Haven't really been on the site in a while, been busy with both of my jobs for the most part. But I DID take on another project this summer for my boy that I wanted to share with everyone.
So, I've been teaching my kids some independence and one of the things I wanted to do, was teach them how to drive mopeds. My son won't even attempt to drive a car, but he's gonna need a way to get around when he's out on his own and my wife and I have passed away.
So, I came across an old 86' Honda Spree at a farm auction that I picked up for only $75. It didn't run, it was all beat up. Kind of a hunk of junk.
Here are a couple BEFORE pictures.
So anyway, I do a little carb cleaning, get the thing running, and I tell the kids. If you guys learn to drive this beat up scooter, and pass the written test, I will buy you each a brand new scooter.
My daughter went pretty easy, took alot of practice, but she finally learned to drive it on her own and got herself a brand new TaoTao ATM50-A1.
My son on the other hand, was much much more difficult. It took me alot of coaxing and alot of coaching, but finally that day came... oh he complained the whole time, but I finally got him to try the Spree.
So for weeks, we practiced and practiced and practiced till he finally got to the point where he liked driving it. So I told him... OK, your turn for a brand new scooter, what color do you want??
To my surprise, he said he didn't want a new one... he tells me he wants the Spree.
I ask him why, and he tells me because it's small and it's from the 80's. He's tried his sister's scoot, but just didn't like it, the Spree sits low and is super easy to drive. In addition, Shawn loves anything and everything 80's. In addition to all kinds of Pacman memorabilia, he also has a nice collection of 80's things, toys, T-shirts, etc.. He loves Sirius XM 80's on 8, and when he is at school, they provide him with a headset to help him drowned out all the noise that bothers him, on it, it is loaded with 80's music.
So anyways, I was planning on just selling the Spree after the kids learned to ride it, but, my boy through a wrench in the works when he said he wanted THAT scooter... OH BOY!!
So my wife and I decided, well... if that's the scooter he wants, then lets fix it up for him.
Since he has Autism, I wanted to make the scooter so that it was visible. Initially I was gonna go with a pacman theme for him with some 80's neon highlights. I do a bit of research and discover the scooter was an "IOWA" edition Spree. The Iowa edition is the restricted version that has a washer in the muffler, smaller main jet, lower gears, it had a top speed limit of 25 mph. But it gave me an idea. I was gonna restore it for him, but I was gonna use an Iowa Hawkeyes theme. I also ditched the old piston, muffler, carb, etc in favor of better components. I put a Big Bore Kit in it, higher gears, a chamber pipe, Polini carb, ported SB50 intake and reeds. Got this sucker moving good. Had the motorcycle shop in town help me with it by tuning it on the dyno. Here is one of the dyno runs BEFORE putting on a better intake/carb/reeds.
! No longer availableAfter the changes, top speed is now 47mph!!!
Of course, my son will only drive it about 15mph tops, but that's OK... BABY STEPS.
I hunted high and low for all kinds of accessories and options for it. It now sports front running lights that light up yellow when the bike is running, hand guards, windshield, mirrors that have speakers with an mp3 player/FM Radio built in, floor mat, reflective side decals, trunk, LED licence plate frame that is integrated into the turn signals/brakes/running light, a Whistler MotoGlo bluetooth unit for the helmet which is also integrated into the rear lights, and of course, customized plates.
It is, without a doubt, the most bad@$$ Spree you will ever see in your life!!
Check it out:
So what does my boy think of his new and improved Spree???