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Post by oldchopperguy on Jun 21, 2017 0:10:02 GMT -5
OK boyz n' gurlz...
Ever hear of the Honda "Scoopy"? Me neither... LOL! I was searching the web for some refs and came across this little gem. The Honda Scoopy apparently is not sold in America. I don't have time to research it, but it seems to be around a 100cc size (possibly a 2-stroke). But it just LOOKS so "right". Those enamored with Vespas and all scoots that smack of spaghetti-sauce should wax euphoric over the cosmetics on this one.Sweet proportions, bodywork, fenders, wheels, mudguard/headlight fascia... it's just plain NEAT! And SO "retro" for us old geezers and geezerettes... This one has been custom-painted (along with painted whitewalls) but seems mostly stock. The rims look like 13-inchers and whitewalls are not commonly found for them. A few pix of these Scoopies show them with really AWFUL looking bicycle-type wheels, but the wheels on this custom are also shown on other stockers... possibly different model years, or engine sizes.  Anyway, I just wanted to post a pic of this obscure Honda variant for edification/reference for those wanting to see something "modern" that looks almost "1950's".Some enterprising scooterista with more time and money than common sense should spirit one of these from the Philippines to the USA, stuff in a good fuel-injected 250/300 drive-train and add serious brakes and have an INCREDIBLE old-school ride with modern appointments... This thing is COOL! Oh, I suppose even with a 6hp motor it's STILL cool, but 25hp would be cooler... Yup... I just LOVE the look of it.
Enjoy!Leo in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jun 14, 2017 19:45:23 GMT -5
Guess I'll go with George Clooney... I always liked Rosemary... She could be pretty macho!
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jun 9, 2017 22:50:37 GMT -5
w650 has a good point...With bikes from major manufacturers you can expect a LOT of miles before the ride is worn out. Obviously, Italian and Japanese brands have had a strong rep for longevity, and, SYM and KYMCO look to me to be made just as well. My old Kymco Grandvista 250 is an '07... It had around 16K miles on her clock when I got her 3 seasons ago. She now has 18K miles and has been 100% trouble-free. The original owner rode her HARD for approx. 7 years, "two-up with wife, loaded down with luggage and mostly WOT, from New York to Los Angeles and Canada to Mexico". The only repairs done were by the dealer before putting her on the lot. These included a new belt, tires, brake-pads, battery and muffler.
All electronics are original, as are all fuel lines and water hoses. All are supple and feel like new. Everything still works perfectly including the "Darth Vader digital dashboard". Speedo can be changed from KM to miles, clock, fuel gauge, tach... Even the electric folding "mouse-ear" mirrors open and close smooth and tight.She doesn't use a drop of water or oil and fires up instantly even if she's sat for 2 months. If the battery has ANY juice at all, she starts right now. I think my experience is pretty typical for old, used Taiwanese scooters. The frame and suspension is built like a tank. Even the itsy-bitsy 12" rims run smooth and sure as my old Harley big twins at 70-mph. (So long as they are shod with GOOD speed-rated tires, and are well-balanced)...Big-wheel Italian made scoots are likely the very best choice for higher speeds and highway travel, but the Taiwan made little guys are MORE than adequate. Old Minnie Mouse is nearly as nimble in tight traffic at 10-mph as a Chinese 150, yet is stable and comfy on the highway up whatever speed hills and wind will allow... Sometimes, on a flat highway with no wind, that's near 80-mph!I'm a BIG fan of "things Taiwanese"... They make 'em to last, and the older ones used are getting more and more affordable as newer models emerge. My ratty old mouse uses the archaic 2-valve, single-cam carbureted 250 still found in many ATV's. And even though she'll turn a decent speed, she still gives OVER  -mpg gas-consumption with over half the miles in-town at 50-mph or less. Better than my old Chinese 150, with double the power and performance. I've heard nothing but good reports about both SYM and KYMCO scoots, and mine seems to be no exception. These venerable old grocery-getters are FANTASTIC alternatives to $7K new rides. Enjoy whatever scoot you choose, and do keep us posted with results and pix! Like "Red Green" used to say, "Keep yer' stick on the ice... we're pullin' for ya'... after all, we're all in this together!"
Ride safe!Leo PS: I just looked up the SYM HD on the net... Doggone if it doesn't look as "Italian" as spaghetti! 17" wheels, performance near that of modest 250's like mine... Looks better all the time! Bet Kat would like it too! Just her style!
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jun 9, 2017 19:30:58 GMT -5
Yeah... What cyborg55 said... Lotta scoot for the bux! |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jun 9, 2017 19:22:50 GMT -5
Out of that selection, I guess I too would lean toward the SYM. Before buying one though, I would check out used 250/300cc rides from Taiwan and Italy. Not a lot of difference, but probably a tad faster than the 175-200's and about similar prices. Just me... As a benchmark, my '07 Kymco Grandvista 250 has adequate acceleration up to 60 for most but the friskiest traffic. Although "Minnie Mouse" will hit 80+ on the level with no wind, she is "marginal" on the highway, with an honest cruise up/down- hill and with wind of only 65-mph. Not enough for safe cruising in local 80- -mph freeway traffic.with 19.5hp and curb-weight of 260 pounds, it should be just a tad quicker than most of the 175-200cc bikes, but only a little.There is not much difference between the 200 and 250 class scoots, and they all are pretty affordable used. When you get bigger than the 250/300cc class, the scooters begin to get mighty large and heavy, and lose some of the nimble scooter appeal. That kept me in the old 250 class even though I'd like another 10-mph. That little bit extra speed adds too much size and weight for my taste.
Do try to test-ride any scoots you think of buying. I rode 500cc bikes I did NOT like all, AND 160cc little Kymcos I like a WHOLE LOT! I think scooters ARE one of those rare cases where SIZE doesn't matter all that much... LOL! It's how well they ride for YOU that counts. All the ones you are considering are good rides. Take your time, get the one that suits your riding best... And many happy miles and smiles to you! Leo in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jun 9, 2017 19:04:21 GMT -5
Oh and I am absolutely having a blast. Thinking I'll always get on 2 wheels instead of 4 whenever I can... probably looking to trade up to 250cc next summer or if I see a great deal. For now this seems perfect to learn on. aus, Even though I rode big bikes for fifty years, when I got into scooters I was as new to them as anyone. I did the same as you, starting with a Chinese 150 and moving to a 250 after six years, when the 150 just wouldn't cut it anymore. You'll probably do much as I did, learning WAY more than you wanted to by fixing the "Chinese bugs" that make scoots act like yours is acting... My first 150 required a new CDI, coil, starter, fuel lines and carb the first year. The fuel lines often are not compatible with American fuel and mine "decomposed" from the inside out, ruining the carb with rotten rubber residue. Once I got the bugs out, I experimented with the carb jetting and "needle" setting and got the engine running great. Then, I experimented with the rollers in the variator, which made MONUMENTAL improvement in drivability. Today, I'd opt for sliders instead of rollers as they seem to provide FULL opening and closing of the variator. This gives better acceleration AND top-speed. Once you have the engine running right, and dependable, roller-weights can make a real difference. I am heavy (230 pounds) and I first tried 11 gram rollers which gave me great acceleration, but a top-speed of only 43-mph at a screaming 10K rpm. I then went up a gram to 12 gram rollers which gave me an excellent top-speed of 65-mph, but NO acceleration or hill-climbing power. Hmmm.... So I ended up with a mix of 3 ea. 11 gram, and 3 3ea. 12 gram rollers, staggered, which was a near-perfect setup... Good acceleration and hill-climbing, AND a top-speed of 62. Chinese 150's are a great starter-bike and very useful for most all transportation up to 50+ mph. When local surface streets got upgraded, the speed limits were upped and for safety I really needed to be able to top 65-mph so I traded the 150 on a used Kymco 250 which has been a marvelous all-purpose scooter for my needs. Twist n' go scooters are a whole different world from motorcycles but are a lot of fun, and highly practical for real daily use, AND just fun riding. Remain careful, be vigilant and always "expect the unexpected" and you'll have many years of fun riding! Ride safe, Leo in Texas |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jun 4, 2017 22:03:57 GMT -5
w650,
NICE POST! Have a bone on the old chopper guy!Obviously, I'm a major Kymco fan, and these new models look like they will have a ready market! That "Spade 150" is the perfect "bike" for the rider wanting the small, handy 150cc class ride, BUT wants a true "clutch n' gears" motorcycle. To old geezers like me, it's the "Cushman Eagle of the new millennium" and THAT ain't BAD!
A REAL scooter-sized MOTORCYCLE.The "Like 150" is right there in the Vespa class, and sharp! I test rode one WAY back when they first came out and "liked" it a lot. Seemed to be a lot faster than typical 150's, and if I recall, it originally had a 163cc motor, badged as the "Like 200". Old motor though with carb and single cam. The 300 and 400 "biggies" have plenty of appeal for the rider wanting a larger scooter for the road. Sorry to see the "My Road 700cc" twin gone though. It just did not sell, and I can't imagine why. Kymco seems to be adept at "pulling a rabbit out of their butt" when new models are needed... LOL! I do think these 12" wheel little motorcycles will find a strong market among today's riders. New models for a new market.
I still love my now-REALLY-outdated Grandvista... It combines the retro look of the "Like" the 12" wheels of the "Spade" and with 19.5hp and a wet weight of 260-pounds, it probably has performance similar to the new 300. All THAT in one aging old lady of the road... NEW is swell, but OLD still gets me down the road... LOLWonder what SYM will come out with now? SYM makes some slick rides, though around here at least SYM is a rather obscure brand. Again, NICE POST!  Leo (ridin' vintage Kymco) in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jun 3, 2017 16:09:19 GMT -5
I think I figgered out the appeal of the GROM... I'm seeing them all over lately, usually ridden by young guys and gals. I took the missus to the doc yesterday, and here was a cute gal on one ON the FREEWAY next to us, wrist locked to WOT, doing an honest 65-mph. Mighty frisky for a 125... But she WAS pretty petite. Maybe  -pounds at most,... And of course, "Texas style" wearing only short-shorts, tank top and flip-flops... no helmet or even glasses. Obviously has not yet kissed the asphalt... Yup.  Anyway, THE appeal: The Grom DOES possess the irresistible charm of a hot mini-bike, a "pocket-bike" and everything small and fast... Yet is fully street-drivable and PRACTICAL for daily transportation. THAT is the appeal! Riding one makes you feel "special" and like you're getting away with something naughty... The danged things even appeal to this old geezer.I did a quick search, and find they have quite a following, INCLUDING the custom builders... A hot-rod GROM? Well, why not? These may start a whole new genre... the "Grom-Rocket"? "Crotch-Grommet"? Naah... prob'ly not...
So check THIS bad-boy out! screen shot I've seen truly BAD-BOY mini-bikes, and pocket-bikes, but never something THIS small, THIS cool AND street-licensable... Woo-HOO! Be still my beating heart... If ONLY I was 50 years YOUNGER, a FOOT shorter, and 100 pounds lighter...
Definitely 125cc of genuine whoopazz... Golly gee, good things DO come in small packages! Leo (definitely feeling OLD and FAT...) in Texas... I'll get over it... 
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jun 2, 2017 20:27:22 GMT -5
Hmmm.... Yup, it's a "mini motorcycle" for sure!When I was a kid, back in the fifties, it was all about the Cushman Eagle because it was (sorta) a SCOOTER but with a decidedly MOTORCYCLE appeal. Then came the California made MUSTANG. A true "mini-motorcycle"! That was a rigid-frame bike with a slick flathead single and 3-speed tranny. and it was pretty serious... beating the immortal Harley flat-trackers often enough on the dirt to cause what many felt was a "conspiracy" to ban them from competition... There IS a new repro of the venerable Mustang now, with a Chinese motor which captures much of the original appeal.
Here's a pic of an original from the old days... And here's the new version...  Obviously, the Mustang is not ultra-modern in technology but for the "niche" of the mini-motorcycle rider it has a lot of appeal. The new Kymco to me is the modern-day incarnation of the same adorable "little bike". And of course, I'm a BIG fan of things KYMCO... LOL! And, also a BIG fan of rides that emulate an old-school hard-tail bobber... Ah, so many rides, so little time... LOL!If today's riders go for the KYMCO like my generation did for the MUSTANG, there will be a bunch of 'em on the road.
Cool little bike!Leo in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on May 30, 2017 23:15:06 GMT -5
P&W R-4360 Wasp Major, 28 cylinder engine that powered the Corsair, Spruce Goose and others. ""Although reliable in flight, the Wasp Major was maintenance intensive. Improper starting technique could foul "all 56 spark plugs", which would require hours to clean or replace."" -Makes you appreciate the SMax engine a little more. I saw them start one of these engines on TV last week so I couldn't resist posting something similar. Notice how the engine operator stands in a protective enclosure in case that engine spits out a piston or valve. Whew, what a motor!
I too saw that startup on "American Pickers"... I've always been a sucker for a sweet radial! They SOUND terrific. They LOOK terrific. Tons of torque at less than 3K rpm. VERY reminiscent of my old Harley chopper "Old Blue". Harley and Indian V-twin motors are sort of a "2-cylinder slice" off a big radial... LOL!No matter HOW fast the high-revving crotch-rocket and Asian car motors are, they do it all with rpm... "buzz-bombs" as opposed to "thunderbolts". No other type of engine feels as sweet as one that will smoke the tires at 1,500 rpm, and slingshot you to 140 without topping 3K revs! Like old John Deere on steroids!One neat aspect of the big radials is that if you want a BIGGER engine, you just keep adding more clusters of radials... I guess that 28-cyl. mill is four 7-cyl. clusters in a row. How COOL! Somewhere, I remember seeing a radial-powered bike... I'll see if I can find a pic! Wow... I found NUMEROUS examples! Seems radials in bikes are a popular custom build... Bet you'd turn heads at the local watering hole on something like this... ESPECIALLY when you fire-up!    Ride safe! Leo in Texas |
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Post by oldchopperguy on May 28, 2017 23:05:57 GMT -5
All this Honda nostalgia reminds me of my Army days in the late sixties... My Harley was languishing at home, and I was at Fort Bragg, NC. I missed riding SO much that I broke down and bought a floor-model NOS last-year's out-of-production 305cc "Super Hawk". The "new" 350cc scramblers and standard "CB" 350's had just hit the stores, and I got the 305 (old styling, old engine, etc.) for $600 out the door.
This one (below) could have been mine (except for the Euro license blank on the front fender)... What a SWEET ride! Even the mechanical drum-brakes were quite adequate at 80-mph... With its weird gas-tank, bloated mufflers and such, it didn't even LOOK like a "motorcycle" to me. Cheesh... It didin't even SOUND like one. I hated that trademark Honda "blat-blat-blat" exhaust note. But... After a week, I was HOOKED! That itsy-bitsy 305 turned out to be one of my ALL-TIME favorite bikes of my entire life. It was drop-dead reliable, handled great, had plenty of speed, gave obscene gas mileage... My FIRST electric-start bike. It was simply a dream to ride. Made me understand why Honda named its incredibly UGLY "Dream" 305 (weird fork, weird fenders, etc.) the "DREAM"... Those 305's, the SUPER HAWK, SCRAMBLER AND DREAM were entry-level rides of a MAGNIFICENT stature. Wish I still had that Hawk! They were early ancestors to the old Rebel 250, though not as good looking (except maybe for the 305 Scrambler). It was almost "Brit" looking. Honda has made some marvelous small-displacement FUN bikes... I too hate to see new models spawned just to use existing components. Even though my past riding has been dedicated to Harley Davidson iron, I have a real "soft spot" in my heart for Hondas, especially the small/mid-sized vintage bikes. And, I must admit my "new" 2004 Accord is THE best car I've ever had! 118K miles on her clock, and absolutely LIKE NEW in EVERY respect. Honda marketing says the Accord it "fun to drive" and I do agree... Dang clever these Japanese! Hmmm... I've always had a "Jones" for one of those pesky inline crosswise 6-banger Honda factory café racers... Jus' somethin' appealing about all them church-organ-pipes facing front... and all SIX carbs out back... LOL!
Ride safe, and enjoy those old-school Hondas while they still exist!Leo in Texas |
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Post by oldchopperguy on May 26, 2017 22:06:48 GMT -5
w650,
I've gotta agree with you on the usefulness of the venerable Rebel 250... They always seemed to me to be "the poor boy's Harley Sportster"... LOL! Everything BUT the engine had a decidedly Harley appearance. (Shoulda had a small V-twin...). A nice looking small bike for a reasonable price, and, they rode fine. I just looked up the new Rebel, and while it's pretty slick in its own genre, the original look is long gone. However, even with its modern "exoskeleton" style frame, modern components, etc. it still looks sharp... Even just a teensy bit "Harley Davidson" from a distance. Seems it comes in two flavors... 300cc and 500cc. The 300 is a single, but the 500 is a parallel twin, sorta "Brit" looking. It does retain SOME of the appeal of the old 250, but in a much more updated version (not to mention twice the displacement...). And, they're not all that "entry-level-affordable" anymore. My guess is that the new Rebel will generate its own following, but the basic, affordable appeal of the original is now gone. Good thing there are some originals left around... They still make sweet general purpose bikes! Even fairly credible "bobbers"... upload  image upload no size limit
They WILL be missed, but a LOT of them will still be on the road for many years to come...Ride safe!Leo in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on May 25, 2017 23:06:32 GMT -5
As we used to say in the Army: "OUT-FRICKIN'-STANDING!" Or something to that effect... THAT idea would also make a swell BAR in a bazillion-dollar man-cave... LOL!I learned to drive in a '48 Chevy pickup, in a corn-field. I was 7 years old... I was visiting a family friend on a farm. The "hired man" told my pal and me to go 20 miles to town and get some dynamite to blow up gopher tunnels... So my 7-year-old farmer-pal taught me to drive and we headed for town, where we bought a case of dynamite at the local hardware store. The only "caution" we received from the clerk was "be careful with that stuff... it CAN be DANGEROUS..." Cool memory!That was in the early fifties, WAY out in the Boondocks, and farm kids drove the family cars, trucks, tractors etc. to town for every farm need... including buying dynamite for clearing land, etc. Like the shotgun in the barn, it was ONLY a simple, effective TOOL. Nobody would have even imagined anyone including the little kids would consider using the stuff for evil purposes. You blew up stuff because it needed blowing up, NOT to make a "political statement".
The only political statement we ever made was the pledge of allegiance to our beloved American flag.
Can you IMAGINE today's "PC police" or even Homeland Security's reaction to two 7-year-olds driving to town and buying explosives. Or explosives even being SOLD over the counter, in the local hardware store? Those were marvelously innocent and wonderful days. The hired-man showed us how to use the dynamite and sent us on our way while he had a nip of cider from the fermentin' barrel... Again, chiding us to "be careful, that stuff can be dangerous..." LOLOLOL! And yeah, we had a ball blowing up the gopher tunnels. Felt like little "GI Joes" going after the Nazis... To this day, I commensurate with Bill Murray in "Caddy Shack" when he declared war on the gophers with plastic explosives... HeHeHe... Dang! High-velocity explosives were SO much more fun than fireworks... Couldn't hear for a week... Only regret was truly feeling pretty sorry for the hapless gophers.Leo (how'd I ever reach 70 still alive?) in Texas... Aw shucks... God does look after fools, drunks and farm-kids... And y'all thought MOTORCYCLES were dangerous... 
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Post by oldchopperguy on May 23, 2017 16:55:11 GMT -5
Buzz Aldrin... He's a real flesh n' blood guy who did things most of us wouldn't even dream of, even if we had the skills... Buzz Lightyear is a macho character, but he's still a character... not a real guy. I'll go with the astronaut.
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Post by oldchopperguy on May 20, 2017 22:49:12 GMT -5
Doggone, THAT is a nice-looking ride, AND has lots of quality parts, but gee, only comes in a 50cc? I'd like to see it in a bigger-engine format. Looks like a good all-round scoot with great appearance. There are SO many different sizes, styles and sizes of bikes today. When I was young, the selection was pretty small. Choices were easy... If you wanted a scooter, you got a Vespa, Lambretta, or if you were a red, white and blue AMERICAN, a CUSHMAN... For a bike, if you had a low budget, you got a Triumph or a BSA and got a lot of "giddyup" for your approx. $1K and if your blood was red, white and blue, and you had around $2K to spend, you got a Harley. And if you ever got sick, the doc made house-calls and gave you a shot of penicillin which cured everything from cancer to dandruff to social diseases... Life was so simple... LOL! Now, you can choose your 2-wheel ride from 39cc motorbikes to 502cid, 502hp Chevy-powered "Boss Hoss" bikes. So many rides, so little time... (sigh)... |
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-mpg gas-consumption with over half the miles in-town at 50-mph or less. Better than my old Chinese 150, with double the power and performance.
-mph freeway traffic.
-pounds at most,... And of course, "Texas style" wearing only short-shorts, tank top and flip-flops... no helmet or even glasses. Obviously has not yet kissed the asphalt... Yup.