Today's Commute: Honda Metropolitan CH50

Meep meep!

We're supposed to have one more day of temperatures in the 80's today before plunging back into the 50's and rain for the foreseeable future. That sounds like a great day to get this little thing out and about.

The Metropolitan has all the charm of a Vespa but since it's made by Honda it actually starts every time you press the button, and the electrical components never come over all Italian. This one is from the last model year before they all went two-tone, and has a fuel injected (!) GY6 engine with 49cc's, generating a whopping 4 horsepower. It's like Baby's First Motorcycle, with a full compliment of handlebar controls identical in layout to a full size motorcycle: High and low beams, turn signals, a horn, and a giant retro dial speedometer with a digital odometer, trip counter, and clock in it.

This is a twist-and-go machine with no manual clutch. The clutch is centrifugal, built into the little belt driven CVT transmission. Thus both levers on the handlebars are brakes. The brakes are cable actuated and linked, so one lever can brake both wheels. Although, each one does favor one wheel or the other a little more -- The layout is like a bicycle, and the left lever is biased towards the front wheel while the right lever is biased towards the rear.

My state classifies it as a "moped." Tru fax about that, regarding the laws where I live:

• You don't need a motorcycle license to ride one.
• Registration is $5 for 5 years, and they give you a teeny little license plate to put on it.
• No insurance is required. Just pay your 5 bucks, put gas in it, and go.
• The law considers it a motor vehicle and a bicycle at the same time. It is legal to park this on the sidewalk or in a bike rack, and also roll it down bike paths -- provided the engine is off at the time. (Tough since it doesn't have pedals, but not impossible if you can find a suitable hill.)
• Operation on public roads is permitted, but not interstates or controlled access highways.

Also:

• This son of a bitch gets 117 MPG.

And yes, you can make it do a wheelie if you stand on the rear grab bar. I haven't been able to make it pull off a stoppie yet. I think the brakes and tires are too dinky. The realistic top speed is about 37, until you find your first hill. The speedometer is marked up to 40.