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Check out my Honda Express
- Author: Automode (---.slkc.qwest.net)
- Verified User: automode
- Date Posted: 06-19-09 01:08
- Attachment: 1245388112_dsc01901.jpg
I’ve spent so much time on this thing that I just have to show someone (the wife isn’t impressed). The front forks, hub, fenders and handlebar controls are for a suzuki shuttle. The headlight bucket is a new CEV brand. The exhaust is a medium old stock pipe I bought from Treats and modified to fit. The engine is the two speed version with a 70cc DR kit. The head is a brand new high compression Tomos head that was modified to fit a honda bolt pattern. The carb is a new 18mm aftermarket made for an MB5 and I custom built an intake using a 6 petal reed block for a Honda Dio. I got it up to 43 MPH today after an impomptu jet change. I just LOVE this damned thing!
There are probably less than 20 parts on the whole bike that aren’t new. I even the tranny cover, spokes and handlebars are new . I have more pictures but it looks like I can only post one at a time.
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Re: Check out my Honda Express
- Author: Automode (---.slkc.qwest.net)
- Verified User: automode
- Date Posted: 06-19-09 01:23
- Attachment: 1245389010_dsc01909.jpg
This thing is huge compared to the other one.
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Re: Check out my Honda Express
- Author: Automode (---.slkc.qwest.net)
- Verified User: automode
- Date Posted: 06-19-09 01:26
- Attachment: 1245389209_dsc01908.jpg
The pipe. Hey, does anyone know what makes a pipe a midrange and one a high RPM?
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Re: Check out my Honda Express
- Author: Automode (---.slkc.qwest.net)
- Verified User: automode
- Date Posted: 06-19-09 01:28
- Attachment: 1245389313_dsc01904.jpg
Uh, the speedo? Anyway, you get the idea.
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Re: Check out my Honda Express
- Author: Todd (---.columbus.res.rr.com)
- Verified User: jaco4life
- Date Posted: 06-19-09 02:28
Sweetness! that thing looks cool man!, great job, love the flames :)
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Re: Check out my Honda Express
- Author: Nele (---.om.om.cox.net)
- Verified User: dodge33l
- Date Posted: 06-19-09 02:37
Nice man, looking super clean! i would rock it!
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Re: Check out my Honda Express
- Author: Todd (---.columbus.res.rr.com)
- Verified User: jaco4life
- Date Posted: 06-19-09 02:46
Wow! after looking at your pics I figured out that you put the ignition in the headlight, totally cool! I have a panther with an ugly huge black box on top with the ignition and speedo, After seeing this, I’m stealing your idea ;), I just couldn’t figure out where to put the ignition switch other than re-routing it to the tool box area, and I wanted a slightly bigger headlight too, just hope my speedo fits, if not i’ll buy a cev speedo from handy bikes as well as the headlight. Thanks for the inspiration :)
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Re: Check out my Honda Express
- Author: jims72 (63.214.229.---)
- Verified User: nightcrawler
- Date Posted: 06-19-09 03:51
very mopedadelic [new word]
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Re: Check out my Honda Express
- Author: A-ko (---.desm.qwest.net)
- Verified User: a_ko
- Date Posted: 06-19-09 03:54
holy shit! probably the best express build ive seen.
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Re: Check out my Honda Express
- Author: sunset motobrokane (---.twcny.res.rr.com)
- Verified User: motobrokane
- Date Posted: 06-19-09 04:51
moped, scooter, same thing
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Re: Check out my Honda Express
- Author: automode (---.slkc.qwest.net)
- Verified User: automode
- Date Posted: 06-22-09 01:47
Thanks guys. I really worked a long time getting it to where it is now. And spent a lot of cash too. It’s funny, this all started when I was camping with my boss at some property he owns and he pulls this weird looking “thing” out of some bushes and says “take this home and make it run”. At first, I’m thinking “that thing looks like a hunk of shit. Do I really want a project like that?” Well, I took it home, got it to run and my wife immediately staked a claim on it. It, being a 1980 Honda Express II. Angel blue no less. She loved how retro it looked. Well, since she “stole” it out from under me, I decided I would make my own. I traded some guy in Provo an old ct90 for it and the addiction began. Every non working moment went into working on it. along the way, I ended up with enough parts to make another one. I’m not so sure I should. I just can’t seem to let “good enough” be anything less than “it looks like new”. It’s a personality flaw, I’m told.
The turn signals are from Thailand, The reeds are from Taiwan. The seat cover is from Canada. Nearly the whole bike was replaced from things I bought on Ebay or Babbittsonline.com. In fact, the only parts left of the original bike I traded that ct90 for are the frame and the rear shock. I built a whole single speed engine for it and then found out there was a two speed model on the 82 honda Express and started over building one of those. Hell, I had it all finished and then learned that they get crazy speeds out of these 50cc Honda Dio’s so I spent 4 days making a new intake with upgrade parts for one. Anyway, you can see the problem here. I’m just glad there is a forum where others share my enthusiasm.
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Re: Check out my Honda Express
- Author: Dan (---.hsd1.fl.comcast.net)
- Verified User: dgo64
- Date Posted: 06-22-09 18:15
.
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Re: Check out my Honda Express
- Author: mbartell (---.eugn.qwest.net)
mikebartell - Date Posted: 06-22-09 18:51
So that’s a 2 speed motor? I thought they only came in one speed and the V-matic?
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Re: Check out my Honda Express
- Author: silverside61 (---.maine.res.rr.com)
- Verified User: silverside61
- Date Posted: 06-22-09 19:10
You did a very nice job. it looks great. how accurate is the speedo anyway, just wondering as it has 14 inch wheels. didnt know if the speedo gear converts to a standard or something. love it though.
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Re: Check out my Honda Express
- Author: IRE Rick (---.dsl.stlsmo.swbell.net)
- Verified User: superspaman
- Date Posted: 06-22-09 21:02
Very nice ! Work like that takes a lot of dedication and a little bit of OCD . Its ok we all got it , dont worry , we understand .
Two Thumbs Up !!!
IRE Rick
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Re: Check out my Honda Express
- Author: Rick (---.dsl.irvnca.pacbell.net)
- Verified User: routabit
- Date Posted: 06-22-09 23:20
Wow, great job, man. I’ve been working hard on an Urban and so I know how much time you put into this. Very creative with some of the appurtenances like pegs, lighting and kicker. Be nice to see more pics and a description of your intake and carb setup too. I can tell that you’ve done your share of research, engineering and fab work here.
Post a “tour” video on You Tube and drop us a link.
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Re: Check out my Honda Express
- Author: keller_stephen (---.proxy.aol.com)
- Verified User: keller_stephen
- Date Posted: 06-23-09 01:40
That is awesome! Beautiful work!
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Re: Check out my Honda Express
- Author: aj (---.client.mchsi.com)
- Verified User: magnus
- Date Posted: 06-23-09 05:27
i love the fact that more people are actually messing with expresses. they’re great little bikes. im super fat and mine hauls me around whenever i need it. yours looks great man!
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Re: Check out my Honda Express
- Author: black twingle (---.gac.com)
jconstantinos - Date Posted: 06-23-09 16:53
Hooray for the Express!
My philosophy has always been “you can’t make an Express look
uglier, so mod away.”
I did not ever expect someone to reach a point where they would
reconsider a possible modification because it would hurt the
looks of their Express.
I believe that you have now found yourself in this position of
dubious virtue – congratulations.
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Re: Check out my Honda Express
- Author: Shawn (---.client.mchsi.com)
- Verified User: fatrat440
- Date Posted: 06-23-09 19:26
Awesome Express, Love the white with the black hubs.
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Re: Check out my Honda Express
- Author: automode (64.244.87.---)
- Verified User: automode
- Date Posted: 07-02-09 18:53
There were two different kinds of transmissions on the old expresses. The first is the one on mine, which is a centrifugal clutch that drives a gear which drives a chain which drives another gear which drives the wheel (well, kind of). The second came on the Urban Express which uses the “variated” diameter pully/ belt (cvt) transmission. The CVT version is actually preferrable, but is longer than the unit that came on the regular Express so I went with the less common 2 speed to try and contend.
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Re: Check out my Honda Express
- Author: automode (64.244.87.---)
- Verified User: automode
- Date Posted: 07-02-09 18:58
Oh, and the two speed was intruduced on the 1981 Honda Express II, along with a real kick starter. The regular 81 Express had the kick starter too, but was still a single speed. From 1982 up, (a whole 2 years) all Honda Expresses were 2 speed. The Urban Express had only the CVT type drive.
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Re: Check out my Honda Express
- Author: automode (64.244.87.---)
- Verified User: automode
- Date Posted: 07-02-09 19:01
The speedo is stock Honda which has been fitted into the CEV bucket. The Suzuki front hub, “amazingly” has the same gear ratio as the Honda hub, so it pretty much just worked. If you were thinking I used a CEV speedo and all that, I thought about it for sure but didn’t feel like it was worth it. Anyway, it’s pretty accurate in the middle but I’ve never checked it towards the top.
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Re: Check out my Honda Express
- Author: mbartell (---.eugn.qwest.net)
mikebartell - Date Posted: 07-02-09 19:28
Well, Awesome Looks like I have a 2 speed express motor too!
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