By: For Shop
Submitted: 2009-10-29 01:15:59 | Word Count: 517
Wanna put a smile on your face? Step into one of Honda’s latest imports. Direct from Honda Italy, the 2010 SH150i is just one of a few new tricks up Honda’s sleeve for the coming model year.
Receiving a dose of updates in 2008, the SH sold in the European market for a few years before coming to America. The previously carbureted SH150 picked up an injector as well as roomier rider ergos. Now that Honda North America has cleared the floor of 2009s, they’re fulfilling the demand for economic and stylish rides with the liquid-cooled fuel-injected 153cc four-stroke Single SH150i. The ‘i” refers to the fuel injection of course, not “Italian-designed craftsmanship” like I had first thought.
Honda says the 150i is the best-selling scooter in Italy, of any brand, so it's already a hit in Europe. The SH is ready to take on the dollar-conscious and style-picky American melting pot – as well as a passenger – all in one easy to manage package.
Not since the 1987 model year Elite 150 has American Honda offered anything of this size. They believe the time is right for riders of all ages to enjoy the fun of scootering. Come 2010 they’ll have two new middleweight scoots between Honda’s 50 and 600cc units. Almost perfect timing from Honda as gasoline prices are peaking again with the arrival of the first weeks of summer. Between your hands, you’ll find a modern dash with a big, clean speedometer surrounded by coolant temp and fuel gauges as well as an LCD clock, odometer and one trip-meter
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Standing mid-pack among the Japanese maker’s scooter line-up with an MSRP of $4,499, the SH150i competes for your dollar against the Vespa 150 [$4,399] and the closest competitor by spec, the Kymco People 150 [$2,799] – both being air-cooled versus the Honda’s liquid-cooled ride. No other manufacturer makes an L-C 150. Bookending Honda’s line-up will be the 600cc Silver Wing at $8,199 and the pocket-sized 50cc Metropolitan for $2,049. The Big Ruckus has been axed, leaving only the 50cc Ruckus for $2,499. Making a similar euro-update and return to the American market is the Elite, this time in a fuel-injected110cc version and selling for $2,999. More to come on the Elite this fall.
Blasting along the city streets, the narrow SH feels smaller than it looks, which some of you may or may not like. You couldn’t call the Japanese-built Honda flimsy or cheap, just light and flickable. Fit and finish is true to Honda’s reputation of clean and solid builds for every product, but not so light you’d be blown off the street by a passing 5-ton. With a claimed 302-pound curb weight (full of gas and fluids), twist that throttle and away you go! The 53.4-inch wheelbase lends to a stable ride, responding quickly to steering input. The rear wheel is convinced to take you anywhere by way of super-smooth Honda V-Matic belt-converter CVT transmission.
The programmed fuel-injection (PGM-FI) provides snappy throttle response and aids in stretching your dollars per mile. More…………… Visit at http://forshop.us/blog/2009/10/honda-sh150i/
