Honda Motocompacto

[vintagegarage]

I hear you.. In Florida, to be a moped, it has to have pedals, even if they are useless. I bought a used Tao Tao, and gave it to Lightfoot's sister who has no driving license. She could legally ride on the roads here, and used it for grocery runs The pedals were absolutely useless. It took a bazillion revolutions of the pedals to move one foot, but they met the law. LOL,
https://www.superiorpowersports.com/Tao_Tao_500W_Electric_Scooter_p/tt500esc-501.htm

 

[RedRyder]

I agree... it appears to fill an awkward time and position in electric vehicles. What comes to mind is when in the 70's autos went all wonky in style with low expectation motors and styling only a sedated physics professor could tolerate.
This seems to be an exercise in 'box' like the Toyota Scion XB........ unique but scarcely practical outside the city limits..? Styling is ultimately absent completely... need I repeat myself ? It is lacking in several ways indeed. Barring some bichin paint scheme, one would be better served with a Honda Metropolitan or Yamaha Vino..... please give me some sembelence of Style... not a non-resplendent Samsonite moving conveyance.
FEEL free to correct me at your leisure however.

Not my way of correction, but more of perspective. This is clearly an urban vehicle, and its main advantage in an urban environment is its slim profile. It is narrow, and as such does not take up much space volume beyond the width of the operator. Moving in and around traffic, between parked cars, and on occasion down lightly travelled side streets, it simply takes up less space. Metropolitans and Vinos do not have this advantage. Outside city limits, it's clearly a "last mile" solution or quick errand runner. Its EV profile is also an advantage over an ICE vehicle in terms of ease of recharge and maintenance. "Box"may not be the ultimate in styling, but in some cases is the ultimate in practicality. But that's also why I liked the Jetson: slim and easily maneuverable.

 

[vintagegarage]

 

[SneakyDingo]

I know I should have expected it to be that small, but I'm still surprised when it's compared to something I can reference, like a NV200 sized vehicle. Seems like you could enjoy yourself on it there, I hope it works out for you.

I am still somewhat amazed that Honda didn't go with some fold out mechanism for the seat. At around 16 minutes in it sounded a bit rough over the rougher asphalt - how was it there?

 

[vintagegarage]

(ed.) At around 16 minutes in it sounded a bit rough over the rougher asphalt - how was it there?

That rough sound on rough asphalt is very real. On smooth asphalt, the ride is silky quiet and fast. Any bump or pebble though will cause a big rattle in the main body. With the Motocompacto unfolded, there is quite a bit of storage in the middle, enough to hold fishing rod, tackle, camera tripod, lunch and a couple of cans of Diet Pepsi. I need to experiment to see if I stuff a small pillow in that storage space if it will stop the rattle.

 

[dmonkey]

Thanks for the video, good to see it handles parking lot imperfections just fine. The 41 lb weight and compact size make it quite appealing. I imagine folks will come up with some really neat vinyl skins for those plastic body panels.

I have a "Square Bike" fold-up stationary exercise cycle and it looks similar, though mine is slower

 

[SneakyDingo]

I imagine folks will come up with some really neat vinyl skins for those plastic body panels.

I keep thinking of what the 3D printer community did to electric unicycles and it's only a matter of time before moto compacto bling pops up on Printables...

 

[vintagegarage]

I picked up the Motocompacto from the wrap shop last night and they did a super job on the wrap. I'm hoping to make and put up the reveal video this coming weekend and announce the winning guesses in the contest at the same time.

 

[vintagegarage]

 

[dmonkey]

That's hilarious, in a good way. Riding around on that you're sure to give people a laugh and a smile. Thanks for sharing.

 

[vintagegarage]

Thanks, I hear you.. Today, I plan to go back to the wrap shop with the second one to get a Dax 125 wrap installed. I think it might be the only way I will ever see a Dax 125 in the USA.

 

[dmonkey]

I wasn't there to see them in person, but friends let me know of two new Dax ST125s at Barber Vintage Festival in Alabama this year. One with plastic wrap still on the seat, the other got ridden around the swap meet.

You can catch a second of those grey market imports on US soil here:

 

[m in sc]

I had 2 friends at barber this year, they saw them as well. One texted me and asked if I knew if they were coming to the us or not. (they couldn't find the people there with them). but they were, indeed, there. @ vintage garage: thats just one tiny section but there was plenty of really good stuff there, by no means the best stuff there. that RZ350 is probably a 10K-12K bike alone. that maico was just dead sexy, and it kind of explains a lot of things if nothing there to you was worth more than 50 cents. lol.

 

[m in sc]

they texted me a picture, but honestly, I don't care if you believe me or not. I know they were there. Not that I really care, until i see one locally available I could give 2 shits.

 

[dmonkey]

12:53 is the timestamp where you can see the two new Dax 125 models. Video should have started right there. Not my video or anyone I know's, was just some footage I skimmed containing those particular bikes in the swap meet section.

 

[dmonkey]

A better shot from someone else who was there. Again, I wasn't otherwise I'd have certainly taken lots of photos and stuck around to ask about the bikes

 

[dmonkey]

iFixit did a teardown video to show the battery replacement process. Nothing shocking, but interesting to see the Motocompacto come apart.

And just for laughs, here it is doing a dyno pull!

 

[vintagegarage]

dmonkey, Thanks for posting that first video. I hadn't seen it. At the end, the presenter says Honda could increase his rating if Honda makes his recommended fixes and releases a manual. My dealer gave me the 25 page workshop manual for free with each of my Motocompactos, so maybe he didn't ask for one. The video also taught me about the velcro strips inside to reduce the rattle. I wonder if mine has those in there, as the rattle is pretty bad.. LOL. I ended up buying a third one, and plan to put a Repsol wrap on that one when the weather gets warmer.

Here is another video that gives a pretty accurate view of ride quality. Bone jarring rough on sidewalks, smooth as silk on fresh asphalt:

 

[dmonkey]

That's interesting about the workshop manual. I found a PDF of one online from a dealership and it certainly does cover battery access, which is the example the video demonstrated. I suppose that came down to not requesting it or looking hard enough for it.

Looking forward to seeing the Repsol wrap!

 

[Cpd419]

I have a Lectric 2.0 folding bicycle that is superior in every way except the small folded size yet I find myself wanting one just the same.