New to the site

[fatrat440]

Hi there,
New to the Spree scene and this site. Just got my first Spree a 1984 in red. Working on getting it running as it did not when I got it. Can anyone tell me a bit about them and what to look out for, what are the weak points of these scooters. I am a noob to Sprees, but NOT a noob to Honda's I currently own 5 Honda Express mopeds. And am a motorcycle mechanic.

[fatrat440]

another pic.

[fastplastic]

Things you should get for an 84 spree:
kicker cover (incase battery ever dies)
87 spree reeds (there better)
87 spree head and piston (i belive it was 87 that had the dome pistion correct me if iam wrong)
90/90 tires (they handle better and help with top speed)

[Wheelman-111]

Greetings:

Welcome to the site. I'm envious of that 2-stroke 'Zook Triple. Fairest sound in all the land...

Based on your ability to maintain that estimable relic in operating condition, you should have no trouble handling the Spree's "complexities". Mainly keeping the non-replaceable Pilot circuit in the carb clean, plus what FP suggested. I might amend the reeds issue; seek instead the successor model SB50 Elite "E" (the "E" is important...) reeds. It has been suggested that the larger 1985 NB50 Aero reeds can fit too.

The suggestion of 90/90 tires should also be corrected. It is my understanding that most brands of 2.75x10 tires fit without issues, but 3.00x10s do present some challenges. This suggests that a 90/90 flat-out isn't going to fit. I have read instances where Forumista have successfully spooned on some 80/90s, but no direct experience here.

There's a lot of Honda and other scooter brand information at The MotorScooter Guide. Browse the Technical Documents on this HSN and feel free to ax questions, after you spend some time reading up.

[bradthreee]

Nice clean Spree as well as some other toys in the garage.

As Wheelman stated, the carb is the main culprit on non running Sprees. Also the Air intake system is very delicate when it comes to changes being made to it. Also I always hear about leaky oil pumps.

If 30mph seems to be just too slow... "Dude swap in a Dio" and dont waste your time and $$$ trying to squeeze an extra 5 mph out of it.

[fatrat440]

Thanks to everyone for the welcome.
Wheelman, The bike your seeing in the picture happens to ba a 1975 Suzuki GT380. Yep it's a two stroke triple. When it was brought to me it haden't run in 20 plus years and was a mess. The carbs were torn apart and ignition was in pieces. But it's now a rideable fun machine. There were of course a lot of other issues with that bike. But getting to ride a triple was so worth the Nightmare.
If the "pilot" circut in the carbs is anything like the Express carbs I already know how to keep it clean, and get it unpugged.
Where can I find a kicker cover and what years/models were they used on that will fit my 84?
Thanks again.

[bradthreee]

Kicker Covers came on 1986-1987 Sprees.

[Edit: In addition to the cover and kickstart mechanism, you may need the different outer front pulley that features little "Castle" knobs that engage the kickstart spindle. The non-kix pulleys are knobless]

[zuphilius]

Just a question, is it an Iowa Spree? Looks to be from the badging. More work there de-restricting.

Nice collection!

[Bear45-70]

As for fastplastic's suggestion of installing an '87 piston and head. Just change the piston and keep your present head. The early, 1984 and '85 Spree had a dished piston and a smaller cc head, while the 1986 and '87 had a domed piston and a larger cc head. So you change the piston and keep the smaller cc head, there by boosting your compression for a little extra power. All Spree's need all the power they can get and the piston change is a good one.

[fatrat440]

Thanks for the info on the kick start cover.
Just got it running today, basically was the carb at fault, typical of these older bikes that sit. Had to pull the pilot circut tube as it was clogged, good thing I had a spare from an Express carb as I ruined it when pulling it out.
zuphilius, thanks, yes it's an Iowa spree. And is running right about 25-26mph. Iowa had a law back then that stated mopeds and 50cc bikes could not go faster than 25mph, so we here in Iowa get the slow ones. Might do some speed mods, but for now just happy it's running good. Really the only thing it needs is a new battery.

[Eft37]

Welcome to the forum!
Do I spy an 1982 Urban Express in the background? and is that an 1983 park next to the 82?
Where are you located?

[fatrat440]

Eft37, Yes you see an 82 Urban. Actually, there are two of them. Red one is an Iowa, Kick start only, Silver one is an Urban deluxe. Also in the pic are my Express' A nice orange 77, green 78 with an 81 engine on it, yellow 78, and a blue 81. All run and all are titled. I'm in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

[Eft37]

Urban Express is my favorite scooter.
I want one so bad! If you want to drive one up to Chicago I'd trade you for my SB50...

anyways, welcome!

[fastplastic]

Bear, from the results of spreetards experiment with the 84 head swap on his 87 it was very high compression and was giving him some phantom noises which suggested it might not have been the best way to go, but he did end up destroying his crank bearings after he switched back to the 87 head again so..... bearings where bad before or became bad after idk but its an opinion

[fatrat440]

Eft37, whats an SB50?