Honda Brings In SH150i For 2010
March 23rd, 2009 - Once again, one of the big four Japanese companies are slow to react to the recent scooter sales-boom of 2008. Honda just announced that they plan on bringing in their much loved SH150i scooter for the 2010 model year. On the surface this seems like a great thing, but once you dig a little deeper, the stinch of scooter disaster permeates in every direction.
Firstly the SH150i is way overpriced, coming in at $4500 for a 150cc. You can pick up comparable models from both Japanese and Taiwanese companies for $1000s less which will be just as reliable. The second problem is timing. Why did it take Honda two years after the sales record setting year of 2008 to begin importing one of its' most established scooters? While the timing issue is just that, an issue, the pricing of this bike will kill it quickly. These bikes are built to be commuter bikes for blue collar people/city dwellers and these American demographics won't want to buy a scooter for $1000s more than a new motorcycle.
Why on earth would an average American shopping for two wheeled transportation pick this SH150i over something like a Kawasaki Ninja 250 which comes in at $500 less? They won't. Sure some diehard scooter enthusiasts will buy the bike, but it's not going to be enough to sustain this model, it needs mass public support.
So what's the big problem? The problem is that the Sh150i really is a great bike, but due to either Honda's greed, a manufacturing snafu, or marketing disaster this bike won't be here long. This bike will be one less quality scooter in the American market and unfortunately we already have less quality models than otherwise. Get'em while you can.
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Comments
Unlike the 1985 & 1986, the 1987 Elite 150 has the "swoopy, curvy bodywork which looks like much newer scooter… not one from the 1980's!
I'd also rather spend $1300 -$1600 on a nice used 1985-1987 Honda elite 250. These scooters are fast, powerful and plentiful on ebay or craigslist. Don't count out the used 1980's Elite scooters.
If I had $4500 cash to spend on a scooter, I'd find a nice 2005 or newer, low mileage Suzuki Burgman 650. The 650 is a killer scooter and does routinely sell for $4500 or less used on ebay.
Honda won't sell many of these SH150i scooters. They're just waaaay too overpriced!
I can see no other explanation for the SH to be the worlds most expensive 150.
As stated elsewhere I can hear the Honda dealers as in the past saying; "You can't make them Scooter buyers happy, we gave them A great scoot and they didn't want it." As with the $6000 Helix! Quote
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