HONDA FL-250
77-80
" It's rumored that
the Honda FL-250
originally started
on the design
table as
a snowmobile
design"
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Ramjet's Ride Report When you hop on this machine, it's unlike any ATV you've ever ridden. You really don't ride it, you drive it. It's extremely fast and can turn on a dime. It will also roll onto its side if you're not careful and control your speed and attack into a turn. I have a scar on my elbow to remind me how wicked this machine can be.
This Odyssey has an air cooled, 250cc, single piston, 2 cycle engine
that powers an automatic
The fiberglass body tub and fenders do a good job of keeping mother nature off of you but you can still take a good soaking when you blast through a mud hole and a wave of cold water and mud wash over you from the front. That's what makes Odyssey's such a blast. You can get into the down and dirty with the best of them. The Odyssey has enough guts to pull you just about out of anything you get yourself into. I buried mine up to the seat in a swamp with other four wheelers and I was the only one to escape. This Odyssey has an independent front suspension with small shocks that do a moderate job of absorbing the bumps and lumps on the trail. Where you are really punished is on the rear end. Honda had the theory that this Odyssey didn't need a rear suspension because of the balloon tires in the rear would absorb the majority of the shock. Well, Honda was wrong but I think I understand their reasoning. The pounding of the trail is transferred right to the fillings in your teeth. Try to take a jump and you'll bite your tongue! Sure, you can take a jump but the landing can be quite violent and you may bounce end over end. Short of not have reverse capabilities, it's probably on only thing about this Odyssey that you can complain about.
There appears to be little of note concerning mechanical changes in the Odyssey line from is debut in late 1976 to 1980. The only way to tell a model year is from the serial number on the rear part of the frame, a change of the color of the Odyssey decals and the position of the headlight. In 77 the headlight is mounted to the front bumper. In 1980, it moves to the top roll bar and Honda adds a heat shield to the back of a more padded seat. Also in 1980 Honda added rebound limiters to the rubber engine mounts to keep the engine from shaking so much while running and increased the output of the generator from 6 volt, 35 watt to 12V, 45 watt All in all, it's a really fun
machine, easy to maintain and still plenty of parts are available. I
would hesitate to purchase another one. No Reports Submitted |
1980 Brochure
