CH80 test ride

[01EliteSR]

The dealership i work at just recently got an Elite 80 in on trade. So i thought i take it for a little ride to home and back. So i strapped on my beanie and headed for the house. This thing is a pig compared to my Elite 50 SR. Course it does 55, but it takes it all day to get there and I know i could beat it to 35 on my 50. Only has 2,7xx miles so it can't be worn out. Plus I miss the buzzing hive of bees chasing me sound versus a a disappoiting fart noise. A salesman seriously ask me "What'll it take to get your little 50 for this one?" I told him you giving me the $650 back that i paid for the 50 and the 80 on top of it. He didn't know what to say. About the only thing that draws me towards it is the bright yellow color, does anyone know what kinda of difference in space size they are?

[eliteguy50]

does anyone know what kinda of difference in space size they are?

what do you mean?...the overall dimensions, the engine size, the storage capacity...?

[01EliteSR]

Sorry for confusion. Storage capacity, looks to a huge difference.

[wikked_spree57]

not much. none under seat, only dinky glovebox up front under the hood. Won't even hold a bottle of pop.

[CaptDan]

not much. none under seat, only dinky glovebox up front under the hood. Won't even hold a bottle of pop.

What size bottle you talking 'bout, Slick? One of those big * plastic Coke Jumbo models? I can get a 500ml bottle of my fave vodka under that lid - plus my garage door opener, tool roll, reg papers AND an eco-correct, kLimateNeutral canvas bag that earns me .99 cents refund when I shop @ (un)sSafeWay.

Regarding the CH80's performance. I really DON'T get why spudz hate it. Sure - it does NOT giddyup off the line like a dude's swapped-in-Dio, or even to some extent, like a stock 49cc Spree. But dammit - mine swoops RIGHT up to traffic speed, keeping the distracted, dangerous soccer moms with their ears glued to the iPodCellfone safely BEHIND me. Plus, it actually climbs hills at a respectable clip

And the exhaust note? Bzzzzwwweeeee,zzzhee,zzzheeeZEEEEEEEEEshhhhhh. Ain't a 2 smoker by any stretch of the imagination. But me likey anyway.

Bottom line:

Apples. Oranges. And - uh Yams. Different sTrokes for different 2-smoke folks.

CaptDan>

[Lunytune]

What year is it? I assume 4 cycle water cooled?

I had considered something bigger, in between the 50 and my Helix, which is really too big. But after rebuilding a couple of 50's and buying the JDM Dio, I think I'll continue with the 50's. The kit on my 2001 put it up to 80cc, and not even broke in yet, can tell it's going to be a screamer.

Dan,
It's like what Dac sez, "It's not what you ride, it's that you ride".

[CaptDan]

What year is it? I assume 4 cycle water cooled?

I had considered something bigger, in between the 50 and my Helix, which is really too big. But after rebuilding a couple of 50's and buying the JDM Dio, I think I'll continue with the 50's. The kit on my 2001 put it up to 80cc, and not even broke in yet, can tell it's going to be a screamer.

Dan,
It's like what Dac sez, "It's not what you ride, it's that you ride".

From their introduction in AD 1985, to their swan song in 2007, CH80s were all
4 stroke air cooled scoots. The 125/150s ('85-87) were water cooled - like your venerable 'HeeLicks' - which by the way - is a hellava machine in its own right. YaMo 'Mad-Jesties', Sue Zu Kee's 'BurgerMan', and H0ndasan's swift Reflex owe their evolutionary design to the HeeLicks' - the first low-slung, 'modern' touring scoot.

Yep - Dac is right.

I'll shaddup now.

CaptDan>

[wikked_spree57]

I rode/owned one, I swapped in a liquid cooled 125 motor. Man that b**** was fast! The original motor was an oil hog, so I gave it to my buddy for his chinese kids quad. It's not bad in my opinion, just lacks storage. Those d*** things ride SWEET though!


We're looking for another CH80 that's beat to * but runs good, going to attempt a motor swap into the Spree frame we have out back rusting away.

[burnt_toast]

you guys always goin off topic..

p.s. highly doubin stock elite80 4stroke will do a consistent 55mph as OP stated, 45mph is more reasonable, they are definitely pigs but oddly enough lots of people like them

[Lunytune]

you guys always goin off topic..

It's the nature of forums. Students sometimes do it to teachers too, don't they?

[burnt_toast]

you guys always goin off topic..

It's the nature of forums. Students sometimes do it to teachers too, don't they?

not in my classroom

p.s. your discussion is split off and in general chit chat

[Lunytune]

So why is the 80 an oil hog? I've got 1200 miles on last oil change on my Helix, and hasn't used a drop. Yeah, I know, different engine, but seems Honda would do a better job on the 80.

[wikked_spree57]

My buddy burned up the top end before I got it, I took some emery cloth to the piston added new rings and gaskets then went on my way, in 400 miles I used 6 quarts of oil. that was enough for me, we put the motor on my friend's little kids quad frame so his kids had a toy to ride.

It smoked like a freight train.

[CaptDan]

Lunytune declares:

seems Honda would do a better job on the 80.

Methinx HondaSan had nothing to do with it. To paraphrase a cantankerous ol' Brit motorsickle mechanic:

"Ninety percent of all problems with these bikes starts with the {expletive deleted} in the saddle..."

The 'Flying Yam' (depicted at left) has 2410 on the clock. I changed the oil at 2163.
Still the same amount of 'erl' in the case after 247 miles.

YMMV. Or - Maybe not.

CaptDan>

[Lunytune]

Dan sez

"Ninety percent of all problems with these bikes starts with the {expletive deleted} in the saddle..."

Yeah, after reading the most recent post, I rescind my comment. Me thinks there was a problem in the overhaul, probably either cylinder worn beyond tolerance, improperly honed, or oir rings improperly installed. And like that cantankerous Brit mechanic, I remember a couple of old geezers who rode me hard in my younger days, making me get it right. I didn't much like it, but now I find myself in that same mold.

Dan, this renews my faith in the midsize 80-120-150 scoots. I'm still thinking of transitioning from the 250. It's just too heavy.