latyfay ignaciah kirbey
Oreo Huppe
With over 5000 kilometers and two counties traveled (Thailand & Laos), the 2013 Honda Forza 300CC has been put through its paces. Before purchasing this motorcycle in Thailand, I combed through the internet for reviews and information in an effort to dissuade myself from buying it. Before making any major purchase, I always look for a reason not to buy something. If my thorough search for negatives turns up few and far between, then I know the product is worthwhile, or too new for criticisms. This seems to be the case for the 2013 Honda Forza. Here is my comprehensive review of my experience with the Forza.
Next, and as some would consider the most important factor to me in life, is price. The Honda Forza boasting 300CC of power is priced perfectly at 160,000baht, or roughly $5,200USD. We did however; find that prices vary greatly (to the extent of 10,000+baht) between dealers and cities. The best price we found was 160,000 baht in Khon Kaen and included no surcharge for credit card usage. Cha-Ching, I can smell the sweet scent of skymiles now!
Compared to its counterparts, the KLX250 priced at 160,000baht, the CBR250 at 135,000baht, the PCX125 priced at 85,000baht, Honda Phantom no longer in production but previously priced at 80,000baht, the Honda Forza is priced competitively especially considering the additional 50CC of engine power gained compared to its closest power competitor.
Power is the only category that deserves questioning when purchasing this motorcycle. Sure, the Forza comes equipped with 300CCs of Honda power, but the issue lies in the automatic transmission. In an uphill battle a manual motorcycle will leave the Forza in the dust all day, every day. This is a consideration to make if you plan to race through the mountains with your buddies running around on KLX, CRF, CBR, etc. On the flipside, when you reach a town, especially in Southeast Asia, and it comes to weaving through traffic, the automatic transmission will dominate the manuals every time. The only time you will notice a lag is in an extreme incline. Throughout Southeast Asia these are few and far between. I have had my Honda Forza up Doi Inthanon (the highest point in Thailand) as well as through the highest points in Laos, and I was able to keep up with every other big bike (including 650CC) that I was riding with. Although the Forza may lose speed in hill-climbing, that speed is more than made up in cornering due to the much lower center of gravity compared to a traditional motorcycle. I tend to cruise at 90kmh, which gives me the best fuel economy and a little juice in the throttle for passing.
Riding up, down, and sideways with two passengers and way more gear than we need, I average about 28km/l or about 60 MPG. This makes for an extremely economical mode of transportation. The Forza has an 11.5litre tank. I can usually cruise 300Kilos comfortably before worrying about the red zone E reading on the fuel gauge. Riding solo, with no gear, I will push upwards of 32km/l.
I am one to always prepare for the worst and hope for the best. In the case of a manual motorcycle, a dead battery is rarely a concern, as push starting (dumping the clutch) is always an option. On a classic Southeast Asia automatic scooter this is negated with the presence of a kick-start. The Honda Forza, being fully automatic, and lacking a kickstart can cause worries, especially in the remote villages of Southeast Asia. If would be nice to have a backup plan in the event of a dead battery.
These are my only three complaints on the bike. In my opinion, if these are the only three complaints I can come up with, then the bike as I have mentioned, is SOLID. More importantly, the Forza is more than worth it considering the price tag.
Because the Forza uses a tubeless tire this leaves you with two options: Patch the tire or replace the tire; the former being much cheaper, but also much more challenging. In Thailand anyways, they do not patch tubeless motorcycle tires. Why? Turns out, it actually makes somewhat of sense (contradictory to my cussing and screaming when trying to figure this out). Tire shops (for passenger cars) do not have the tools to take the tire off a motorcycle, and on the flipside, motorcycle shops do not have patch kits. Do I smell a possible business opportunity for those more business-oriented individuals???? Maybe.
The only way I found a way to patch a perfectly new tire is to go to a Honda dealer and ask them to take the rear tire off. This will cost you roughly 100 baht, and countless strange looks. Take the tire from the Honda dealer and walk/hitchhike to a passenger car tire repair shop. The passenger car repair shop will do a spot-on patching job in less than 15 minutes and cost about 200 baht. Proceed to walk back to the Honda dealer and have them mount the tire. Way more hassle than it should be, but saves you a lot of money, and in my case, time, because chances are the Honda dealer will not have a Forza tire in stock.
Hey Ian, glad you found the information useful. In Chiang Mai, I have found most Honda dealerships/service centers have the filters in stock. I know a lot of people use Honda Big Wing in the old city, but I had a bad experience with them. I suggest using the NAT Motor Honda Dealer on Huaykaew Rd. Their customer service is fantastic.
Hi Charlie, I enjoyed your review of the forza. It was the best I could find on the web. I am seriously thinking of trading my old Beemer airhead for one of these, but I am a bit scared that a 300 would be a bit underpowered even though I am no revhead. Appreciate your thoughts. Enjoy your travels and ride safe. Thanks again
Thanks, Ian! It really is very comfortable and it got two of us up plenty of mountains in Thailand and Laos with no problems. What really sold us is all of that storage space under the seat too. Good luck!
Hi all Forza owners need some assistance PLEASE. Recently purchased a second hand Forza 300 which was going good however the battery was on the way out so replaced it. Guess what the engine will turn over but will not fire up. We live in Phuket and Honda Big wing when asked just shrugged their heads as did the local mech. Getting the Forza around considering it does not run is a BIG problem so if possible would like to fix the bike myself if possible. HELP
The oil change indicator light comes on when the distance reaches 600 miles (960km) for the first time and every 8,000 miles (12,800km) after resetting the indicator. These distances are USA. Canada is 625 miles (1,000km). To reset the indicator, press and hold RESET button while turning the ignition switch to the ON position, and keep holding RESET button for more than 3 seconds.
The photo I displayed has a price sticker of $24.95. That included the oil filter AND the wrench. I actually paid 15% less than that price, which came to about $21 + tax. I got the washer from the dealer at the same time for about a dollar (maybe a little more). I know what you mean about the expensive four screws. I once went in to buy oil and ended up buying a Goldwing.
Formulated for high heat, 4-stroke motorcycle racing applications only. If the bike is used for high performance riding and it will be operating at or near redline for extended periods of time, this is your oil. HP4M with Moly is a blend for synthetic and petroleum base stocks. The synthetic portion is very effective, in high heat applications, at reducing oxidization, evaporation, and viscosity loss. It also contains molybdenum (moly), a very slippery substance. The moly contributes to less friction and heat in high temperature situations, therefore allowing the motor to rev easier, creating more horsepower! So if horsepower is your goal; HP4M is your oil.
Does any one know about the dealer recommended 600 miles service for the 2014 Forza? I bought a forza in Florida and received a letter from the dealer recommend to bring it back for service at 600 miles. The extimate cost is about $150. Before I bring it back to the dealer for service I would like to what are they doing to the scooter.
Thanks
Nam
Maybe some others could comment on this. I never brought mine in at 600 miles. I did the oil change myself at a fraction of what they charge. I always wonder if this is just a way for the dealer to make money. Anyone else?
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