Alright, so let me tell you about this 1988 Honda Elite 50SE I got my hands on. It wasn’t like I was actively searching for one, you know? It just sort of… happened. I was poking around online, looking at old bikes, the usual time-wasting stuff, and this little scooter popped up. The pictures weren’t great, looked a bit sad, honestly. But the price? Let’s just say it was tempting enough for me to go take a look.
First Impressions and the “Plan”
When I saw it in person, “sad” was an understatement. It was definitely all there, which was a plus, but covered in a layer of dust that looked like it had settled since the early 90s. The guy selling it was an older fella, said it was his kid’s back in the day and it “ran when parked.” Famous last words, right? My grand plan was simple: quick clean-up, get it running, maybe flip it for a small profit, or just have a laugh buzzing around the neighborhood. Easy peasy, I thought.
Famous. Last. Words.
Getting Down to Business
So, I got it back to my garage. First things first, I wanted to see if there was any life in it. Hooked up a new battery, turned the key… nothing. Not even a click. Okay, no big surprise there. I figured the starter was probably seized or the wiring was shot. I decided to start with the basics: fuel and spark.
- Fuel System: Pulled the fuel line off the carb. Bone dry. Tapped the tank, sounded hollow. I took the carb off, and boy, oh boy. That thing was a mess. It looked like someone had filled it with ancient, syrupy gunk. I must have spent a solid two evenings just carefully taking it apart, soaking bits in cleaner, and scrubbing with tiny brushes until my fingers were sore. The fuel tank itself wasn’t too rusty inside, thankfully, just full of old, evaporated fuel residue. Flushed it out real good.
- Spark: New spark plug, obviously. Checked for spark against the engine block – got a nice healthy blue spark! Okay, that was a good sign. At least the ignition system seemed to be doing its job.
After getting the carb cleaned and reinstalled, and fresh fuel in the tank, I gave it a kick. And another. And another. My leg was starting to get tired. I was about ready to throw a wrench across the garage. Then, after what felt like a hundred kicks, it coughed. Just a little sputter, but it was something! A few more kicks, and it actually started! Smoked like crazy for a bit, burning off whatever was left in the exhaust, but it ran. I was so chuffed, you wouldn’t believe it.
The “Little Things” That Add Up
Getting it running was one thing, but making it rideable and, well, not an eyesore, was another. This is where my “quick flip” idea started to go out the window.
Tires: The tires were original. You could tell. Hard as rocks and cracked all over. Definitely not safe. Finding the right size for these old scooters can sometimes be a pain, but I managed to track down a decent pair online. Changing them out wasn’t too bad, thankfully.
Brakes: The brakes felt super spongy. Bled them, and the fluid that came out was… well, it wasn’t pretty. Looked like coffee. Fresh fluid made a world of difference.
Plastics and Cosmetics: This was the real time sink. The SE model, the Special Edition, has some specific bits and bobs. The plastics were faded, scratched, and one of the side panels had a nasty crack. Finding replacement plastics for a scooter this old, in good condition, without paying a fortune? Good luck with that. I ended up spending a lot of time very carefully plastic welding the crack, then an eternity sanding, priming, and painting. I’m no professional painter, but it came out looking a heck of a lot better than it did. It’s not perfect, but it’s got character, right?
And then there were all the other little bits: a new air filter, some of the rubber hoses were perished, a couple of bulbs were out. You know how it is. Every time I fixed one thing, I’d spot two more that needed attention. My little weekend project turned into a few weeks of tinkering in the evenings and on weekends.
Was It Worth It?
So, here we are. The little 1988 Honda Elite 50SE is running, stopping, and looking pretty respectable for its age. Did I flip it for a quick profit? Nah. By the time I was done, I’d kind of gotten attached to the little rascal. It’s not fast, it’s not fancy, but there’s something undeniably cool about bringing an old machine like this back to life with your own two hands.
I spent more time and probably a bit more money than I initially planned, but that’s just how these projects go, isn’t it? You start with one idea, and it just sort of evolves. I learned a lot, cursed a bit, but mostly had a good time. And now, I’ve got a quirky little piece of 80s nostalgia to zip around on when the mood strikes. Plus, the satisfaction of saying, “Yeah, I got that old thing running again” – you can’t really put a price on that.
