Scooters for longer rides

[Jon]

Have you thought about putting a bigger engine in the cub?

i don't think a Cub is braked well enough for a working commute like that and the riding position does not favour higher speeds...Economy suffers too...

[dmw1950]

Honda FES125 or S-Wing 125 are good, and who ever thinks small wheels give bad handling are wrong, good tubeless tyres sorted that out many years ago, and the tyre width and profiles have greatly improved.
I've done over 100,000 miles on maxi-scoots in the last 10 years, and the latest models with ABS are very safe machines, a Burgman 650ABS, saved my skin when I misread the road.

[davebike]

I go with the bigger bike suggestion
I see a good few bigger scooters and the cost of belt rollers and clutch assy's is eyewatering !!
The Italian ones tend to be the worst but even the Jap ones anr not cheap to maintain and quite a bit needs power tools or specialist tools
From my experience long term costs of say a 250 an auto scooter will cost twice as much as a bike
Sadly bikes from 200 to 500 cc are quite rare 2nd hand

Dave

[Jon]

Love my cub, great for zipping around on, but I have to do a 100 mile round-trip journey every couple of weeks. I find the Cub hard work for these journies, especially as most of the roads are fast 60mph A-roads.

Would a decent scooter be up to the job, say a 125 or 250 (pref is a 125)? Are they reliable? What about the drive belt, are they easy to check and replace using basic tools?

Diesel Dave's Honda Foresight looks nice, and as Dave's got one I guess they must be decent machines.

My experience is that invariably, fast A roads generally have a queue of cars going at best at around 50-55 (true speed) on them. An Injected Innova WOULD actually be good as gold on that journey.
Scooterish ergos, no drive belts, brilliant economy (i've just seen 140 mpg out of mine), Cub wheels and tyres, a brake that works, decent lights.

The injected Innova will struggle to hold a true 60 mph...They'll do it just, but on A roads, very few cars drive at an indicated 66, which is what a true 60 usually is, so in reality, the cars are usually going around 50 to 55, and an Innova will cruise easily at that speed...

[fly]

From my experience long term costs of say a 250 an auto scooter will cost twice as much as a bike

Ouch! I was hoping you'd say its as simple as picking up an OEM drive belt for around £30, that can be replaced as easily as swapping a Cub's chain. An hour's fettling.

Maybe a scoot's not the way to go.

[dmw1950]

The Honda belt for a FES125 (S-Wing125) is £30, fitting not a hard job and other parts are cheap. Honda 125 parts are cheap because of competition. The same auto engine is used in the SH125 and Dylan scooters.
I have a CB250 benly type motorcycle, but even with a big Givi fitted, your new journey would be best covered on an Innova, or an SH125 with a screen fitted.
I will hopefully be getting an Innova or SH125 in the autumn, replacing the CB250.

[Jon]

I will hopefully be getting an Innova or SH125 in the autumn, replacing the CB250.

Its a good time...I bought mine in January...a 2010 model with 6000 miles on it for £1300...from a Honda dealer...Budget £70 for a Puig screen...

there's no question they are far better than a C90 in every functional respect... Which is what a cub is all about...

[wehey]

I will hopefully be getting an Innova or SH125 in the autumn, replacing the CB250.

Its a good time...I bought mine in January...a 2010 model with 6000 miles on it for £1300...from a Honda dealer...Budget £70 for a Puig screen...

there's no question they are far better than a C90 in every functional respect... Which is what a cub is all about...

Apart from looks

[Black Sheep Radical]

Why not consider the original (and, some say, the best ) big scooter, the Honda Helix? It will cruise happily at 65mph (top speed is late seventies), returning 65-80mpg depending on how it's ridden. It's far easier than most maxis to maintain by dent of having a boot instead of underseat storage - remove the (hugely comfortable) seat and there's the engine. With that and the rear fairing lowers removed you can easily do all servicing (and most repairs). Even doing the valve clearances is easy, as the adjusters are outside the cylinder head cover.

The only special tool you need is the variator/clutch holding tool at belt/roller change time, and even this can be improvised. Parts are still readily available from Honda, as the Americans got the Helix until 2007, and there are also lots of aftermarket bits available. Both mine have been pretty reliable, and if the 1000 mile oil changes are observed they can run up huge mileages. It has all the advantages of the breed it spawned - generous storage space, excellent weather protection and great comfort, without the bland looks of most of the machines that followed it

Bad bits? The handling is, erm, an acquired taste but it's really not that bad and you do get used to it Enthusiastic riding can kill a rear Metzeler in 1000 miles, but the Michelin Bopper provides the best compromise of life and handling and can last 3500 miles - remember it's only a 10" wheel on the back. The stubby exhaust manifold rusts through and snaps eventually but they are cheap to replace, and the inlet rubber cracks under the weight of the carb every two years unless you fit the bracket Honda later added to the US models. And that's it really!

[Jon]

I will hopefully be getting an Innova or SH125 in the autumn, replacing the CB250.

Its a good time...I bought mine in January...a 2010 model with 6000 miles on it for £1300...from a Honda dealer...Budget £70 for a Puig screen...

there's no question they are far better than a C90 in every functional respect... Which is what a cub is all about...

Apart from looks

Agreed...But the looks thing is acquired with familiarity...The Cub's all about utility...Maybe the new look will become less 'gay' as time goes on...