I am Glenn, I am new, and I don't know what I am dooing

[gaburley]

Hi;

My name is Glenn, and I am now the proud owner of a 1985 Honda Spree (I got it today).

I have been doing the electric bike (scooter) thing, but recently the city police have been hasseling riders about not having there "power assisted scooters" registered.

Now here in Canada (as with the US), you don't have to register or insure them, but after being stopped and threatened with a $5000 fine I decided that it was time to ditch the electrics and switch back to a gas scooter.

My spree is a piece of crap (I will post video on Youtube), but the engine is in good form and with some work it may actually be a diamond in the ruff.

Unfortunately I am scared of it, I am used to the nice polite steady power of an electric engine. This itty bitty Spree, sits and sits, and then all of a suden it is off like a rocket!

I will have many questions for the repair section, however I wanted to introduce myself and say this.

My Spree's plastic parts, are all cracked and the screw holes are broken and there are parts missing, and the steering is so tight that it is hard to move (to the point of being unsafe). I am sure that in a few weeks all you will see is a Spree shaped ball of duct tape; and I never felt more excited or happy about starting a new adventure.

Be poor, be debt free and live happy

Glenn

[CHEVY-212010]

Greetings and welcome to the forum,
I too have a '85 spree
Good luck with it
go to wikispreedia and look

[RZRob]

My spree is a piece of crap. Unfortunately I am scared of it, I am used to the nice polite steady power of an electric engine. This itty bitty Spree, sits and sits, and then all of a suden it is off like a rocket!

Power is relative my friend. I've never heard anyone use 'off like a rocket' to describe one of these.

RZ Rob

[Bear45-70]

My spree is a piece of crap. Unfortunately I am scared of it, I am used to the nice polite steady power of an electric engine. This itty bitty Spree, sits and sits, and then all of a suden it is off like a rocket!

Power is relative my friend. I've never heard anyone use 'off like a rocket' to describe one of these.

RZ Rob

I agree, more like "take off like a snail in a hurry."

[Wheelman-111]

Greetings:

Welcome, Glenn. What part of the Great White North? (Wheelman's an ex-Montrealer... Don' tell nobody )

Riding with shrapnel for steering head bearings is asking for a painful death. By all means address this first. There's some disassembly involved and you'll need some big tools for the head nuts. The Service Manual and direct examination makes it self-explanatory.

Were it not for shipping cost I have a Spree fork you could have. 54 shiny round ball-bearings included.

[gaburley]

Hi Mr, Wheelman-111;

I appeaceate the offer, and I am tempted to say fedex it ground COD. I am in centrel Alberta, so the cost might be quite high.

I do have land in outside of Deming (NM), and some near Alburqurqe, which I had hoped to be living on by now, but unfortunately (as you will see on Google earth), I am reallllly far right now.

However the offer is appreciated, and if I cannot find one nearby, I would take you up on your offer. Sending down money for shipping (pre-shipment) of course.

Have a happy, and hopefully your weather is better than up here; our May was rain, rain and more rain, with some snow mixed in for fun.

Glenn

[oldrock]

welcome and alot of us are in the same boat. I got a 85 a little over a month ago and already have added a 84 to the stable. Fair warning, scooters can be addictive. I've already been plotting how I can convince my wife I need to put a big bore kit on one of the scoots

[Evested]

I'm also new to this Spree thing not to mention the scooter riding thing. I just picked up my 85 Spree and have been trouble shooting a loss of power problem. I got it for $70 so I have room to tinker. It only has 3000 miles but it sat for a while. Runs great at first but soon boughs out and wont regain power until it is restarted after it has cooled. I can take it to a shop but I figure if it was a car I'd have no problem working on it so it can't be too much harder.

Welcome Glenn

[patthesoundguy]

Welcome fellow scooter nut from Kanukistan. You came to the right place for your spree needs everyone here can help you to know what you dont know yet. As for the accelerationn of a spree my 84 really only gets going at about 10 miles per hour and from what I gather that is normal stock operation. See Taz for not stock operation that will give you more get-up and go for your spree. And if the law here in Nova Scotia are anything close to your laws out west regarding the electric scooter deal, if you have pedals and it only goes 30kph or 32kph on level ground w/o pedaling and no more than 500watt motor and here in Nova Scotia the wheels must be 350mm or more in diameter then it is a "bicycle". If you are following the law how could they fine you. Or is it like ontario where they want to register that stuff and make you get a license for it, In which case I understand the spree. I love mine!

[gaburley]

Hi again everyone;

Yes I miss the size and weight of an electric bike, but my Spree is a scooter and as soon as I m used to it (the electrics were about 100lbs heavier), I will be scooting and loving it again!

My front end is very difficult to turn, and the first thing is to loosen up the steering.

"Ode To a Spee

So I open up the front of my Spree,
look inside and what do I see,
a bicycle type steering head stares back at me,
so I will buy a wrench, and adjust it, quickly.

By the way, I have the perfect name to paint on the side of my Spree; Shopping.

Be poor, be debt free and live happy

Glenn

[Wheelman-111]

Greetings:

I hate to be the one to say this but...

Steering stems can get loose over time, but seldom self-tighten. As you swing the handlebars to and fro, listen and feel carefully for gritty, catchy action. Hope I'm wrong, but I'd suspect the little ball-bearings are no longer spherical. Frequently the bearing races - the tracks upon the bearings roll - become dented on-center, making steering hazardous. Take it completely apart - don't just try to "adjust" by loosening the locknut and head nut... - and re-lube after thoroughly checking out the cleaned parts. The life you save...