The Honda Forza after 4000 miles

My take of whats good and needs fixing with the Honda Forza 350

[TheOGForkinCrazy]

Honda ADV 350 got the TFT screen and the better? Forks and rear shocks, wider handle bars. The Forza 350 got the adjustable electric screen and the indicator/mirror stems.

[rockape]

I have been riding motorcycles of one type or another since 1969!
In 1971 I had my first real reliable bike to take and pass my motorcycle test. in the early years the instruments were only a nuetral light, some indicator repeaters and a high beam light, a speedo and a tacho and a trip mileometer and an odometer ... that's it. ... oh we had a choke as well back in those days and a fuel tap we had to turn on manually!

You zero'd your tacho when you filled up and if you got your sums wrong you had a reserve position on the tap to get you a few more miles.

Now in all those years I've been riding without illuminated controls and only last year I bought a KTM 890 that has illuminated switches. The left one has the joy pad and the indicators... the light switch is on the front of the switch body so its behind the switch body, so its pointless being illuminated. the right hand switch body is also back lit I dont know why, its basically just a starter kill switch. Not something you are constantly reaching for in the dark !

Anyhoo I cant see the real advantage of having so many idiot lights facing towards you and having back-lights is just unnecessary. You get a good feel for your controls...

What next? lights for foot cotrols !


Back lit switches are nice but totally un-necessary. I have a BMW GS1200 Adv as well and it doesn't have any... it has loads of other widgets.

Another thing I think is totally unnecessary on a motorcycle is keyless entry!

Progress huh! ;) you have to laugh!

[sunrisejak]

The "sister" bike to the Forza 350 is the ADV 350 on the same platform and it has a TFT screen instead of the "clocks". A bit less weather protection but better suspension supporting the "adventure" intention. But alas no backlit switchgear.

[mariopires]

I have a blue Forza 350 since May (4500 kms done) and I could not be more in agreement with your observations. I'd put together two more things that the Zontes 310 has and are missing in the Forza 350. A complimentary light under the seat and the indication of the tire pressure on the screen.
I did a test drive with Zontes even before buying the Honda and liked it a lot. One of the disadvantages is to have only room for a helmet under the seat. In the other, it's a shiny scooter.
I often see your videos and i really appreciate the landscapes of the English countryside and the good accompanying music. I hope it continues. Thank you.

[petersh]

Headlamp adjuster is under the headlamp above the front mudguard.
Section on it in the owners handbook. Picture is very poor but it is there.
My own Forza headlamp is great!

[wildnfrantic]

Enjoyed the review and currently looking at a Forza 350, but the Burgman 400 keeps popping into my thoughts - no thrills, I know, but I kind of like that as less to go wrong

[danielthomas]

Buy a Ducati if you want handle bar grip lights

[tonykehoe]

Just watched your latest video. After seeing you eyeing almost every scooter at the NEC last November I'd assumed you were thinking of jumping ship but am pleased to see that, overall, you're pleased with the Forza now that you've sorted the seat ( and rear suspension). As I said when we spoke I left the seat of my SYM Joymax 300 with P & P for remodeling AND gel pads cos it was like badly shaped concrete and am happy to say they appear to have done good job. You're right to let Big H know they've " missed the boat " because the Chinese competitors are certainly nipping at their heels 👠. Please keep the vids coming and maybe when the snow and salt are gone we could even meet up on a maxi-scooter-only trip out. Cheers, Tony.

[benreno]

I personally like a nice big analogue Speedo and Rev counter. But you're right about the illuminated switches on the Zontes. They ought to be standard. How much can it cost for a dozen small, white LEDs? Pennies, surely?

It might be a nice little project to set up a few low powered LEDs just near the controls, coming off the handlebars so you can see everything. Difficult to make look good, but possibly a fun idea.

[TheOGForkinCrazy]

Ps... I have got a Forza 350 arriving Friday next week and i can't wait. The excitement is real 😁😁😁

[dannyvan]

hi barry manny thanks for dis good revieuw . grts from belgium from danny

[marcusgeorge]

After 4000 miles surely the switch gear simply easily falls to hand meaning backlit switch gear isn’t necessary. Your headlights can be adjusted as per most. Forget anything from Kymco as I sell both of these (and several other scooter brands) licensed from each factory.

[gregory]

after riding bikes for over 50 years, I have never, ever, seen a bike with illuminated controls..

[donlive]

The screen is as is to stop you trying to use it while driving .. after driving for 4000 miles you should know all the switches by now without the need to look day or night.. in saying that no maxi scooter out there is perfect sadly.. however honda does need to work on the seats for all the newer bikes... I'm thinking of a bike again and I have looked at everything from this to deauville.. the Forza looks to have the best of everything for me.. so hopefully one day I will have a 350.. good luck and be safe

[jonathanmellish]

I am very interested in your comments on the Forza. I quite like the old fashioned dials but i certainly take your point with the backlit buttons. Other reviews have mentioned poor suspension on this model but i don’t hear you mention it here. Subscribed.

[dannyvan]

dear barry , I live in the flamisch part of belgium, the nord, thanks for the translation, hope to see you soon, on another revieuw grts danny

[Nooziterp]

Rather than splash out £225 was it on a comfort seat get a gel seat pad. I don't know how much they are at the moment but it will be a lot less than 225 quid.

[ivancuslovic]

In my opinion, you have to be intuitive familiar with switches, like pedals in the car...its dangerous to search switches by your vision. You sound to me like you have 4 miles on that bike, instead 4000 miles. Especialy with controls like, beams, turn signals, horn. All other gadgets are unimportant in heavy conditions like dark! Greetings from old rider!

[IrelandRider]

I'd love to know if you've actually rode the zontes 310m scooter and if so, do you prefer it over the forza? Honest opinion as I'm looking to get one or the other. 🤙👍

[AndREDraut]

02:20 - how hungry must you be to do a 11 minutes video and not be able to wait with eating until the end of the video just joking 😜. I bought the 2023 model in red color. I will get it in about 2 weeks. Have a SH125 at the moment and wanted something more weatherproof and comfortable. The adjustable windshield is great. No lights on the buttons: well this never was a problem for me, normally, you will know the location of the important buttons without having to look at them, otherwise it will also be dangerous during daylight if you need to look at the buttons each time.