Hi Mike. In the state I live in, you can drive a 50-cc w/ no tags, insurance, or license. I have to drive 20 miles to work and just can't see a Ruckus @ 30 mph doing this everyday. It is a rural ride, mostly 55 mph zones, but still legal for a scooter if you have a helmet. Do you think just upon a glance this would pass as a 50-cc, or is it obvious that it is something larger?
@TarHeelKid100 Well tough call, but if I was going to invest a couple grand in something, I'd just do it the right way. Insurance is less than $100 a year, which is way less than a ticket for driving an unregistered, uninsured vehicle.
@TarHeelKid100 ... I agree with Mikepags... any cop would know that a 50 cc scooter can't go 55 mph... I know, there is probably someone on here that has souped up a 50 cc to go a million miles per hour, but don't risk it. At a glance the scooter looks quite a bit bigger than a Ruckus or a Metropolitan.
Great video very helpful like others have said its so much better hearing from someone who owns one rather than just a pushy salesman looking to make a quick sale and get his bonus! Thanks I'm hopeing to trade my Honda cg in and go got one of these instead. Happy days!!
Thanks for your response. That is very helpful to me in being comfortable with my plans. It's really best to ask someone who actually owns a Honda Elite rather than just asking the sales person who wants to sell you one or going on the Honda web site. So thanks so very much for your reply.
Greetings. I am curious. How comfortable is it for a passenger? Both myself and my wife are not real tall(5'4 - 5'6) and both weigh between 120 - 130 LB. Do you know how fast it can go with two? I've read where it will get up to about 48-49 mph with two people. I am looking at one soon to purchase probably in March. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.
@libbymycat I think it's real comfortable. I'm 5'9/185 and the passenger I've had on it the most was 5'4/120. It's hard to say how fast it would be because where I live is hilly just about everywhere, but I could see 48-49 mph being realistic on flat ground. With a passenger, I've never had any problem on normal non-highway roads, even with the hills. It doesn't seem to slow down that much. It does slow down, but even on the steepest hill, I've still been able to maintain 35-40mph.
Big question on these bikes. I have an old '81 Honda c70 Passport, and it has a 3 speed clutch less manual. Does this only have 1 speed like the ruckus? No
Clutch I noticed. Always wondered that, dont see a place for a foot operated gear lever like my c70.
@LaPavoniMac The c70 has a semi-automatic 3-speed trans that gets shifted, but with no clutch lever. These Elites have a CVT transmission, which is basically a belt and a pulley with a variable diameter, so it has the ability to act as many different gear sizes, so yes, it's like the Ruckus.
@mikepags huh! That is REALLY cool! I love my c70, something about gears and a chaindrive, just VERY mechanical, and I love that feel. But the CVT transmissions cut down on vibration and noise too. Both very cool designs.
I'm thinking about getting one for my first scoot. Would it be a good first one? Thinking of buying it used from a guy but it only has 2mi on it. do you know what i should be looking to pay for this? It would be SO awesome if you could get back to me on this. also great Review man. :)
@StrangerEnterprises Hey thanks! I think this would be a great first scoot. As long as you don't need to go on the highway, it'll do everything you want it to do. So far I have like 1300 mi on mine and it hasn't skipped a beat. I spent about $2500 + taxes, so about $2700 out the door from the dealer in 2010. If it was still 2010, I'd say $2300 would be fair because taxes and such will bring you back up to about $2500. Now it's 2 model years old, so I'd offer him $2000 and see what he says.
Nice scooter...but, my Honda dealer wants $3667 out the door for this same 2010 black scooter and that includes a $100 rebate. I went with a new 2009 Scarabeo 100 instead which was $1500 cheaper and performs very nicely. I like the 16 in. wheels better too.
@dkw12002 wow man the guy was trying to rip you off badly, with 3600 dollars you can buy a ninja 250r or a kawasaki vulcan!!, happy to hear you didnt make the deal.
@johnsoneal No, I did nothing to the bike. I drove it and did one oil change. Nothing more than that. Was just a less expensive mode of transportation to work which is a mere 3 miles from home. I'm 41 and if I wanted more speed I would have bought a larger motorcycle. This was purely for gas savings....
@1sick93 I haven't been tracking the mileage too carefully so I really can't say. I think about 80-85 mpg, but I live in a real hilly area. It'll definitely move 225 lbs. I've ridden two up with a total of about 300 lbs and it did fine.
@1sick93 The Honda Elite will get about 106 mpg according to Honda. That sounds accurate to me considering that my old '87 Honda Elite CH150 got 80+ mpg.
@1sick93 I just bought one, and my first and second tanks have gotten me about 95mpg. It's fairly hilly where I live, but I am also a smaller guy and haven't driven much faster than 35.
@TheVans1998 Well, for my purposes, it seemed to be the best. It has great storage, can handle hills around town very well, and the build quality is great...right up there with Yamaha, Piaggio, and all other quality manufacturers. As long as you don't need to go on the highway, I'd say this is the scooter to buy hands down. That's not to say there's not other good scooters on the market, but I thought this one had the best features and a very reasonable price, especially for what you get.
@bluezamalek The PCX 125? I'm not sure. It looks pretty cool, but I haven't seen one in person yet. Overseas it has a cool feature where it stops the engine after 3 seconds at idle (such as when you're at a red light), then it starts back up immediately when you open the throttle to move again. Unfortunately, they disabled this feature in the US. Check it out if you get a chance though, it might be cool.
Heh; I'll bet you are getting a ton of dirty looks while re-feuling at the gas station! I'm a satisfied Honda Sh150i owner, btw. Thanks for posting and ride safe. :)
I can hear in your accent that you are from philly. Where is your inspection sticker? I live in the city but my bike was purchased in jersey so I need pa inspection. Any suggestions?
I can hear in your accent that you are from philly. Where is your inspection sticker? I live in the city but my bike was purchased in jersey so I need pa inspection. Any suggestions?
@deencrs4 Yeah, I'm from Philly. The inspection sticker for PA is on the front left fork/fender. You can get inspections at lots of different places. Any dealer will do it and so will some garages. I've gone to Cycle City on West Chester Pike in Broomall and also Havertown Tire & Auto (I think that's the name of the place) on Township Line in Havertown. This particular bike I got inspected at Planet Honda on 202 near Delaware, where I bought it. Where did you get yours, Cherry Hill?
Look at Genuine Scooters, They make the Buddy 125 and 150, 170i fuel injected 170cc, the Blur is sporty, and some others. Made in Taiwan, good quality, and lots of aftermaket stuff too. genuinescooters
@picatsoforfma Nope, it's governed at 53 or something like that. If you need to go 70 mph, you should look into a 250 scooter or motorcycle instead. Even a scooter that says it'll do 70 won't do it well for any period of time. Scoots are just about all made for more local roads. Full size bikes are for the highway.
Bought one over the weekend. Nice ride, but the seat is very uncomfortable! Also, I got 115 miles off the full tank. No where near the 160 suggested (i.e. 100 mpg, 1.6gal tank)
@bonzaipipeline Honda makes one called a PCX that's 125cc, but I'm not sure it's out yet. The Zuma is similar, but it has less storage space and the seat felt like it was tipped foreword a little bit, so it wasn't as comfortable.
that was the best review I've seen on this moped!....and I've seen a lot, since I'm looking on buying one myself. You went over all the details, clear picture, bright natural light so I was able to see inside the compartments clearly etc. you should work as a reviewer for a magazine it was that good. thanks!
@aboxofme Yeah, I looked at the SH150i as well. I just couldn't justify the +- $1500 difference. Another model that might be worth checking out is the 2011 PCX. It wasn't out yet when I bought the Elite and I really don't know if it's any better, but I'm sure it would be worth taking a look at if you can find one around. Good luck!
@mrjimbeam2009 Thanks man. I don't know why cycle magazines have such a hard time reviewing bikes, but you're right, a lot of it could be done better.
I just got mine today!!! I got a black one and my dad is getting a red one later on in september! i absolutly love this mother******!!! lol its fast, rides so smooth and has a great top speed, i bought it with 1 mile on it and it already has 20 miles on it and i have been riding it for like 2 hours! hope you and me are safe on them... enjoy man!!!
@FriedBullet99 That's a saying in the motorcycle world that means be careful/good luck. If your tires (the rubber side) are down on the ground, all is well. If the rubber side is not down, then something else is, so...you get the picture.
Hi Mike. In the state I live in, you can drive a 50-cc w/ no tags, insurance, or license. I have to drive 20 miles to work and just can't see a Ruckus @ 30 mph doing this everyday. It is a rural ride, mostly 55 mph zones, but still legal for a scooter if you have a helmet. Do you think just upon a glance this would pass as a 50-cc, or is it obvious that it is something larger?
TarHeelKid100 2 weeks ago
@TarHeelKid100 Well tough call, but if I was going to invest a couple grand in something, I'd just do it the right way. Insurance is less than $100 a year, which is way less than a ticket for driving an unregistered, uninsured vehicle.
mikepags 2 weeks ago
@TarHeelKid100 ... I agree with Mikepags... any cop would know that a 50 cc scooter can't go 55 mph... I know, there is probably someone on here that has souped up a 50 cc to go a million miles per hour, but don't risk it. At a glance the scooter looks quite a bit bigger than a Ruckus or a Metropolitan.
andy122879 2 weeks ago
Great video very helpful like others have said its so much better hearing from someone who owns one rather than just a pushy salesman looking to make a quick sale and get his bonus! Thanks I'm hopeing to trade my Honda cg in and go got one of these instead. Happy days!!
11boff 1 month ago
mikepags:
Thanks for your response. That is very helpful to me in being comfortable with my plans. It's really best to ask someone who actually owns a Honda Elite rather than just asking the sales person who wants to sell you one or going on the Honda web site. So thanks so very much for your reply.
libbymycat 1 month ago
Greetings. I am curious. How comfortable is it for a passenger? Both myself and my wife are not real tall(5'4 - 5'6) and both weigh between 120 - 130 LB. Do you know how fast it can go with two? I've read where it will get up to about 48-49 mph with two people. I am looking at one soon to purchase probably in March. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.
libbymycat 1 month ago in playlist Motos
@libbymycat I think it's real comfortable. I'm 5'9/185 and the passenger I've had on it the most was 5'4/120. It's hard to say how fast it would be because where I live is hilly just about everywhere, but I could see 48-49 mph being realistic on flat ground. With a passenger, I've never had any problem on normal non-highway roads, even with the hills. It doesn't seem to slow down that much. It does slow down, but even on the steepest hill, I've still been able to maintain 35-40mph.
mikepags 1 month ago
thanks dude this video was very helpful!!!
TheBiggMan78 3 months ago
Big question on these bikes. I have an old '81 Honda c70 Passport, and it has a 3 speed clutch less manual. Does this only have 1 speed like the ruckus? No
Clutch I noticed. Always wondered that, dont see a place for a foot operated gear lever like my c70.
LaPavoniMac 3 months ago
@LaPavoniMac The c70 has a semi-automatic 3-speed trans that gets shifted, but with no clutch lever. These Elites have a CVT transmission, which is basically a belt and a pulley with a variable diameter, so it has the ability to act as many different gear sizes, so yes, it's like the Ruckus.
mikepags 3 months ago
@mikepags huh! That is REALLY cool! I love my c70, something about gears and a chaindrive, just VERY mechanical, and I love that feel. But the CVT transmissions cut down on vibration and noise too. Both very cool designs.
LaPavoniMac 3 months ago
I'm thinking about getting one for my first scoot. Would it be a good first one? Thinking of buying it used from a guy but it only has 2mi on it. do you know what i should be looking to pay for this? It would be SO awesome if you could get back to me on this. also great Review man. :)
StrangerEnterprises 4 months ago
@StrangerEnterprises Hey thanks! I think this would be a great first scoot. As long as you don't need to go on the highway, it'll do everything you want it to do. So far I have like 1300 mi on mine and it hasn't skipped a beat. I spent about $2500 + taxes, so about $2700 out the door from the dealer in 2010. If it was still 2010, I'd say $2300 would be fair because taxes and such will bring you back up to about $2500. Now it's 2 model years old, so I'd offer him $2000 and see what he says.
mikepags 4 months ago
o u know im gettn me one of these right herr.
its nice
mrfourtysevenman 4 months ago
Can you ride it in the rain? How does it feel? (as in how dangerous did you felt it while riding the scooter?)
DontFuckWitDreDay 5 months ago
Nice scooter...but, my Honda dealer wants $3667 out the door for this same 2010 black scooter and that includes a $100 rebate. I went with a new 2009 Scarabeo 100 instead which was $1500 cheaper and performs very nicely. I like the 16 in. wheels better too.
dkw12002 6 months ago
@dkw12002 wow man the guy was trying to rip you off badly, with 3600 dollars you can buy a ninja 250r or a kawasaki vulcan!!, happy to hear you didnt make the deal.
petelebu 5 months ago
Honda refuses to honor the warranty on my Honda Elite. Good luck with your scooter, just beware.
russty36 6 months ago
@russty36 have you upgraded the bike to get more speed from it? Most companies won't honor a warranty after you've messed with the bike. Just asking.
johnsoneal 6 months ago
@johnsoneal No, I did nothing to the bike. I drove it and did one oil change. Nothing more than that. Was just a less expensive mode of transportation to work which is a mere 3 miles from home. I'm 41 and if I wanted more speed I would have bought a larger motorcycle. This was purely for gas savings....
russty36 6 months ago
cool i want one
MrRestart123 7 months ago
Oh one more think you video was very useful Thank you for that
otunca 7 months ago
I am a 295 Lb gorilla,do you think it will be good for me ?
otunca 7 months ago
Whats the best mpg have you got? Will it move 225lbs?
1sick93 7 months ago
@1sick93 I haven't been tracking the mileage too carefully so I really can't say. I think about 80-85 mpg, but I live in a real hilly area. It'll definitely move 225 lbs. I've ridden two up with a total of about 300 lbs and it did fine.
mikepags 7 months ago
@1sick93 The Honda Elite will get about 106 mpg according to Honda. That sounds accurate to me considering that my old '87 Honda Elite CH150 got 80+ mpg.
ditkuss 7 months ago
@1sick93 I just bought one, and my first and second tanks have gotten me about 95mpg. It's fairly hilly where I live, but I am also a smaller guy and haven't driven much faster than 35.
BJL0711 5 months ago
how much did it cost ?
TheVans1998 7 months ago
@TheVans1998 I got mine in August 2010 for around $2700 out the door at Planet Honda on Rt. 202 in PA.
mikepags 7 months ago
@mikepags oh kl i was thinking of getting one would u recommend it for the amount of money it cost ??
TheVans1998 7 months ago
@TheVans1998 Well, for my purposes, it seemed to be the best. It has great storage, can handle hills around town very well, and the build quality is great...right up there with Yamaha, Piaggio, and all other quality manufacturers. As long as you don't need to go on the highway, I'd say this is the scooter to buy hands down. That's not to say there's not other good scooters on the market, but I thought this one had the best features and a very reasonable price, especially for what you get.
mikepags 7 months ago
Is this available in Canada ?
Linkz14 8 months ago
@Linkz14 I have no idea. I'd check the Canadian Honda website.
mikepags 8 months ago
Is the Elite 125 cc model 2011 better than that one ?
bluezamalek 8 months ago
@bluezamalek The PCX 125? I'm not sure. It looks pretty cool, but I haven't seen one in person yet. Overseas it has a cool feature where it stops the engine after 3 seconds at idle (such as when you're at a red light), then it starts back up immediately when you open the throttle to move again. Unfortunately, they disabled this feature in the US. Check it out if you get a chance though, it might be cool.
mikepags 8 months ago
You've helped me decide which scooter to get. Very thorough review. Thanks!
JeriBrock67 9 months ago
Heh; I'll bet you are getting a ton of dirty looks while re-feuling at the gas station! I'm a satisfied Honda Sh150i owner, btw. Thanks for posting and ride safe. :)
LarryRickenbacker 9 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I can hear in your accent that you are from philly. Where is your inspection sticker? I live in the city but my bike was purchased in jersey so I need pa inspection. Any suggestions?
deencrs4 10 months ago
I can hear in your accent that you are from philly. Where is your inspection sticker? I live in the city but my bike was purchased in jersey so I need pa inspection. Any suggestions?
deencrs4 10 months ago
@deencrs4 Yeah, I'm from Philly. The inspection sticker for PA is on the front left fork/fender. You can get inspections at lots of different places. Any dealer will do it and so will some garages. I've gone to Cycle City on West Chester Pike in Broomall and also Havertown Tire & Auto (I think that's the name of the place) on Township Line in Havertown. This particular bike I got inspected at Planet Honda on 202 near Delaware, where I bought it. Where did you get yours, Cherry Hill?
mikepags 10 months ago
@bonzaipipeline
Look at Genuine Scooters, They make the Buddy 125 and 150, 170i fuel injected 170cc, the Blur is sporty, and some others. Made in Taiwan, good quality, and lots of aftermaket stuff too. genuinescooters
kens97sto171 10 months ago
Can it go up to 70mph?
picatsoforfma 10 months ago
@picatsoforfma Nope, it's governed at 53 or something like that. If you need to go 70 mph, you should look into a 250 scooter or motorcycle instead. Even a scooter that says it'll do 70 won't do it well for any period of time. Scoots are just about all made for more local roads. Full size bikes are for the highway.
mikepags 10 months ago
@mikepags Thanks
picatsoforfma 10 months ago
Bought one over the weekend. Nice ride, but the seat is very uncomfortable! Also, I got 115 miles off the full tank. No where near the 160 suggested (i.e. 100 mpg, 1.6gal tank)
russty36 10 months ago
@russty36 Yeah i live in a fairly hilly area. When I first measured mine, I think I saw about 80mpg.
mikepags 10 months ago
as soon as i get the money im getting this
77pizzaman 1 year ago
@bonzaipipeline Honda makes one called a PCX that's 125cc, but I'm not sure it's out yet. The Zuma is similar, but it has less storage space and the seat felt like it was tipped foreword a little bit, so it wasn't as comfortable.
mikepags 1 year ago
i just sold my ruckus for $1,200,after looking at your report on this elite,am getting one this weekend,,thanks
76rayvon 1 year ago
@76rayvon Awesome, best of luck with it!
mikepags 1 year ago
Whats the best top speed you can get?
cali108 1 year ago
@cali108 It's governed at 53 mph I believe.
mikepags 1 year ago
that was the best review I've seen on this moped!....and I've seen a lot, since I'm looking on buying one myself. You went over all the details, clear picture, bright natural light so I was able to see inside the compartments clearly etc. you should work as a reviewer for a magazine it was that good. thanks!
caller27 1 year ago
@caller27 Hey thanks! I'm a high school teacher, so I try to be thorough, yet to-the-point. Glad you like it!
mikepags 1 year ago
I want to thank you for posting this informative video.
I was considering the Honda SH150i, but after looking over your post, I believe the Elite would be a better choice.
Thanks again
aboxofme 1 year ago
@aboxofme Yeah, I looked at the SH150i as well. I just couldn't justify the +- $1500 difference. Another model that might be worth checking out is the 2011 PCX. It wasn't out yet when I bought the Elite and I really don't know if it's any better, but I'm sure it would be worth taking a look at if you can find one around. Good luck!
mikepags 1 year ago
good review, very comprehensive, better than the garbage you read in cycle world
mrjimbeam2009 1 year ago
@mrjimbeam2009 Thanks man. I don't know why cycle magazines have such a hard time reviewing bikes, but you're right, a lot of it could be done better.
mikepags 1 year ago
thanks so much for the video. now i know which scooter ill buy
dankfrank10 1 year ago
@dankfrank10 Glad I could help, good luck!
mikepags 1 year ago
I just got mine today!!! I got a black one and my dad is getting a red one later on in september! i absolutly love this mother******!!! lol its fast, rides so smooth and has a great top speed, i bought it with 1 mile on it and it already has 20 miles on it and i have been riding it for like 2 hours! hope you and me are safe on them... enjoy man!!!
FriedBullet99 1 year ago
@FriedBullet99 Congratulations! Be safe and keep the rubber side down!
mikepags 1 year ago
@mikepags wat you mean keep the rubber side down?
FriedBullet99 1 year ago
@FriedBullet99 That's a saying in the motorcycle world that means be careful/good luck. If your tires (the rubber side) are down on the ground, all is well. If the rubber side is not down, then something else is, so...you get the picture.
mikepags 1 year ago
its awesome
CrazzeeChaplin 1 year ago