2002 Honda Reflex 250 - Motorcycle.com

Scooters have, and will be, the most efficient means of mass-produced, internal combustion propulsion around. Combining tiny engines with tiny frames equals light weight and low materials costs. Surely a recipe for success during an era of frugal spending.

Unfortunately, scooters have not had much success in the the United States. The teeny-tiny 50 cc scooters have been more form-accessory than a functional tool. Larger scooters have received cult-like status from their loyal followers, but manufacturers have been reluctant to import the stylish, modern machines to the U.S. for fear of low sales and show rooms flooded with 50 mph scooters while sport bikes and cruisers fly past at astounding rates.

Which brings us back to the core of the matter. The Honda Reflex 250 is a scooter. It is stylish while being quite functional at the same time. Handling felt solid while still having enough pep to out-accelerate standard four-wheel traffic. Offering good mileage (a little over 120 miles on about 2.5 out of 3.2 gallons of gas, at an average speed of 78 mph) and good ergonomics to boot, you'd wonder why scooters like these haven't taken off.

"The tail section utilizes a very car-like setup that garnered supportive comments from onlookers and riders alike."

Before the Reflex was the Helix and, let's face it people, as functional as the Helix was, it wasn't going to win any beauty contests. Thankfully, the Reflex changes all that. Many onlookers thought the styling was decidedly Italian. The twin headlights up front are wired like those on the RC-51. When approaching from the front of the machine, the right lamp stays lit for low beam operation, and when the high beam is activated, the left bulb lights up. Integrated front turn signals are very VFR-esque and compliment the angular lines of the nose.

The tail section utilizes a very car-like setup that garnered supportive comments from onlookers and riders alike. The aluminum wrap-around grab rail resembles a wing and adds to the "wedge" styling that is currently all the rage among the automotive set.

Another car-like attribute is the parking brake. Actuated by a dash-mounted lever, the parking brake locks the rear wheel. This prevents the scooter from rolling away while parked on an incline. This function is only useful when used with the side stand. In keeping with the car theme, the tail light section was based off the units found on the S2000, Honda's sporty two seater.

Equipped with three storage compartments, the Reflex became the vehicle of choice for beverage and snack runs throughout its stay. On the left side of the dash is a small compartment that's perfect for keys and other small odds and ends. Underneath the dash, directly in front of the rider's knees, is a very wide, lockable, seven liter glove box. Although only deep in two places (the steering stem gets in the way), it is still large enough to store gloves, a cell phone, wallet and other sundry items.

"We found the seat to be comfortable enough that one of our testers even rode it down to San Diego."

If you still need more room, the under-seat storage space is cavernous. A twelver of your favorite canned beverage will fit easily while still leaving room enough for a large bag of chips. The key slot is located on the left quarter panel below the seat. When placed on its center-stand on a level surface, the spring actuated seat will fully deploy on its own while a small interior light activates, thus enabling superior night-time visibility. And yes, a full-face helmet easily fits within the massive 33 liter confines.

We found the seat to be comfortable enough that one of our testers even rode it down to San Diego (that's how we found out about the gas mileage) with only one problem -- lower back pain. The rear suspension isn't really set up for long-distance, high-speed highway touring.

Not that this is a bad thing however, as the suspension is set up perfectly for the tight city work this bike is designed for. Negotiating pot holes, broken asphalt -- even curbs (going down, not up!) -- are not a problem for this scooter.

However, there is nothing to prevent you from taking the Reflex on longer journeys. With Gold Wing-like wind protection and decent storage space, the Reflex is well equipped to handle triple digit distances in the saddle. However, be forewarned. The three stage transmission does not favor the high speed cruising that the engine is readily capable of. We found typical highway cruising to have the engine at red-line, while the two other stages were perfect for traffic conditions. Perhaps a four stage transmission is in order?

And when you need to stop, don't worry about the brakes as the two disc brakes (one 240 mm disc up front, one 220 mm out back) can easily haul the machine down from speed without any troubles. Equipped with a triple piston caliper up front and a single piston caliper out back, the Combined Braking System assures that maximum braking efficiency is reached quickly.

When the front brake lever (the one on the right) is squeezed, the two outer pistons on the front caliper activate. When the rear brake lever (the one on the left) is depressed, the inner piston on the front caliper and the single rear piston activate in the rear. When only the rear brake is applied, a delay valve assures smooth operation.

If you are so inclined, you can even get the Reflex with an ABS option. This system is similar to other Honda systems. It uses an electric modulator to deliver the rapid brake pulses necessary for smooth ABS engagement. The system is controlled via a self-diagnosing integrated electronic control unit. However, our non-ABS equipped model stopped far better than anticipated. Locking up the rear wheel proved far more difficult than originally anticipated, as the delay valve proved very effective at transferring braking power appropriately.

In hindsight, perhaps we should recant our feelings about the transmission. The Reflex is still a scooter, and convenience and negotiating "city" situations are its primary reasons for existence. It just so happens that it can also be used for longer ranges without much fuss. The Reflex proved extremely useful to us in our daily routine. Who will find use for the Reflex in the real world? People who live close to their work or school, people who's routine finds them spending lots of time in congested areas or people who just want a way to ride a sporty, functional motorcycle without dealing with a clutch and transmission.