With scooter prices rising, many people, myself included, have started looking into importing bases from Japan. However, there’s very little information available, in either English or Japanese, on this specific style of late-80s kyuu-gentsuki. By going through piles of magazines from 1987–1993, we’ve compiled a list of every base that was commonly modified in this style.
That said, not every scooter on this list will automatically suit your personal build style or make a good first project. These bases are ranked into tiers, with each tier increasing in difficulty when it comes to building the scooter to period-correct specifications. If you’re in North America and looking for easily accessible bases or recommendations for a first build, Gentsuki House has a solid breakdown of all North American models. While GH only scratches the surface, this guide aims to document every base that truly fits within this style. If it’s not on this list, it simply doesn’t fit. Period.
Tier 1 — Common Bases:
The scooters in this tier are among the most common and widely used bases. In Japan, they make up around 90% of the builds seen at touring events, and in North America, they account for nearly all builds you will ever run into. These models have excellent aftermarket support, with easily accessible aero kits available through shops like 3Peace or sellers on Yahoo Auctions at any time. If you're looking for a solid starting point, we highly recommend choosing one of these bases. They have readily available parts, well-documented guides on sites like Minkara, and community support, making them the best for first-time builders and OG builders alike. They are the best for a reason...
We cannot stress this enough. Your first build should be from a tier-one base!
Honda Super Tact (AF09)
Honda DJ-1 / DJ-1R / DJ-1RR (AF12 / AF19)
The Honda DJ-1 is a common base in the scene thanks to its compact, sport-inspired design and lightweight build. Its aerodynamic body and "Dolphin Jump Line" styling, as opposed to more traditional scooters, give it a sleek, youthful appearance that attracted teens in the late 1980s and early 1990s. From the standard DJ-1 with 8-inch wheels to the DJ-1R and DJ-1RR, which introduced Cool Iron and Shuriken wheels, chambered exhausts, undercowls, and clear-lens signals for a more tuned styling. Although the streamlined shape limits significant body modification, its panels are simple and clean, allowing for small cutouts and vents to be added where needed. Whether you're going for a sport livery tuning machine, a period-correct lowered setup, or subtle OEM+ enhancements, the DJ-1 works well with a variety of build styles. Anyone can hop into the DJ1 as a project because parts are reasonably priced and it is interchangeable with many Tact components. The DJ1 is definently a solid base for anyone searching for a small, agile platform with distinctive 80s character due to its unique look, racing-inspired details, and versatility.
Honda Dio 1 (AF18, AF25)
Honda Dio 2 (AF27, AF28)
The Honda Dio 2, also known as the Super Dio, pushed the platform into a more modern 90s look with its rounder panels, taller stance, and updated proportions. This second generation kept the sporty feel of the original Dio but came with a slightly larger frame and Honda’s strongest 49cc engine, the AF18E. Compared to the sharper 80s bases, its smooth, rounded bodywork gives it a softer and newer look, but once it’s lowered, the wheel-to-fender fitment becomes one of its best visual traits in my opinion. The Dio 2 works well for clean builds that stick to simple aero parts, calm paint, minimal to no vents, and an overall clean scooter. With this base having so many factory trims, Dio R, S, SP, SR, and ZX. Parts are easy to find, both OEM and aftermarket, and usually pretty cheap, making it a budget-friendly platform. Its wider stock wheels and optional disc brake also give it a nice handling advantage. Overall, the Dio 2 is a solid choice for anyone who wants something a bit newer-feeling while still keeping that classic early-90s Honda style.
Honda Squash (AB11)
Yamaha Jog 1 (27V)
The Yamaha Jog 27V, often called the Pelican Jog, stands out immediately with its beak-like front panel, slim body, and sharp lines. Its small, light frame gives it a clean, cute look that can be styled in almost any direction. The 27V is an amazing base because it works well with a variety of setups. Stock 10-inch thin-spoke wheels give it a unique stance, while 8-inch Mint wheels or mixed-size combinations make the proportions feel more balanced and visually appealing. The panels are simple but sharp, so they work well for aggressive venting, so the bodylines of vents and panels don’t clash. Chambers and cowls are easy to find, and with a nice two-tone paint job, you already have a perfect build. The Jog’s distinctive shape and versatile panels make it a simple scooter that looks great, whether you’re aiming for an extremely low stance, a racing-inspired setup, or a clean, traditional two-tone look. Its unique nose, clean silhouette, and overall shape give it a timeless appeal, meaning even lightly modified or fully personalized builds always get noticed.
Yamaha Jog 2 (2JA)
Yamaha Passol (2E9)
The Yamaha Passol is one of the most unique and easy-to-recognize scooters from the late 70s. Its small 2E9 chassis, thin, compact frame, and delicate proportions give it a clean, elegant shape that is different from most 50cc scooters in this list. The square headlight, slim fender, skinny side panels, and built-in handlebars give the bike a simple but classy look that works well with builds that are subtle and stylish. The Passol is the perfect size for classic two-tone repaints, tasteful cowls and wings, or wrapped seats without feeling crowded. Most builders don't make big changes; instead, they add small, period-appropriate details like clear lenses, small flagpoles, chambered exhaust and floor mats out of grass. Only the front pannel can hold small vents or personal touches, which makes simple builds look polished and planned. The proportions stay the same whether the suspension is stock or slightly changed, so it's easy to style. The Passol is a scooter that looks great as a clean, fashionable canvas with its fun colors, small frame, and classic lines. It's not a performance-focused project.
Yamaha Passola (2T4)
Tier 2 — A Little Unique:
This is where things start to get harder. While aero parts do exist for some bases in this tier, each comes with its own quirks and limitations. These scooters can still be built in a traditional style, and there is enough inspiration online to reference period-correct builds.
That said, wheel swaps, replacement parts, and clear step-by-step guides are far less common. Fitment is not always straightforward, documentation is limited, and there is no guarantee that parts will simply bolt on. At this point, no one will be holding your hand.
Yamaha Champ (54V/2GM/2NA)
Yamaha Mint (1YU)
The Yamaha Mint has gotten mixed reactions over the years, but it was designed with a clear purpose. It was built to be cute and was heavily marketed toward women, coming in over ten colors and around fourteen variants, most in soft pastels like pink, blue, and yellow. Since it wasn’t meant to be fast or competitive, its charm comes from the details: matching 8-inch wheels, a tiny front fender, and an optional front cubby. In late-80s magazines, you’ll always find the Mint in the “Gals” section, usually kept stock height with hand-cut decals of whatever band or show was popular at the time.
Today you can build the Mint like any scooter, and shops like K-Style even make fiberglass parts for it. The biggest drawback, though, is the transmission. It’s non-variated and uses a chain drive instead of a belt, which sounds interesting but has proven slow and unreliable over time. There’s no real way to tune it or increase speed like other scooters, so it tends to be one of the slowest during tourings. If the chain snaps, it will damage the entire engine. Most Mint enjoyers swap in a 27V Jog engine, but it requires welding, wiring, and a lot of extra work. Overall, the Mint is great for looks and style, but it has clear limitations if performance is the goal.
Yamaha Passol 2 (2E9)
Suzuki Hi / Hi-R (CA19A, CA19B(R))
The Suzuki Hi is finally our first Suzuki on this list. Because of the common CDI failures in the 90s, many of these scooters were scrapped, so finding a clean one today is rare. This base has a soft spot in my heart. The Hi is peak Suzuki. It was built to be light, handle well in stock form, and stand out with colorways even more vibrant than the Mint. It was never made to sit extremely low like a Tact or Dio, and it wasn’t designed for straight-line speed. Instead, it has extremely round styling, matching 10-inch wheels, and a slightly larger rear tire that gives it a unique stance. Stock, it already looks great.
Suzuki also released the Hi-R, the performance version. This model was built to corner and stay nimble, with an “anti nose dive” system, dual front suspension, a nose cowl, a factory undercowl, and a rear wing mounted just under the seat. It earned the nickname Hi Hyper Runner for a reason.
What draws me to the Hi more than anything is Suzuki’s ability to combine sharp bodylines with soft, rounded arches. The tail light narrows to a point while the rear panels sweep upward far past the wheel well. Even the option to buy it with or without a front fender feels like a bold design choice. Whatever Suzuki was smoking in the 80s, I want some...
Suzuki Carna (CA18A, CA18B(F-3))
Honda Eve Pax (AF14)
The Honda Eve Pax debuted in the mid-80s and occupies a strange spot in Honda’s lineup. It isn’t a performance-focused base like the DJ-1, nor a clean identity like the Dio. Instead, it was designed to be simple, affordable to operate, and appealing to casual riders and women looking for an easy city scooter.
Styling-wise, the Eve Pax shares the soft, rounded bodywork of other Eve models, though the Pax has a slightly squared-off front cowl and a relaxed, upright stance. Its most notable trait is its boxy side, evey line on the scooter is sharp, which if your doing vents is perfect. Shorter and lighter than a Tact, it’s fun to toss around.
The Eve Pax works best clean, at stock ride height, in pastel colors, with small and subtle decals. Trying to push it into a DJ-1 or Dio-style build usually looks off. It’s a quirky base I’ve never fully understood, but there’s a charm in how small, polite, and understated it feels.
Honda Stand-Up Tact (AF24)
Tier 3 — Very Uncommon:
This is where builds stop being straightforward and start becoming work. While every base in this tier has been built before (examples are provided), doing so is rarely simple or efficient. If you are new to scooters, you should not start here.
You will not find much inspiration for these builds online. Period-correct examples are scarce, and modern references are limited. In most cases, you will need to rely on magazine scans and archival material rather than social media or build threads (see the archive on Instagram and on the site here). As a result, inspiration often has to be pulled from other bases and adapted from rare, period-correct examples.
Expect to fabricate or modify your own fiberglass parts, cut and weld exhausts to make them fit, and solve all wheel swaps and panel compatibility issues yourself. There are no guides, no reliable templates, and no guaranteed solutions.
Parts are often expensive, difficult to source, and may require months of searching. Even when parts do exist, they are rarely designed for your specific base. These scooters can be built, but they demand significantly more time, money, and problem-solving than Tier One or Tier Two.