Topic: Free! New project?

[b82ta]

So this morning I noticed an old moped next to our neighbor's dumpster.  So I went over and talked to him, he was like yeah I'm getting rid of it... You want it?  Being a sort of a pack rat, I wheeled it home.  Its a 1982 Honda Express.  I think this could be my next project!  Not quite sure what I want to do with it though.....

Heres some pics of the beast!

[tomkimberly]

Cools, I  sure would like one of those!


Tom

[MickeyX]

Anywhere around Portland OR, you'd get a good price for that. Not kidding.

Just get it running and clean it up a bit. I bet someone will buy it or use ir yourself. They are wicked cheap on gas.

[333]

Way cool, but technically not a moped.  It's got mo, but no ped.  Legally speaking, it differs from state to state.  Here in Virginia, if it is less than 50cc's and does no more than 35, it qualifies.  I believe the Express does close to 50.

[b82ta]

I looked into it a little bit, and from what I found Honda produced an Iowa version... which I'm assuming this to be, and that particular version was limited to 25   I guess it will qualify as a moped, but I need to find a way around that!

[GoatBaSS]

Chopper! Screams Chopper!

[kirkn]

Usually, the "limiter" was something ridiculously easy to remove - a restrictor plate in the intake or in the exhaust, or a throttle stop the limited throttle slide movement.  I'd start with that and then hot-rod the snot out of it!  50cc of screaming two-stroke power!!   

[ColinMc]

You'd be surprised what you can get out of a little 50cc air cooled two stroke. My Honda MB-5 when it still had the stock but heavily modified ported cilinder with pipe and carb upgrades would get up to 65mph and get there quickly. Once the 70cc big bore kit was on there...bow howdy! Get ready for a narrow power band though lol.

If you can't tell...I LOVE small two strokes. Still miss my hot rodded Derbi GPR50R...

[Grnrngr]

Chopper! Screams Chopper!

no no..clip ons and rearsets... 

[b82ta]

Those MB-5's are pretty sweet.  I remember riding a friend of mine's kx 60 when i was in high school.  That thing had the narrowest power band of any bike I'd ever ridden and it hit HARD.  It honestly really surprised me, pretty nuts bike, especially since it was for kids?

Once I get some free time, I'll start tearing into and see what I can come up with for it.  Regardless of what I end up doing, its going to be a super budget build...

I'm hoping the limiter is easy to remove and not done with some sort of gearing change....

[ColinMc]

I know with the few mopeds i've had that were government restricted in Holland the exhaust itself had a restrictor built right in. You could either cut the muffler apart remove it then weld it back together, or get a different pipe. Sometimes even just the exhaust port is half the size it should be compared to the pipe. I'm sure there is a site somewhere that lists EXACTLY what the restrictor is on this puppy...i'll e-mail a Dutch buddy of mine that is obsessed with mopeds to see if he knows anything about this specific model. Might be different restrictions in different countries though?

[Green550F]

Honda Hobbits (TRUE MOPEDS) were made with 2 versions; 25mph and 35mph. they differed in the gearing to set the top speed I believe. You could get bigger piston kits for those to get them up to 90cc!

I think the express was that way as well. the starter was a ratcheted spring tripped by the rear brake engagement...

[b82ta]

I was actually talking with a friend of mine who does a lot with these.  According to him, simply gutting the exhaust is enough to get a 20 mph increase in top speed. I'm not sure if I believe him since he has been known to exaggerate...

I did get a little bit of a chance to work on it and I have figured out how to hardwire it to spark, so thats a fair start.  Just need to get a little bit of fuel and some 2 stroke oil, but we'll see that might all have to wait for thanksgiving break, this whole homework, tests, project, thing is really cutting into my project time

[kirkn]

LOL!   

Wait'll you have a wife, kids, pets and a house!!      

[GoatBaSS]

Good luck with the studies! You will find this time away will solve many issues as you think about it in an "objective" way.