Scooter Review Honda NSS250 Forza This one will get you into and out of the city with so much ease you wouldn’t even know you were there
Photography by PHIL AYNSLEY Wrapping your motorcycle bodywork around a learner legal scooter might sound odd, but looks like a pretty good idea in the flesh. After all, if Yamaha can have an Aerox 100 Max Replica, and Benelli can put out the 491 Goddard Replica, why can’t Honda put out the VFR800 Replica? Why not indeed?
The NSS250 Forza is halfway between a regular scooter and a maxi. With stuff like the 50, 125 and 150cc stuff on its left, and the Majesty, T-Max, Burgman, etc, on its right, the Forza stands alongside the other 250cc scooters as the only full 250cc (and therefore learner legal) big scooters.
It combines all of the usual scooter benefits with decent performance, even if the weight means that acceleration off the line is a bit sluggish. It’s still more than enough to see off all but the most determined throttle jockey in the car next to you, so in practice it’s not much of an issue.
The carpet-lined storage is pretty good: more than enough for a full-face helmet (with a helmet lock for a second one). There is a trunk light, which is a nice touch, though the usual caveats apply about engine heat and the storage compartment. Don’t put your ice cream in there, okay? There are two other storage compartments, a key-operated glovebox (which has a 12V accessory socket in it) and a coin box on the fairing inner, below the left-hand grip. Missing, though, is any kind of shopping bag hook.
The controls are standard scooter fare, with a couple of exceptions. The ignition keyhole has a cover which slides across it, operated by a second, octagonal key. Odd, but effective. There is also a handbrake, mounted on the right hand side, just under the throttle.
Out on the road, the NSS performs like a heavy 250, which is, of course, exactly what it is. Once you get up to speed, though, cruising is like being on easy street and even freeways are no drama, despite the large frontal area.
The suspension was terrific and Honda’s trademark Combined Brake System works very, very well.
All in all, the Forza is a great town bike, with some open road potential. It’s a Honda, so you know it’s well made and well finished. It offers a great compromise between civility on the one hand, and a slightly higher than average level of performance on the other. Overkill for the inner city folk, but I can think of few things which would be better for the mid to long-range commute, in any weather.
As published in TW SCOOTER MAGAZINE - 28/10/2003
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