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Post by waterboysh on May 23, 2013 9:40:02 GMT -5
Just wondering what people's thoughts on this are. Personally, I'm glad that Honda has decided to reintroduce a scooter between the 150 and 500cc range again. The Forza sits at 279cc. Forza Specs. I called a few dealers around here and some had never even heard of the Forza, and a few took my information and promised to contact me when they order some. From what I can tell, they should be available late July or early August. I was originally planning on getting a Piaggio BV 350 used from a Modern Vespa member, but that has fallen through because I was told I wouldn't be able to test drive it first. I don't buy any vehicle (especially a used one) that I can't test drive first. It was a really good deal, but I had to turn it down. So now I'm eyeing getting a Forza. It would be nice to have the Honda reliability and the readily available dealer and parts network. There is a Vespa dealer here, but I just read an article about how they are trying to grow their business and because of the strict ordinances the city has in place they can't expand how they want to and are considering packing up shop and moving to another city like Jacksonville or Orlando. In a way, I'm kinda glad the Piaggio deal fell through because now I'm not even sure if I'd be able to easily get service for it. The MSRP is $5599 which is right at the same price point as the BV 350. I feel like the BV 350 is a little more technologically advanced, and also has more power (330cc vs 279cc and 33hp vs 24hp) but that the Honda would be easier and probably cheaper to maintain. I can't find the maintenance schedule of the Forza anywhere online. I hope it competes well with the BVs long maintenance intervals. I personally am excited for the Forza. I've been wanting a bigger, more reliable scooter. I thought it was going to be the BV 350, but now I'm thinking it will be the Forza. |
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Post by waterboysh on May 22, 2013 13:29:00 GMT -5
This is something I have been worrying about too. I've always read that the Chinese OEM belts suck. I'm just at 2600km on mine and I think it's still fine... but I don't know how I'd know if it was starting to go bad.
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Post by waterboysh on May 20, 2013 18:01:00 GMT -5
I'm selling my chinese 150cc because I got a good job and it's a decent commute. Don't want to have to depend on my chinese scoot. I'm buying a used Piaggio BV 350 from a member of the Modern Vespa forum and in turn selling my current scooter. It's been a good scooter, I just didn't want to put 25 miles a day on it and have to depend on it for my job. The details are on Craigslist. You can see my maintenance history by viewing my fuelly profile that is in my sig. |
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Post by waterboysh on May 20, 2013 13:11:07 GMT -5
Hey Red... I see it says you live in NW Florida. Is it around Pensacola by chance? Pensacola has some of the worst drivers I've ever seen. I lived there for 8 years and don't miss it one bit.
I recommend a MSF class as well. I had to take it since I got a 150cc and I'm glad. I actually learned a lot about proper braking and cornering that I never would have known otherwise.
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Post by waterboysh on May 11, 2013 20:13:36 GMT -5
I assume you'll also sell new scooters and do repairs too right? I'm from Panama City and then went to college in Pensacola and I know how dead the beach gets once tourist season ends. You'll need something to do during the off season. There are a few scooter rental places in Panama City and they mostly use the cheap chinese scooters. The biggest renters of them are college kids down for spring and summer break and they treat the scooters like crap.
I don't really have any specific advice for you, but I've worked out on the beach long enough to know it sucks working with tourists so much. So, good luck. Hope your business does well.
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Post by waterboysh on May 9, 2013 14:56:30 GMT -5
It does sound about right. I don't think FL cares about engine size either. It was about $180 for my 150cc I believe. Ramblinman, most of them are one time fees. The tag fee is the one you have to pay every year and in FL it's around $60 for one year. I think if you opt for the 2 year you get a small discount. I think about $10 or $15 off the total.
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Post by waterboysh on May 9, 2013 14:09:56 GMT -5
And, BTW, how much State Sales Tax does one pay in Fla? Depends on the county. In Alachua county where I am it's 6%. When I lived in Escambia county it was 7% and in Bay County it's 7.5% edit: and I see OP lives in Bay County |
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Post by waterboysh on May 8, 2013 17:26:06 GMT -5
I e-mailed them and asked if it was too late to cancel the order. Hopefully they get the e-mail in time. They have a phone number, but it goes straight to a voicemail that has such a low quality recording I can't understand what it says.
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Post by waterboysh on May 8, 2013 17:08:14 GMT -5
this picture from carasdad shows the dark tip. Sometimes black, sometimes grey, either way, light doesn't shine through, and I dont believe it can be removed. Your original pics show a clear tip, no coating. I could be mistaken and the coating is something else or is a variety of different compounds, but usually I read it being described ad aluminized. Well, that's the one I ordered  |
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Post by waterboysh on May 8, 2013 11:06:42 GMT -5
If your original bulb has a cleat tip, be sure to not get replacements with aluminized tips I'm not really sure what this means. |
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Post by waterboysh on May 8, 2013 9:01:02 GMT -5
Yeah, actually that looks just like it. Thanks. Almost half the price of buying one from the dealer. |
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Post by waterboysh on May 8, 2013 8:08:33 GMT -5
Maybe I just suck at searching, but I cannot find anything for my scooter on that site. |
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Post by waterboysh on May 7, 2013 20:34:03 GMT -5
Here are the two pictures I got with my crappy camera phone. Notice that one of the prongs is broke. It should have 3.   |
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Post by waterboysh on May 7, 2013 9:38:15 GMT -5
Post a pic of the bulb...and I will find ya a set super cheap..I just need to see what base it uses..  I can do that when I get home. |
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Post by waterboysh on May 7, 2013 8:42:45 GMT -5
I went to ride home from work yesterday and noticed that my right side high beam had burnt out. I managed to get the bulb out, though it was a pain. Ended up breaking one of the prongs off and bent the bulb in the attempt. Then I discovered I removed the good bulb. So at the moment I have one bulb in my scooter and it only works in low beam, so hopefully it doesn't go out before I can get a new pair of bulbs.
Anyway, the numbers on the bulb are HSI 12V35/35W E13 2E0. I don't really know what those numbers mean. If someone could point me in the right direction for where I can order replacement bulbs I'd appreciate it.
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