Honda Ruckus is one of the most unique scooters you will find in the market. It gets a 49cc single-cylinder, 4-stroke, liquid-cooled engine that is mated to an automatic V-Belt gearbox. Its reliable motor delivers satisfactory performance and great fuel efficiency. Although the Ruckus comes with minimal bodywork and a rugged design, it looks as fun as its bigger Mini Moto sibling the Honda Monkey. This Honda scooter carries a price tag of $2,899 and it is available in three color schemes.
Honda Ruckus Top Speed, Specifications, Features, & Images
Key Specifications
| Price | $2,899 |
| Engine | 1-Cylinder, 4-Stroke |
| Displacement | 49cc |
| Transmission | Automatic |
| Power | 4.3 hp |
| Seat Height | 28.9 inches |
| Curb Weight | 194 pounds |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 1.3 gallon |
Image Gallery
Top Features
- Two-piece die-cast aluminum frame
- Steel upper rear frame
- Single-sided aluminum swingarm
- Twin downtube front forks
- Single rear shock absorber
- Front and rear drum brakes
- Sheet metal wheels
- Wide tubeless tires
- 10-inch front and rear wheel size
- Twin 35-watt halogen headlights
- Audible turn indicators
- Analog instrument console
- Single-cylinder four-stroke engine
- Liquid cooling
- 18mm CV carburetor with automatic choke
- CD Ignition system
- V-Matic automatic gearbox
- Automatic Centrifugal Clutch
- Belt type drive
- Easy Push Button Electric starter
Honda Ruckus Review
Engine & Transmission
It is equipped with the same 49cc single-cylinder, 4-stroke, engine as the Honda Metropolitan. The compact SOHC engine is lightweight and uses an efficient liquid cooling system. An 18mm CV carburetor with an automatic choke is used to feed fuel to the engine. The Honda Ruckus is linked to an automatic V-Matic transmission allowing you to move around the city without worrying about gearshifts. It comes with a CD ignition system and its engine has a compression ratio of 11.9:1. The electronic control unit onboard the ruckus scooter manages the ignition timing, ACG starter, electric fuel pump, and the automatic choke.
Honda Ruckus Top Speed, Horsepower, & Performance
The powertrain of this scooter is compact in size and dimension but it offers ample power for in-town riding. The Honda Ruckus produces 4.3 hp of max power at 8,000 rpm and 3.35 lb/ft of max torque at 7,000 rpm. Its V-Belt automatic transmission provides a smooth and peppy throttle response. The reliable powertrain of this scooter is also very fuel-efficient and its fuel economy is claimed to be around 114 miles per gallon by Honda. The Honda Ruckus top speed is 40 mph which is quite impressive for a scooter of its size.
Body & Suspension
It gets a two-piece lightweight chassis with an aluminum swingarm. Its chassis consists of a die-cast aluminum front frame and a steel upper rear frame. This unique frame design helps Ruckus achieve good handling as well as a comfortable ride characteristic. The Honda Ruckus is fitted with twin down tube front forks that offer a travel of 1.9 inches. At the rear, a single shock absorber is linked to its single-sided aluminum swingarm. The suspension setup delivers a comfortable and well-controlled ride.
Brakes & wheels
The Honda Ruckus is equipped with a 95 mm mechanical drum brakes on both wheels. While the braking system offers decent performance, it misses out on an ABS or CBS system like the New Honda Grom. Instead of alloy wheels, you see the Ruckus scooter running on 10-inch front and rear metal-sheet wheels. The oversize tires of this scooter offer a great grip on the tarmac road. It gets a 120/90-10 front tire and a 130/90-10 rear tire.
Dimensions
This compact scooter measures only 73.2 inches in total length and only 28.2 inches in total width. The Honda Ruckus has a wheelbase of 49.8 inches and it has a ground clearance of 5.7 inches. Its shorter wheelbase makes it more agile and easy to handle. It comes with a small 1.3-gallon fuel tank but still manages to offer a decent riding range due to its high fuel economy. Ruckus has a curb weight of 194 pounds with all standard equipment and a full fuel tank. Its seat height is 28.9 inches which allow the rider to easily reach the ground at stops.
Features
While you don’t get to see as many features as the bigger New Honda Trail 125 on this scooter but it still comes with a decent features package. The Honda Ruckus gets a dual 35-watt halogen headline and a halogen taillight. Its turn signals come with an audible signal and it features a well-padded comfortable seat. You get a convenient push-button electric starter and an engine kill switch on this scooter. The Honda Ruckus features an analog instrument console that consists of a speedometer, odometer, and fuel gauge. Its instrument console also consists of indicator lights for low fuel, coolant temperature, and low/high beam. It also gets a parking brake and a helmet holder that locks the helmet under the seat.
Honda Ruckus Pricing & Competition
This funky scooter from Honda is available in only one variant but it gets three color options. The Honda Ruckus price in the United States starts at $2,799 excluding the destination and freight charges. It competes against the Yamaha Zuma, Aprilia SR 50, and Vespa Primavera 50cc. Currently, there are no direct competitors to this scooter in the United States market.
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Honda Ruckus Specifications
Engine & Transmission
| Engine Type | 1-Cylinder, four-stroke, SOHC |
| Engine Displacement | 49cc |
| No. of Cylinders | 1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline |
| Fuel Supply | 18mm CV carburetor with automatic choke |
| Cooling System | Liquid cooling |
| Bore | 37.8 mm |
| Stroke | 44 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 11.9:1 |
| Valves Per Cylinder | 2 |
| Starting | Electric |
| Ignition | CD |
| Transmission | V-Matic |
| Clutch | Centrifugal clutch |
| Final Drive | Belt |
Top Speed Performance, & Mileage
| Power | 4.3 hp @ 8,000 rpm |
| Torque | 3.35 lb/ft @ 7,000 rpm |
| Top Speed | Honda Ruckus top speed is 40 mph |
| Mileage | 114 mpg |
Chassis & Suspension
| Body Type | Scooter |
| Chassis | Die-cast aluminum frame |
| Front Suspension | Twin-tube forks |
| Rear Suspension | Single shock absorber |
| Front Wheel Travel | 1.9 inches |
| Rear Wheel Travel | 2.6 inches |
Brakes, Wheels, & Tires
| Front Brake | Single mechanical drum |
| Rear Brake | Single mechanical drum |
| Front Brake Diameter | 95 mm |
| Rear Brake Diameter | 95 mm |
| ABS | No |
| Front Wheel | 10 Inch, sheet metal |
| Rear Wheel | 10 Inch, sheet metal |
| Tire Type | Tubeless |
| Front Tire Size | 120/90-10 |
| Rear Tire Size | 130/90-10 |
Dimension & Capacity
| Wheelbase | 49.8 inches |
| Length | 73.2 inches |
| Width | 28.9 inches |
| Height | 40.4 inches |
| Seat Height | 28.9 inches |
| Ground Clearance | 5.7 inches |
| Curb Weight | 194 pounds |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 1.3 gallons |
| Seating Capacity | 1 |
Electricals & Lighting
| Battery Type | Maintenance-free |
| Battery Capacity | 12V |
| Headlight | Dual 35-watt Bulbs |
| Pilot Lights | No |
| Taillights | Bulb |
| Turn Signals | Yes |
| Pass Light | Yes |
Instrument Console & Speedometer
| Console Type | Analog instrument console |
| Speedometer | Analog |
| Tachometer | No |
| Odometer | Analog |
| Trip Meter | No |
| No. of Trip Meters | 0 |
| Fuel Gauge | Analog |
| Gear Shift Light | No |
| Gear Position Indicator | No |
| Low Fuel Indicator | Yes |
| Engine Temperature Indicator | Yes |
| Service Indicator | No |
Other Features
| Electric Starter | Yes |
| Engine kill Switch | Yes |
| Stand Alarm | No |
| Stepped Seat | No |
| Pillion Seat | No |
| Pillion Grabrails | No |
| Pillion Footrest | No |
| Underseat Storage | No |
| Additional Features | Push-button start, Helmet holder hooks, Parking Brake |
Conclusion On the Honda Ruckus
The updated Ruckus comes in new colors that look stylish and keep it fresh. Thankfully Honda has not hiked the price of the new model by a great margin, it only costs $100 more than the older model. Its reliable and low-maintenance 49cc engine is quite capable and it offers amazing fuel economy. Its compact design makes it very easy to handle and move around the suburbs. Honda has also equipped the new model with some important features that make it more convenient. The Honda Ruckus is one of the most exciting scooters on the market and it is a perfect choice for someone looking for a fun scooter for a quick run around in the city.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, this 50cc scooter from Honda is street legal.
Its price starts at $2,899 and it is available in three color options.
No, it comes with a single-cylinder, four-stroke, liquid-cooled engine.
No, The Ruckus comes with 95 mm mechanical drum brakes on both wheels and it also doesn’t get ABS or CBS.
