Scooter Review Honda SH 150 i Honda’s SH150i is truly an all-purpose scooter.
Words by DAVE DIRADO, photography by LOU MARTIN When it comes to choosing a scooter, certain decisions must
be made. First and foremost is to consider what you actually plan on
doing with the scooter. Is it purely a commuter for short inner-city
dashes? Or would you like the option of getting off the back streets
and covering a few extra kilometres, perhaps with an occasional
freeway jaunt?
In some cases you might find yourself looking at two totally different
scooters for these roles, and perhaps a maxi-scooter to cover
the longer trips. Not so with the new Honda SH150i.
At first glance, my attention was immediately drawn to the big
wheels. I have ridden many small-wheeled scooters and was keen to
see how these 16-inch alloys felt on the road. I was also rather keen
to knock off for the day and take the Honda home.
My initial reaction was ... ‘wow!’. The handling and balance were
superb and, before too long, I realised the little Honda was doing
me a favour. I reckon a good commuter scooter is one that you don’t
have think too hard about, one that allows you just to enjoy the ride.
The SH150i does that and, about 20km into my trip home, it all made
sense. Potholes and other little ruts in our less than perfect roads
were hardly noticed, and when it came to taking on a roundabout or
some twisties, the big wheels and extra ground clearance had me
leaning the Honda like a racer.
The Honda has a low and flat floorboard configuration, and I was
impressed with both the seating position and my overall comfort when
on the go. Legroom is often an issue for taller people (I’m 180cm, for
example), but it was a problem I didn’t have on the SH150i.
Not only was there plenty of space for my knees and feet, Honda
has added a couple of subtle indents to the legshields, into which
you can ‘lock’ your shoes to enhance the feeling of security – very
ergonomic. The legshield also has a lockable storage box, which is a
handy place to stash your gloves and other small items.
 Pressing the ignition switch unlocks the seat and gives access to
the SH150i’s underseat storage area, which will take an open-face
helmet or bag quite comfortably. For full-face helmets or bigger bags,
a sexy colour-coded and lockable topbox, complete with reflector and
aerodynamic styling, is included as standard. The topbox also has a
quick-release roller system, which enables the box to be removed in
seconds to reveal a very useful carry rack.
Pacemaker
So there you are, sitting at the lights, while behind you a string of
envious and unhappy car drivers are lined up waiting for the green
light to shine. They hate the fact you’ve just snuck past them all on
your slim and nimble scooter, and they know you’ll get places much
quicker than they ever will. Ever get the feeling that they are all
waiting to run you over the first chance they get?
It’s not likely to happen when you’re on the SH150i. The Honda’s
liquid-cooled four-stroke engine delivers 11.6kW of clean performance,
which is more than enough for rapid traffic-light getaways.
The engine is also fuel-injected, so it’s really economical – our test
scooter’s 7.5-litre tank was filled once and was still going strong
after two weeks of regular riding.
One fact I can’t ignore is the price. At $5960+orc, the Honda is by no means a cheap scooter, but after living with one I reckon that’s a good thing. A close inspection showed the high quality of the build and the parts that go into the SH150i, the casting of the metal and plastic components was excellent, and I couldn’t find any areas on the scooter that made me think a shortcut had been taken.
The dash comes with a digital clock and has clear, uncluttered
gauges, which were easy to read at a glance while cruising along.
This was something I found myself doing a lot in the beginning, as
it took me a couple of days to get used to how zippy the SH150i
actually is.Even two-up the Honda didn’t miss a beat and my pillion was
returned home in shock after the spin. Their edited impression went
something like, “Wow, that really surprised me, it didn’t expect it to
feel like that”. I nodded, and in a flash was gone.
 Honda has covered all the bases with the SH150i. Not only does it
go really well, and handle really well, it also stops really well. The front
U-section five-spoke cast-alloy wheel wears a 220mm disc, which is grabbed by a dual-piston brake caliper, while the rear end has a
130mm drum brake. I felt comfortable grabbing two handfuls of brake,
knowing I’d still remain in total control. And at speed through corners,
the brakes were also sensitive enough to allow me to correct my line
with just slight pressure on either the front or rear brake levers.
I also found the handlebar controls were all right where my hands
naturally wanted them, making operation a breeze, while the headlight
has a wide throw and gives plenty of illumination.
Practical matters are important, but as we all know, a scooter
needs to look good too. There’s more to scootering life than work and
commuting – socialising plays a big part. In its Pearl Sienna Red or
Metallic Black colour schemes, the SH150i will stand out in any café
line-up. With smooth contours, subtle lines and angles all flowing
back to a tapered bum with integrated tail light, an aura of urban
elegance surrounds the machine.
It’s light and easy to park on the centrestand too, and if someone
asks you if they can have a sit, insist that they do. Chances are, once
they feel the comfortable saddle and check out the quality features,
you’ll be discussing what colour they should get themselves.
That’s the deal with the Honda SH150i: good looks, the benefit of
big wheels, and scooter economy with motorcycle thrills.
As published in TW SCOOTER MAGAZINE - 4/02/2009
Subscribe to Two Wheels Scooter magazine now! |