SMAX vs PX150 article

wheelbender6 · 07-24-2015, 08:19 PM

Caught this today. The article offered only a few unexpected observations.
http://www.motorcycle.com/shoot-outs...opper-scootout

kz1000st · 07-24-2015, 09:28 PM

Good article. It's even better to see a motorcycle web magazine covering scooters.

Modene · 07-25-2015, 08:58 AM

They both are great scooters , I almost bought A PCX until I read this & others. Ended up buying a SMAX , like the extra HP for the highway & the flat floorboard with cargo hook I've use weekly for carrying groceries in bags. Even though I still put groceries in the top case & saddle bags. So far after Two months I have nothing but good things to say about the SMAX. After my planned 400 mile round trip will know more to share with you.

bandito2 · 07-25-2015, 03:28 PM

Hmm... I would have thought that the SMAX would have nearly the same fuel economy
as the PCX. And I too have read about the 63 mph top speed of the PCX 150 and find it
just a bit disconcerting that Honda has no explanation as to why. If it is indeed speed
limited, then simply disconnecting the speed sensor should probably fix that. But my
suspicions of limiting speed by electronic means seems to be confirmed by what I have
found.

But doing some digging I found an aftermarket electronic gizmo that allows a higher
rpm. (up to 11,000 rpm depending on what other performance equipment is in use.)
(exhaust systems) Which is apparently higher than the stock 9,800 rpm limit.

http://japan.webike.net/products/21552398.html

Looking at the info on the KITACO i-map injection controller, I see the 9,800 rpm
mentioned. This also probably requires some tinkering using the hook up to a computer
to update the original map or settings can be altered by dip switches. Really, it seems
very much like a Power Commander III injection controller like there is for the Honda
Silverwing scooter. (other makes and models of motorcycles too)

The PCX 150 doesn't have a tachometer that would show it hitting its rpm limit and from
most accounts, corresponds to the best speed it can apparently do at that rpm limit.
So the gizmo would let it creep up a little higher in speed and may actually let it get to
about 70 mph or so.

The thing is that there is a warning of possible "valve surging". Looking up this term as
it relates to engines, I find terms like "spring surge" and "valve jump" I get an inkling of
what that means; in a nutshell; it sounds like the valves are loosing the ability to keep up
with the speed of the cam. Anyway, they say back off and don't do that.

Don't know that spending a little over $95 plus shipping from Japan would be worth the
approximate 7 mph gain in speed though. (and the possibility of grenading the engine)

kz1000st · 07-25-2015, 07:11 PM

I'm personally of the opinion that if you need 70+ mph it's time for a motorcycle. For a few dollars more than the SMax costs you can buy this and paste your eyeballs back.

http://www.alliancepowersports.com/models/t2.html

Modene · 07-25-2015, 07:54 PM

I'm not looking for higher Speeds with the SMAX but it's good to know that if needed you could go 70 -75 mph . I thing it will be easier to work on . Less body parts to remove compared to the PCX.I like both just chose the the SMAX. On road trips I probably will only drive 55-60 mph.

07-24-2015, 09:28 PM	#2
kz1000st Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Hyde Park, NY Posts: 1,058	Good article. It's even better to see a motorcycle web magazine covering scooters. __________________ 2008 Eagle Milano 150- 9,679 miles 2009 Honda Rebel 250- 10,434 miles 2009 CF Moto Fashion- 16,023 miles 2009 MC-114 50cc Cub Clone- 4,317 miles twowheeler.yolasite.com/ That's 30,049 China Scootin miles and Counting.
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07-25-2015, 03:28 PM	#4
bandito2 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Southeast Mchigan Posts: 169	Hmm... I would have thought that the SMAX would have nearly the same fuel economy as the PCX. And I too have read about the 63 mph top speed of the PCX 150 and find it just a bit disconcerting that Honda has no explanation as to why. If it is indeed speed limited, then simply disconnecting the speed sensor should probably fix that. But my suspicions of limiting speed by electronic means seems to be confirmed by what I have found. But doing some digging I found an aftermarket electronic gizmo that allows a higher rpm. (up to 11,000 rpm depending on what other performance equipment is in use.) (exhaust systems) Which is apparently higher than the stock 9,800 rpm limit. http://japan.webike.net/products/21552398.html Looking at the info on the KITACO i-map injection controller, I see the 9,800 rpm mentioned. This also probably requires some tinkering using the hook up to a computer to update the original map or settings can be altered by dip switches. Really, it seems very much like a Power Commander III injection controller like there is for the Honda Silverwing scooter. (other makes and models of motorcycles too) The PCX 150 doesn't have a tachometer that would show it hitting its rpm limit and from most accounts, corresponds to the best speed it can apparently do at that rpm limit. So the gizmo would let it creep up a little higher in speed and may actually let it get to about 70 mph or so. The thing is that there is a warning of possible "valve surging". Looking up this term as it relates to engines, I find terms like "spring surge" and "valve jump" I get an inkling of what that means; in a nutshell; it sounds like the valves are loosing the ability to keep up with the speed of the cam. Anyway, they say back off and don't do that. Don't know that spending a little over $95 plus shipping from Japan would be worth the approximate 7 mph gain in speed though. (and the possibility of grenading the engine) __________________ Southeast Michigan Dark Side Rider 4 Honda Reflex scooters & a Big Ruckus Originator of the "Darkside" Honda Reflex. "Yeah dude, that IS a car tire there on the back of my scooter." Sometimes I'm so far outside of the box, the Hubble telescope can't find me
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07-25-2015, 07:54 PM	#6
Modene Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Texas Posts: 74	PCX & Smax I'm not looking for higher Speeds with the SMAX but it's good to know that if needed you could go 70 -75 mph . I thing it will be easier to work on . Less body parts to remove compared to the PCX.I like both just chose the the SMAX. On road trips I probably will only drive 55-60 mph.
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