Honda's iconic 80s microscooter returns with an all-electric design

[Shawn Knight]

In a nutshell: Honda has introduced a modern e-scooter that draws inspiration from a design first seen more than 40 years ago. The new Motocompacto is an all-electric take on the Motocompo, a compact scooter produced by Honda from 1981 through 1983. The original was foldable and designed to fit in the truck of subcompact Hondas, with a design that was truly unique even for the early 80s.

Honda's latest scooter features a soft seat, secure foot pegs, a digital speedometer, integrated storage, a charge gauge, and a carrying handle. It boasts a maximum speed of 15 mph, 11.8 lb-ft of torque, and a range of up to 12 miles, and can be fully charged in 3.5 hours using a standard 110v plug that can be stowed onboard.

The new Motocompacto measures 29.2 in x 21.1 in x 3.7 when folded (38.1 in x 35.0 in x 17.2 in unfolded and ready to ride mode) and weighs 41.3 pounds. It's not exactly light, but is far more portable than the original Motocompo which tipped the scales at 99 pounds wet. A companion smartphone app can connect to the scooter via Bluetooth and allow you to adjust settings including ride modes and lighting.

Honda says it is ideal for quickly getting around cityscapes or college campuses, and is a great first- and last-mile solution.

Nick Ziraldo, project lead and design engineering unit leader at Honda Development and Manufacturing of America, said the scooter was designed with durability and security in mind. It uses a heat-treated aluminum frame and wheels as well as a bright LED headlight and taillight, side reflectors and had a steel lock loop welded on that is compatible with most bike locks.

What are your thoughts? If I weren't already familiar with the early 80s Motocompo, I'd question why anyone would want to ride around on something resembling an oversized credit card. Either way, nostalgia is real and you can bet Honda is banking on that to sell a solid percentage of units.

Honda's Motocompacto goes on sale this November priced at $995 and will be available to order online and at your local Acura or Honda dealer.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/100155-honda-iconic-80s-microscooter-returns-all-electric-design.html

 

[VitalyT]

Looks like an SD card on wheels.

 

[brunocasarini]

F#$%ing ugly.

 

[EdmondRC]

How can you say that it can go 15mph if the range is less than 15 miles? Seems to me it would take at least 4.5 hours to go 15 miles considering you have to stop and charge it for 3.5 hours to make it the last 3 miles. Well, you'd have to charge it at least 1 hour I guess to get 25% charge to make it the last three miles.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Looks like an SD card on wheels.

Missed marketing opportunity. Bring out a floppy disk paint scheme!

How can you say that it can go 15mph if the range is less than 15 miles? Seems to me it would take at least 4.5 hours to go 15 miles considering you have to stop and charge it for 3.5 hours to make it the last 3 miles. Well, you'd have to charge it at least 1 hour I guess to get 25% charge to make it the last three miles.

15 miles is pathetic. You can get electric scooters not much bigger then this that push over 50 miles. This one is too big/heavy to store indoors or take with you, so why own this over any of the better options out there?

 

[RudyBob]

Looks like an SD card on wheels.

I thought suitcase

 

[Dunkerton]

How can you say that it can go 15mph if the range is less than 15 miles? Seems to me it would take at least 4.5 hours to go 15 miles considering you have to stop and charge it for 3.5 hours to make it the last 3 miles. Well, you'd have to charge it at least 1 hour I guess to get 25% charge to make it the last three miles.

edmond doesn't understand what a rate is.... lol jk, I see your point. what a short battery life!

 

[BuckarooBonzaii]

My game console on wheels. So where's the party?

 

[EdmondRC]

edmond doesn't understand what a rate is.... lol jk, I see your point. what a short battery life!

A measure of velocity, yeah I get it, but it does suggest that in one hour you can be 15 miles away. BUT... In one hour you'll be stuck 12 miles away charging your batteries, hopefully you are near an outlet!

 

[takaozo]

They had enough room to fit a bigger battery or use the sides to fit some solar cells. But like any Honda a niche product.

 

[Nandiman]

Awwww... so cute. Tiny bike go vrooom. (Technically it doesn't go vroom, 'cause it's electric, but you get my point)

 

[Bobbydpue]

How can you say that it can go 15mph if the range is less than 15 miles? Seems to me it would take at least 4.5 hours to go 15 miles considering you have to stop and charge it for 3.5 hours to make it the last 3 miles. Well, you'd have to charge it at least 1 hour I guess to get 25% charge to make it the last three miles.

I'm pretty sure you know the answer, but I'll bite. You don't need to drive a 100 miles to drive 100 miles per hour.

 

[Bobbydpue]

They had enough room to fit a bigger battery or use the sides to fit some solar cells. But like any Honda a niche product.

What would the very tiny solar cells do? It takes 3.5 hours of charging on a home power outlet two solars cells that small wouldn't produce more than 20 watts of power.

 

[EdmondRC]

I'm pretty sure you know the answer, but I'll bite. You don't need to drive a 100 miles to drive 100 miles per hour.

Does a fastball have to go 100 miles to move at a velocity of 100mph? People need to be a little less serious sometimes. The point is it only has a range of 12 miles and so therefore to make it 15 miles away would take you far more than one hour. As a measure of time/distance it cannot go 15 miles in one hour. Dare I say it was an attempt to be comical.

 

[ScottSoapbox]

15 mph!?!

My $300 razor scooter can do 18 mph.