MOPED ARMY

The reliability factor of these little engines generally follows how high of sustained RPM's your running them. The factory usually designs the motors to stay around 8,000rpm. When you modify them (air cleaner, carb, reeds, pipe) you are basically allowing them to breath more freely. Raising the rpm's gets you that extra 5-10 MPH @ say, 10,000 rpm. There are not a lot of gains to be had in the low-end of the power band which is why everyone is always asking about a good low-end pipe around here. It's easier to open them up.

While an engine can be designed & built for sustained higher rpm's, most of these little guys aren't and only have a 10mm wrist pin bearing, where a 12mm would be the preferred size.

The other way to get higher speeds is to gear them differently (taller ratio). Even at that, you have to have the HP to pull the higher gear range or have a long distance to get there and the low-end fun factor suffers. You have to find the compromise that fits your riding style and excitement expectations.

Use a good quality oil, keep them jetted properly, the ignition timed correctly and that's the best you can hope for. Some brands may also be inherently better than others.

I think the exhaust gasket he is talking about is the little copper ring. Simple answer to your question is, honda makes quality machines, has forever, and as long as you keep it lubricated, you should be all good. Most of the dramatic failures come from dudes pushing these machines way beyond there design specs, and even then they last a while in most cases. Besides, what does a good working hobbit engine go for? Like a hundy shipped?

Like I said though, just make sure everything is over lubricated. There is a manual on moped riders . org that has all the scheduled maintenance for a hobbit, including lube points and the correct oil. Some of them aren't so obvious, like the cables and the rear hub.

LUBriCATE