(Take me to your leader! Is the SH300i preparing to invade America?)
You may recall me begging back in October… groveling for Honda to bring us the SH300i. Just when I thought all hope was lost on Honda, Susan, a dedicated Helix owner and rabid scooter researcher in New Jersey, found a little tidbit that could turn everything around. In an article from Cycle World, there is an bit on the SH300i with one little sentence:
“It might come stateside, says Honda Italy.”
Now, I know it’s not much to cling to, but that little glimmer of hope found in the word “might”, is better than nothing. So, we might see the Lexus of large wheeled scooters on our roads. We don’t have a time frame and we don’t have an Italian follow up contact, and we don’t have an American Honda contact that will give us much more than a “we cannot confirm nor deny the existence of a so-called SH300i”… all we have is Sue’s scoop from Cycle World.
With only 300 available to the UK for 2007, I have to wonder how there would be any available for the US market unless they are tapping from the 30,000 scheduled for arrival in Italy this year (according to this story from Visordown.com). The Visordown article is a good read because it involves a test drive that sounds exhilarating. I especially like their description of the handling:
At low speed you’re thanking the fact that this thing isn’t barge-like, like a SilverWing or Foresight allowing you to drip and slip through traffic like shite through a Victorian sewer. Then, when the mood takes you, whazz the SH up to top speed and revel in the stability that only a 16-inch big-wheel scoot can provide.
Thank you Sue! Please keep us posted… I’ll start with the diggin’ to see what we can come up with on the Bentley of big wheels. Stay tuned!
PS> You can see a boatload of photos and a terribly translated review courtesy of Google, here.
4. January 2007 at 5:20 am
Dudel’s 2007/2008 twist-n-go predictions:
* Aprilia 850 (MC) auto-tranny NOT imported to USA
* Aprilia slowely begins fazing out ‘Scarabeo’ and other scooters
* Honda 700 (MC) auto-tranny NOT imported to USA
* Honda 900 (Scoot) goes to production – NOT imported to USA
* Honda 750 (Scoot) with flat-four emgine goes to production
* Honda offers dirtbikes with HFT auto-tranny
* Piaggio 250cc 3-wheeler – USA sales will be dissappointing
* Piaggio 400cc 3-wheeler NOT imported to USA
* Piaggio unveils Beverly-800 as a European model
* Gilera GP800 and 500cc 3-wheeler NOT imported to USA
* Rumored BMW 850 scooter (using PiaggioCo engine) just a bad rumor
* Can-Am 1000cc 3-wheeler uses CVT (high, low, reverse, nuetral)
* Can-Am 800cc street-legal motorcycle with CVT
* Yamaha T-Max NOT imported to the USA
* Suzuki offers motorcycle with the Burgman CVT but not the much drooled-over G-Strider… likely an existing Harley-esque cruiser.
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4. January 2007 at 5:48 am
Ouch Dudel! That’s more like a reading a mortuary log.
Why all the doubt and despair? You really think everyone will continue to ignore us? Maybe we’ll go away?
Sure the markets not so hot right now… all we needs a little “$5 bucks per gallon” gas to get us back on track.
I think if the SH300i can make it here… almost anything (except Gilera) can.
Wishfully thinking,
steve
4. January 2007 at 7:24 am
I would concur with the likelihood of all of those predictions, Dudel.
It’s a shame the MP3 sales probably won’t be all that strong. It’s a really superb bike, but it will be burdened with the perception of being different.
5. January 2007 at 12:28 am
In the summer of 2002 the president of Honda’s motorcycle division said the Activa 100 was coming to the USA to replace the Elite 80.
Yep. Four and a half years ago, and I just saw a 2007 Elite at the IMS. Now you say there’s a rumor that the SH is coming stateside?
5. January 2007 at 9:45 pm
Ohh I like that!
Come on Honda.. Now bring over the Dylan!
29. September 2007 at 9:19 am
Just wanted to comment (even though it is a bit late) I own a SH125i in Bermuda. I bought it to ride when I vacation there and I can atest to it being amazingly nimble for it’s size. (compared to other bikes in Bermuda, the SH 125i is fairly large, 150 being the largest displacement legal on the island)
Does anyone know if I’d be legal to import my bike here to the U.S.? I always wanted to bring it out here and modify it just a bit to have some fun on some large roads out here in the U.S.
I even had the idea of buying a SH300i and shipping it here on my own dollar. Any help on this one?
smokeyb111@hotmail.com