TEST DRIVE: Maxiscooter Honda Forza 250 – Generation “Z”

Model features

The model was produced from 2000 to 2008. The Honda Forza 250 was produced exclusively for Japan's own market. But it had analogues intended for sales in the States (Honda Reflex) and Europe (Honda Jazz).

When developing this vehicle, the manufacturer tried to combine convenience, reliability and style in order to satisfy the needs of the most demanding customer. Few models can boast an ABS braking system, a parking brake, and many convenient little things like a spacious underseat storage rack and a socket for charging a phone or cigarette lighter.

Test drive HondaForza X

Little by little, scooter riders, whose ultimate dreams were previously only a nimble “fifty kopeck,” grow out of “size thirty pants.” Speeds of 60-70 km/h already seem almost pedestrian, and the body persistently demands something more powerful, fast and comfortable. This is true for the vast majority of scooter riders I know, and I've been through it myself too. The thirst to improve their status pushes scooter owners either to install tuning components to the detriment of engine life, or to change equipment. And if we change, what should we take: a maxi-scooter or a motorcycle? Both of these require obtaining a category “A” driver’s license and driving “on license plates”, with all the ensuing consequences. But why bother yourself with changing gears if you're used to an automatic transmission? Why deprive yourself of good protection from wind, dirt and rain? Naturally, there is no need, which means that middle-class scooters fall into the buyer’s field of interest. The Honda Forza 250 is just one of these, but with a caveat: the configuration of this “quarter” would be the envy of other “maxi” cars!

What other 250cc scooter can offer an integral braking system with ABS, a heated seat, an automatic shutdown and engine start function in traffic jams, as well as many other nice little things like a parking brake, a cigarette lighter socket or a mobile phone charger? And the 2001 model has all this. Due to the abundant “stuffing” and the great rarity of this scooter model in Ukraine, it was doubly interesting for us to test it and find out what this “miracle of technology” is.

As for a 250, the scooter is quite large, but it is “built” well, so there is no feeling of “communication” with the sofa. The device can even be safely classified as a tourist class, because it has a high windshield, a seat with a comfortable backrest, and a standard mount for a trunk. The exterior also works in unison with the practical essence of the scooter: it is calm, solid and “timeless”.

The day, or rather the evening of the test, turned out to be cloudy and rainy. Wet asphalt combined with fallen leaves promised “a sea of ​​sensations,” so the ABS installed on the scooter instilled a sense of confidence for the near future. After a quick inspection of the “experimental” equipment, I wanted to quickly “fall” onto the huge seat, start the engine and drive along the deserted streets of the outskirts in order to have time to make friends with the equipment before leaving for the city filled with cars. Sitting behind the wheel, you feel like a hand in a glove: your lower back rests comfortably on the high back of the seat, the driver is in a semi-relaxed position. There is plenty of room for your legs. It will be easy and comfortable to cover significant distances outside the city on this Honda, and the care of the designers has extended to the passenger.

You can start the engine only with the side stand folded. I put the key in the ignition, turn it, squeeze the rear brake until it clicks, press the starter button, and... nothing happens! It turns out that according to the designers' idea, you need to squeeze the brake until the second click, applying a little more force to the handle. On the one hand, reinsurance is clearly unnecessary, on the other hand, the scooter is guaranteed not to move away from under you if the gas handle “accidentally” ends up in the turned position.

Well, here we go. The single-cylinder engine murmurs quietly at idle, but if you slightly touch the throttle, a pleasant bass note can be heard from the exhaust pipe. This sound is not at all similar to the sound of the usual 250 cc “single-barrel”: it seems that under you there is at least a “four hundred”. However, it doesn’t go further than impressions: the character of the engine is calm and balanced. And was it worth expecting anything else from 22 “horses” forced to drag as much as 180 kg of mass? The scooter takes off smoothly and majestically, like an ocean liner. If you are in no hurry, then Forza 250 will become a faithful companion on your leisurely journey. If it suddenly occurs to you to “be funny,” then you won’t be able to do it any other way than by turning the gas “all the way.”

In the city crowd, large dimensions will not allow you to squeeze between the rows, forcing you to accept the rules of the car game. In the traffic jams we got into along the way, we had to work hard with the steering wheel and muscles to squeeze through right next to the curb, or attack the pedestrian zone, jumping onto low edges and jumping off them. The scooter's clearance allowed us to do this without worrying too much about the danger of scratching the bottom.

When driving in “traffic light” mode, you can easily save a little gasoline, and at the same time please the “green” gentlemen. Even if you just stand still and don’t touch anyone, the all-seeing eye of the electronics tirelessly monitors the engine, and after just five seconds of inactivity it will helpfully turn it off. To start again, you just need to turn the throttle a little and the computer will turn on the engine itself. Interestingly, this function is only available on the Forza modification with a pre-installed ABS system.

Having escaped from the traffic jam, you can finally give the gas and... fly into a hole, of which there are quite a few on the streets. It is very problematic to go around one and not get into the other, so we paved the way right along them. Shallow, up to 3 cm, potholes were passed so quietly that it seemed as if they were not there at all. Slightly larger holes touched the suspension to the quick, but it still worked out them as well as possible. The 33 mm telescopic fork has a rigid structure and a soft ride. The rear shock absorbers have 7 degrees of hardness, and on the third of them, the rear suspension allows you to gently overcome small unevenness and even drive onto curbs, while even the passenger does not feel significant impacts on his “fifth point”.

We don’t often have the opportunity to test equipment in the evening, so it was all the more interesting to find out how things are with the “night vision” of the Honda Forza 250. There is almost always enough low beam in the city, the high beam is also good, and it also allows you to “drive away” your sweet soul. cars from the strip (in the dark it seems to them that at least a Honda VTR-SP2 is hanging on their tail). The brake light, in addition to traditional lamps, is equipped with an LED line located under the decorative “spoiler”. In daylight, as well as in its absence, LEDs shine much brighter than conventional headlights and light up instantly. The dashboard illumination is a pleasant red shade; it does not reduce the readability of the scales.

Darkness has another wonderful property: it teaches you the value of brakes. Fortunately, there is nothing to complain about here - the combined braking system with ABS provides extremely effective deceleration. In order to slow down quickly and safely, you just need to press the left lever, which will activate both the rear brake and one piston of the three-piston front brake. In an extreme situation, such as braking on sand or in the rain, ABS works out its value by “five”. With the brakes pressed all the way, a faint squeal of rubber was heard only for a split second, but the wheels continued to rotate and the scooter continued to slow down, without a single hint of skidding. "Bravo!" - I triumphed in my heart, glad that that evening I would not have to give my money for repainting such an expensive scooter.

Gradually the test was coming to an end, but I didn’t want to part with this Honda. The scooter left a very pleasant impression - beautiful, comfortable and incredibly friendly. On the road, you are taken into account, since the Honda gives the impression of a fairly expensive device, and you feel like a worthy road user.

The scooter, which has so many names: Honda Jazz in Europe, Honda Feflex in America, Honda Forza in Japan, has declared itself as a good mid-size scooter. Stylish, comfortable and economical, it competes equally with the Yamaha Majesty 250, and in some ways even surpasses it. It may not be as playful as the Majesty, but it is suitable for those people who know how to enjoy life slowly and, above all, prefer comfort when traveling on two wheels.

Text: Vladislav Sofonov

Technical data

The scooter has a single cc four-stroke engine with a displacement of a quarter liter. Power reaches 22 hp. With. Transmission – automatic. At first glance at this model, it becomes clear that the technical characteristics of the Honda Forza 250 are designed for a measured, imposing driving style. A weight of 180 kilos is not so little for a 22-horsepower engine. The instrument panel is clearly visible, even in bright sun the gauge arrows are visible. An unusual red backlight is provided for night time.

The scooter is equipped with an on-board computer. The smart system itself monitors the operation of the transport. If you stop for a while, the program switches the motor to energy-saving mode. It stops working, but to start it again you just need to turn the throttle a little.

The ground clearance of this model is quite high. Unlike most scooters, the Forza can overcome quite significant road surface errors and even jump over small potholes. Here, of course, the work of the suspension also affects. According to most owners, the shock absorbers on this model are quite powerful.

Many people also note a comfortable fit. The pilot's seat is equipped with a comfortable bolster that supports the lumbar region. The landing is classic, almost straight. All controls are conveniently located and easy to access. The manufacturer also made sure that the passenger also enjoyed driving this vehicle. There are no additions like armrests or backrest, but this is still a scooter, not a cruiser motorcycle. The second seat is quite spacious and soft.

Honda Forza modifications

Honda Forza 250

Honda Forza 300

Behavior on the road

The characteristics of the Honda Forza 250 determine the behavior of this vehicle. Fans of fast driving and maneuvering in city traffic rarely choose this model, preferring faster vehicles.

“Forza” often becomes the choice of those who are not chasing dashing tricks, but value comfort and reliability. Many drivers note that they were able to truly appreciate this vehicle while driving in pouring rain, at night or on a bad road. It is worth noting the excellent performance of the original brakes. In general, the Honda Forza 250 scooter responds quickly to commands and behaves absolutely predictably and obediently. This model can be an excellent alternative to four-wheeled transport for traveling around the city.

Reviews from Honda Forza owners

Honda Forza, 2011

Advantages

: "tourer" appearance. Built-in standard music. Combibrake brakes. Comfortable seat and landing. Elastic motor. Possibility to change variator gears manually. Economical engine.

Flaws

: The rear pads wear out quickly due to the “combibrake”. It is imperative to install a windshield, because the standard glass does not fulfill its role well. Loves only high-quality gasoline.

Honda Forza, 2010

Advantages

: reliability. Dynamics up to 100 km/h. Comfortable.

Flaws

: not for the track.

Honda Forza, 2007

So far I have driven the Honda Forza only 3000 km. It is normal for the front rider to sit. The seat is wide and has a small backrest. But for me, with my height of about 180 cm, the scooter is a little small. The knees are higher than the butt, which is not entirely comfortable; I would like to stretch my legs further forward so that I can sit not only on my butt, but also on my legs. Otherwise I’m sitting like on some kind of children’s chair. The moped is heavy, about 180 kg. It took me some getting used to it. But I got used to it quickly. When I went out onto the highway and hit 80 km/h for the first time, at first the wind controlled the moped, and the moped controlled me. I drove along the road swerving. But after 3 trips I got used to it. Now I can go 100 km/h easily. The wind and potholes, of course, have not disappeared anywhere. But I keep the road free. I have never had to travel in strong winds or rain. Motor. Injector, 20 hp It accelerates to 80 quickly. Afterwards it’s already harder. The oncoming wind is disturbing. It is not possible to shoot while overtaking. If there are 2 lanes going in the same direction, then I bypass the passing lanes, but if I need to go into the oncoming lane, I don’t risk it. Only if the oncoming one is completely empty. Variable speed drive. This controlled variator is an interesting toy. You can choose 1 of 3 modes: drive, sport, manual. Drive – we drive at lower speeds, saving gasoline. Sport - rpm increases by about 1000. Consumption and noise increase, but power also increases. Manual. In addition to the fact that it simply allows you to manually switch through the “gears” using buttons, it allows you to drive in quiet mode at speeds lower than in “Drive” (resulting in less noise, vibration and consumption), and when accelerating you can turn the engine higher than In sports".

Suspension. The front one is soft. The wheel perfectly “licks” all the potholes. I have not felt any breakdowns yet. In the pits, of course, you need to hold the steering wheel tighter, but the impacts are felt weakly. Rear suspension with adjustable stiffness. When I drive alone, I set it to the softest, first position. When there are two of us, we go on the third. There are 6 or 7 positions in total, I don’t remember. Driving on an unadjusted suspension is bad: it either shakes your whole soul, or it’s too soft. When I’m driving alone, even the softest position is a bit harsh for me, sometimes I jump on the seat on bumps. But when we drive together, all the bumps go smoothly. The scooter is rattling, poor thing, but all we hear is the rumble. Adjusting the suspension on the Honda Forza is quick and easy; you only need a special key. Tighten the left spring - 2 seconds, the right - a little longer because The muffler is in the way. Fuel consumption. It all depends on your driving style. I now average 3.5 liters per hundred. We drive together, mostly outside the city, we keep the speed at 80-100, I accelerate sharply only during rare overtaking, I don’t sharply twist the gas unless necessary.

Advantages

: fast to accelerate to 80. Comfortable seat. Controllability. Maintenance cost. Reliability.

Source

Motorcycle Honda NSS 300 Forza 2022 review

The description of the Honda NSS 300 Forza 2022 motorcycle is in the queue for publication of the article. Announcement: Today, for almost every new motorcycle that comes into being, marketers strive to carve out their own niche. This one is a road sport, this one is a recreational enduro. But what class should we include a motorcycle that has a little bit of everything? A good bike should have a reliable engine, comfortable ergonomics and simple controls...

Honda NSS 300 Forza is a motorcycle not sold in Russia, equipped with a low-power 24.8 hp engine. Despite the fact that good models of motorcycles have a very respectable price, and the season for their use is relatively short, the motorcycle market is developing rapidly. And if you believe the words of dealers, then some models of recently released motorcycles are selling like hot cakes at the beginning of the season, and the models brought to Russia are clearly not enough to fully satisfy consumer demand.

A motorcycle has long ceased to be an alternative to a car, and the times when this equipment was bought only because there was not enough money for a full-fledged car are forgotten. Nowadays, two-wheelers can be called technological marvels in many cases, and their cost can be compared with that of prestigious cars.

Many people have started buying motorcycles for hobby purposes as riding or even collecting them has become a good pastime for many people. Many motorcycles, for example the Honda NSS 300 Forza, whose technical characteristics allow the model to be called a prestigious brand, are in demand among both beginners and experienced motorcyclists.

Motorcycles with an engine capacity of 279 cc / 17.0 CU-IN cu. see, appeared as a result of long work of inventors who sought to create a model that was not inferior in characteristics to other versions of the motorcycle. In some cases, these models are not only not inferior, but also ahead of other motorcycles, as they have minimal fuel consumption and other excellent parameters.

Motorcycles from 250 to 400 kb. see which includes the Honda NSS 300 Forza - this is the most common class of motorcycles. In this range you already have a choice among almost all classes of motorcycles. Many people call this category the most suitable for a first motorcycle. You can purchase a moderately heavy, powerful and flexible motorcycle for relatively little money. Many people advise taking a road bike with a 400 cc engine as your first choice. We cannot completely agree with this, because such motorcycles often weigh about 200 kg and have a sufficient power reserve. If your skills in riding a two-wheeled vehicle are limited to a training motorcycle at a motorcycle school, then you should not immediately take such a device. Many beginners get into ridiculous accidents simply because they do not know all the features of operating such equipment. After all, the heavier and more powerful the motorcycle, the better you should know how to handle it in different situations. Even a monkey can just drive in a straight line (no joke).

Go to the entire range of Honda motorcycles, on this page you can find Honda NSS 300 Forza motorcycles from other years of production and information about them