My Review of a 2010 Honda SH150i Scooter

by Bob G.
(Boston Area)

The Honda SH150i scooter is made in Italy (where scooters were invented in the 1940s) and is the best selling scooter in Italy; better than the native Piaggio or Vespa. That told me something right away.

I had wanted the Honda PCX125 because it is a beautiful looking scooter, but they were impossible to find in summer 2011. I'm glad I couldn't find it, because the 150i is the right scooter for me.

The main reason is that the 150i has 16" wheels. The bigger the wheel, the more stable the ride and that is hugely important. Also the forks and rear suspension have more play than most scooters which translates into a smoother ride. Get something with as big a wheel as you can find because it will make for a stable ride. In scooters I couldn't find anything with bigger wheels.

Why did I decide on the 150i (after a ton of research)? Here's what I read about it and/or have confirmed from riding it:

• 153 cc engine, fuel injected and water cooled - lots of power. I'm 190 lb., 6 feet, and the scooter feels right sized and has no problem getting up to 40 mph in a few seconds. I've read consistent reports that it can top 70 on a flat road... haven't tried that just yet. Hills are a breeze - no loss of power. I'm not into highway riding with this, but it holds its own on 2-lane roads with the rest of the traffic without struggling (typically in the 45 mph range). That was/is important
  to me.


• Combined braking system - pull on the rear brake lever and some front brake is also applied. That makes for lower odds of wiping out from locking up the rear brake. Brakes are sure and fast.


• CVT (continuously variable transmission) makes for nice acceleration, and engine braking coming to a stop.


• Quality of workmanship - This bike stickers for $4,400 but it's a Honda with all the dependability and design details that come with the name. Worth it to me.


• Gas consumption - in the 70's mpg. With a 1.9 gallon tank (including 0.5 gallon reserve) that's a nice range for local riding. My pick up truck hates me.

I am NOT impressed with the storage. The underseat storage won't accommodate a full face helmet, but does have a peg to slip the helmet's D-ring over before locking the seat. Other scooters seem to have more storage, but it wasn't a deal breaker, and if I need more space I wear a knapsack.

You should also keep in mind that this looks more like a bike than a scooter. That earns some respect from other vehicles on the road (i.e. keeps them from trying to run me off the road).

I highly recommend this scooter. It comes with a big sticker, but for me, worth the price.

Other notes: Do take the safety school training. Well worth it to completely understand how to operate on two wheels.

Do buy a full face helmet. Your chin and teeth are hard to replace as well as your brains.

Enjoy the ride. I do.