost no
wear.)

(I'm a year-round rider; the 12K was in the prior 12 months mostly
20-mile commutes.) (My 2005 Harley Road King wasn't up to the
quick trip.) Lots of throttle wrist cramps -- no cruise control
of any kind. I'm 6' 230lbs -- that blasted butt bump kept
putting my butt to sleep -- I haven't shifted it to a lumbar
support yet. Mileage kinda sucked due to high speed & my size
(6.5-to-7-to-7.5K rpms) ranged from low 40s to high 30s. Still
cleaning bug guts off the SWing! But, I think it is easier than
cleaning it off the Harley :)

TRIP Denver to Fredericksburg VA - 1,680 miles
Return trip - 1,740 miles
Total superslab - 3,420 miles

SUMMARY: Denver I-70 to St Louis next
I-64 to Charlottesville VA then
US29 to Culpeper VA and finally
State route #3 to Fredericksburg, VA
===============================================================
LV Wed 20 May 2009 11:00 am Denver
ARV 9:30 pm Overnight Higginsville MO
about 50 miles inside west MO 655 miles
LV Thu 21 May 2009 6:00am Higginsville MO
ARV 10:00pm Overnight Huntington WV 686 miles
ARV Fri 22 May 2009 6:00pm Fredericksburg VA 340 miles
===============================================================
LV Sat 30 May 2009 8:30am Fredericksburg VA
ARV 10:00pm Overnight Mt Vernon IL 792 miles
LV Sun 31 May 2009 8:00am Mt Vernon IL
ARV 9:30pm Overnight Colby KS 707 miles
ARV Mon 01 Jun 2009 2:00pm Denver 242 miles
===============================================================

The GOOD
========
- Seeing family again after too many years
- My dad's funeral service and military honors given by US Marine Corps (WWII, Iwo Jima, retired USMC)
- No road rage incidents
- 99% mostly pleasant cagers (big and small)
- Hot showers & comfortable beds
- Good fiber!
- Kansas state trooper with 2 gallons of gas in a can in his trunk
- Spending five hours visiting in the Marine Corp museum http://www.usmcmuseum.com
- Stopping at every other rest area: Talking to folks, walking the area, sitting flat on the grass under trees eating walnuts,
almonds, carrots, water, and grape juice
- Return trip: Missing my exit in Charlottesville, VA for I-64,
continuing on south US29 to go west on US60 at Amherst (a town I
used to live in) for another 60 miles and getting about 30 miles
of twisties :) Eventually picked up I-64 again
- Return trip: Meeting at a gas station a mixed group of all
types of bikes including some SWings -- nice visit about 15 bikes
- Riding with a group of about 20 riders from NC riding on their way to the Wall from Charlottesville VA to Culpeper VA (about 40 miles)
- My sister-in-law's good cooking
- Hooking up with a Harley guy named David in Columbia MO and riding to St Louis
- No rain eastbound trip

The Funny
=========
- Darth Vader riding a bike behind a big truck: There is a disturbance in the force
- Talking to a rider who named his group of Silver Wings and Burgmans: Burgers 'n Wings

The not so Bad
==============
- Riding 650 to 700 miles a day
- Losing two ballcaps to Kansas winds; one I bought for $10 lasted about 15 mins
- SWingers: Riding 7-7.5K rpms for many, many hundreds of miles
- Losing my bungee-corded clothes bag at 75mph about 80 miles into the trip, the bag not busting open, just bouncing -- then keeping it double bungee corded for the rest of the trip
- Return trip: Two rain spots (near Limon CO & west Kansas) for a total of 10 miles and stopped riding for about 15 mins total

The Bad
=======
- My dad's passing
- Tired butt: Riding on a stock seat -- wishing for a Corbin, the Mustang on my Road King, or something
- Running out of gas: Kansas eastward MM 167 walking the bike for 20 mins up hill
- Kansas heat on return trip: Plastered with sunblock
- Once in each direction: Bug hitting glasses, remnant of it
pulled under into my eye -- flushing with Visine

The Ugly
========
- Wind buffeting: Riding behind SUVs, minivans, roundish or odd-shaped 18-wheelers (Normal-sized big trucks more
predictable)
- Kansas winds: Eastbound, for about six hours, fighting south-to-north crosswinds -- angle riding
- Swarms of bugs east of Mt Vernon IL: Headed westbound, 9pm, clouds upon clouds of bugs smearing widshield, helmet, and some on glasses
- WV eastbound toll road (I-64/I-77): Worst road and I had to pay to drive on it
- Being so close to Deal's Gap and not being able to ride the Tail of the Dragon

Jeff
Arvada, Colorado, USAF retired MSgt (but,working full time)
'05 Honda Reflex 4500 miles (Jul 07 - Mar 08)
'07 Honda SWing ABS 16K miles (Mar 08 - now)
'05 Harley Road King 700 miles (Apr 09 - now)

Scooter Resource

Honda Reflex Group Digest Number 4703

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Honda Reflex Group Digest Number 4702

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Honda Reflex Group Digest Number 4700

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