New Honda Elite for 2010

[noiseguy]

Honda's reviving the Elite name for 2010 with a 108cc, 4 stroke offering:

http://www.motorcycle.com/news/honda-an ... 88289.html

[toboggan]

That thing looks sweet.

The only thing i don't really like is its a four stroke, and the shock looks weird where its placed.

[Wheelman-111]

Greetings:

All together now...

Dude! Swap in a Dio!!

[burnt_toast]

nah i really like that displacement, i think it will fair well for speed and economy which a good scooter is all about

just not crazy about the looks.. kinda generic and similar to stuff already out

[CaptDan]

That thing looks sweet.

The only thing i don't really like is its a four stroke, and the shock looks weird where its placed.

Some thoughts:

1. It might look like some Chinoise clones, but you dambetcha - it ain't.

2. 2-smoke motors are very charming, but Mr EPA ain't impressed.

3. I wonder why liquid cooling? Oh well. The 'Muttro Pelican' is, so why not?

4. It's a nice lookin' scoot, but personally, I'm getting a little tired of
Bat Cycle meets The Alien styling.

5. But - it's a Honda!

CaptDan>

[Wheelman-111]

Greetings:

Liquid cooling confers several advantages, partially making up for the increased complexity and cost.

The first is that the water jacket surrounding all that internal combustion makes for a much quieter bike. Noise regulations are being implemented all over the world, and the US is no exception. Having less noise from the engine allows the manufacturer to tune the exhaust for that seductive rumble and still meet the total noise limits. At least in the Harley world.

Secondly, it's possible to make a lot more power per cc if there's a more-efficient way to convey the resultant heat away from the meltable bits upstairs in the combustion chamber. Tighter clearances are possible only if the temperature remains under close control under a variety of atmospheric and operating conditions. When Honda-san got tired of having sand kicked in his face by KZs et al., he trotted out the LC Hurricane and sent everyone else back to the drawing board. Of course this benefit may not be exploited to the fullest extent in a 10-horse scooter, either.

Finally, the EPA, C.A.R.B. and the EuroII regulations have made it all but impossible to meet the emissions criteria with an air-cooled engine. Evidently cold-engine blow-by is easier to control with the tighter liquid-cooled cylinders. Fuel-injected powerplants are better at optimizing cold-engine mixtures, but for everything to work together under the control of ECM computerization, liquid-cooling and its temperature-stabilizing characteristics is essential. Even rustic Harley-Davidson has found itself needing to develop these technologies to keep up with the Greens.

I don't wanna know the content of Flash's 2-stroke excretions. Blue smoke is anathema to Green Goals. Call me a relic, but I like it.

[devenex]

"I'm getting a little tired of Bat Cycle meets The Alien styling"

LOL! I agree!

Two things I noticed:
1. No kickstart = no impressing the ladies!

2. Does it bother anyone else that the front wheel is bigger?

[CaptDan]

Wheelman invites us to:

Call me a relic, but I like it.

Well, Mr Relic, that's the BEST verbiage I've read about liquid cooled sickle enjines. Makes plenty of sense, though I must confess the 'Flying Yam's exhaust note is well within the sotto voce paradigm.

Seems radiators are becoming as common on scoots as handlebars and EPA restrictions. It's the way of the world, Kemosabe.

CaptDan>

[CaptDan]

"I'm getting a little tired of Bat Cycle meets The Alien styling"

LOL! I agree!

Two things I noticed:
1. No kickstart = no impressing the ladies!

2. Does it bother anyone else that the front wheel is bigger?

I suppose Hondasan had a good reason - aesthetics notwithstanding.

Re: kickstarts: seems they're going the way of the Dodo Bird, like the 2-smoke motors they were once attached to.

CaptDan>

[mousewheels]

Evidently cold-engine blow-by is easier to control with the tighter liquid-cooled cylinders

One more advangate to liquid cooling - Tighter tolerances and cooler engine operation gives a longer oil replacement interval.

[Wheelman-111]

Greetings:

Mousewheels Submits:

One more advangate to liquid cooling - Tighter tolerances and cooler engine operation gives a longer oil replacement interval.

No Way!!. I have never had to replace Flash's oil! I just blow it out the tailpipe into the troposphere.

Of course you're right in the four-stroke world. My air-cooled 1977 XS-750 never required oil replacement, either. At its rate of consumption of one quart oil every two tanks (Sad but true...) it always had plenty of fresh oil. Two top-end rebuilds failed to rectify the problem, and I gave it up in favor of a 1982 VF 750S that never consumed a drop.

[TURN1]

I'd still rather have a Ruckus/Zoomer with a GY6 150cc 4 stroke swap or do what my friend did, and swap in a 100cc JOG copy motor from Taiwan. Hammer time!!!

[evilone]

2. Does it bother anyone else that the front wheel is bigger?

Didn't notice it at first...now i'm bothered

[CaptDan]

2. Does it bother anyone else that the front wheel is bigger?

Didn't notice it at first...now i'm bothered

I took a second look, now I've got a twitchy a**

Wha's up wit dat? Looks like a smaller wider wheel aft, and a taller thinner wheel forward.

I mean - it makes sense on a custom Harley chop. I've seen some with football field wide rears with gasket-thin front tires hoisted out across the intersection on sinewy, chromium plated tweezers. Usually, there's a female perched high on the rear iron, and a low slung leathered up dude street-level in the *.

But - on a scoot? Anybody got a tale to tell about this?

CaptDan>

[hondadirtracer]

it is probably for better ride quality and steering response