New Rider
Currently Offline
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Joined: Aug 12, 2013 15:35:01 GMT -5
|
Post by whimsymaker on May 18, 2014 21:51:45 GMT -5
I bought a taotao powermax last year. Could not find a decent price used honda, yamaha etc in the area.... Powermax been running fine short of cutting out at stops after a fill up. A co-worker knew I loved scooters. Told me that his dad is selling his 2002 honda Reflex. His dad bought it new in 2002. He did oil changes every 2000 miles and has the docs to prove it. The odometer is sitting at 30k and sounds a little sluggish. Been sitting for about 5 or 6 months with same gas. He wants 1k for it, it seems to be in great shape and still has the manual under the seat. The reason he quit riding it? He bought it when was he was 81. He hates selling it but he said his balance isn't what it used to be at  .....Amazing man... So I plan on buying it.... The sluggish start could be solved with fresh gas, lines cleaned and maybe a carb clean. Just concerned at the mileage. |
|
|
|
Post by spandi on May 18, 2014 22:02:59 GMT -5
$1000 for a REFLEX !!? that's been well maintained by a senior citizen? (I'm thinking gentle miles) how can you go wrong?
|
|
|
|
Post by alleyoop on May 18, 2014 22:06:21 GMT -5
Those Honda reflex are hard to come by these days and 30K is nothing for those motors. It has the 244cc Vertical motor which have been around for decades and are very reliable and a work horse.
Alleyoop
|
|
Sophomore Rider
Currently Offline
Posts: 114
Likes: 5
Joined: Apr 14, 2013 17:00:26 GMT -5
|
Post by skyrider on May 18, 2014 22:44:32 GMT -5
I have 30,000+ on my 07 and it still runs good as new. I'd say "Grab it."
Alleyoop, are you sure about that vertical engine? Mine is almost horizontal, maybe 20 degrees max.
|
|
|
|
Post by alleyoop on May 18, 2014 22:57:46 GMT -5
Well I have yet to see a REFLEX with a LINAHI motor in them so I would say its the 244cc Vertical motor I mean you have to be blind to get them confused(HAHA). Alleyoop   OK Found a Honda Reflex motor did not have one in my Motor Folder.  |
|
Sophomore Rider
Currently Offline
Posts: 186
Likes: 37
Joined: Jun 13, 2013 15:39:09 GMT -5
|
Post by novaraptor on May 19, 2014 11:08:09 GMT -5
I'd say jump on the deal.. Should be an easy fix, and if not the resale value is still very very good...
|
|
|
|
Post by urbanmadness on May 19, 2014 11:23:22 GMT -5
Might just need a little valve adjustment.... so easy on that engine, it's scary....  Didn't the reflex have that weird two stage variator that everyone hates? My 250 has the clone or the 244cc it in, very smooth running engine. It's smoother then my Aprillia 500cc. That smoothness is sometimes mistaken for sluggishness... It's the same basic engine that was used in the legendary Helix as well. Very long lived, and very over engineered. Keep in mind, use only Honda coolant, or silica free coolant in that engine. If you don't, the silica will eat the waterpump seals. (it's a Honda thing, you just wouldn't understand)  |
|
|
|
Post by spandi on May 19, 2014 11:27:28 GMT -5
If I remember right the term for the engine was "under stressed" That's how the Helix could run WOT all day long and not break down.
|
|
|
|
Post by urbanmadness on May 19, 2014 11:29:09 GMT -5
If I remember right the term for the engine was "over stressed" That's how the Helix could run WOT all day long and not break down. You mean "under stressed" Opps, you corrected it... as I replied... LOL |
|
New Rider
Currently Offline
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Joined: Aug 12, 2013 15:35:01 GMT -5
|
Post by whimsymaker on May 19, 2014 14:03:42 GMT -5
I told a co-worker what I was looking at... several years ago, he was a service manager at a well known bike shop....early 1980s to early 1990s.
He flipped when I said 30,000 miles. Basically "what do you think you are doing....?"
I was always under the impression if you took good care of a Honda engine, it could easily hit 100k or more.
I still believe it is a good buy.
I would think even at 30k miles....It would infinitely be better than a taotao Powermax 150cc...
Always loved the Honda brand.
He just has me now questioning myself.
|
|
|
|
Post by spandi on May 19, 2014 14:58:34 GMT -5
If I remember right the term for the engine was "over stressed" That's how the Helix could run WOT all day long and not break down. You mean "under stressed" Opps, you corrected it... as I replied... LOL Yah, I'm tricky that way! |
|
|
|
Post by spandi on May 19, 2014 15:01:18 GMT -5
I told a co-worker what I was looking at... several years ago, he was a service manager at a well known bike shop....early 1980s to early 1990s. He flipped when I said 30,000 miles. Basically "what do you think you are doing....?" I was always under the impression if you took good care of a Honda engine, it could easily hit 100k or more. I still believe it is a good buy. I would think even at 30k miles....It would infinitely be better than a taotao Powermax 150cc... Always loved the Honda brand. He just has me now questioning myself. Did you tell him about the thousand dollar part?  |
|
New Rider
Currently Offline
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Joined: Aug 12, 2013 15:35:01 GMT -5
|
Post by whimsymaker on May 19, 2014 15:14:24 GMT -5
He just has me now questioning myself.[/quote]Did you tell him about the thousand dollar part? [/quote] I did....and he did say well if you get burned you have some wiggle room money.... The power of positive thinking.... |
|
|
|
Post by alleyoop on May 19, 2014 15:29:33 GMT -5
Well if you do go and look at it ride it and do not baby it, take it out and get it up in mph and see how it runs. It should do well over 60+ mph with ease and at low rpms.
Then with that run come back and shut it down and then try to start it up again and it should start right up and should idle good also look for any oil leaks and or anti-freeze leaks, If clean I would buy it. Those motors are work horses and easy to work on.
Alleyoop
|
|
New Rider
Currently Offline
Posts: 46
Likes: 2
Joined: May 14, 2014 4:56:34 GMT -5
|
Post by bnc on May 21, 2014 13:00:30 GMT -5
I bought my 2001 with ABS for $1,200 with 20,000 miles on it. It now has 26,600. I had to rebuild the water pump (oil seal turned hard as a rock, not the mechanical seal that can be damaged by coolant with silicates), replaced the variator belt, weights, repair the speedometer, checked the valves, cleaned the carburetor. It has the 249 cc horizontal engine not the 244 cc vertical one. I change the oil every 1,500 miles. The oil consumption in 1,500 miles is a drop in one cross hatch pattern of the dipstick. Just changed the tires to Michelin City Grips from Bridgestone HOOPS. As mentioned on another thread, I am puzzled why a company like Honda would recommend in the OEM service manual an L rated tire (75 mph). The City Grips are rated P for mph and cost less than the L rated tire. When I bought it, it would top out at 60 mph on GPS at 8,000 rpm but after the variator work, it now does 75 mph at 8,000 rpm. I ride mostly highway so most of the time the rpm is between 7,000 and 7,500 which is around 65 and 70 mph on GPS. I wouldn't mind having a new Forza which at 279 cc and fuel injected is a bit faster but just as stingy on fuel. The Reflex is around 68-69 mpg. There was a 2001 with 29,000 miles on it here on Craigslist recently for $700. I went and saw it and rode it. It was missing a few plastic pieces but otherwise seemed in good shape. It didn't sell. The guy said he had to return to LA the next day and de-listed it. Forgot mention that going to an ABS bike dropped my insurance premium 22%. |
|
.....Amazing man... 
..BAD TO THE BONE..
