Hiya, I`m new here...

[ItchyKneeSon]

Hello ,

I moved to Japan about 2 weeks ago and decided to pick up a cheap scooter. I ended up deciding on a blue and white Honda Dio SP. It puffs a bit of smoke when it runs and had a hard time starting after sitting for the last 5 days or so. It was 40,000´┐Ñ (roughly $450). I`ve swapped a diesel engine into a formerly-gas VW Rabbit and am pretty handy with machines. The only problem with living where I do is the lack of access to tools.

I just wanted to introduce myself and ask for any tips. I`ve already browsed around the nifty Wikispreedia you guys have developed. My only complaint to this point, after being a 6-year member of VW forums, is the lack of photos in both the DIY and FS/WTB sections. Maybe the VW forums just spoiled me.

Anyhow, I should be spending some time on this forum. I`m guessing it`s a pretty sought-after part, but what are the prices and availability of a windscreen for my Dio?

What do you guys wear when it`s raining and you`re riding? (People do that a lot here and I`m planning on it.)

Let me know if there are any parts that are hard to find in the states that are available here in Japan and I can look/ask around a bit.

Also, I`m wondering what year my Dio is from. It looks to be early 90s or late 80s. Any insight on that?
This may help...



Word.

Chad

[toboggan]

Welcome, i don't have alot of the answers to your questions! However im sure the mods and members will try to get more pics up! are you on vwvortex.com?

[drizzle]

...oh my god that bike is beautiful. you should have no trouble finding performance parts for it. vtcycles.com for starters.

and there is a market section and how-to/guide/performance section.

[Wheelman-111]

Greetings:

Great score over there in The Land of the Rising Sun Welcome.

Check the tranny cover back there behind the clutch. You should see a number beginning with AF ** E. This engine appears to share much in common with the AF16s that were the last generation of Honda 2-strokes sold in the US "regular" market. It might say AF18E or higher. However it's a telescopic fork with a drum brake, making it likely to be early/mid 90s vintage.

The go-slightly-faster parts that VT Cycles and DayWOT Stores sell for the late (1994-later US market) Elites should fit your scooter. Beware some of the fussy little changes Honda-san makes from year-to-year, sometimes even Mid-year, but by and large variators, clutches, belts and most of the hard engine parts should swap freely.

If there are enthusiast groups over there, and I imagine there are unless the laws against Modding are strictly enforced, I for one would welcome a Japanese parts source list.

[eliteguy50]

Moved to Japan from what country? I am in the USA myself.

Most of the windscreens that I have seen attach to the uprights on the mirrors or have a flat bracket that the threaded mirror stud goes through before it is tightened down. With these 50's here in the USA, it is a do it yourself thing for the older ones but they are a factory option for the new metro, zuma, vino...maybe one of those could be adapted?

I wear a gortex rain coat that I bought from Cabela's when it is raining. It is rated for high winds and has velcro sinching around the wrist. I've found that the elastic sinching does not stay tight at higher speed and water can wick in. I bought it in a XXL so I can wear a sweat shirt and backpack under it (can't have that laptop getting wet).

If you have the 10th (out of 17) digit of the vin, that will tell you the year.

As far as pics go, you are right. I can't speak for everyone here but I know I often get caught up in my work and forget to take a picture until I am done and see the camera sitting on the empty bench. (or maybe I just get too side tracked aka * when I screw something up that I forget about the camera)

Let me know if there are any parts that are hard to find in the states that are available here in Japan and I can look/ask around a bit.

Genuine JDM parts

I would think there are probably some Japanese vendors that would be cheaper and sell the same parts than shipping from the states would be but I don't know...the two aforementioned sellers (daywot is from ebay) are in Hawaii so it might not take too long to ship to Japan. Kitaco is a good aftermarket company that sells in Japan. The Italians make several good parts for this scoot and Taiwan is making similar products at reduced prices.

[Wheelman-111]

Greetings:

The 17-digit VIN is an Only-In-America thing, and only since the early 80s. Scooters sold in other markets use a different system, according to country of sale. Old sales brochures might give a clue to the model year, or someone who can read the code for Japanese Domestic Market models can advise. Maybe the Japanese equivalent of the Dept. of Motor Vehicles?

[eliteguy50]

and ask for any tips.

the basic mods are taller final transmission gears, aftermarket variator, and a performance exhaust pipe.

If you have a phillips screwdriver, 8/10/12 mm wrench or socket and a spark plug socket then you are set for the majority of the work you will ever do on this scooter.

[eliteguy50]

Greetings:

The 17-digit VIN is an Only-In-America thing, and only since the early 80s.

Oh, my bad. I thought that beings it was an ISO standard that it would be in most developed countries. There were a couple standards: the 17 digit vin started in 1980 and was finalized in 1983.

[ItchyKneeSon]

Welcome, i don't have alot of the answers to your questions! However im sure the mods and members will try to get more pics up! are you on vwvortex.com?

Hello there, Michiganian!
I'm actually from Cleveland and lived in Toledo for 7 years before quitting UPS to come teach English out here in Japan. Yea, I'm on the 'tex, but haven't been frequenting lately. It's too easy to get sucked in, reading threads for hours. Maybe that's why they called it the 'vortex'? I'm also a member of MIVE, OhioVW, FatDubs, DubDojo, TDIClub, the152, vwdiesel, and probably others.

Take care!

-Chad

[toboggan]

d***, im only on vwvortex, and yes. it is very easy to get sucked in! just like scooters........ hahaha but yes. very easy to find parts Ruima makes great parts! as well they're based out of Taiwan

[Wheelman-111]

Greetings:

we're all itchin' ta kno what engine ya got don' cha-kno?

[Trafficjamz]

d***, im only on vwvortex, and yes. it is very easy to get sucked in! just like scooters........ hahaha but yes. very easy to find parts Ruima makes great parts! as well they're based out of Taiwan

Hello knee sun Welcome to Hondaspree.net

I really like your snakeskin seat.

I too Love The Vee Dub Vortex I am "trafficjamz" there too

I Always try to post alot of pics when I post. So If you like pics check out some of my posts.

What kinda dubs are you into toboggan?

I Have a 1987 scirocco 16v and a 1990 vw vanagon, and many audis. I am on VW Vortex and Motorgeek.com

If you have not checked out motorgeek.com, you should.

[Wheelman-111]

Greetings:

AAArrrrgggghh! Michigan schmishigan!!
Vanagon, schmanagon! It's all about living vicariously through this new guy, who evidently fell *-backwards into a very desirable scooter nobody can get here. The engine! Do you hear me?! Hello??!

What is the Engine??

OK I'll be quiet now...
(and Audis schmaudis!)

[Trafficjamz]

Greetings:

AAArrrrgggghh! Michigan schmishigan!!
Vanagon, schmanagon! It's all about living vicariously through this new guy, who evidently fell *-backwards into a very desirable scooter nobody can get here. The engine! Do you hear me?! Hello??!

What is the Engine??

OK I'll be quiet now...
(and Audis schmaudis!)

I said I like the seat

[ItchyKneeSon]

Greetings:

Great score over there in The Land of the Rising Sun Welcome.

Check the tranny cover back there behind the clutch. You should see a number beginning with AF ** E. This engine appears to share much in common with the AF16s that were the last generation of Honda 2-strokes sold in the US "regular" market. It might say AF18E or higher. However it's a telescopic fork with a drum brake, making it likely to be early/mid 90s vintage.

The go-slightly-faster parts that VT Cycles and DayWOT Stores sell for the late (1994-later US market) Elites should fit your scooter. Beware some of the fussy little changes Honda-san makes from year-to-year, sometimes even Mid-year, but by and large variators, clutches, belts and most of the hard engine parts should swap freely.

If there are enthusiast groups over there, and I imagine there are unless the laws against Modding are strictly enforced, I for one would welcome a Japanese parts source list.

Thanks for the warm welcome and tips.
50cc and lower have to abide by bicycle laws here. I haven't seen any 'packs' of scooter doods, but I already met a guy that lives a couple minutes away with a more recent Honda model. The model is on the tip of my tongue... er, fingers. Watashi no atama ga warui desu! (I'm retarded! Literally: My head is bad/defective.)
As I heard yesterday from Yamada-san, the guy that sold me the Dio, scooters aren't allowed to go over 30kph. Which, apparently means 40kph. You know, like the 5mph-over 'rule' we have in the US.