Honda Forza 350 Vs Yamaha Xmax300 - Suspension Review - Episode 4.

let's take a detailed in depth look at the factory suspension on the two most popular scooters in the 300cc class - the 2021 Honda Forza 350 vs the Yamaha Xmax 300

[@vmac11k99]

Seems that Yamaha is more solid built with stanchions extending all the way to the top triple clamp. Insightful video. Thanks mate

[@ridewithwarro]

both bikes have good and bad points and both get a workout on the testing side too...lol

[@wiffwaff4509]

I never thought I would spend 15 minutes looking at scooter handle bars but strangely found it interesting. You always leave us wanting more! The yellow motor looks great ,good paint job you’ve done on it .You must be a man of many talents . Look forward to the next episode.

[@ridewithwarro]

heres the original clip i put up 12 years back on the re-spray. its pretty involved. paint shop wanted $10.000 to do the job and i think i did it for $700 but it took 100 hours to do the work...lol kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHWbf5Rmaauof6c

[@richardharmon5682]

Thanks, Warro. This clip is going to be very helpful for anyone owning one of those scooters that feels the need to perform maintenance, repairs, or to modify their front suspension. It looks to me like the Honda engineers tried to cut some financial corners when it came to their handlebar mounts and and front suspension and then cover up the weirdness with plastic so it wouldn't be noticed. lol To my eye, the Yamaha's handlebars and suspension looks more sturdy, potentially durable and easier to service than does the Honda's design.

[@ridewithwarro]

yeah i thought it could have been better on the forza 350. especially when one considers it costs roughly the same price as a cb500x -so i guess there's a good $$$ to be made selling these on the honda profit side

[@findingneutral]

The handlebar thing is bizarre with the Honda. Definitely looks like a tricycle handlebar as you mentioned. Yamaha wins I think in these categories you covered. Great review 👍.

[@ridewithwarro]

yeah i think so far in this reviw on both scooters i have given them a fair go. same too with the up-coming test featuring an around town ride plus out on the main highway at 60 mph cruising

[@findingneutral]

@@ridewithwarro Absolutely you have. Anyone looking to purchase either model will be given much food for thought by your bike analysis.

[@gerrygirard3877]

Looks like Honda has some catching up to do. Excellent analysis.

[@ridewithwarro]

next clips i hit the road in town and after that out on the open road with both-back to back

[@ruahinesrider]

Happy birthday Warro you sure know how to treat yourself.

[@ridewithwarro]

thanks and appreciated. i bet a lot of guys would like a 69 er..lol hopefully i get it for the full year too.

[@Peadar-gq1oh]

That's what turned me off the Forza. How can honda justify underengineered forks. Imagine giving the front brakes some socks with a passenger

[@ridewithwarro]

bit different thats for sure. forza has very good power delivery..really gets moving

[@bw2442]

It must be hell to be a parts department person for Honda. Every year they change everything

[@ridewithwarro]

id so no picnic there.

[@guysmith3146]

You will find when taking off the curved pieces covering the windscreen mounting screws, you pull out the bottom first then push up, they then come away. One of Yamaha's selling points in their publicity blurb for the xmax is they fit motorcycle type forks.

[@ridewithwarro]

will keep that tip in mind...thanks

[@dondle2]

Happy Birthday bud.

[@ridewithwarro]

Thank you kindly and appreciated

[@johnmartin7158]

Tnx again for an awesome detailed review on the suspensions of both scooters. Perhaps next week you will be dismantling the gearbox and engine. The following week you will take the wheels off. The next week you will remove the V belt. The following week you will remove the brakes. Perhaps by the year 3000 you will have completed the reviews good man Warro.

[@ridewithwarro]

well lets say after spending $19,000 to buy them i might as well get my money out of them....lol plus my birthday today so bought another new bike and ordered another too...lol so good day all round or for me anyway.

[@ruahinesrider]

Hardcase John.Warro always does a good review.

[@ridewithwarro]

@@ruahinesrider might as well get in and have a good look at them. either way both bikes are great to ride and ive been out testing for the serious ride clips. put over 500 klm on the yamaha in a matter of days i even ride with my helite air bag jacket on just to be a bit more safe/secure. when you see these 60 mph panic stops its fast and at times a bit scary...lol

[@ruahinesrider]

@@ridewithwarro Did you film those emergency stops did ya like to see that.

[@ridewithwarro]

@@ruahinesrider emergency stop from 60 mph to 0 plus 0 to 60 and back to 0 some fast corner tracking rough road tracking the lot...lol various test on both from 80 to 110 kph 30 to 100 kph 50 to 100 kph etc plus long steep 2 klm hill climbs to really test them out several hundred klm of riding involved so its been pretty interesting in fact its that interesting after watch a few of the clips i might buy one of those scooters myself...lol er..too late! unfortunately rain has stopped me completing the tests plus i lost some good gopro footage i have to re-do.

[@Andrew.D-S]

Where's part 5? - really good, Yammy is top notch but those indicators are a big selling point for this over crowded island- UK, and she purr once going, so Honda is my choice. Thank you!

[@ridewithwarro]

this clip was done well over a year ago... i sold both scooter due to no interest in the series in 2022 i decided to buy again and i chose the yamaha. 6 weeks after i bought it late last year the new 2023 model came out. i pre-order the 2023 and thats what i ride now. it has gps and digital dash my choice after riding them back to back was easily the yamaha

[@crosca82]

Is just me or the Yamaha looks like it has a better build quality overall?!?

[@ridewithwarro]

yamaha is the better scooter. not the most powerful but better

[@paulh7798]

That's reason I did not buy a Forza 350

[@ridewithwarro]

exactly!

[@johntucker469]

darn good review i noticed a cheesey fork om a scooter i have,,love the birds,, they sound happy

[@ridewithwarro]

yeah those birds are too happy...lol all 150 of them. both bikes have good and bad points and up coming testing will show as i have not been easy on scoots...lol but its a test and i have to test...lol

[@northernsummer5414]

Not impressed with the Forza front suspension at all, however, the company offer an ADV version with proper forks which looks good but looses out with a small wind screen. Be interested in your review of that machine?

[@ridewithwarro]

if your are taking the adv150 i bought one-worst bike ive been on .didnt worry about doing a clip and sold it fast! just bought another new xmax 399-far better bike

[@nathansoutbackfishing]

Awesome job legend keep it uo

[@ridewithwarro]

yo little bro! and all the best and keep safe from the flooding

[@nathansoutbackfishing]

@@ridewithwarro haha yep I sure will I am liking the subs at 148

[@ridewithwarro]

@@nathansoutbackfishing nice score and progressing well

[@nathansoutbackfishing]

@@ridewithwarro I sure am hoping to hit the 150 mark soon

[@justinbecker4976]

I'm thinking of upgrading my scooter from a Honda Click to the new 2022 Yamaha X-Max. It's not available to test ride yet, so not sure how much an upgrade it will actually be, but guessing quite a lot. Would you suggest the X-Max for a fun versatile city, country ride? I've been offered an amazing deal of 2016 Aerox which was used as a demo at the local dealership owned by my wife's family. They offered to give it to me for $300, but really like that beastly X-Max based on your videos.

[@ridewithwarro]

take the aerox and ride it for a month. tell them its got no power and trade it in on the xmax for a profit

[@hondanut7564]

the xmax looks better without the handle bar covers like the honda ADV and suits its design

[@ridewithwarro]

bit different thats for sure

[@owlteachereducation]

Another excellent review and insight into the two bikes. Very handy mate 👍 Subscribed

[@ridewithwarro]

Awesome, thank you!

[@owlteachereducation]

XMAX all the way@@ridewithwarro thanks to your review - most likely my next scoot.

[@demirbrk3023]

Honda suspension is more comfortable. İ have xmax i feel all detail at road

[@ridewithwarro]

maybe -you are wrong-i had both!

[@13260daniel]

Getting down to the nitty gritty ,nice job Warro, 👀 foward ,thanks Mate 👍👍

[@ridewithwarro]

Thanks 👍 yeah i've been riding both scooters like i stole them so the up coming test runs on the open road should be interesing

[@darkelf1000]

Dont like the honda setup...looks cheap.

[@ridewithwarro]

probably...lol

[@trevorturner7682]

Surprised at honda doing the handlebars like that anyway thanks for another interesting video 👍

[@ridewithwarro]

Thanks for watching! always good to take a look what goes on in the bikes

[@trevorturner7682]

@@ridewithwarro 👍

[@pietro8873]

Thanks man 👏👏👏

[@ridewithwarro]

all the best

[@barryheyder8938]

Very interesting vid thanx Warro I find in my Forza 350 that the front suspension seems too soft and bottoms out very easily Are you experiencing the same issue Not sure if they can put a heavier oil in the front shocks It’s still under warranty so might get them to check it out

[@ridewithwarro]

same here too. they dont handle bumps as good as a xmax300 -but saying that in thailand and here too one can get the yss front fork spring insert kit plus rear shocks too not cheap but can be bought

[@francescober]

I think that honda didn't care to make that handlebar adjustable and nice to see as NON ONE hase ever gave a fxx to adjust the handlebars on a scooter or even to remove the cover of it. it just desnt matter. different story the quality and geometry of the suspension itself where the yamaha seems to be beter.

[@ridewithwarro]

well the only reason i decided to pull both was after spending $20k to buy both scooters i had to go deeper to make the purchases worthwhile. that idea was painful and in the end both sold after the testing for $5k under prchase price...lo worse still the whole series of the scooter comparison raised roughly $45 in total in youtube ad revenue so scored ad there too...lol so its not liable to happen again. what i actually think is the 350 was poorly put together in the bar area compared to the yamaha and if buying again i'd go yamaha for just the build quality and suspension as its miles ahead in these areas

[@jameshearn8518]

Forza 300 and 350, wow the suspension is so so so bad. Wallows like a pig and at the same time insanely harsh and bike shakes violently. Been back to Honda dealer so many times, they are all like this. Solution is to fit Yss or gold cartridge emulators or just buy an xmax. The triple clamp system is much more robist for a Scooter of this weigh category. The Forza flexes and shakes from brand new on anything except Austrian quality roads. The xmax and tmax whilst also big fat and heavy, at least go in the direction you want with confidence. They still wallow due to orifice hole type damping which is prehistoric, but at least when you install a cartridge emulator the difference is amazing on the xmax. Rear end, choose anything you want, Yss, RCB, showa or profuma aftermarket with adjustable damper elements and you'll have an amazing maxi scooter. An absolute embarrassment that Honda think its ok to sell premium scooters at this price point with such garbage budget orifice hole single crown, flexible "suspension" , no wonder Europe sales a so low. Customers only get fooled once 😊

[@ridewithwarro]

always good to hear about improvement and fixes

[@royvelasco7729]

Now I know the difference between the two front suspension. Which one is better when riding? Looking forward to more informative comparison video. Thank you.

[@ridewithwarro]

xmax

[@royvelasco7729]

@@ridewithwarro Thank you for the reply. Ride safe.