Honda Express short road test and rider assisted hill climb fail.
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- Опубліковано 15 вер 2024
- This ride did not go quite to plan, as I had expected the little Honda might have been equipped with a 2 speed auto, as found on a similar Tomos moped we have, but is not road registered, so no chance of a comparison sadly. However, it soon became apparent there was only the one speed and this didn't suit the steeper gradients found in abundance in the area, and I soon decided it would probably be best to admit defeat and turn around, although I am glad I took a ride on this fairly rare little machine - it will be more memorable than my rides on a few far more capable machines and in its own way, I think it was capable of everything it was intended to do.
This brings back memories riding to college on a Honda melody deluxe. I always felt sorry for the little engine revving its nuts off at 30mph, It was a silly law that probably caused more accidents than good.
That was great,I had one of these for ride to work transport a long time ago.30 mph mopeds turn every ride into much more of an adventure than any Charley Bormann wannabe on his BMW GS could ever hope to experience1
*Don Quixote 'tilting at windmills'...or in this instance, steep grades with a 'Moped' for a 'Lance'*
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*You need the Honda with the 'High-Low range' gearbox!*
*Unfortunately I love 'Mopeds' but they hate me...230lbs. is just too much!*
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*Although my '08 Honda 'Metropolitan' doesn't mind my fat-ass a bit!* *The liquid-cooled 'Mighty Fifty' never misses a beat after five-years and 3-months*
*At 68 now, this is the finest. most reliable machine I have ever owned of any kind and it 'goes w/the house' when I croak my last croak'*
*Tho she be but little...she is fierce!*
🤭👍 I rem having a tomos bit like this great fun when your young ,although had honda 50 and that did 50 mph good bikes great video lol
My wife as a girl had the 2 speed deluxe model and drove from Tumble to Bynea each day to go to work some 9-10 miles one way, she always said that she could get 40mph out of hers. This was bought to bring back those memories and to help her towards her 125cc, CBT then test. She jumped on the little Express and drove around the drive feet up sharp turns as if there had never been a 40 year gap. On a side note...I take my Enfield Big Head Bullet or my GS750 classic to shows and everyone looks at the Express with more fond memories and tails as children and show more interest in her bike than mine....phfff.
Sorry when you said "it's hardly a performance classic " I sniggered sorry it just slipped out.
It's funny you mentioned "how far would you go for charity ". My son is riding one from coast to coast Non stop on the 26th of March. I am joining him on a comedy 97cc mini chopper going from Aberystwyth to the Suffolk coast.collecting money for Macmillan Cancer support. Give us a wave if you see us.We will be easy to spot as no other idiots will be doing it.
That is very brave and for a very good cause, I wish you both the best of luck!
I have two of these , an Orange one and a blue one,, great fun 😆🤘.. These things will go for ever on a tank of fuel.. I weight 160lbs , and I get a top speed of 42 Kph forget about a silly e-bike , these things have a range of over 150 kilometers on a their little tank of fuel … 👍
The exact same as mine, but mine is a 1979.
I got a 77' express also in orange. Where can we find a nice headlight bucket like yours?
Look up David Silver, they are good for older Honda spares.
Highly entertaining Paul. A breathtaking 28mph downhill. I once agreed to take a friend's Raleigh Wisp on a 16 mile round trip for its MoT test. What did I think? "Please don't ask me again next year".
When I was 16 one of my mates had a Puch 50 step through moped that we all laughed until we raced off and he came past us. It was unrestricted and could do over 40 while we could only manage 35.
I could see you were a little giddy there , just like me forgot the bloody key, sound's as sweet as a nut
Paul, a chap I used to work with years ago had a 50cc Vespa scooter, it looked to me the same size as the 125cc models. He went from Clitheroe in the Ribble Valley to some where just south of Glasgow on it to visit his family one holidays. He went via the A6 over Shap! Your road there is probably steeper than Shap.
That sounded pretty sweet for a middle aged machine. My mother in law had one from new in 1982, I believe it was £150 from a legend of a dealer named Grabber Groombridge. I remember when the wind was blowing towards it, she had to push it around the corner until the wind was behind it or it wouldnt pull away.
One of your most entertaining videos that Paul; certainly quieter 😁 I’ve often thought about getting one of these, for the shed, but just need the power at the moment. I think it’s beautiful and I’ve ridden sports bikes etc. actually, bugger it, I love all powered two wheelers generally.. now normally I fast forward parts of your riding parts of your videos to listen to your comments, but I loved this when you were using your feet. You’ll have to lose a few pounds 😁
As a "city bike" for shortish commutes I suppose it does it's job. I bought a little Suzuki FZ50 for my wife to go to work on back in the 80s. She hated it and only used it a couple of times! As a car driver she was used to being able to hold her place on the road. On the little Suzy, she felt vulnerable and at the mercy of all other road users. I always maintained that having extra power, on tap when needed is a great safety feature. 50cc moped rules for 16 year olds..........bloody ridiculous!
Runs OK, and seems fairly well preserved for such a bike. I suspect that many like it suffered from considerable abuse in the day, lowering the life expectancy significantly. In fairness, it was probably designed with a 110 pound rider in mind.
Disappointingly devoid demented dug needed a second pass. Like you say, does what it was designed for and give it it's due, even with the high ratio it was still trying. Did you get to test the brakes? On the plus side, we could hear all your commentary, the saddle looks comfy, your license is safe and if needed, easy to push home. I'm glad I didn't skip this video, different and certainly made me giggle like a teenager. Thanks.
😂😂 you're a brave man!!
Nice machine for level ground! well, downhil too!
At 16 you wouldn’t be seen dead riding it, I never thought that at 60 I would be watching you riding it👍🏻
Can't wait to see the racing version, mate!!!
Sounds great be careful of the power
Well that was great entertainment....cheers. brought back a few memories to.
Ha now we are 60..
I really enjoyed this video, Paul. Reminded me of my first 'bike, a Honda C114 50cc, which would reach the supersonic top speed of 50 mph two-up, as long as I laid flat on the tank with my then girlfriend lying on my back 😉. Very nice 😀. It felt very strange when you turned back the way you went. Was that a first ? Have you ever worked on a James Sports Superswift 250 or any bike with a Villiers 2T motor ? Thanks for all your videos, Paul. Stay safe.
Hi Chris, that is the first time I have ridden down that lane, although I have plenty of footage of traveling the main road in both directions. It looks very different from the opposite direction. I have never, to date, worked on any Villiers twins, although my Son has a James with a Villiers single which is slowly making progress.
😂👍🏴
Not quite henshaws classic crisps 🤣🤣
But it will give someone hours of fun
Ha ha I enjoyed that, brave man. I still wouldn't be seen dead on one lol. I suppose in the grand scheme of things, the difference between that and a well fettled T160 is nothing compared to that and walking/cycling.
Fantastic👍
Beware, Bantam Hill.
When you were 16, the 'skirts' would have thought that you were S-O-O cute on it...and/or that you were a cyfunrywiol.
I supposed that its' tyres were solid rubber, but then I spied the tube stem on the front one.
If I owned one, I would be sorely tempted to adapt it to run on kerosene as, judging by the starting procedure, the CR must be rather anemic...7:1 or 6.5:1 or so , would you say ?
BTW, if you don't tell the pub-lads about this misadventure, I shan't either. MUMS the word !
Hi Amelie, when I was 16, I had a BSA 'Brigand' 50 cc, which could do 40 mph in restricted form and over 60 mph once de restricted. An older mate on a 250 Superdream clocked it at 72 mph down a long, steep hill on one occasion and it once easily won me a £5 bet that it would beat a Yamaha 'Fizzy' in a race from the White Hall pub in Llandovery, to Llangadog square and back again, the race being refereed by another guy on another 250 Superdream!
@@paulhenshaw4514 'Heavy-metal' race of the century. Wish I could 'ave seen it...with a pint-a-bitters in me hands, which that spectacle would-a dictated ! 🤣
I just had time to park my bike, take my helmet off and light a cigarette before the Fizzy returned ...
We had a teacher that ran a training course with one of these in my secondary school. Fond memories.
Of course one night some bugger broke into the garage and set fire to it. 😠
I have a 1979 express. It was bought for a high school about 10 miles away. They used it for a year and then one of the caretakers reversed into it and bent the forks. My neighbour picked it out of the skip, straightened the forks, kept it for a few years. Sold it to another neighbour who then sold it to me. 345 miles from New, I'm the first registered keeper and it's never had or going to have tax or mot.
How are a fat girl and a moped alike?
Both fun to ride but you don’t want your friends to see you riding them😏
Ha ha, good one!
😋👏😂 just as quick as my bullet
Very cruel to that lovely little bike shame after all it got you home puffed out maybe but it still got you home
All the power and all the glory. Next stop Black Mountain. Lots of hop up parts for Tomos here in the states. Thanks again.
Hi Herman, I think the Black Mountain is way beyond this machine's capabilities, somehow!
Tear away Paul! Ha
Painful to watch....😬