Reviews of Honda Lead Rating: 4.2 out of 5 9 reviews found

Honda Joker 90 is a unique two-seater scooter from Japanese manufacturers, which is a kind of mixture of a cruiser and a classic scooter. The moped has a memorable design and is distinguished by elegant body lines and color. The main disadvantage of the model is impracticality.

Joker 90

Reviews from owners are mixed; not everyone recommends buying a Honda Joker. Basically, people who like to change lanes in traffic manage to break their long tail. But the 90 cm3 engine runs very quietly, which adds comfort when moving.

Specifications

Joker 50cc
Compared to the Honda Joker 50 version, the main difference is the engine (the engine has fundamental differences in design). Also, the Joker 90 is a two-seater scooter, and the 50cc version allows only rare short trips for two. You can judge this by looking at the seat - it is much smaller.

Reviews of Honda Lead Rating: 4.2 out of 5 9 reviews found

07.02.2014
BACKGROUND: I was tired of driving a 50 cc Honda Lead for 1 month a year in the summer when I was leaving for a distant dacha in the Tula region. I started looking for something more powerful in the city for the whole season, especially since I had just turned 16 then and I could safely go and take it. for a driver's license in the traffic police as an external student. The budget was 50-55k rubles, the main criteria: Large, reliable, comfortable and preferably black (the pink color on the old Lida somehow got boring after a while) I started looking on everyone’s favorite website Avto.ru there were mostly Chinese, stealth cars, etc.. But all this is not mine and I came across an advertisement for the sale of my future Lida, the price was 45k, but since at that time I did not have the funds, I decided to call a week later, but I did not find the advertisement (I thought then that they had sold it) and, upset, I began to look for it Lead 100 in excellent condition with title, prices were from 60 to 70k, this is not for me. And he stopped looking. Having survived an easy loan in 2012 and passing my license to the traffic police (THIS IS A SEPARATE STORY WITH MINSK, ETC.). I started looking for a scooter because the season was already approaching and OH MY GOD I came across an advertisement that was removed from sale six months ago! The price was 40k, I immediately called and made an appointment, immediately took the money and my father and Gazelle with me. I met with the seller in the parking lot, the scooter was under a thick layer of dust, but under this layer there was a Lead in PERFECT condition, to be honest, without a single scratch even under the bottom at an excellent price! Having examined it externally, I asked to start it, the scooter refused to start for a long time, the owner explained this as a long downtime, and after a long tugging of the leg, the pleasant bass engine of my future scooter began to purr! After driving it around the parking lot and realizing that it’s really MINE, and after 50cc you can really feel the difference! I told the owner I’m picking it up right now, I said, let me look at the documents, but he, oh, forgot the documents at home and the spare keys, in general, come tomorrow. OK. After a sleepless night, I again take my father, a lawyer and Gazelle, we come and draw up a purchase and sale agreement, they enter me into the title! And yeah he's mine! Immediately in the same parking lot, wash it with foam from one-year-old dust and it’s like new! And now the problem is transportation, well, I’m tired of it, I put it in a one-piece cargo Gazelle on the step, a small turn and the scooter already collapses and falls, an HOUR of manipulation of arranging the scooter with tires and ropes and that’s it, it’s home! The wait for spring has begun! OPERATION: (HISTORY OF THE DISTANCE) Having passed the technical. inspection, having received insurance, paying fines for overdue Novosibirsk transits and finally registering the horse, operation began! I rode around St. Petersburg every day for a month, rode everyone and everything 90 km/h (this is the maximum that could be squeezed out) along the avenues and thereby earned money Precious experience of driving a scooter in heavy city traffic. The time had come to drive it to the dacha, and this is the 100th kilometer from St. Petersburg in Scandinavia, and I had to move out of the garage to Kupchino. The day has come, filling the tank up to the neck + filling a 5-liter canister and putting it in the trunk, adding LIQUI MOLY SYNTHETIC oil for scooters. I set out, it was the end of April. Having left the Ring Road and heading towards Kronstadt, it started to rain, well, I think okay, I’ll hold on, I was driving on the right side at maximum speed, it was a bit difficult when the trucks were driving around (wind currents). And then it started to REALLY RAIN!! AAA I thought, damn it, the helmet visor started to flood, I had to open it and water from under the wheels of the cars poured right into my face, it was scary on the street 5-7 degrees and GRAAAADD started!! I'm on a KADE with an open helmet at maximum speed in pouring rain and hail. The hail knocked unpleasantly on the plastic of the scooter for 20 minutes! it was decided not to stop, having arrived shivering along the road and getting wet from head to toe to Sestroretsk and having eaten a hot dog with hot tea, it was decided not to stop there, drive along the lower highway along the Gulf of Finland to the dacha! In the end, it turned out to be 230 km and 4-5 hours of time, I got to the dacha, wet to the skin, with dead limbs, and a dirty face! It was something, but I didn’t get sick :)) SUMMER: Then the typical operation began around the Cottage Village, to the lake, to the store and sometimes on the highway) The scooter didn’t cause any problems, I just added oil and fed it with 92 gasoline, but it eats he personally gives me 5 liters per 100 km, tank 7. The spark plug came loose only once, but I didn’t finish checking that, I think) And the scooter is quite comfortable, all the controls are at hand, the instruments are easy to read, the seat made of zama leather is very pleasant on the touch and moderately soft, by the way, 2 people of any size can easily fit on it (I drove friends and parents and my 4-year-old brother). There is room for the rear passenger’s feet, but I think it’s not enough. The trunk with a seat is large, any helmet or 5 liter canister can easily fit in and there is still room left (there is a nice mat inside, and there is not a large niche under the daytime for tools), I just put the trunk because I often go for groceries, there is not enough space, with it for passengers it became even more comfortable. The acceleration is pretty good, although I know the dios can be worse, but this scooter is not for racing or stunting (although there is tuning for it, but still). My speed is 90 km, but maybe 100 if I change the belt and weights to new standard ones. The light is good, both high and low, the turning lights are always on like the yellow lights (ALA American) and they flash when you turn. The rear light is single, but an LED strip was carefully built into it to illuminate the license plate, now it’s even better and looks as if it was there as standard) The suspension is excellent, the front shock absorber very smoothly absorbs all the unevenness of our Russian roads (although I know that it is inferior in the reliability of the lever shock absorber that is on the old Lida, but so far I have not encountered any problems) the rear one does not break through even when you are riding together. It starts easily both from the button and from the foot, but after the first start, after a few hours of starting, the scooter needs to be warmed up for a couple of minutes, when it warms up you will feel it yourself by the sound of the engine. RESULT: I think this is an excellent scooter for the money, 40k for it is funny, I’ve seen in stores they cost 50-60k, all shabby and worn out. Very reliable! With my seasonal mileage of 2000 km, it did not cause any problems, we drove both along the Cottage Trail and on REAL RUSSIAN ROADS) Comfortable: The back begins to hurt only after 200 km on a bumpy road. Quite powerful: It can easily carry two people weighing 80-90 kg. And you will get a pleasant feeling of speed when riding alone) Ergonomic: A drawer in the front where documents and all sorts of small things can fit, a spacious trunk under the seat and, if desired, you can install a wardrobe trunk. Safe: As you know, in Russia they like to steal scooters, this scooter has scooters installed 2 very interesting things: This is the locking of the central stand (the yellow lever is in the trunk, the leg is blocked and the scooter will not move), closing the lock hole with a special plastic key that is inserted into the cavity under the lock and, of course, a typical steering wheel lock) TINY, but nice. You can also separately buy something like a chain, but instead of a chain there is a structure made of bearings and you won’t be able to just have a snack unless you cut it with a grinder. Now the scooter is being preserved in the garage, and in anticipation of the season I’m starting to go to a driving school in B, because I’ll be 18 soon and Yes, there will finally be a car) If you have any questions about this scooter, write in the comments, I will answer everything) Bye)

Where can I buy

Honda Joker is very popular today, despite its retro design. It can be purchased in new or used condition. True, the price does not allow everyone to do this. Moscow and St. Petersburg are cities where there is a lot of such equipment. The average cost of a new model is about 1 thousand dollars. A used scooter will cost the buyer 500-700 USD. The price tag is affected by condition. Delivery is carried out by popular transport companies, and money for the purchase can be borrowed from any banking institution.

In Ukraine, Joker costs much more than in Japan - the price tag stopped at $950. Official dealers provide a purchase guarantee and the possibility of purchasing in installments. Transportation is carried out by transport companies (Novaya Poshta, In-Time) and, on average, its cost ranges from 400 to 900 hryvnia.

Test drive HondaLead 110

This test was significant for me. If you remember, exactly three years ago I tested the previous model, the Honda Lead 100, right here on the Dnieper embankment. From that test, consider my collaboration with MotoDrive magazine to begin. Therefore, when I went to pick up the new Lead 110 from the dealership, my head was filled with memories from three years ago.

The previous Lead 100 was not an expensive or sophisticated device. It was distinguished, first of all, by its simplicity and rather low price, compared to other similar scooters. But! Everyone knew that for this price they were buying not a Japanese, but an Indian device. And his design was not so great, even at that time. The only advantage that distinguished it from other competitors was that it was still a Honda, which meant quality and reliability. And in fact, in all the years of its existence, I have not heard a single negative response about it. For the money it was a great workhorse, a utilitarian scooter with a capital "H"!

What about the new Lead 110? It’s completely different – ​​a catchy, stylish, youthful, downright “lifestyle” device. However, it is quite possible that this is true. I noticed it at last year's exhibition in Milan. There is not a single thing in common with the old unsightly Lead 100, except perhaps in the name “bucaf”. Even then I thought that with such external data it could go far, especially since it is produced at the Honda plant in China. So the price should not be much higher than the old version. But my expectations regarding the price were not met. Moreover, I still cannot understand why the new Lead 110 costs more here than in other European countries. And this despite the fact that he was brought closer to us. So, in Europe the price of a scooter fluctuates around 1900-2000 Euros, but in our country they ask for it 18540 UAH, which is equivalent to 4000 dollars or 2500 euros. Maybe we earn more, and throwing away an extra 500 euros is not a problem for us?!

The difference in cost compared to the previous model by one and a half times should be justified. And not only external data. Has the scooter behaved better on the road and how much has its comfort level increased? It was with these thoughts that I greeted the brand new Lead 110 as it rolled out of the showroom. The first impression was that the scooter had become a little larger than its predecessor. At least it has a lower, more elongated silhouette. Looks like a real Japanese. While putting things in the trunk, I noticed that it (the trunk) had become much larger. According to the manufacturer, a full-fledged integral helmet and many other luggage can be placed there. Perhaps, but my integral didn’t fit there; literally 5 centimeters were not enough to slam the seat shut. But, with helmets smaller than mine, such problems will not arise. And the fact that two “half-faces” will fit under the seat is also beyond doubt. In addition to the enlarged “main luggage compartment,” the Lead 110 now has a glove compartment for gloves and other small items, locked with a key. I never found the proprietary HISS anti-theft system (which is not surprising), but I did find a special lock that allows you to block access to the ignition switch. This thing is quite useful considering how many scooters are removed with just a screwdriver.

Another difference from its predecessor is the water cooling system of the engine, the radiator of which, contrary to all expectations, is not under the “beak”, but on the right side of the engine, where the impeller of the air cooling system is usually located. The impeller also has not disappeared anywhere, only now it performs a slightly different function. The engine of the new Lead 110 is equipped with an injector, and therefore there were no difficulties with starting. Half a second - and he purrs cheerfully.

The first trip - and immediately with a passenger (photographer) behind you. Despite such a difficult “burden,” the scooter quickly accelerated and gave no hint that it was hard. On the other hand, the driver, that is, me, was not so sweet. The scooter is light, its weight is only about 100 kg, and therefore any change in the position of the passenger pulled him in one direction or the other. I had to fight this. When the “passenger fuss” stopped, it became much easier to control.

After the first hundred meters, I discovered another advantage of the scooter, which made me incredibly happy. Of all the scooters I have ridden throughout my life, this one had the softest and most energy-intensive suspension. Even having flown into a deep hole with a passenger, she made her way, and quite gently worked out such a large unevenness. When driving through all the other small potholes, asphalt joints or speed bumps, I never felt the impacts that would be felt even on large-wheeled scooters. Instead, there was only a smooth rocking up and down with a gradual “attenuation”. But, despite such “springiness,” the suspension seemed to me the peak of perfection, as it allowed me not to be distracted by the road surface. In addition, I have forever eradicated the stereotype from my head that the larger the diameter of the wheels, the smoother the scooter goes over bumps. After all, the Lead 110 has a wheel diameter of only 10 inches in the rear and 12 in the front, and on the road it behaves much better than the Scarabeo or Liberty, which have as much as 4 inches of “advantage”.

It is also important that the light on the scooter is constantly on, making it stand out well on the road even in the daytime. And in general, driving during the day with the high beams on is simply necessary, as this significantly increases passive safety, which I have noted more than once on our roads. The second point of ensuring passive safety is visibility in the mirrors. On Lead 110, I’ll be honest, it’s not one of the best. And, despite all the “brand name” and decent cost of the mirrors of this scooter, they are no better than those sold in any motorcycle store for 30 hryvnia.

The last, and perhaps the most significant point in ensuring the safety of the scooter and the driver on the road is the brakes. But in this model they are not simple. It would seem that there is one disc at the front and a drum brake at the rear - what could be remarkable? But even under such apparent simplicity a combined braking system can be hidden. Already at the first sharp braking and attempts to skid the rear wheel, I felt something was wrong. So, when braking with the left handle, which is responsible for the rear brake, the rear wheel stubbornly refused to lock, and the scooter slowed down quite sharply. At that moment, there was one question in my head: “Have they really installed such grippy tires on the scooter that they don’t skid on the asphalt at all?” It was strange, but I understood the reason for this behavior after looking at the press release, where I read that when you press the rear brake lever, the mechanical drive also activates the front hydraulic disc brake. The power of this action is low, but noticeable. So, when moving slowly and braking in the same way, you can not use the right brake handle at all, but use it only when you really need to stop very quickly. I was 100 percent satisfied with this braking system! Throughout the entire test, she was at her best and did not let us down even once, always working accurately and predictably.

The fact that the scooter has become more like a Japanese one is also evidenced by the elegant design of the new dashboard. Compared to the old one, this is like the sky and ... the heavenly kingdom. Yes Yes. Exactly. Based on the previous equipment, it was possible to clearly say where the scooter was made, but now you can argue about this (if someone else doesn’t know). The “brandedness” of the new scooter is also evidenced by a set of additional accessories in the form of a 35-liter case, a high windshield, and heated handles - everything that Europeans like so much.

To be honest, even without all these accessories the scooter was a success. Honda Lead 110 provides everything that a buyer expects from devices of this class and even a little more. It is much better than its predecessor, and in its category is one of the most affordable (when compared with “Europeans”). But, I think, I will express the opinion of many by saying that the concepts of “100 cubic meters” and “4000 cu.” still remain incompatible.

Text: Vladislav Sofonov

Photo: Andrey Shlenchak

As often happens, many interesting things appear in our lives by chance. And then one fine day the future owner of the scooter decided that she wanted a stylish scooter with Italian design. In the end, the choice fell on the Honda Joker. And quite by chance, a former classmate who was selling his large motorcycle fleet approached me. And he had just such a thing and he didn’t mind selling it for 45,000 rubles. He himself was not particularly versed in technology, so he did everything in services and had a bunch of work orders on hand. This seemed like a good sign and without delay, the scooter number AF42-1018750 was purchased a few days later. I undertook to drive it to the garage. In comparison with a motorcycle plus, without any experience of riding scooters, it was a completely unusual sensation - I immediately understood why they are sometimes called stools.

Many problems immediately emerged, such as no traction, weak brakes, poor cold starts, electrical problems. The motorcycle was already painted out of date by the previous owner and had plastic glued in almost all places.

Having removed the rear fairing for inspection, a charred, tangled mass wiring, wrapped in yellow electrical tape, appeared. A leaking oil tank dripping oil onto the wiring completed the scenery.

The turn signal doesn't work...

At the service center where they serviced it, assembling the air filter, they tightened the screw crookedly and it pushed the halves of the housing apart. And the dry remains of foam rubber completed the chain of events that finished off the engine. The compression test showed 4-5 atm. Sadness, sadness, the engine is clearly already tired.

The season was coming to an end and it was decided to carry out an inspection and fix what was faulty. It sounded very simple. The scooter was stripped bare. It turned out that the hand of the collective farm affected him much more seriously than he thought. Almost all the fastening elements were assembled from strange clips, all the bolts were not original, rusty, crooked, broken. All the jets in the carburetor have been torn off. All the hoses have become stiff and do not hold on. Army equipment is in the same condition, where the only tools are a screwdriver and an adjustable wrench. I can’t imagine how you can lose all the fasteners, tear off everything that can be torn off.

Therefore, according to the good old scheme on impex, I started ordering everything that seemed necessary - bearings, seals, screws and clips. The other bolts that were needed I simply bought hardened ones with a hex head - they look nicer and don’t rust. I looked for the lost plastic at an auction; for example, I really wanted to find the original battery compartment cover. And I found it, even with the original set of spare fuses - “Amelie’s little joys,” right. Some parts had to be made from scratch, for example, the resonator at the carburetor inlet. It may not produce almost anything, but before there was emptiness there and air was sucked through it past the filter. And secondly, he simply had to be there. With the wiring, everything turned out to be simple - in Japan I bought an almost new wiring assembly, even with the original turn relay. New wiring is always good.

A new rear wheel was also purchased, since the old one had broken splines and was terribly out of alignment.

Since I had never dealt with 2T equipment or scooters before, I messed up a lot during assembly. You start assembling and it turns out that this is missing, then it’s broken, and the third is already dying and it’s better to replace it right away. As a result, the engine was rebuilt using original components along the bottom. The cylinder and piston were not original. The cylinder head remains original. Carburetor - all replaced with new parts, brake system, variator, gearbox, wiring, engine mounts, etc. Many things were very worn and repair bushings had to be made, for example, for the kickstarter foot. In general, it was purchased in 2021, at the beginning of summer, and is only now coming to an end. There's simply nothing left to change. “I thought I was at the very bottom, but then there was a knock from below.” This phrase perfectly describes my struggle with the collective farm, which permeated the scooter. But I still want a Honda SuperCub... an old dream. And it would be better to take it at an auction in Japan, and not here in the Russian Federation. I won’t be able to endure another such feat.