{"id":31664,"date":"2023-11-09T10:53:42","date_gmt":"2023-11-09T14:53:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=31664"},"modified":"2023-11-09T10:57:07","modified_gmt":"2023-11-09T14:57:07","slug":"payne-hondas-motocompacto-is-an-e-scooter-in-a-box","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2023\/11\/payne-hondas-motocompacto-is-an-e-scooter-in-a-box","title":{"rendered":"Payne: Honda&#8217;s Motocompacto is an e-scooter in a box"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><em>Pontiac<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 If the Tesla Model 3 is like riding a smartphone on four wheels, then the Honda Motocompacto is like riding a briefcase on two wheels.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The scooter is a clever reboot of the company\u2019s famed, compact Motocompo bike of the early 1980s. Updated for the trendy electric age, Motocompacto is e-motor driven compared to its two-cycle-engine-powered forefather.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">It\u2019s aimed at \u201clast milers\u201d \u2014 urban dwellers with a short commute to work in bike lanes; Europeans whose gas cars have been banned from the inner city and need transport from parking lot-to-office; small town\/college residents for daily rounds, and so on. At 29\u201d long x 21\u201d tall x 4\u201d wide, the foldable, suitcase-sized scooter can be plugged into your car lighter for a full range of 12 miles.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2023\/11\/01\/PDTN\/71401593007-honda-motocompacto-payne.jpg?width=990&amp;height=633&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" width=\"512\" height=\"327\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Naturally, Honda larded Moto\u2019s rollout with green-speak. \u201cThe zero-emissions Motocompacto . . . greatly reduces (riders&#8217;) carbon footprint while offering great convenience,\u201d preached press materials. That sermon is hard to square with Motocompacto\u2019s assembly at a Chinese factory burning coal from plants owned by the Chinese Communist Party.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<div id=\"ad-slot-7103-mi-detroit-C1561-native-article_link-money-autos-2\" class=\"gnt_x_sl gnt_x_al\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"lazyLoadX\"><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Better to just tout Motocompacto\u2019s affordability thanks to Chinese sourcing. The e-scooter costs a\u00a0<em>very<\/em>\u00a0approachable $995 ($1,500 less than the original when adjusted for inflation) and weighs 40 pounds. However, the dealer destination fee is $149.25 which makes the real price 1,144.25. Want it shipped to your home? That&#8217;ll set you back another $250 or so.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2023\/11\/01\/PDTN\/71406550007-honda-motocompacto-riders.jpg?width=660&amp;height=468&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"Honda Motocompacto is designed for use in bike lanes in urban areas.\" width=\"511\" height=\"362\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2023\/11\/01\/PDTN\/71406550007-honda-motocompacto-riders.jpg?width=660&amp;height=468&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2023\/11\/01\/PDTN\/71406550007-honda-motocompacto-riders.jpg?width=1320&amp;height=936&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"Honda Motocompacto is designed for use in bike lanes in urban areas.\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"Honda Motocompacto is designed for use in bike lanes in urban areas.\" data-c-credit=\"Edgar Reyes, Honda\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Put it under the Christmas tree for your college student for the same price as a laptop. They can\u2019t ride a laptop around campus. Some assembly required:<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">1) Set Motocompacto kickstand.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">2) Press the rear button and the stem and handlebars swing upwards out of the case. Lock the stem in place.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<div id=\"ad-slot-7103-mi-detroit-C1561-native-article_link-money-autos-3\" class=\"gnt_x_sl gnt_x_al\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"lazyLoadX\" data-x-c=\"2\"><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">3) Swivel the handlebars into riding position. Lock in place.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">4) Extract seat from suitcase. Lock and secure in place.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">5) Unlock the rear wheel with a side latch. Secure latch. Swivel out the foot pegs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">6) Strap on your bike helmet and you&#8217;re ready to riiiide.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2023\/11\/01\/PDTN\/71401594007-honda-motocompacto-handle.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"The Honda Motocompacto e-Scooter weighs 40 pouns and can be carried by a handle.\" width=\"502\" height=\"283\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2023\/11\/01\/PDTN\/71401594007-honda-motocompacto-handle.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2023\/11\/01\/PDTN\/71401594007-honda-motocompacto-handle.jpg?width=1320&amp;height=744&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"The Honda Motocompacto e-Scooter weighs 40 pouns and can be carried by a handle.\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"The Honda Motocompacto e-Scooter weighs 40 pouns and can be carried by a handle.\" data-c-credit=\"Henry Payne, The Detroit News\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">A 6\u20195\u201d giraffe like me asks ergonomic questions right away. Questions like: Can the seat be raised like a bicycle? Unfortunately, that answer is no, and so I folded myself onto the low throne with knees and elbows akimbo.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Operation is similar to a motorbike with a right-handle accelerator lever and left-handle brake. I poked the ON button, selected Mode 2 for drive, thumbed the accelerator, and I was off around M1 Concourse\u2019s parking lot. The electric acceleration is typically brisk, but the top speed is a manageable 15 mph. Despite my size, Motocompacto was balanced, smooth and simple to brake to a stop.<\/p>\n<aside id=\"gnt_atomsnc\" class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_anc\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"loadAnc\" aria-label=\"Newsletter signup form\">\n<div class=\"label\" hidden=\"\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"message\">\n<div class=\"title\">Get the\u00a0<span class=\"highlight\">Michigan Politics<\/span>\u00a0newsletter in your inbox.<\/div>\n<p class=\"description\">Washington and Lansing, red and blue, we&#8217;ve got your government covered.<\/p>\n<div class=\"frequency\">Delivery: Daily<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"input-container populated\">\n<p><input autocomplete=\"off\" name=\"email\" required=\"\" type=\"email\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"clickable\"><\/div>\n<p><label>Your Email<\/label><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"bar\">\n<div class=\"highlight\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"progress-primary\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"progress-secondary\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">My size was an advantage in carrying Motocompacto around after I folded it up to briefcase size. Forty pounds is heavy \u2014 just 10 pounds shy of the max carry-on for an airplane \u2014 which suited my giant levers. Indeed, the Honda\u2019s 265-pound weight limit means it can be ridden by big human beings. Wee Mrs. Payne, at 5\u20195\u201d, is the perfect size to fit on the scooter, but would struggle hauling it up to an office in, say, downtown Detroit. Happily, she can push it around upright on two wheels like a bicycle by extending the stem. Who knows? \u00a0Maybe an after-market shop will come up with a clever strap \u2018n\u2019 rollers so you can drag it around on its side like a suitcase.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2023\/11\/01\/PDTN\/71401595007-honda-motocompacto-trunk.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"The Honda Motocompacto e-Scooter is easy to fold into a briefcase size. Then store and charge in your trunk.\" width=\"449\" height=\"253\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2023\/11\/01\/PDTN\/71401595007-honda-motocompacto-trunk.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2023\/11\/01\/PDTN\/71401595007-honda-motocompacto-trunk.jpg?width=1320&amp;height=744&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"The Honda Motocompacto e-Scooter is easy to fold into a briefcase size. Then store and charge in your trunk.\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"The Honda Motocompacto e-Scooter is easy to fold into a briefcase size. Then store and charge in your trunk.\" data-c-credit=\"Henry Payne, The Detroit News\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Speaking of carry-ons, don\u2019t plan on checking Motocompacto onto an airplane since it contains lithium-ion batteries. Store your necessities into a backpack, and the e-Honda is excellent urban transit.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Its size is ideal for an office cubicle where you fill it to full charge in 3.5 hours on a 110-volt wall outlet. Use its side panels to advertise your company (a Detroit News wrap would look nice) or just put a name tag on it. Unlike a Lime scooter, you can take it into the office with you (also unlike a Lime scooter, I could actually pilot Mototcaompacto without killing myself).<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<div id=\"ad-slot-7103-mi-detroit-C1561-native-article_link-money-autos-4\" class=\"gnt_x_sl gnt_x_al\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"lazyLoadX\" data-x-c=\"3\"><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The e-Honda easily fits into the back of an SUV (bonus if the ute\/truck has a rear power outlet). Its price is more attainable than e-bikes that can cost $1,500-$4,000. It\u2019s worth noting, however, that the Honda is well shy of the range and speed of those bikes.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2023\/11\/01\/PDTN\/71401597007-honda-motocompacto-suv.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"The Honda Motocompacto e-Scooter ic compact, easy to ride.\" width=\"458\" height=\"258\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2023\/11\/01\/PDTN\/71401597007-honda-motocompacto-suv.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2023\/11\/01\/PDTN\/71401597007-honda-motocompacto-suv.jpg?width=1320&amp;height=744&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"The Honda Motocompacto e-Scooter ic compact, easy to ride.\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"The Honda Motocompacto e-Scooter ic compact, easy to ride.\" data-c-credit=\"Henry Payne, The Detroit News\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Then there\u2019s my favorite mode of urban transport \u2014 a good ol\u2019, bargain, $350 Schwinn pedal bicycle. Same speed, no tailpipe, no charging, fits in your office elevator. The best part? It\u2019s great exercise.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">For Honda fans who wanted the new, new thing, Motocampacto can be found exclusively at Honda or Acura dealers and Motocompacto.honda.com.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><em>Henry Payne is auto critic for The Detroit News. Find him at hpayne@detroitnews.com or Twitter @HenryEPayne.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pontiac\u00a0\u2014 If the Tesla Model 3 is like riding a smartphone on four wheels, then the Honda Motocompacto is like riding a briefcase on two wheels. The scooter is a clever reboot of the company\u2019s famed, compact Motocompo bike of the early 1980s. Updated for the trendy electric age, Motocompacto is e-motor driven compared to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31664"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31664"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31664\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31672,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31664\/revisions\/31672"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31664"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31664"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31664"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}