Stig's back on the road.....

[CROSSBOLT]

OK, Stig! Good on ya for getting a new scoot. BUT I WANNA HEAR WHAT IT TAKES TO GET YOUR LIKE RUNNIN' AH, LIKE IT WAS. Like it was said, you have to get it running well to either sell it or let the "missus" ride it. Since my "missus" has one I want to be locked and loaded if it ever has the symptoms of yours.

Karl

[big blue]

OK, Stig! Good on ya for getting a new scoot. BUT I WANNA HEAR WHAT IT TAKES TO GET YOUR LIKE RUNNIN' AH, LIKE IT WAS. Like it was said, you have to get it running well to either sell it or let the "missus" ride it. Since my "missus" has one I want to be locked and loaded if it ever has the symptoms of yours.

Karl

Exactly! Inquiring minds want to know.

[Stig / Major Tom]

OK, Stig! Good on ya for getting a new scoot. BUT I WANNA HEAR WHAT IT TAKES TO GET YOUR LIKE RUNNIN' AH, LIKE IT WAS. Like it was said, you have to get it running well to either sell it or let the "missus" ride it. Since my "missus" has one I want to be locked and loaded if it ever has the symptoms of yours.

Karl

Will do!
No phone call from dealer yet.(Weds eve, Jul 23)
They said they'd get to it straight away since I bought it there.
Took it in last Sunday morning.
Already rec'd my Forza serv. manual (nice! 0nly $30) and a box of oil filters for it ....1st oil change at 600, but won't wait that long.
Yes, I miss my LIKE.
Great brakes and plenty of zip when it was healthy....good runner in a summer downpour, too! And that Bestem lights up the whole back yard at night while I'm riding.
Stig

[SgtShak]

Hey Stig.....I poked my head into the local HONDA dealer today and sat on a FORZA.  That really is a nice bike.  I like the firmness of the seat and the bar reach was really comfortable.  Enjoy it!

[CROSSBOLT]

Another idea, Stig: Your Like was always SPOTLESS even in the engine room. Could a little rinse water wound up in that mega-plug that connects the TPS, ISC & MAS to the ECU? A little silicone contact grease on the connection after some Radio Shack contact cleaner should fix any "fuzzy" connections.

Karl

[Stig / Major Tom]

Went by the dealer today to pick up some Honda oil for my 1st change....looked in the service area.
The good news is they didn't quickly give it back to me in the same condition I brought it in.
Nothing to report. Since I'm no longer riding the city bus and walking to work - I want them to take their time finding out what is going on (read a woman's post re. her scooter issue: It was a failing start switch on her scoot's brake lever acting up intermittantly - for 2 yrs! Makes me wonder...)

Here's my Honda:
Cool beans! A real spin-on oil filter! The "X" label says not to use the filter as a jacking point.


Took me a moment...a cable operated rear disc brake?  Nope - a parking brake! (you have to sort all this out on your own. Salesmen are nice guys, but...)

2014 Honda "Forza" (from a rare African shrub, I think)


Went on the web looking for a Forza Club to join.
So few Forza owners....lead to some inbreeding, I guess. Won't be the same fun as the Kymco folks - but will give it a try.


Stig

[Stig / Major Tom]

Another idea, Stig: Your Like was always SPOTLESS even in the engine room. Could a little rinse water wound up in that mega-plug that connects the TPS, ISC & MAS to the ECU? A little silicone contact grease on the connection after some Radio Shack contact cleaner should fix any "fuzzy" connections.

Karl

I never wet the under-seat area...though the blokes in the Philippines hose down everything...kept it clean with a rag and key-board blower. I took apart every connector I could get my hands on ....and some that I couldn't...cleaned and hooked them up again. (removed the injector, soaked it in Techron, blew it out, reinstalled - no difference.) Spent a few evenings staring into the engine bay with a flashlight.
I hope the boys at the dealer will find something.
Waiting on their call.
Stig

[200i]

Stig, That is one very pretty bike!!  How does the comfort and overall ride compare with the Like?

[TroutBum]

Stig,

I see a lot of Forza owners are on the Honda PCX forum. You might want to check there as well.

Do let us know what they come up with on your Like. It would be nice to know for reference.

How many miles do you have on the Honda now?

[Stig / Major Tom]

Stig,
take a look at this picture of my Beverly 350 and you'll see that you made a mistake.... 

I still own a Like 200i (21.000 km's) and love it, because it looks like a "real" scooter.

When looking for something stronger last year, the Beverly turned out to be the only "grand" scoot that did not look like a malformed, blown-up insect, but has at least some remains of italian style.

Nevertheless: please don't feel offended and have fun with your new toy!

Greets from Germany
scooto

Oh I DO love the looks of the BV350!....
This youtube just about put me over the edge for the BV!


Very sadly....servicing and parts for a lovely Italian scooter in the middle of Ohio corn fields is not a happy thought! If I lived closer than 50 miles to a big Ohio city it would be a different story. (Cleveland, Cincy, Columbus, etc. have Vespa dealers...)
I almost bought a lovely red BV250 with 1000 miles on it for $2050.00 about 4 hours ride from here. Did not pull  the trigger on that one either...for the same reason.
The 'insect', 'zoomy' look of the Honda is growing on me....and I sleep better knowing it is in the garage. (If I were wealthy..I'd have a BV350 in the living room with a lamp on it!)
As a lot of folks have pointed out...Kymco made stuff for Honda years ago...so it must be good.
Therefore - imagine how good a Honda must be!
(you have a pretty scooter! -send more pictures! - and of your LIKE!)
Stig

[Stig / Major Tom]

Stig, That is one very pretty bike!!  How does the comfort and overall ride compare with the Like?

It would not be fair to the LIKE200i to compare it to the Forza.
The Forza benefits from bigger tires, longer wheelbase, lower center of gravity, twin headlights and an extra 200lbs. The Forza is very smooth, very stable - in large part I suspect this is due to the weight, tires , wheelbase, this new engine design and the bigger squirrels under my seat! Fit and finish is perfect.
My son says the Forza looks to fit me better. (I always knew I looked like a circus bear on a tricycle with the LIKE- but I never gave a d_mn because, with that rebuilt THICK seat,  I was having so much fun on it !)
Stig

[Stig / Major Tom]

Stig....I don't know if that rider seat hump mounts like many of the others....but if so, check out www.bestbackrest.com and see if it's something you might like.  I used them on my Burgman(s) and they were pretty comfortable and had a good look.  Basically an Isuzu headrest.

Thanks for the info!
I'll look into that.
This winter might look into sending seat out with pix from asia of custom (backrest deleted)  Forza seats...even some asians take it straight in for a rebuild .. often to add some height as well as getting rid of the stupid "seat cutting" backrest. There's a big business axing the little backrest on the PCX.
Still....enjoying this Forza
Sat on a Grand Vista the other day....seat as big as a horse saddle compared to a LIKE.....but was jammed against the front...NO way I could have ridden that scoot!
Ride safe and thanks again for the info.
Stig