Honda X8R-S Tunnig

[jbastos]

Hi, I'm new here and I was looking for some help.
My knowledge on mechanics is very little so I weas hopping if someone could help on this.
I have a Honda X8R-S (SZX50) from 2001, and I was looking improve it's performance, but again, I know nothing when it comes to mechanics.
What shoud I buy first, and does it have some dependencies.

Thanks in advance.
João Bastos from Portugal.

[Deleted]

You have great scooter in there. If the top speed is about 30 mph (45kmh), it's original. So there are those normal restrictions in variator boss that keeps belt low, limits gearing, and the cone in the root of the exhaust pipe for limited rpm. If you remove these derestrictions, you have to make small change to main jet for bigger.

[ThaiGyro]

Hello Joao, asterix is correct. Great scooter! The first things are quite common to those engines. The exhaust pipe has a restricter in the inlet head pipe, limiting exhaust gas flow and therefore power. Might be easy enough to drill out using a 20mm hole saw and careful grinding with a Dremel tool, something like this:



The next easy fix would be to find a "de-restricted" ignition box. Your has an rpm limiter, not allowing full use. IT will look similar to this:



Note, ignore the words "racing". In some cases, the CDI boxes are mapped for slightly different timing curves. Just stick to basics...No RPM limiter or wider rpm range, say to 10,000. I get them fairly cheap in SE Asia. You may not be so lucky in Europe. Plug and play, easy enough.

The X8-RS has a rather small variator pulley. You can find a larger one and longer belt for cheap enough. Polini makes one for your Honda, I am sure others as well. There is a test you can easily perform. (Listed here somewhere, there are great pictures) As asterix stated, you may also have a speed limiting spacer, not sure.

Your variater and clutch is under the left cover:



With the cover off, looks similar to this Tao Tao:




Try that for starters. The above changes should get you a bit more usable power and maybe 40 mph. (64kph) That is assuming a good running and tuned engine. You will have to go to a bigger main jet and make some tiny carb adjustments. Not hard, but take the time to learn. The answers are all here on this forum.

[jbastos]

Hi,
Im suprised, because right now it averages a top speed of 44 mph on a downhill and 41 mph on a straight road.
I bought it second handed and I noticed the previous owner made some holes on the back of exhaust (i dont if it makes a difference or not).
 

Probably the first thing I would change is the "cdi" or ignition box (it's the same right?), althoguth I read somewhere online that if I changed the cdi I would need to change other parts to, like the spark plugs.

Do you think that should be the first thing to do?

Btw Is this one www.racing-planet.co.uk/naraku-racing-peugeot-kymco-honda-p-550-1.html#.XM2tGuhKiUk suitable for my honda?
Thanks in andvance.