You might be tempted to think Honda’s recent – but belated - decision to bring the SH150i scooter to U.S. shores will have virtually no impact on our maxiscooter market. After giving that idea some thought, we came to a far-different conclusion about the oddly timed mid-2009 invasion.

If nothing else, think of all the dealers stocking popular Middleweight Maxis such as the similarly priced Aprilia Sportcity, Kymco People S 250 and Grandvista who will gladly compare their brawnier bargain offerings. That truly isn’t intended as a knock on the $4,499 MSRP of the SH150i, but simply points out that buyers will see some very interesting choices when looking for a scooter costing just under-$5k out the door. Those choices were far fewer not so long ago.

Arriving soon, the 2010 Honda SH150i

Despite some ruminations elsewhere, we strongly doubt that Honda was taking aim at Vespa’s market penetration in the U.S. Buyers typically are looking for a classic or modern style, not choosing between them. Especially in the U.S., Honda always has its eyes on the leading Japanese competition. When you look at the huge gap between the Yamaha Vino/Zuma 125s at around $3,000 and the Suzuki Burgman 400 at well above $6k, the SH150i should land quite nicely undisturbed in the middle. Unlike the smaller Yamaha offerings, the big-wheeled, fuel-injected 153cc Honda can comfortably keep pace along briskly moving urban thoroughfares and free-flowing suburban parkways.

Ultimately, for a great many scooter newcomers it would be daunting to look past the best-known and trusted names that offer broad dealer and servicing networks. Name brand familiarity and confidence understandably will enter into the picture, especially for newbie scooterists.

Although we’d have been thrilled to see Honda re-enter the Middleweight Maxi market after withdrawing from the highly competitive 250cc class a few years ago, their marketing gurus have made a pretty shrewd play with this unique offering. First and foremost, we are encouraged by Honda’s decision to broaden the U.S. scooter lineup after years of gradual withdrawal. Second, if this latest offering proves successful you can easily imagine that a step up the ladder to the much-touted SH300i might not be too far behind.

Honda should be expected to have a role as scooters continue entering into the mainstream of American consciousness. Even with this decidedly modest initial change of course for Honda, interest in the maxiscooter market on this side of the pond most likely will experience an uptick.