1986 Honda Elite CH80 review from Canada
"Great around town scooter, but the suspension needs improvement"
What things have gone wrong with the motorcycle?
Handling on this scooter is squirrelly on anything but smooth paved road. The suspension is very soft on the CH80. It bottoms out on small bumps. The rear shock absorber is worn out on mine and the rear suspension pogos. There is a single rear shock absorber, and the spring for it is very weak. Small wheels, short wheelbase, and quick steering geometry make this scooter unpredictable in sand or loose gravel. It feels unstable at higher speeds.
The low top speed of about 72kph make this scooter a a bit of a hazard on the highway.
Front and rear drum brakes on this vehicle make braking adequate, but not great.
General comments?
This is a great little scooter for around town use. There is enough room on the floor in front of the seat for a couple of bags of groceries, and there is a trunk at the front that has enough room for a jacket or a couple of text books.
The fuel economy is fantastic for this small four stroke engine, but the fuel tank is so small that the range between fill-ups is less than 200kms.
This scooter is easy to ride around town, but the suspension should be stiffer to handle potholes and rough pavement better.
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| Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model Year | 1986 |
| First year of ownership | 2005 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2007 |
| Acceleration marks | |
| Roll-on Performance marks | 4/10 |
| Handling marks | 7/10 |
| Braking marks | 6/10 |
| Reliability marks | 7/10 |
| Comfort marks | 7/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 5200 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 11400 kilometres |
| Date of Entry | 28th May, 2007 |