Why is it so hard to find a scooter?

I finally got wife approval to buy a Honda Ruckus. I realize it's the trendy scooter to have but I've wanted one for a few years now and need to take advantage of my wife's lapse in sanity.

The question is, where do I find one? Website checks only show a couple of local dealers. Can there really only be two or three dealers in a region with a population of over 1 million? The websites I do find don't bother to mention whether or not they actually have any in stock. I tried to get an online quote from the two most likely candidates but never got a response from either. Are they still on constant back order like they were a couple of years ago?

I thought having a wad of cash and the desire to spend it would make this an easy hunt, maybe I was wrong.

Have you tried The Scooter Store

Any good bike/scooter under 250cc seems to be impossible to get nowadays. Even the lowly 250 ninja is out of stock here in California for 200 miles in any direction from SD.

Best bet is Honda-tech classifieds or a ruckus forum of some type.

Sorry for the impending threadjack but...what is the draw of the scooter? Why would someone prefer one to a small bore motorcycle? The EX500 (and similar) seems like it is better at everything and cheaper too. Is there some licensing or insurance loophole?

I have a "scooter/motorcycle" under 50 ccs. The benefit in GA is no tag, no title, no license, no insurance, no nothing. I paid for the bike, I paid for gear, and I pay for gasoline. Thats IT.

In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker:

In Ohio I need a license, tags, and insurance just like a motorcycle. I can't explain it, there's just something about 50cc scooters that I like. I don't need it to do anything fancy, just get me to work and get 100mpg doing it. I also love the way the Ruckus looks.

To me it's like an S2000 versus a CRX. Sure I can appreciate the awesomeness that is the S2000, but I'll always love the goofiness of the CRX more.

Calling around I found a new 2009 locally, now to find time to check it out.

In reply to PubBurgers:

Apologies if I'm a step behind our out of touch, but my mind was blown by how much a Ruckus goes for last time I looked, especially given that so much of its coolness comes from how minimalist it is.

Worth looking into which of the myriad no-name scooters is trying to become the Hyundai of scooters (with respect to quality-from-unexpected-locales... Geeley? Kymco?), and pull the bodywork off? Not the same, I know, but it seems like there could be three zeroes after the leading digit on the savings...

The Ruckus may be the trendy scooter, but the Madass is the cool one.

i think the answer is BECAUSE RACECAR but i'm not sure.

In reply to PubBurgers:

My Kymco is still for sale. Might be willing to negotiate on price a bit, and consider partial trades (no cars, though, got too many already). Not sure what your price range is. I know its bigger than a Ruckus, but it'd probably make a better commuter.

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/200x-classifieds/sprockets-kymco-scooter-for-sale/31555/page1/

If you're interested, feel free to message me, or give me a call if you have my phone number. I should be around pretty much all weekend.

ransom wrote: In reply to PubBurgers: Apologies if I'm a step behind our out of touch, but my mind was *blown* by how much a Ruckus goes for last time I looked, especially given that so much of its coolness comes from how minimalist it is.

Minimalism is absolutely the appeal for many Ruckus owners. It's a seat, an engine, a floorboard, and a set of wheels. That engine is a little marvel unto itself, being tiny, liquid cooled, OHC, and unlike most scooters, the crankcase and cylinder are one unit. In many foreign markets, they are also fuel injected.

ransom wrote: Worth looking into which of the myriad no-name scooters is trying to become the Hyundai of scooters (with respect to quality-from-unexpected-locales... Geeley? Kymco?), and pull the bodywork off? Not the same, I know, but it seems like there could be three zeroes after the leading digit on the savings...

Kymco makes good scooters, generally. I think the Agility is a big step down from their other products.

That said, pulling all the panels off a bodied scooter isn't going to net the same look as a Ruckus. You'll pretty much end up with a weird looking frame with functional, but usually ugly, welds. Also, there tend to be dozens of little tabs tacked on for bodywork, cabling, and electrical items.

I would argue that it would be simpler to create a new frame and add in all the other stuff from a donor bike to get the look and feel of a Ruckus than it would be to plain strip down a plastic bodied scooter.

Check out Total Ruckus for more help finding the bike you're looking for.

Oddly enough, I happen to have a low mileage, 2009 Ruckus for sale. Too bad you're in Ohio.

Woody wrote: Oddly enough, I happen to have a low mileage, 2009 Ruckus for sale. Too bad you're in Ohio.

Do it! Scooter road trip! The gas cost will be tiny...

Google "ride of a lifetime": A bunch of guys rode Vespas from S.F. to NY, shipped to England, and rode to Italy for some Piaggio anniversary...

Or for that matter, a classic:

I See By My Outfit, by Peter Beagle http://www.amazon.com/See-My-Outfit-Peter-Beagle/dp/1933572078

I imagine demand for scooters is fairly high with current fuel prices. When I bought mine I debated between the Ruckus and the Yamaha Zuma. I decided on the two-stroke goodness of the Zuma. It hauls my 265lb frame around with surprising ease and provides 40mph and 85+mpg worth of fun. It's a nice companion to my KLR650 and GSF1200S. Only mod is the "throttle mod" that allows full throttle on the limited later models.

Zuma

I piped my wife's Zuma (BWS50 in Canada), and it would do 50 MPH. It was definitely one of the most fun vehicles I've ever had.

Is your heart set on a Ruckus? There's a bunch out there in Ohio; a quick scan via C-List by State shows a bunch of scooters, pick your poison.

http://toledo.craigslist.org/mcy/2344889374.html

Dan

Vespa near you?

Checking out a used Ruckus today. If it works out it'll save me $1000 compared to buying a new one.

I just dusted off my Ruckus this morning and it fired right up. Rode it around the neighborhood and fell back in love with it. It's a keeper.

Buy used if you can. If your state doesn't require registration, you'll save DMV fees, sales tax and dealer prep. There are a few low mileage ones out there. If you can find something 2008 or newer with 500 miles on it for <$2k, jump on it.

The Ruckus is seriously cool. I want one with a Tecate/SCORE theme.

Woody wrote: I just dusted off my Ruckus this morning and it fired right up. Rode it around the neighborhood and fell back in love with it. It's a keeper. Buy used if you can. If your state doesn't require registration, you'll save DMV fees, sales tax and dealer prep. There are a few low mileage ones out there. If you can find something 2008 or newer with 500 miles on it for <$2k, jump on it.

needs stickers beer holder

No luck on the used one, the guy flaked on me.

Going new scooter shopping tomorrow, I really want the Ruckus but I think I'll check out the Yamaha Zuma as well.

Have you checked out the Yamaha C3? I don't know anything about them, but I like how they look.