Back road scratcher?
Head out of the city and the SH takes on a new persona, that mild-mannered commuter likes to let its hair down now and again. Back road scratching, corner hunting fun is the name of the game. The Honda loves bends, the Metzeler Feelfree tyres are designed specifically for high-performance scooters and they stick well in the wet or dry. The 130/70-16 rear gives you the confidence to enjoy yourself. I loved every mile on the SH but twisty country roads were where it comes alive. Bikers really need to give a half decent scooter a try, the more you ride them the more fun you’ll have. They may not have supersonic top speeds but that doesn’t dilute the fun. Get one out on to a decent stretch of road with a rider who likes to enjoy him, or herself and you’ll realise you’ve been missing a trick by sticking to a bike with more power and potential than most riders will ever be able to do justice. Riding scooters quickly is where the real fun is…
Passenger comfort
Looking at the SH I wouldn’t instantly think of it as a two’s-up weekend away scooter but my passenger is always the first to let me know if she’s not happy. Heading down to Devon for a last-minute dash to a scooter rally was the first time she’d been on-board. It was a cold Saturday morning, in fact despite it being the end of April when we tested it, we ended up riding through a blizzard and plenty of rain but she was quite happy on the back.
The stepped dual seat is roomy and comfortable, without being overly high. The pegs are well positioned so she could reach them easily enough and she didn’t moan, always a bonus. She covered 500 miles on the back for a night out, no complaints. That’s almost unheard of, so that makes the SH a great scooter for a weekend away, albeit with limitations on luggage space. Extra space can be added though if need be.