Honda Helix And Going Up Steep Hills

[stev...@my-deja.com]

I have not read too much about this. I wonder how much horsepower the
Honda Helix has?

Some have complained the bike slows down some when going uphill. Just
how much does this thing slow down? What is the maximum speed going up
say a 10% incline? How about a 15% incline?

I live close to San Francisco where there are some SERIOUSLY steep
hills. I also want to take it to Yosemite where the inclines are long
and steep. Can you go 60mph up a 15% incline?

Steven

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

[Harvey W. Harbicht]

In article <8nfr7s$mp8$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>, stev...@my-deja.com says...

> I have not read too much about this. I wonder how much horsepower the
> Honda Helix has?

13 point something I think.

> Some have complained the bike slows down some when going uphill. Just
> how much does this thing slow down?

Never in the last three years.

> What is the maximum speed going up
> say a 10% incline? How about a 15% incline?

65MPH on any hill I've even taken.

[John Dressler]

if you go to the motorcycle consumer news website they have an article
on the helix used in the iron butt rally. top speed was 84 mph at 9000
rpm with 12.6 hp. Fully loaded it went up very steep grades at 40 mph
partly due to thin atmosphere. Should be OK for SF.

[James Combs]

Here's the website for the aforementioned Iron Butt Rally. Well worth
reading.

http://www.ironbutt.com/ibr/95/95helix.html

James Combs
2000 Helix
jco...@dock.net

[Patrick Hill]

I just came back from SF and the Helix took every hill great.

[Daphne Lowe]

My scooter slows down when going up even modest hills in LA, but its
only an 80. It'd probably come to a crawl on the short but steep
inclines of Russian or Telegraph, and would take forever to get up to
speed climbing upper Market. I've never ridden a Helix, but the
question is not what its max speed is, but rather how long it would
take to get there. The question is not can it get to 60mph, but
rather, how long it takes to get there. Acceleration is the key.
According to what's been posted on in this group, the Helix goes 0-60
in about 6 seconds on flat ground. What's more important to your needs
is what's its 0-40 up a street like Pine. Make sure you talk to some
SF resident riders before you buy a Helix.

My suggestion is to take the MSF course, and then re-evaluate whether
you want a big scooter or a small motorcycle. Not only with regard to
the Hills of San Francisco, but also with regard to long distance
highway traveling, since you mentioned traveling to Yosemite.

I am admittedly, new to scootering, but I lived for several years in
Nob Hill and used a motorcycle as my primary means of transportation.
The Bay Area is a biker haven (in terms of fun roads, cager awareness,
parking, and sense of community) but its not the ideal city for a
scooter.

Daphne

[Jason T. Powell]

Same here 65 up hill wich does seem slow when you were zipping along nicely
on the flats at 80 on the thing.

Jason
"Harvey W. Harbicht" <mrdo...@execpc.com> wrote in message
news:399c45b0$0$72395$726...@news.execpc.com...

> In article <8nfr7s$mp8$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>, stev...@my-deja.com says...

> > I have not read too much about this. I wonder how much horsepower the
> > Honda Helix has?
>

> 13 point something I think.
>

> > Some have complained the bike slows down some when going uphill. Just
> > how much does this thing slow down?
>

> Never in the last three years.
>

> > What is the maximum speed going up
> > say a 10% incline? How about a 15% incline?
>

[Jack Stanley]

FWIW, I've owned many scoots from 50's up to the Elite 250 and the
Helix. The bigger scoots go good! You will not have a problem
going up steep hills in S.F. if you have something 150cc or bigger.
The 50's and 80's are considerably slower, especially up hills.

One caveat - use your brakes to hold the scoot on steep hills and
not the clutch! You'll burn it out very quickly...

Jack

[mike]

Does anyone know where i can changed my side
> reflectors front and read to lights?.

im sure its possible... ive been thinking about measuring the holes, and
going to auto part stores and junkyards to see if i can find anything that
fits. id just splice them into the running lights circuit.

[Beverley]

Hi

I have adjusted my Valve gaps and agree you dont really need to, i can take
some digital pics of the TDC hole as it toook me about 10mins to find and
was really suprised as to where it was in the "looking hole" but it is there
and you should find it to do it right. I live in the UK and also have a
british and USA service manual and the British one is MUCH MORE specific as
to Torque Values and settings. More like 26Nm not 20-30 as the USA one
does.

Laters <ash>
SFX Group
"James Combs" <jco...@dock.net> wrote in message
news:spp8di...@corp.supernews.com...

[Beverley]

I Live in the UK and my Helix will only do 70MPH (not restricted) and i get
that vibration at 52mph but used to be at 59mph and then almost overnight
the Vibrationed moved to 51-52mph, i duno what it is.

As for hills, i have had 0-30 on a "1 in 4 hill" with a passenger (me at
133lbs and passenger at 168lbs = 301lbs in total) in about 6 seconds and the
power was VERY amazing. The hill was bad enough that when you parked
sideways to try and get the bike upright i was unable to do it as the side
of the bike touched the ground.

My top speed is 70MPH NO FASTER!!!! and never has done and isnt restriced
duno why (does anyone else) Does anyone know where i can changed my side

reflectors front and read to lights?.

I can post Digital images of most servicing as well if needed (may take
time).

Laters <ash>
SFX Group

"Jack Stanley" <ja...@electroneconomy.com> wrote in message
news:8ns5v9$bv3$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...

>
>
> FWIW, I've owned many scoots from 50's up to the Elite 250 and the
> Helix. The bigger scoots go good! You will not have a problem
> going up steep hills in S.F. if you have something 150cc or bigger.
> The 50's and 80's are considerably slower, especially up hills.
>
> One caveat - use your brakes to hold the scoot on steep hills and
> not the clutch! You'll burn it out very quickly...
>
> Jack
>
>

[Ashley]

I Have been thinking of ordering more reflectors and then brilling the grey
back with holes and putting WHITE 5mm LEDS in there with abit of control
gear so then givving "PINS" of very bright light though the colour of the
reflector, putting say 2 rows of 4 but i think it could be to bright, maybe
then putting them with the indicators might be an idea so as both being
running and indicators!!!!..

Laters <ash>

"mike" <soca...@mediaone.net> wrote in message
news:TrEo5.12717$9o4.1...@typhoon.we.rr.com...

>
> Does anyone know where i can changed my side
> > reflectors front and read to lights?.
>

[Daphne Lowe]

On Wed, 23 Aug 2000 00:16:45 +0100, "Beverley"
<beve...@themounds.freeserve.co.uk> wrote:

>As for hills, i have had 0-30 on a "1 in 4 hill" with a passenger (me at
>133lbs and passenger at 168lbs = 301lbs in total) in about 6 seconds and the
>power was VERY amazing. The hill was bad enough that when you parked
>sideways to try and get the bike upright i was unable to do it as the side
>of the bike touched the ground.

You're saying 0-30 mph in 6 sec is amazing power! Compared to a
bicycle maybe, but not to other motorized vehicles. Were you able to
out accelerate neighboring cars on this hill?

Daphne