For most of us, the Lent season is a time for atonement and sacrifice. Some will even abstain for the consumption of flesh, edible and otherwise. To the pious bunch, I recommend the Honda RS150 as the experience of riding it might serve as the next best thing. In fact, it may even be better.
At the heart of the RS150 is a rev-happy single cylinder DOHC liquid-cooled engine that achieves maximum output of 11.5 kilowatts (15 horsepower) at 9,000 revolutions per minute. Yet, you can still squeeze a little bit more power even past the 9,500 rpm redline until the limiter kicks in at 11,000 rpm. The maximum torque of 13.5 Newton-meters at 6,500 rpm propels the 111-kilogram pocket rocket to three-digit speeds with very little effort. However, the RS150 also offers very little in terms of wind protection when running at say, 120 kilometers per hour. Let’s be clear on one thing, this bike is a corner carver and not a long-distance cruiser. Actually, the RS150 also offers very little in terms of ergonomics with its slim, minimalist dimensions. It is a challenge to find a comfortable position on the narrow seat and it also doesn’t help that it slopes downward towards the front. This compels the rider to place some of his weight on the low clip-on grips, which adds strain on the wrists. You won’t feel much pain anyway since the significant amount of buzz on them will leave your hands numb after a couple of hours on the saddle. Yet, just a couple of minutes on it and you would never want to get off.