Honda Helix?

[skully93]

Point me in the right direction here....

I might have a beat on a very good deal for a helix. It's 87, low miles, no damage, 1 owner. Some plastics have faded, but nothing is broken. No word on the rubber bits, which are the most concerning. I can test drive it, and it's dealer-owned. One owner previously.

I wasn't really in the market but for under a grand, it's a fair deal for a 2nd highway capable beast. Plus I think they are darn cool. My wife actually thinks she would ride it. It would make our 4th scoot, so it's not really a need. I've long thought about getting one, but with 2 Buddy's and a Scarabeo 500ie, is there room in the stable?

[Dooglas]

Actually, I rode one briefly several years ago. I was impressed by its capability. And they seem to be workhorses, many still around doing their job. But, gee - a look that only a mother could love.

[charlie55]

At under a grand, it's really hard to go wrong. I'll leave the aesthetics aspect alone since that's a matter of taste and can't be argued objectively. Mechanically, it's dirt-simple to work on and parts availability isn't even close to being an issue. Should you tire of it, there's a fairly large market so recouping your investment (or even making a buck) is not difficult.

As has been mentioned in other posts, the main thing you need to check is the boot between the carb and intake manifold. Prior to about the year 2000 the full weight of the carb and intake plenum was borne entirely by that boot. Cracking due to age and vibration is extremely common for these model years and leads to hard starting/lean running. After 2000, Honda included a support bracket from the carb to the valve cover/cylinder head which completely solved the problem. They are readily available, can be had for $30 - $40, and are worth every penny.

Then there's the graphite exhaust gasket between the muffler and exhaust manifold. These tend to get eaten up fairly quickly, especially if not properly installed. This part's about $10-$13 and it's good to keep a few on hand.

Finally, spend the money and buy OEM. A lot of the parts on ebay are for the Chinese Helix clones (VIP Fashion, Qlink Commuter, etc.). These parts are of the same quality as the scooters for which they're intended ('nuff said).

If you have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to ping me.

[skipper20]

Point me in the right direction here....

I might have a beat on a very good deal for a helix. It's 87, low miles, no damage, 1 owner. Some plastics have faded, but nothing is broken. No word on the rubber bits, which are the most concerning. I can test drive it, and it's dealer-owned. One owner previously.

I wasn't really in the market but for under a grand, it's a fair deal for a 2nd highway capable beast. Plus I think they are darn cool. My wife actually thinks she would ride it. It would make our 4th scoot, so it's not really a need. I've long thought about getting one, but with 2 Buddy's and a Scarabeo 500ie, is there room in the stable?

I sold mine, also an '87, this past July and put the proceeds towards a 2011 220i Blur. It was like going from my mother's Ford Escort to my son's Boss 302 Mustang. I haven't looked back since. But seriously, if you like a totally different look and Honda's outstanding network of service and parts support, go for it. It was a nice bike. No doubt about it.

Bill in Seattle
'12 170i Italia
'11 220i Blur

[ravenlore]

Point me in the right direction here....

I might have a beat on a very good deal for a helix. It's 87, low miles, no damage, 1 owner. Some plastics have faded, but nothing is broken. No word on the rubber bits, which are the most concerning. I can test drive it, and it's dealer-owned. One owner previously.

I wasn't really in the market but for under a grand, it's a fair deal for a 2nd highway capable beast. Plus I think they are darn cool. My wife actually thinks she would ride it. It would make our 4th scoot, so it's not really a need. I've long thought about getting one, but with 2 Buddy's and a Scarabeo 500ie, is there room in the stable?

Hells yes.

But...i would say highway-capable east of town. As I understand it Helices are a bit doggy for 250's.

[charlie55]

You got a problem with graybeards?

[ericalm]

I am trying to buy one, just looking for the right one.

In terms of quality and reliability, they can't be beat. The closest thing to a "bulletproof" scooter as has been built. They require very little maintenance and over their long history had very few issues.

It's not what I'd normally consider "my style of scooter." I like 'em small, with an upright seating position. But I need something cheap, reliable with a 250cc or smaller engine for Cannonball and the Helix is a no-brainer.

[chloefpuff]

[quote="charlie55"]

quote]

AWESOME