Honda Elite 80 reviews

Before I purchased my Honda Elite 80 I had some reservations about its ability to carry me down the road at a decent speed and keep ahead of traffic. After riding my first 3 miles those reservations went away. The Elite 80 gets 37 to 40 going up steep grades from a stand still! I can easily hit 47 MPH on flats. 50 with the wind at my back and 45 into a strong wind and I leave normal traffic in the dust! 90 MPG beats the 17 my SUV gets. Only complaint is the short travel on the shocks. They bottom out easliy but it's not jarring or unsettling. I'm going to install the hotter spark plug recomeneded in the maunal to see what happens. Show less

I purchased my 1999 Honda Elite 80 new for $1800 plus NYS tax. It was fun to ride and safe to learn on. It was economical and nimble -- great for the city or country backroads. The acceleration was slow but top speed on a flat surface was now more then 45mph. Top speed I observed going down a steep hill was 55mph and about 35 mph going up the same steep hill. Would highly recommend it as a starter scooter or for those looking to get the basics or mechanized two wheeling down prior to learing to ride a motorcycle. In 2002 I sold the Elite and purchased a Honda Silverwing FSC 600. What an incredible vehicle. Not used to the power I nearly popped a wheelie out of the dealer parking lot. Happy riding to all~! Show less

I just got a low mile used Elite 80 2003. It had 140 miles on it. The owner didn't ride very much. After my intial ride (19 miles) I have this to say. Not bad... could be better. I enjoyed the easy handling and the ability to weave in and out of congestion. I am in NYC and I must say, now that I have an 80, I look forward to being stuck in traffic. This means that I can bob and weave and get ahead of cars. At low speeds it's stable. At high speeds, it's a bit squirrelly. What I wish the Elite had was more top speed and a bit more low end power. I weigh 260 lbs. and it could be a bit faster off the line. Top end speed so far for me has been 50 mph, comming off the Manhattan bridge. On the flat the most I saw was 40 mph. I read all about riders who get 50 mph. They are dreaming. Never on a flat, always coming off of a hill. I will fool with this and opt for a bigger scooter next year. But for now, the Elite seems to be okay. It is fun to ride! Show less

After owning motorcycles all my life, I decided at age 45 to purchase a Honda Elite. I purchased a brand new Elite 80 off the floor. I literally love this thing! I installed the recommended high speed plug mentioned in the manual for high speed riding. Boy, does it move now with 2 riders and uphill. From a dead stop from a light I pop that thing up in the air and leave v-8's in the dust and that's no bull. If you're going to buy a scooter, go with the Honda. You will never go wrong, it rides and corners great. Show less

I bought mine after looking a nothing but Honda. I have a Recon 250 ATV and it has been fantastic. I have a Honda generator and had a number of their Accords. I knew it would be a winner, and it is. When I fly to Florida (from Chicago) I only rent a car for one day and then just use the scooter to run to my beach condo. Come visit Venice, Florida. It is amazing. You can check it out on in style on a Honda Elite! Show less

I love this scooter. I can get her up to 47 mph and over 50 mph going downhill. Even while riding her at those speeds I still managed to get 78 miles per gallon. You cannot beat power and a money saver. I also own a Vino 125 it goes faster but it only gets about 40 miles per gallon. don't get me wrong I love them both and the price isn't much different. It is just a question of what is more important to you, going over 50 mph or just under? The Elite is a much smoother ride. It must have better shocks than my other one. The Elite sits two comfy but you lose a lot of power with two adults. I love the Elite 80 and would recommend it to anyone. I also love the Yamaha Vino 125. You cannot go wrong either way. Show less

Having ridden the Honda Elite 80 for over 2 years now, and with over 2000 miles on it, I can say that I am well impressed with the experience. Keep in mind that this is a small scooter. For my large frame, I would never even consider a 50cc model, so for me, this is the entry level size. Having spent its first 2 years in Pennsylvania, this scooter has seen all seasons and has held up equally well in whatever was thrown at it. Winter driving with sub-freezing temps as well as summer weather. I ran 10w-40 year round, and have only recently switched to 20w-50 now that I reside in Florida. Gas mileage has remained constant at about 97 mpg. Top speed on a straightaway is about 43 mph. I love the gas mileage but crave higher speeds when on the busier roads; this is the trade off. I believe a 125cc model would fit in nicely for the increased speeds without cutting your gas mileage in half as happens when moving up to the Reflex. That being said, I am currently considering a Reflex, and could live with the 48 mpg. No repairs have been needed on the scooter. I've changed the oil close to schedule, and have had no problems. Today when I changed the oil I also changed the air cleaner as it is inexpensive and was a bit dirty. It was ahead of schedule, but I would prefer to put the few dollars into it preventatively than run the risk of damaging the engine or losing performance. The ride is comfortable, but without any extra amenities; it is functional. I have also ridden the bike with my daughter on the back many times and noticed little to no loss of power unless climbing hills. If speed is not a factor, and you revel in efficient transportation, this scooter deserves to be on your list of those to investigate. I love ours, and will keep it even if I purchase a Reflex. Show less

I have had this scooter for just less than 1 year and have already put almost 3700 miles on it. It is very reliable and I have had no problems with it, other than a small squeak resulting from the belt rubbing against the case at low speeds. With high-octane gas and frequent oil changes, the scooter runs great. It is a little sluggish off the line compared to 2 strokes, but overtakes them quickly. I love passing the 50 cc's and enjoy going 45mph on flats. I do find some lack of power on large hills, but not enough to slow me down under 30mph. Insurance is super cheap as well, but the most important factor is that I love riding my scoot. Only snow has stopped me from riding my Elite 80 this past year. I highly recommend this scooter for 1 or 2 person commuting in the city. I get about 100-120 miles per tank (1.3Gal) My only wish is that Honda would bring back the Elite 150 for all around quickness and the ability to go on the freeway, as the Elite 80 just wont go faster than 50mph. Show less

This is my first ever and this baby can go. She's a smooth ride and easy to handle. It's great for starters and I really love it. Show less

For a first time scooter rider the elite is perfect. My machine performs higher then the manufacturer specified. My top speed was fifty three MPH. She cruises at forty five on leveled ground. You should use a high rev. spark plug. 20W-40 oil for high temparture and 93 octane. The scooter will perform even better if oil is changed every 700 miles instead of the recommennded 1,000 miles. Show less