|
|
Post by imagesinthewind on Jun 25, 2009 17:54:10 GMT -5
I have a lead on an 86 Elite for $1000.
The guy selling it is original owner and elderly.
The scoot isn't really close to me and the CO doesn't
know the seat height and isn't too keen on trying to
find out.
Is there anyone here who's had one and can tell me about them including seat height? Or any info you like.
It's not the pretties scooter ever made but it has the retro thing going for it that would be 'me'.
Thanks
|
|
|
|
Post by glassvial on Jun 25, 2009 19:08:15 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by imagesinthewind on Jun 25, 2009 21:26:28 GMT -5
That Helix IS an ugly bike! WOW.
Interesting since those seats are pretty low.
|
|
|
|
Post by Gary on Jun 26, 2009 10:46:31 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by iamverb on Jun 26, 2009 11:54:16 GMT -5
The ch250 is my favorite scooter ever. I've owned a couple and would trade up to one again in a heartbeat. If it's in good shape, that's a great price. If it's got the original matching hondaline trunk, the optional kenwood stereo, and the original fairing / windshield, that's an unbelievably good price.
The seat height was 29.5" new. Rear suspension sagging is common on the 85-88 models, though, so it's likely to be an inch shorter.
A few things to be aware of when looking at a CH250:
Mechanical parts are all still available. Honda even still has most of them in stock. It has the same drive train as a Helix, so there's there's lots of upgrades available, too.
If it has the digital dash, ask if it flickers or fades. Some of them fade out when the engine warms up, or if you leave it in the sun. This isn't a cheap piece to replace.
Replacement body pieces aren't readily available. The battery door, front bumper and the part of the headset that wraps around the turn signals are all especially hard to get. They can be found on ebay occasionally, though.
If the dashboard clock is dead, just let it go.
|
|
|
|
Post by iamverb on Jun 26, 2009 11:58:32 GMT -5
Also, check out www.ch250.netThere's a lot of technical advice, reviews, links to parts suppliers, and a fairly active yahoo group, too. |
|
|
|
Post by rubicontx on Jun 26, 2009 13:15:51 GMT -5
You can always remove the plastics and make more like this one: Honda Helix   |
|
|
|
Post by tomtom on Jun 26, 2009 15:29:15 GMT -5
Gary - One of those scoots is Melawend, which a Canadian kid rode around the world (first row, 2nd pic and 2nd row, first pic). I read a lot of his story, which is online. Very interesting. It is apparently a tough scooter like the Helix. Ginny - If its in pretty good shape, I don't think you can go wrong. Should last forever, and thats a long, long time.  |
|
|
|
Post by imagesinthewind on Jun 26, 2009 17:26:35 GMT -5
Why let it go if the clock is dead? What does that indicate?    Here are some pics. Seller's son is going to help me with Dad and the questions about the digital dash fading etc. For whatever reason I REALLY like this scooter. It's SSSSSSSOOOOOOOO UGLY, it's gorgeous! And been for sale for most of the month so maybe a best offer would be taken. Which is good cuz I got no money! I would sell my scooter for this one. After all I still have the LaVie. Thanks! |
|
|
|
Post by tastroman on Jun 27, 2009 6:55:37 GMT -5
Flat out the best scooter I have owned to date. They are very reliable, quick steering and fun to ride. I put 46,000 miles on an 87 and replaced nothing but the drive belt twice at 20,000 and 42,000. I would highly recommend it.
|
|
|
|
Post by leo on Jun 27, 2009 7:38:17 GMT -5
Why let it go if the clock is dead? What does that indicate? i think he means don't worry about if the clock is broken or not. i doubt if i would turn down a good price just because the clock didn't work. the two major gauges, gas and speedo, has got to work. the tach should also work if present. |
|
|
|
Post by motomech on Jun 27, 2009 8:03:11 GMT -5
I had several CH250's.
Reliable, weak frt. drum brk., close coupled and with the 10" tires a little spooky at speed.
It's a scooter you sit up on, not in.
There is a seperate clock battery in the dash, it's a little tricky to change out.
|
|
|
|
Post by imagesinthewind on Jun 27, 2009 11:58:52 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by imagesinthewind on Jun 27, 2009 12:37:08 GMT -5
How close is the engine of the Elite to the engine of the LaVie? Or Bello?
|
|
|
|
Post by imagesinthewind on Jun 27, 2009 12:41:25 GMT -5
Totally Cool! Okay the brake lever on the floorboard is actually the rear brake. What a cool find, this manual. Thanks for posting. Now I'm going to fall in love with this and have no way to buy it. I wonder if the seller would just allow me to make payments for a couple weeks. Wonder if he would take $500 considering the right side damage. What is this bike worth with the damage? Sellers son says all guages work fine though I haven't heard back from him if he's ridden it and condition of tires etc. EDIT: Seller says the tires are very near needing replaced (about $150 or so, yes?) but it rides smooth and drives great. But 'great' is a relative term, IMO. Scoot is 2 hours from me so I need as much info as I can get about what I should be looking at for price. Thanks! |
|
|
|
Post by Bought a Morph on Jun 27, 2009 14:31:00 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by imagesinthewind on Jun 27, 2009 16:35:33 GMT -5
But I am not going to install them. I can get the tires installed (drive in on old tires, drive out on new tires, balancing included) for $150 and that's the way I'd go.
|
|
|
|
Post by 12string on Jun 27, 2009 16:40:22 GMT -5
You, like me , are addicted to the larger scooter syndrome. I am always looking at other scoots. My wife says that I already have a Burgman, what could I be possibly looking at?
|
|
|
|
Post by imagesinthewind on Jun 27, 2009 17:52:56 GMT -5
I just want to get up the hills here. I'm at 5700 ft and on a 150cc the foothills here (mini mountains) are hard to get up and impossible if I'm doing two up. I need something with more HP and more torque.
But finding something that my short legs are comfortable on is hard.
Did you check out the pictures? It was laid down in the past.
|
|
|
|
Post by 12string on Jun 27, 2009 19:14:12 GMT -5
I'd be surprised if a '86 had not been laid down a coupe of times  |
|
|
|
Post by imagesinthewind on Jun 29, 2009 14:09:05 GMT -5
Sorry to bump this but I could really use some info on how much the scoot is worth.
Pictures show damage from being laid down.
Has top box and windscreen.
It's two hours drive from me and needs some help from those who have had and loved this scooter. Thanks.
|
|
|
|
Post by iamverb on Jun 29, 2009 16:41:24 GMT -5
I did mean you shouldn't care if the clock is dead. In my experience, they're usually broken and not repairable. You can change the battery pretty easily (it's in a weird little panel on the dash). Ymmv, but I've never seen one that worked with a new battery. $150 installed by a shop sounds about right to me for good, brand-name tires. The tire size is a little uncommon, so be sure to call ahead if you're going to a dealer or shop to have it done. My favorite tires on mine were the Dunlop Hoops, and the oem Bridgestones were a very close second. The biggest difference between the il Bello's engine and this one is that this one's water cooled. Other than that, many of the parts are different sizes, and they're arranged a little differently, but everything works the same way as on a GY6. The clone of this engine shares many, many parts with the original, and is in most 250cc Chinese scooters with 10" wheels. The early Helix engine is entirely identical, with disc brakes added to the newest ones, and is actually built by CFMoto for Honda, so their clone is exceptionally similar to the original. I wasn't able to see the 'more' pics you linked to, but if the damage is cosmetic only, and you don't mind how it looks, then I'd say to use it to haggle for a better price, but don't let it effect your decision to buy or not. Both of mine were dropped at least once before I owned them, and I just ignored the cracks and scratches for tens of thousands of blissful, mechanically trouble-free miles. I wouldn't expect to be able to replace any body panels cheaply, easily, or possibly at all, so if you can't live with the scratches/cracks forever, that may be a deal breaker. As with any used bike, damage to the forks, wheels, suspension, frame or handlebars should be a deal-breaker, too. "Drives Great" could mean anything. The truth is, you'll just have to do a complete pre-ride inspection and ride it to know. If you ride it and everything feels good, I'd say $1000 is still a bit high with cosmetic damage, but not unreasonably high for an asking price. If you can get the price under 800, I'd say it's a really good deal again. Under $500, and I'll be there tomorrow with a trailer. For comparison, here's a red '87 in Pueblo that's been listed and re-listed for at least a month for $1200 without body damage, and with the factory windshield and an oem hondaline trunk. pueblo.craigslist.org/mcy/1226190088.html (They say they're desperate to sell it before moving, too, so they might take a pretty low offer at this point.) And on the other end of the spectrum, there was one listed in Cloudcroft, NM about a month ago for $500 with over 20k miles, some cosmetic damage, no trunk, and the same aftermarket windscreen on the one you're looking at, and it was gone within an hour. Oh, and I'll second Motomech's comment about the drum brakes being a little weak for the speeds you can reach. Unique to the CH250 is that most of your stopping power comes from the rear, though, so you can really stomp down on it if you have to. |
|
|
|
Post by tastroman on Jun 29, 2009 17:31:44 GMT -5
I sold an 87 Elite 250 with 46,000 miles on it that had been totaled twice, had a hole in the muffler, never had been washed and needed new rings for $400. I'd say $1000 is a fair price for that one at least in my neck of the woods.
|
|
|
|
Post by oldscooterguy on Jun 29, 2009 21:22:53 GMT -5
Holy crap, 5,700 miles?!?!
I had an 86 CH250 that won best Plastic Scooter at 2 different scooter rallies. It's an amazing machine. The clock should work fine after you change the battery.
The only reason I sold it is to go Helix since I ride all over the state.
The ch250 yahoo group is very active, don't post about it there before you buy, someone will jump all over that scoot.
The thing to remember is that it has the 5 things that mean you can run it to 100,000 miles.
What are those 5 things?
H O N D A
PM me if you want to chat about the bike, I've been riding Honda scooters since 85.
|
|
|
|
Post by Gary on Jun 29, 2009 21:50:03 GMT -5
Ginny -
Sounds like you have a winner there!
As far as the body panel damage is concerned, you can do a lot with Bondo and spray paint. That's how I fixed my scoot after I laid it over at 55 mph. My scoot used to be blue. Cost about $20 to make it yellow. A yellow Elite would look pretty cool...
Gary
|
|
|
|
Post by iamverb on Jun 30, 2009 10:58:55 GMT -5
The ch250 yahoo group is very active, don't post about it there before you buy, someone will jump all over that scoot. This may be the best advice I've seen on this thread. ;D |
|
|
|
Post by rjdoles on Jun 30, 2009 20:14:26 GMT -5
We still have an 84 Elite 125 and my wife learned on it and loved it. They are really fast, about 65 mph, for a 125 because they are water cooled, higher compression etc. The 125 and 250 both used drum brakes so they don't have the stopping power of the newer scooters. There is a radiator behind the front grille. She missed the flat floorboards and the rear brake pedal when she moved to the Reflex. It even had heater vents for your feet that you could direct the air from the radiator under or over the floorboard. As others have said if it starts and runs ok, buy it because they are bulletproof. This is a picture of our 125.  |
|
|
|
Post by imagesinthewind on Jun 30, 2009 22:06:33 GMT -5
I think I'm going to have to let this one go.
Don't want to but I feel like the only reason to
get it would be to go up the hills on the way to work.
I'm not sure 'work' is going to last another month.
|
|
