Honda Vision 50 X

[ckerr]

So one evening the wife is showing me stuff on Gumtree she likes, I get sent to go and collect it... while I am there I spot this beauty tucked into the corner of the garage and ask if its for sale... well its now home with me.

1986 Honda Vision 50 X, last on the road in 2009, came with original keys, original and new tax book, apart from a very holey exhaust which I'm going to try and weld up before ordering a new one, its a very solid wee bike and to my surprise, it even started up after a few kicks... on the old stale fuel!

First sighting


On the trailer coming home


Some close ups...

Old Dealer Sticker, Owen Brothers of Belfast


Pink...


Case Detail


Dials


More photos to come as I strip it down to sort the exhaust and give the whole thing a good clean.

[dodgerover]

I wouldn't waste time welding the exhaust up I'm sure pattern ones used to be about £20!
Another nice save though.

[norniron]

Owens Bros are still Honda dealers... I think they trade as Belfast Honda now.

[ckerr]

Pulled all the covers off last night in preparation to remove the exhaust, I am in no rush so will be taking my time. So covers off, wee look around, sprayed all the nuts and bolts ill be removing with some plus gas...

Carb and Airbox side cover removed, cant believe how clean it was under these covers...


Exhaust Side, think the exhaust is well shot lol, still very clean over all, cant see it in these photos but the wiring loom still has its paper stickers still intact.


and lastly a quick photo of how large the side glove box is... beer for scale

[ckerr]

Little photo showing how the paper stickers under the fairings are still intact

Also started removing the exhaust last night... slowly but surely I turned the bolts out a few turns and left some more penetrating fluid on them, don't think they have ever been removed, so slow and steady.

[ckerr]

So last night I had a look at this exhaust, it all came apart smoothly, and guessing buy how good the fit was this is indeed the original exhaust... I looked far worse than it actually was...

A good wire brush revealed that the down pipe and the whole front section of the exhaust was solid


Turned it over and the back was a different story, however again it was far more solid than expected... I forgot to take a photo at this point and decided was worth saving and bust out the grinder...(repro exhausts were also dearer than suggested so in the interested of keeping this project cheap and cheerful I carried on)




and finally the start of a repair panel, the steel that the original exhaust is made from is surprisingly thick so I think this all should work out fine.

[dubscum]

wife sends you to collect "stuff" returns with moped. Strong work!

[mylittletony]

I'll just leave this here....

Aug 17, 2015 21:25:28 GMT markbognor said:

[ckerr]

Hahaha that is brilliant!
I believe these are fairly easy to get low to the ground, however theres not much clearance as it is... maybe ditch the center stand for a side stand...
Not sure about the tail on the back, but I'm loving the cover on the headlight and that exhaust looks like a master piece!

Anyone know any more details about it?

[ckerr]

Exhaust repair complete... lick of chemical rust killer and some VHT paint and it will be good as new

[composimmonite]

On my Melody the exhaust used to break the bracket where it attached to the engine so it then broke at the pipe as well !
Did this several times even with a brand new exhaust so reinforcing the bracket solved the problem 100%.

BTW the original exhaust on my 1996 R reg Vespa ET4 has rotted despite being off the road at under 12 months old / done around 5000 miles ! Suppose one day I'll have to dig if from back of garage and put on the road seeing I've owned it 18 years and have never rode it other than a quick test ride

[southside]

Me and a mate used to have one of these as a field bike around 2001-2002. Took that much off road abuse it was unreal and never broke, until the exhaust snapped. It was way to loud and we started getting complaints and police chases so we torched it. Naughty I know but we was only 14 at the time and thought it was a laugh.

[ckerr]

So I have been progressing slowly with this little project, nothing spectacular but getting it back into running condition...

Exhaust sealed and painted




Rear wheel given a lick of paint, because it has to go on before the exhaust...



and the engine cowling painted and wheel set on loosely, need to snug the nut up tight and bolt the exhaust back on next

[ckerr]

She is running... runs great once she gets started...

However she is quite difficult to get to start when cold... found someone had replaced the stock filter in the airbox with a piece of yellow car sponge... so have a OEM sponge ordered, inline fuel filter to keep things clean, and a new plug because that never does any harm.

She is also still running on the old stale fuel, so ill get that changed out... fingers crossed this combination will have her running sweet as a nut...

In the mean time here is a wee video of her starting once warmed up.

[dungbug]

You may want to give the Carb a clean if it's been sitting with stale fuel, also check the condition of the Carb to head inlet as these can perish over time & create an airleak. Seems to runs well enough, I had a Honda NE50 years ago.....She'd get to a steady 31mph and wouldn't go any faster, that said she never failed to start regardless of the conditions

[dungbug]

My old snotter, 1987 with added curse word stickers

[ckerr]

So I have the engine running like a dream now, Air filter replace, fuel filter in, fresh fuel, carb cleaned, exhaust welded and everything adjusted...

Cant wait to get it on the road now... few little things left to do, get a number plate made, find / make an adjustment screw for the headlight as its missing the screw, spring and nut and clean up a few bits.

All together and running (sorry for the crappy night time photos)




Number plate bracket made up...



and a cold start at night... smoooooth

[trouble]

Had a red one as a kid

Loved it

[lightyearman]

Check the big single main frame tube under the foot boards as it joins at the rear, its a rot trap that can meana new frame, i know from experience!

Check, clean, paint, win.

[ckerr]

Cheers for the advice dude, a couple of folk of mentioned this too me so it had a good look over.

Also mentioned was the front folks, the solid bar parts as they can become crusty... thankfully mine only had some mild surface rust which has been rubbed back and treated.

Once its on the road and proven itself a little as being reliable, I will probably stripping it right back and repainting the frame and stone chipping it so it will last... maybe even get some new stickers made up... I have kind of fallen in love with this wee machine.

Hopefully it will make a reliable commuter.