Honda Ruckus reviews

I bought mine within days of the time it hit the showroom floor. Mine topped out at 38 and yes there are mods for this vehicle in Japan. It is loosely based on the Honda Motra of the '80s in Europe. I have over 1300 miles on mine. It performs well even in the heat. The suspension is the only drawback but this is upgradeable. The exhuast mod is real so I have heard but have not yet attempted. The gearing and clutch can be modified. There are all sorts of parts for the 2001 Zoomer as it is badged in Japan. Show less

I just bought my new Ruckus with no test ride and I am Very pleased. It has a smooth ride and all the features I could want. It is no rice rocket but I think it has good speed for being only 49cc. I am 180lb and it will cruise at 37mph 40-41 down hill:) Buy this bike! Show less

I was thrown off a bit when I saw the Ruckus for the first time, as are most people that notice it when I'm riding it. Living in New York that's a good thing considering the street traffic is more aware of the scoot and wondering to themselves, "What is that thing?" People who ask are pleasantly curious too. Overall I'm happy with the look of the scoot without all the dumbass bodywork (why does a scoot need bodywork anyway?) and the ride. It's pretty peppy for a 49cc and doesn't make annoying whining noises like others in its class when at full throttle... but it is a 49cc and if you want to reach 40 mph, you have to have lots of clearance ahead of you and a level gradient. Otherwise, 35 mph is no problem. Show less

I have two scooters and the Ruckus is the best of the two, hands down. The four stroke engine is smooth and quiet and the low end torque is great on hills. I'd like to see an add-on trunk kit and maybe a fuel gauge, but that's about it. I love riding it, it is a pure, fun machine. I get looks and questions from passers-by all the time. It is a dream machine! Show less

We always expect Honda to 'do the right thing'. Homerun on the Ruckus. Stable ride, except on gravel. Solid cornering ability even with small diameter tires. Adequate suspension for my 220 pound frame with 56 year old bones. Easy service to carb drain, radiator fill, oil plug, etc. Gas tank placement is excellent! Huge dual headlamps wake up on-coming traffic. Innovative starter/repulsion coil system; same for waterpump. Great counterbalance on the engine provides engine silkiness. Bulletproof machine with superior gas mileage exceeding 100 mpg. Needs a decent tool kit, but you'll probably never need even the cheapo supplied screwdriver because little service will be required. This old guy is havin' fun! Going to buy one for the wife for her birthday! Fun should be shared. Show less

This baby is the bomb! Would love a little more oumph for hills but very very happy with it. Big fat tires are great in the rain, hoping to ride until the snow falls! Only thing missing is a side car for the dog! Buy one! Show less

Rode a friend's and had to have one. It's NOT a motorcycle so don't expect great handling, accelleration or comfort. Full throttle ride is choppy and somewhat unsteady due, understandably, to the belt drive. But it will go a consistent 35 - 38 MPH with a 170 Lb. rider and I've been riding it 34 miles (round trip) to work. that's probably pushing this little beast a bit but it seems to take it pretty well and it's just so much fun. GET A RUCKUS! Show less

Love riding my scooter everywhere I go. The average gas milage ranges between 90 and 100 miles per gallon. The scooter carries me along about 35 mph and I weight about 220lbs. I Would recommend this scooter as a economical means of tranportation around town. Show less

This is my 4th scooter- I've owned all Hondas- a '79 express, 85 elite, and a mid 70's trail 90. This is easily the best of the lot- I loved the elite because of it's 55mph top speed and passenger carrying ability- I have no complaints about it- but it didn't have the 'fun factor' the ruckus does. When I was a kid in the late 60's early 70's, I dreamed about owning a minibike. There were several companies making minis with tube frames and lawnmower engines, and the ruckus seems to be modeled on that look- it's taken 30 years, but I finally got one! The ruckus' twin headlights and almost 'stripped bare' styling really make it stand out from the rest of the scooter crowd- when I went into the Honda dealer to look at mopeds I was looking for a cheap means of transportation. I was pacing the showroom floor, trying to decide between the yamaha or Honda 'vespa wanna-be's' when I saw a ruckus over by the atvs. At first I thought is was just off-road, but the lights and license plate holder told me otherwise- it took about 1/10th of a second to decide the ruckus was exactly what i was looking for! Hopefully there will be some aftermarket items available in the future that can address my small 'wish-it-had' list- i'm 6'2", so I sit pretty high on it- I'd like to see a seat mod to allow the existing seat to be moved back a few inches and lowered, so it has a 'low-rider' look... if I could do that, I'd put some 'highway pegs' a few inches up the front of the steering column. a windsheild fairing would be nice (there may be one available soon, according to my local dealer). Yes, it would be great if it could do 50mph (tho the '80mph mystery mods' would be dangerous, imho), but then it would be classified as a motorcycle! in the state of kansas, a moped is classified as any two-wheeled vehicle with an engine under 125cc AND (!) with a top speed of 35mph. if the bike meets both requirements (the ruckus as-is does, of course), the need for insurance is waived, tag and tax fees are super cheap, and (great for folks who've lost their license for whatever (reason), there's no driver's license requirement! I'll happily deal with the 40mph top speed of the ruckus when the legal specs are so low! The features of the scooter have been listed above, so i'll just post my mph/mpg results... I'm averaging 85mpg (this is with 300 miles on my odometer). I can do 35mph easily, 40 when I have uninterrupted throttle for a couple of blocks. I weigh 175lbs, so I'm guessing the folks doing over 40 must weigh less? So far (knock on wood), I've had nothing but fun with the ruckus! I tightened the rear brake cable once, and a rattle by the license plate alerted me the wing nut was loose, but other than that, it's been fantastic! Way to go Honda!!!1 Show less

I've ridden scooters for 15 years but when I bought my Ruckus it did not take long to realize it was the best scooter I have ever owned. With the 4 stroke liquid cooled engine it may not be the fastest but it is the most dependable scooter on the market. Show less