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Post by tedsmini on Apr 9, 2005 1:18:54 GMT -5
      Well it's almost all detailed and it has a lot of little nooks and crannies. The bike has lots of power and I haven't really pushed it yet. The wind at about 50mph starts to pull your knees apart and you need to pull your legs back in towards the bike. The position of your feet are wider apart than on my Honda Valkyrie where my feet are tucked somewhat under the two cylinder banks(flat 6 cyl). The backrest is interersting, but it will take some getting used to. The first sweeping turn I entered caused me to brake as not being able to move your back or shoulders totally changes balance dynamics. It wouldn't affect a novice rider but it was the first time I got the sensation of being glued to the seat in all my years of riding. It will probably take some getting used to. If you put the seat down you still cannot move back as there is a little hump on the back of the seat. The answer to the position of the seat is that it has about 6" of foward and back travel. Here is one of the annoyances. No matter what you want to do with the seat you need to stop the bike, get off, put down one of the stands (side or bottom) and walk around the bike to the lever that tilts the seat, unlock and reposition it. To slide the seat it is the same drill. I know they are doing this ecause of safety issues bit I would like to be able to slide the seat while I am riding to adjust to the difference it makes in riding position comfort. The ride is firm and feels very sure footed. I have been easy on the rear brake as it is a drum and you don't want to get it too hot and glaze the lining as it will never properly arc and fit the drum otherwise. The front disc seems adequate but not strong. The mirrors are OK, the left gives a better view than the right. I need to play with them. Fit and finish are up to Honda's usual good standards. Having a lot of flat black plastic is nice on a bike that will see a lot of rain and mud. Some genius at honda decided that that the three places where they would use really shiny paint or powder coat are the fronts of the mirrors (so getting bugs off easier) but soon the shiny paint won't look so good after scraping all the little critters off. The second shiny place is the center stand which will get stepped on 50 times a week and the bottom of it will get lots of road tar and oil. The third giant shiny area is the massive cover on the lower left rear that houses the belt drive. It is already scuffed and will quickly become more so. There is a small round tool box on the upper right rear under the passengers leg and it will hold a good amount of tools. The rack that is exposed when the seat is in the upright position has lots of places for bungee cords to hook onto your packages.backpack, boxes. I am considering a quick remove trunk to fit this rack. The headlights are bigger than the little ruck and the light grilles from KC will fit them almost perfectly. I always use my sidestands and this like some bigger motorcycles kills the motor when it is extended. It is a safety measure to prevent you from driving off with the stand extended and then make a left turn (oops). I installed a side stand on my little ruck and and have never had a problem. I use the side stand when I go to the mailbox and would have to restart the bike if I used the side stand for half a minute. I will report on mileage when I get it broken in. I am considering using synthetic oil, anyone have any thoughts on that? If anyone has questions I will glady answer them if I can. At about 55mph I couldn't see cause of the wind buffeting my riding glasses. So I went to town and got a full face sheild for my helmet and it seems to be much better, time will tell. I am going to strongly consider fitting a windshield in the near future. If anyone is considering buying one of these I strongly suggest you try to get the dealer to let you ride one before you buy (if possible). I thought it would be like the Helix that I rode for 17 years, it is not the same, more responsive and a lot more touchy to rider input. |
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Post by Kami no Chiizu on Apr 9, 2005 13:44:42 GMT -5
Thanks for the info... I so wanna get on one of those and see what it's like...
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Post by chanito on Apr 11, 2005 11:26:13 GMT -5
;D ;D Congrats that is a beautyfull machine you got there, i am so green with envy, enjoy it. If i where to mount a windshield i would attach it to the yellow bar that goes around the gauges and the bottom to the one around the lights, to have it stacionary, if you want it attach to the stering so it will move with it you have less options becouse the anchors would be too close together (vibration) so the windscreen would have to be very small, my two cents  |
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Post by tedsmini on Apr 11, 2005 22:57:00 GMT -5
Thanx for the suggestions. I know it will take some brainwork. I just don't want to have to buy a whole pile of shields to find the right one. It was cold today but I finally got the plate so I had to ride it to town: lots of thumbs up and compliments: mostly from teenagers.  And I also found out that you can't strap much to the back so now it's trunk engineering time |
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Post by fatfeet101 on May 16, 2005 20:17:33 GMT -5
hey fella, i'm still getting to know my bike, bought it nearly 3 wks. ago, have about 80 mi. on it. altho i'm freeway fobic, i had to see how fast she would go(yes, my bike's a girl name Lola) i got to 65 and freaked a bit . i wasn't at full throttle, so who knows how fast she'll really go. i'm so lovin my bike! yours sure does look all shiney--made me have to go look at mine again, perhaps i'd better break out some polish. what should i use for cleaning?
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lowpez
Junior Ruckster
Posts: 62
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Post by lowpez on May 16, 2005 21:51:36 GMT -5
Hey I have had my big Ruckus for almost three months. I have put on alomst 1300 miles. It rocks....gets close to 65 mpg. And I have had it up to 70mph. I really enjoy the looks people have when they see it. I bought the end of Feb and have not driven my cage to work since. Between the Big Ruckus and my Harley...I ride everyday. Two wheels is the way to go. Ride safe my friends.
Lowpez "Scooter boy"
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Post by tedsmini on May 17, 2005 3:26:14 GMT -5
Hello Fatfeet and welcome to the site. All I did when I peeled my bike out of the crate was remove all the protective coating with regular mineral spirits paint thinner. I am getting about 65mpg and have had the scoot up to 65MPH. I love it but i need a shield  |
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Post by tedsmini on May 17, 2005 3:35:03 GMT -5
Hi Lowpez, welcome to the forum. We are getting quite a few big Rucki here. I have not gone over 65MPH and I don't think I want to until I get or rig up a shield. It's hard to fathom that the little Rucki gets 90+ mpg with a 49cc engine and the big one that weighs twice as much and has a motor 5 times the size and gets close to 70mpg. I know I can't figure it out, but I do love the performance and the mileage. I have 400 miles on it in a month and it keeps getting smoother as it breaks in. I will change oil at 600 miles.
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lowpez
Junior Ruckster
Posts: 62
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Post by lowpez on May 17, 2005 8:20:41 GMT -5
Tedsmini,
Hey over 65mph is not to bad. Depending on weather...I switch from wearing a Full Face bucket to a 1/2 helmet. I much rather wear my full face. But when you Get the Big guy going a Full Face is better on this rig. The oil change is very easy. Question? When rolling at slow speed do you here the front disc? I do sometimes...I think I need to talk with the Honda dealer. I am really wondering why Honda but a Drum brake in the rear? When the other scooter honda makes that is the same platform as our Big Ruckus has a front and rear disc brake? Well ride safe. I have yet to see any other Big or small ruckus on the road. Feel like a loaner out here.
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Post by lowrider on Jun 4, 2005 10:49:07 GMT -5
Tedsmini,
I bought a just Ruckus. I dont have a hundred miles on it yet but it's fun to ride. My reason for buying it was because my wife is disabled and can't get on a motorcycle or even most scooters. The only scooters she could get on easily is the Ruckus and the Helix. The Ruckus isn't embarrassing to be seen on like the Helix. Very cool. I live near you maybe we can get together for a ride.
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Post by ruckusranger on Jun 8, 2005 5:19:18 GMT -5
Hi,
I've had the "Baywatch Beach Cruiser" as my wife calls it,for about a month and a half now. I'm about 6.6,so
it seems like it's a little scrunched honestly. I'm wondering if it's possible to have str8 pegs mounted with clamps or something ...and get rid of the footpads all together. It went in for a 600mi tuneup ...and was in the shop for about 3 days .... something to do with the carb,came out smoother, beats me ... it was under warrenty.
Issues i do have:
Some wierd reason, I'm always feeling like the back tire is "fishing" .... and yes ... the psi is set @ my weight (about 33psi?) ... so that spooks me ... of course i drive this thing like i'm the shriner version of the roadwarrior, but hey ...
My Friends keep telling me to mount str8 bars on this thing .... havn't really looked into it seriously ..anyone have any ideas on that?
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Post by Duster on Jun 8, 2005 20:34:46 GMT -5
Since you are tall, you probably have a tendency to sit way back on the seat, & a scooter is
rear-heavy anyway. My rear tire says 36PSI....I run 36 to 38 due to my weight & the fact that
when I changed the seat, I definately put more weight on the rear tire. I also replaced the
stock shock with the chrome one from the battlescooter store...set the preload on the middle step. Rides like a different scooter.
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Post by ruckusranger on Jun 8, 2005 20:46:38 GMT -5
Thanks for the info Duster, I appreciate it.  Will the chrome shock from battlescooter work on the Big ruck? .... i was under the assumption that was only for the little ruck? .. pardon me if that sounds really stupid,I'm not a mechanic,i fix computers ... not bikes. |
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teshlu
Junior Ruckster
What are all these questions?
Posts: 85
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Post by teshlu on Jun 8, 2005 22:16:46 GMT -5
No dumb questions only dumb answers
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Post by batgirl101 on Jun 10, 2005 10:53:27 GMT -5
hey guys, i don't think i'm getting nearly the mpg that you are. i'm constantly on hills--really steep ones and only stop and go traffic in the city. i've been on the freeway only once. i think i'm getting around 40 mpg---what's up?
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Post by batgirl101 on Jun 12, 2005 10:08:52 GMT -5
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Post by batgirl101 on Jun 12, 2005 17:05:32 GMT -5
hey lowpez--i hear the front brake sound you refer to--took it to honda to also fix the squeaking of the brakes. they "deglazed" my brakes and said the spinning sounds are normal. i also hear a ticking on occasion.
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Post by tedsmini on Jun 29, 2005 23:18:33 GMT -5
Now have almost 800 miles and have been averaging 67mpg. I am going to change to synthetic oil and then will report if there is any difference in acceleration or MPG ;D
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teshlu
Junior Ruckster
What are all these questions?
Posts: 85
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Post by teshlu on Jun 30, 2005 10:20:24 GMT -5
Reached 3200 miles last week. I thought about full synthetic but couldn't get a straight answer from anyone a Honda so chose to go with their syn blend with molebdenum or however it's spelled. No problems to report so far.
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lowpez
Junior Ruckster
Posts: 62
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Post by lowpez on Jul 4, 2005 16:06:09 GMT -5
Batgirl.....thanks for that info...I still haven't gotten down to the Honda dealer...to have them check this out. Ride safe.
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