Honda Scooter History in Jacksonville, FL

We see Honda scooters just about everywhere we go, but most of us don’t know much about their history. The mopeds of the late 1970s evolved into modern scooters featuring sleeker design and enclosed storage. Here’s a quick look at the development of modern Honda scooters. To learn more, visit Cycles of Jacksonville in Jacksonville, FL, serving Orlando and St. Augustine, FL.

1980s

Honda Scooters arrived in North America in 1983 with the Aero brand of scooters featuring 12-volt electronics and an attractive new design. The Aero’s features were revolutionary, and many of its innovations were previously unseen in such a small engine. By 1984, Honda had five models of scooters in the North American market. Most of the newer models featured 4-stroke motors, and the old 2-stroke Aero line of scooters was being phased out.

In 1986, Honda released the Helix maxi-scooter with a longer and lower body style. The Helix also featured a larger trunk, making it an ideal for a cruising scooter.

1990s.

In the early 1990s, scooter sales were declining, and Honda reengineered the popular Elite scooters in an effort to reignite sales. 50cc motors were replaced with the AF16E engine, and the Elite S released in 1994 could reach speeds of up to 30 mph.

Interest in scooters was picking up, but Honda didn’t make any sweeping changes to their product lines for the remainder of the 1990s. Sales for the Dio scooters remained Steady in Canada, and Americans had their choice of the newer Elite S and SR scooters or the existing Elite 80 and Helix.

2000s

The 2000s saw a boom in scooter sales and more competition than ever. Honda released the Reflex scooter as a potential replacement for the existing Helix line, but both models continued to be available for several more years.

In 2003, Honda released the Ruckus, which featured a rugged new design and styling previously unseen in scooters. The Ruckus continues to be popular with “tuners,” with many custom aftermarket parts still available. Honda had their eyes on the next generation of scooters, and retired both the Elite 80 and the Helix in 2007.

2010-Present day

In 2013 the Metropolitan started the next generation of Honda scooters with a new engine and body style. Subsequent models featured additional amenities, and fresh new designs and paint schemes. The popular Ruckus and Forza lines returned in 2015, and continue to be top sellers.

The newest addition to the Honda scooter family is the ADV150, released in 2021. The ADV150 is powered by a PCX150 drivetrain,and features dual Showa shocks and a 2-position windscreen.

For more information visit Cycles of Jacksonville in Jacksonville, FL, serving Orlando and St. Augustine, FL.