Honda Express Beach Cruise + SOFT SEIZE!

My Father and I taking our Honda Expresses along the beach. My green express is a 1978 model. It has the air box removed, upjet, and MLM pipe. The blue bike is a 1981 express, air box removed, modified stock muffler.
Green Express starts to seize at the very end of the video. Bike began to lose power, locked up in the middle of the intersection. After skidding for a few feet the motor broke free. After the filming stopped we let the bike cool down for 10 minutes or so. It fired right back up and cruised home no problems. I think running it wide up for that long just got it too hot since the ambient temperature is above 90 degrees, and previous plug chops looked perfect, maybe a tad rich.

[@gonnahavemesomefun]

They should have this on loop at spas and stuff #relaxation ♥ --felt like I was there, cheers guys 👏

[@Hondanissanman]

I had one of these in 1988 it was a 1979 reg 👍. Ideal for me commuting around on 😉 the good days 🙂.

[@HunterSkiff]

That’s pretty slick! They make a good commuter if you live close

[@jackrutherford-1]

When you let off the throttle, it quit getting enough gas and that's when it soft seized. Same scenario on my blue one. It didn't have enough gas to keep it cool. Of course, a bigger main jet would keep it cooler and you might not be hot enough to have a problem when letting off the throttle after a long, wide open run. some guys run the needle really high so that it 4 strokes at 3/4 throttle. I guess the idea is to quench the fire by gradually letting off the throttle. at 3/4 throttle, it get's doused with more gas because of the high needle and theoretically doesn't overheat.

[@HunterSkiff]

I’ll have to check my needle position. This video is when I just ran a pipe and an upjet. Seized my DR kit once since then in a similar fashion. It’s all fun and games until you let off the throttle lol. Bike with new setup has a 165 main jet and 4 strokes until its warmed up. I’ll do an updated video on its setup

[@MrNerdelicious]

Bro your in Boca? That’s awesome! I’m in Boynton. So great to see another NC50 owner in the area, I feel like most of them are up north lol

[@HunterSkiff]

Very keen eye. Yes I'm down in boca. I ride up to the Boynton inlet every weekend, sometimes on my express, other times on some other mini bike. Hope to see you out on the road some time! @@MrNerdelicious

[@bangalt3r590]

If you’re still running the oil pump (which it seems that you are), I’d suggest taking it off and going for premix with some quality 2 stroke oil. The pump ends up being a pain in the ass more than anything once you start modifying these, at least in my case.

[@HunterSkiff]

I yanked the pump not to long ago, switched to premix with YamaLube 2R and have never looked back. Didn’t completely solve the temp issues but gave me more of a buffer before temps got out of control

[@bangalt3r590]

If this is still running on 50cc I’d also suggest going on Treatland and investing in a Puchobbit 40mm head (and the stuff required to mount it). It’s meant for PA50’s but works with the stock express cylinder as well, temps should be a lot cooler if you can get it working.

[@HunterSkiff]

It's got a DR 70cc kit with cut head to match bore, 20mm Mikuni, MLM sidebleed. thing runs like a bat out of hell. All the RPMs

[@xjeepmanx]

I miss mine..shud never have sold it

[@HunterSkiff]

still ride this thing, super fun. Its never to late to find another

[@indyfilms01]

I've been facing this same issue on my nc50 over here in California. Cruising speeds it runs like a dream, mat the throttle and it gets up and goes but if I hold it too long or left off all the way it does that bog and sputter and a couple times its even tried throwing me off. I noticed you said the temps get up to 400 so I'm gonna keep that in mind while I'm riding now👍 Side note: to enhance cooling maybe we could setup a misting system over the head. That way it'll have constant water to moderate the temps??

[@HunterSkiff]

Yea there has been some debate on this overheating topic. Some have claimed it is a tuning issue, or what not enough oil is being used. This is simply not the case. Higher jetting in my case has lead to excessive 4 stroking, and lowered top speeds, as you'd expect. The cylinder head fin area is simply not large enough to reject heat at higher speeds and higher RPMs. The gearing on these bikes is too short. Reducing the number of teeth on the internal counter-shaft is an involved and tough process, but would ultimately lower cruising RPMs. Similarly a water cooled head, maybe something from a Hobbit (PA50) would work as well. One of my projects for the first part of 2020 will be modifying the the factory countershaft, stay tuned for that

[@TuyenWin]

@@HunterSkiff did you ever do this? Would like to hear about it

[@HunterSkiff]

@@TuyenWin I have 2 modified countershafts, each with different gearing. Haven't had the time to get them to test. R&D coming slowly but surely and I will definitely upload a video when the time comes. Thanks for the ongoing support.

[@DieselRamcharger]

its lean

[@mrman7284]

holy crap i just timed it you had that thing PINNED never let off throttle from 9:50 to 13:50 in minutes then pinned it ways after to so no blaming her for taking a crap all i know if i did that to my 1984 200x and pinned it for more than 3 minutes straight on last gear full throttle i know for sure it wouldve crapped on me haha but good video though

[@HunterSkiff]

she's eaten 3-4 pistons at this point. Has a modified oil pump on it now, as well as larger cylinder cooling fins and running better than never. I have a 84 200x also, what a great trike

[@gerrynightingale9045]

*I once bought a '97 'Tomos' in 2000 because I was desperate for wheels...$845 for it in 'mint' condition and as 'glossy-black as a Raven's wings...a very pretty little bike!* *It was also the 'Most I ever paid for the worst piece-of-sh*t' ever in my life* *It turned me against '2-strokers' forever!* *It was far too 'light-weight' for my 215lbs. and like riding an 'angry cicada' that every jolt, expansion joint, divot, caused the front suspension to 'slam' from every impact and the vibration was utterly miserable...IF I could manage to get it started* _________ *I can say without question I admire your 'PHUCK EVERYONE ELSE!' in creating an absurdly loud annoying exhaust that would drive me to madness after 20-mins. or so...because I haven't been a 9yr. old boy for decades now* *I also admire your 'PHUCK A HELMET!' attitude as well...'Like father, like son'*

[@joshthomas5919]

My 78 same colour wont WOT like that it would try it throw me off the front when it goes from 32mph to 0 in about 3 seconds after a mile or so. Feel for ya bro. Is she all good?

[@HunterSkiff]

aw man. that's how it goes sometimes. Mopeds are a constant state of love and hate hahahahaha. Ive seized this motor 2 times since this video. The second time I seized it the bike had a 165 main jet, and the third time a 180 main jet and the needle clip moved to 2nd position from bottom. In its current setup, the bike runs very rich and 4 strokes at anything under 3/4 throttle, much like @churioz26 described below. Very confusing situation. Bike runs incredibly cool, 260-280 degrees during normal cruising from 30-35 mph, but holy hell does the temperature just skyrocket when you push it any faster than that. going from 37to 40+mph will push the cylinder head temps rapidly to 400+ degrees F in a matter of seconds. Not sure why this is. None the less its a fun bike to ride for quick rips. The DR cylinder takes a beating and has yet to score.

[@joshthomas5919]

Mine didn't seize, it started again but it does make the same sound as yours when it starts "the high pitched sound instead of a thud" but it didn't before. Is that a sign? Done about 50 miles since but run it quite rich now. I love it all. Yours is looking nice, i'd love that exhaust but the import tax ant VAT to the uk isn't the best. Looking at an exhaust and 70cc kit on treatland. Nice to hear it wasn't the end of your bike. Thanks for the video

[@thaone3357]

that was a close one 7:45

[@HunterSkiff]

people are crazy out here

[@comepuchas990]

3.2.21

[@dgilbert8039]

forget oil?

[@HunterSkiff]

Nope, cylinder head temps just climb faster than the cylinder/head can dissipate them. The fin area is pretty small

[@unartadocs]

I got one like the green but it's missing a back wheel can you give me details about the size of hub etc so I see if I can find one please and thank you

[@bill84]

That's what you get for revving the shit out of it over a long period of time.

[@HunterSkiff]

you think?

[@DieselRamcharger]

dont twist the throttle when you kick a 2 stroke. you are just making the carb not get signal and pull no fuel.

[@HunterSkiff]

I believe you