beeporama
n00b Ruckster
dj, geek, & black-clad cliche
Posts: 38
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Post by beeporama on Apr 16, 2005 13:03:10 GMT -5
My wife and I got scooters together: she a Metropolitan, I a Ruckus. (Pic when we can get someone to take one...) These are my impressions based on only a few days of riding after work...
I've got to admit I'm a little jealous. She's got the built-in under-seat storage, and to account for it the lighter frame means she has less inertia (so she picks up and stops a little faster). Of course these are both stock, but she also paid a little less already.
On the other hand, I don't think I'd trade. That little frame means handlebars at knee level unless you're short; and the big tires make me feel a lot safer against the infamous Pittsburgh potholes. (I just need better shocks!) We live in a neighborhood with a lot of brick streets and I think riding the Ruckus is just more fun! (I've got to get a picture of the steeply inclined street, now blocked off with poles to keep cars out, that has been torn up by small trees growing through it. Sliding between the poles and riding up it is a gas.)
You're also sitting higher, and-- with all due respect to everyone who's lowered their seats-- I kind of like that.
Ultimately it's a question of aesthetics. As we all know, nothing looks like a Ruckus!... and it gives you a much cleaner slate to "bling it up" to suit your personality.
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Post by chanito on Apr 16, 2005 21:01:07 GMT -5
Completelly agree, on paper the metro should be faster and quicker, and i posted some where that a lot of people stated on the metro site that their stock metros could get to 40 mph and for us it require hotrodding our rides to get there, but our rides are way cooler than theirs, and is easy to fix the underseat storage, most people invest in scuba netting and zip ties, i cutted an old quemical 5 gallon container and some others got theirs from battlescooter, about the braking i will have to disagree with you our tires are bigger and our foot print is WAY BIGGER, since we share brakes, we should round circles around the metro in the braking department, however i have not riden the metro so i am not in a position to say for shure Congrats on your rides
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Post by jimthejet on Apr 17, 2005 8:09:09 GMT -5
Yeah, I agree, too! I got two Ruckii, for me and my wife, but I couldn't keep up with her going uphills (and I know Pittsburg has some). So, I bought a Yamaha Vino 125 (bigger that the Vino 50). The keeping up problem was solved, but even though its a great scooter, it wasn't as fun as the Ruckus. So, now I've modified my Ruckus and can outrun her. And, the Vino just sits in the corner.
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beeporama
n00b Ruckster
dj, geek, & black-clad cliche
Posts: 38
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Post by beeporama on Apr 17, 2005 9:17:42 GMT -5
easy to fix the underseat storage, most people invest in scuba netting and zip ties, i cutted an old quemical 5 gallon container and some others got theirs from battlescooter, about the braking i will have to disagree with you our tires are bigger and our foot print is WAY BIGGER I've seen the pictures and I really like the look of the scuba netting; "where do you find it?" ought to be my next post, I guess! The braking thing could be perception. Since I am gunning it in areas where there is a stop sign every block, it might just seem more difficult; in a pinch on more open road it might not be so bad.
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Post by Ruckass on Apr 17, 2005 10:41:26 GMT -5
Scuba netting can be gotten at a scuba shop. Its cheap and theres a few colours to choose from.
Ruckass
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Post by chanito on Apr 17, 2005 17:50:28 GMT -5
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Post by Kami no Chiizu on Apr 18, 2005 9:11:39 GMT -5
Seriously, Kimi, if you got a Ruckus, I'd move to Canada.
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Post by Ruckass on Apr 18, 2005 11:08:10 GMT -5
I've seen that 125 in action, its pretty sweet.
Ruckass
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Post by Kami no Chiizu on Apr 20, 2005 16:00:16 GMT -5
Ha, ha, Kimi, the Subaru dealership around here knows me... When the STi came out, I came up there, and one of the salespeople had someone in his office, but he saw me, and was like, "how's it goin?" I was like, it's goin' fine, I just came up here to play in the STi... and I sat in it, and made little vroom noises, and pretended I was driving it... a man can dream, can't he?
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Post by Dandy Dan on Apr 22, 2005 15:30:11 GMT -5
Here's a few differences between the Ruckus and the Metropolitan that I noticed when I snatched an 05 Honda Scooter brochure from my local dealer.
Front Travel: Ruckus 56mm, Metro 48mm (about 3/8" diff) Wheelbase: about 3" longer on Ruckus Weight: 157 Metro vs 181 Ruckus (24lbs diff)
I also had a potentially deep thought today. With the Ruckus variator we can gear it taller by shortening the spacer a bit or by filing the plates but that only works to a certain extent. I imagine once you've got the cam and a few other mods and are up near 50mph like abe you'll be geared to low to achieve the max potential top speed.
I was wondering if the metro uses slighly different clutches that are similar enough to be a bolt on swap but different enough that we have the potential to gear things taller than would be possible with our variators/clutches. The reason I suspect they may have different gear ratios is because the outer diameter of their wheels is significantly smaller. Because of this they would need to be geared much taller to get a similar top speed. Does anyone know if metro's are indeed geared taller and if their variators are a viable swap option once one has completed other performance enhancing mods?
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bluesmokeracing
Ruckster
vote for me and all your wildest dreams will come true
Posts: 253
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Post by bluesmokeracing on Apr 22, 2005 19:34:42 GMT -5
how did honda shave 24lbs (28cdn lbs ) off of a ruckus and manage to put plastic on it?
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Post by jimthejet on Apr 23, 2005 1:15:58 GMT -5
8-)Kim, I guarantee you that the Vino 125 doesn't feel like flying Tupperware. It is significantly heavier than the Ruckus, and obviously the Metropollution, er, Metropolitician, er, Metropatrician, er, Metropartition, er, Metropelican or whatever that thing is. It is a well-designed scooter that has a high quality feel, and is a lot faster than the Ruckus.
However, it is not as much fun. There is something to be said for a vehicle where the loudest sound when blasting full throttle through the neighborhood is the turn signal that you forgot to cancel.
It makes me feel bad to not want to ride the Vino.
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Post by chanito on Apr 23, 2005 16:45:06 GMT -5
;D I second Jim, the ruckus is a lot more fun, i road tested a vino 125 before buying the ruckus and it feels heavy, the sales person was blaming it in the 4 cycle engine, wich is what i had decided to have, so i did not roadtested the zuma, tested the ruckus, and i could hear the music in the background, the smell of flowers in the air, so it was love at first ride (you dirty minded )
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Post by tedsmini on Apr 24, 2005 0:53:30 GMT -5
What causes me to think scary thoughts: is how much over the 40mph do I want to go with the stock brakes? If the Metro has a smaller tire footprint, no thanx. The brakes on my ruckus are just adquate, the disc and the linked braking on the big ruck are a world of difference
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Post by CTRukus on Apr 25, 2005 4:43:25 GMT -5
They skipped the frame? All I know is it feels like flying Tupperware to ride Flying Tupperware!! Haha!! That's a funny visual. I'm picturing a little tupperware container with wheels and a ham sandwich for a motor! Only if you could look into my disturbed little mind...
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Post by zoomerman on Apr 25, 2005 9:20:32 GMT -5
However, it is not as much fun. There is something to be said for a vehicle where the loudest sound when blasting full throttle through the neighborhood is the turn signal that you forgot to cancel. lol, exactly, TICK, TICK, TICK, TICK...
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ratpak07
Ruckster
All unattended persons will be towed away at owners expense. l.a.m.c. 1324.8435
Posts: 146
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Post by ratpak07 on Apr 29, 2005 1:27:57 GMT -5
all i know is that i wouldnt trade my ruckus for any other scooter, mabye the burgman 650, but that would just be so i can get on the freeway ;D
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Post by chanito on Apr 29, 2005 21:29:18 GMT -5
My point is if i want to go in the highway i rather drive a car, for city driving my ruckus is King
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Post by ace1969 on May 5, 2005 8:41:53 GMT -5
My point is if i want to go in the highway i rather drive a car, for city driving my ruckus is King I couldn't agree more. I love my ruckus around town and on the couple of trails I have found but I need the cage around me on the highway.
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Post by blueshound17 on Jul 26, 2005 13:30:39 GMT -5
I have a 05 silver camo ruckus, my wife has an 05 kanji metro. Hers is lighter, and significantly faster taking off and going uphill. If I beat her on the start I can hold the lead, but going up hill she can catch me from like 50 yards behind. The met is like 30 lbs lighter and so is she, plus the plastics (even though they suck) help with wind deflection. I really find that to be my biggest problem on the ruckus. Even in my tightest "tuck" she still stomps me. It sucks. But my ruckus is mod'd how I like it and it's cooler looking. I can't stand the handlebars on the metro though. For that fact alone I would never drive one. Her complaint is that it's taken her 300 miles to get used to the insanely sharp handling of her scoot, and that the tires are so narrow she gets scared when were on dirt roads. When were off road she can't touch the ruckus. I plan on adding (6) 6g roller weights to my ruckus, a windshield, and boppers. Maybe then I can win the race? What do you guys think?
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