BEHOLD! My Latest Fire Hazard!

"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
05/20/2019 at 13:34 • Filed to: gambler 500, Two Wheels Good

My janky Honda Elite has gotten even more janky! I was up until 2am last night wiring up my electrical mods and doing some maintenance.

First up, the spotlights. I figured I will drop this thing on the Gambler at least once, so I mounted them far enough away from the edges t hat they won’t get sheared off. I had to do some creative MacGyvering with the mounting bolts because these really weren’t made to mount into plastic. And clearance wasn’t so great because you know, there’s a coolant line directly under those lights. But it works and those lights are on tiiiiiight.

At first I wanted to do my normal fire hazard janky wiring, but since this is a scooter and not a smart, I needed a manual switch...so I bought the cheapest wiring harness from Amazon that wasn’t spaghetti madness.

Unfortunately...uh...yeah...it’s pretty long. Enter my bad cable management! Clearly I went for a DeLorean time machine look.

Surprisingly, this is the most proper vehicle wiring job I’ve ever done. Everything is fused, there are relays, and there aren’t any wires connected by twisting and sealing with duct tape. I also added a USB hub to charge and power my electronics on the move.

The battery seems to only top out at 11v even before I installed these mods (SO MANY ZIP TIES), so I’ll swap it out with the CF Moto’s battery. I’d like it to have enough starting power to start without starting fluid.

When I get home from work, the scooter will then get its new wheel wheel installed. From there, all I have left to do is install the new derestricted CDI when it arrives and fashion up a snorkel of some kind. Maybe RGB for flair? Idk, I just want to get the core stuff done.

For the home run, I’ll then have to title the trailer and do the smart’s front brakes. Whew! It’s already a busy week! :D

DISCUSSION (8)

boredalways > Mercedes Streeter
05/20/2019 at 13:50

I think the biggest reason I’ve always liked the Honda Elite was Grace Jones

I hope it all works out for you.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Mercedes Streeter
05/20/2019 at 13:53

Now that’s the kind of beater I’m trying to find. People here in STL want stupid money for 40 year old 49cc bikes (affectionately known around here as DUIcycles) - $725? Uh, pass - I have a license and don’t need that loophole to ride. Or they have something interesting in the 300-600 cc range that might work but doesn’t have a title. I’d just like to find a running, non-Chinese scooter in the 125-250 cc range for $4-500. Maybe a Honda CH80. Am I living in fantasy land?

i86hotdogs > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
05/20/2019 at 14:10

I’m in that boat too. I want to find something the missus can ride while I toot around on my Ruckus. Everyone wants near a thousand for everything.

Mercedes Streeter > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
05/20/2019 at 14:49

Am I living in fantasy land?

Pretty much. Scooters with more engine displacement than a DUIcycle are worth a fortune around these parts. Only seriously beaten up scooters can be had for under a stack. This thing was definitely used as a trail bike for a while. It tracks and rides straight, bit it all feels a bit “off”. The frame is fine, but it seems everything else is ever so slightly bent.

Mercedes Streeter > i86hotdogs
05/20/2019 at 14:52

You can thank the whole small displacement craze for that. The only affordable higher displacement used scoots out there are Chinese or just really broken. The only other decently priced 150 and 250 Japanese scoots I’ve seen lately are an Elite 250 that’s missing so many body parts it looks like it could be a test mule for the Harley Pan America and another Elite 150 that’s missing the entire lower half of its body and has the sketchy-est tyres I’ve seen on a supposedly daily ridden bike.

i86hotdogs > Mercedes Streeter
05/20/2019 at 14:56

I’ m this close to financing another Ruckus just to get her on the road with me!

shop-teacher > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
05/20/2019 at 16:35

It’s doable, but those deals get snapped up fast. There was a CH80 around here in not great but running shape, covered in speed stickers, for $250 this weekend. There’s a Riva 200 not too far away from me for $7o0 in good shape, that I wish I could afford right now. It has no title, but thankfully the fine state of Vermont will happily register anything under 300CCs with no title, and send you the plate wherever you live. My buddy in Chicago has two scooters with Vermont plates on them.

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter
05/20/2019 at 19:07

You are definitely out gamble-scooting Bill and I, so long as you pull this trip off. Personally, I wouldn't mess with the CDI.