10b7
A Tale of Two Ruckuses

It all started when I picked up 2 cheap electric scooters that I figured
would carry my wife and I silently around the lake at our cottage.
You get what you pay for... Mine carried me 1.3 miles and she made it
3.9 miles (we needed 5 miles). Well after some discusions with the retailer
who wouldnt return the electric scooters and the manufacturer, who said they
had a 12 mile range with a 230lb weight limit and failed to mention that at
230lbs the range was about 2 miles and at 130lbs maybe 6 miles, I was finally
able to return them. By the way the Better Buisiness Bureau was quite helpful
http://www.bbb.org.
So how did I end up with a pair of gas powered Honda Ruckus machines?
Well much to my suprise and delight my wife found that she really enjoyed
driving a "bike", she had never enjoyed my appreciation of motorcycles etc.
So with that in mind I searched high and low for a motorcycle or scooter
that would meet her requirements. 
1) She didn't have a motorcycle endorsment on her license and didn't feel
like getting one before she knew if she _really_ wanted to drive a motorcycle.
That means 49cc or less.
2) She didn't want to have to learn to shift a manual transmision at the same
time she was trying to get comfortable on a bike.
3) It had to be light enough and short enough for her.
4) She wanted to be able to drive around the lake and if it had enough range
go into town and ride legally also.
5) Had to be quiet.
6) Had to start easily and operate at a beginer level.
7) Had to be able to operate on gravel, dirt, asphalt, hills and grass.
8) Couldnt look like a retro french pink cafe scooter etc, she just doesnt
like that look.
9) Had to balance and drive easily especially at lower speeds and being able
to do 30mph or more was also expected.

Well after much searching and really finding several possibilities it really
narrowed down to the Yamaha Zuma and the Honda Ruckus. There were a few like
the Tomos and Sachs that were dismissed due to lack of a local dealer and the
delays on releasing new models (Sachs Madass). But in reality to us there was
no competition the Ruckus meets all the requirements and more.
We bought hers first and the plan was for me to drive my dirtbike, however, I
siezed the engine and was without a suitable bike to ride along with her.
After the first day and I had a chance to drive the Ruckus off-road I really
started to like the bike even more, even for a more experienced rider. With
the price tag on the ruckus at $1750 and my dirtbike repairs estimated at
over a third of that and considerable shop time, it was decided that buying
another Ruckus to ride with the wife made sense... they would be equally
matched, drive well together, we could both then be legally on the road
and the dirt bike could be fixed later to satisfy any higher speed off-
road needs I would have :) So now we have his-n-hers Ruckuses or Ruxen
or Rucki or whatever a Ruckus X 2 would be called!
My wife is doing well and fall is upon us so her practice will be limited
but I am quite happy she is enjoying her new ride. I have pushed mine
much farther traveling very deep into the woods, so far in fact that as I
went beyond the ATV trail and down a walking trail I came upon a sharp
rise and found myself about 6 miles back in the woods when I notice the trail
had a familiar look. Wider than a foot trail, all the branches broke off in
a nice arch and ... plenty of bear sign! Heh indeed I was on a black bear
trail tooting along on my little scooter :) I have had it in water about
a foot deep, over large rock trails, in sand, gravel, just driving in 
the woods with no trail, and it will do over 40mph flat out. Sure it's
not quick, wont pull the front tire off and really could use more ground
clearance , but it's not a dirtbike and it is street legal, gets over 80mpg,
is very quiet and has many many mounting points for my bow or shotgun or
fishing gear. I am looking forward to mounting my GPS, GMRS radio and cell
phone. I have already gotten a shotgun scabard, bow case and have mounted
fishing poles as well. I am thinking about the extended shocks and front
fork but will wait a bit before I change suspension heighth.. it handles
very nicely as it is.
Anyhow that is the tale of two Ruckuses!  


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