Buying a scooter

[Cofisher]

2017_HONDA_RUCKUS_(6).JPG (156.14 KiB) Viewed 915 times

This is the scooter I am buying. Been looking for months. It is 3 years old, 1000 miles. Price is right. Gonna have a 2 wheeler again! Really cool scooter.

[Cofisher]

Sorry for double pic. I'm just not that good at this. Lol

[dave77]

I thought it was electric until I googled it. Do you need a MC endorsement to ride it on the road in your state? I see that it's a 49cc which is a common size to not need the endorsement.

I haven't been on a motorcycle since 1985 but have not let my endorsement lapse, thought about dropping it last time I renewed but you never know. It's a lot more complicated and expensive to get a MC endorsement now. Have to take 15 hours worth of class and testing at a place independent of the DMV for $225 dollars.

When I got mine back in the 70's it was show up at local DMV, pass a simple 10 minute driving test and that was it. I don't remember there being a written test.

[Cofisher]

Dave, I have held my endorsement for 50 years. I'll have to check local laws. I know it requires a helmet tho. Just happy to have a 2 wheeler.

[markiver54]

When I got mine back in the 70's it was show up at local DMV, pass a simple 10 minute driving test and that was it. I don't remember there being a written test.

That's all that is required here.

[fortyshooter]

Looks good!

[GeoBoy]

Just don’t buy one of those E scooters. One burst into flames and caused a 5 alarm fire in New York City yesterday.

[fortyshooter]

Now you need to dress it out a bit!

[Shakey Jake]

The Honda Ruckus is nice little scooter. It should last you a long time.
Jake

[Hatchdog]

I have always liked the Ruckus scooter and as I recall it is available with a 125 cc motor too. Many years ago my wife and I had Yamaha Zuma 49cc scooters and they were a lot of fun. We pretty much limited out riding to county roads and stayed away from traffic as much as possible. Later we upgraded to a couple of dual use motorcycles hers being a Kawasaki KE100 and mine a KLR 250. With those we could pretty much go anywhere and again had a lot of fun with them.

After my wife caught her front tire in a rut on a mountain road and fell and broke her leg and ankle we have decided to stay on four wheels.

Enjoy that Ruckus, it’s the best looking scooter out there I think.

[Cofisher]

Yeah...thinking of a handle bar mount for rifle, saddle bags for revolvers.

[Headhog]

Great scooter there. I had a chance to play with the Ruckus when i was a MSF instructor. I taught classes at a Honda facility in GA for 10 years. They had several of these available and the instructors got to ride and try them. Loads of fun and a great riding scooter. Enjoy!!!

Paul

[clovishound]

When I got mine back in the 70's it was show up at local DMV, pass a simple 10 minute driving test and that was it. I don't remember there being a written test.

When I got mine back in the 60s, it was just a written test. No MC requirement, just a regular license. You could get a restricted license in Florida at 14, which was good for driving a car with an adult present, or a motorcycle under a certain HP limit, daytime only. The daytime limit went away when you turned16. I showed up after school on my 14th birthday after practically memorizing verbatim the driver's manual. Had a used Honda 50 Super Sport sitting at home. Dad filled out some of the paperwork and put the right month and year, but my brother's day of the month. I didn't get that completely straightened out until I was in my late 20s.

[Cofisher]

It has been interesting maintaining my endorsement over the years. I've not done driving test in 50 years. Have done a written test a time or two. Have never been involved in an accident. I think that affects the local law enforcement people. The scooter gives me the opportunity to engage the locals once again. I'll let you know.

[dave77]

Checked my DL and I have to renew this year. Can't renew online or by mail since I have turned 70. I hate going into the DOL ever since my experience with them in '85. Went in to renew my license on crutches because of a recent motorcycle accident. Lady behind the counter said because you're on crutches you will have to take a driver's test in an automatic transmission car (I didn't have cast, just an Ace band aid on my foot and ankle). I said why, it's my left foot that's injured and you're not supposed to use your left foot to drive an auto. She said it didn't matter and that I was also going to have to take the written test to which I replied that's crazy, there's nothing wrong with my brain. We argued for awhile and she finally said I wouldn't have to take the written test but would still have to take the driving test.

I came back, passed the test and as she was handing me my new temporary restricted to automatics DL, she said when I wanted to have the restriction removed I would have to take a driving test in a non-auto transmission car. I was tired of arguing with her so I just grabbed my license and left.

When I was healed up I called the local DOL, asked to speak to the most senior State Patrol officer available (at that time DOL operated out of the State Patrol offices). I explained the situation to him, said that a 16 year old kid could come in, pass the test in an auto compact car and then go home and legally drive his Dad's 3 speed muscle car. He said I did not have to take a driving test to remove the restriction, just come out and show him that I was walking OK. I guess I should have tried to talk to him in the first place.

Funny thing was that while my driver's license said I was restricted to auto transmissions I was still endorsed for motorcycles.

[markiver54]

That's crazy

[dave77]

My dad had polio and his right leg was very weak, had to wear a brace but could get around fairly well as his left leg was very strong. No nonsense about a restricted license as it was obvious he wasn't going to try to drive a stick. He had a pivoting double pedal made so he could operate the gas pedal with his left leg. I never really thought of him as handicapped as he was able to do most anything other than climbing a ladder.

He grew up on a old time farm (very early 1900's) and was incredibly strong, his biceps were as big as my calves.

[BrokenolMarine]

My car was in the shop when I went to take my first driver's test, in the 70s. My buddy loaned me his 68 Formula Firebird. It was NOT stock. NO back seat, no real dash, 5 point harnesses. Recaro Racing seats, Hurst Shifter. The stock 350 engine was replaced with a Blueprinted 396 he had built over a year in the Technical Center as a class project. When you started the car, the bumpers dipped two inches on either side at idle from the cam he was running. At first the DMV tester said he wouldn't give the test in the car. My buddy walked up and told him the car was street legal, he was a State Police Certified Vehicle inspector and showed him his license, and pointed to the state inspection on the windshield. He told him that the car was completely safe, in fact, MORE safe than the average car on the road.

The guy got in the car and we started out for the test. I was VERY careful NOT to display the power of the car... It had the power to spin the rear tires in the first three gears. We drove up to the stop sign and he said to turn right. Next sign, turn right, next sign turn right. Next light, right turn... halfway down that block, turn into the DMV lot. He got out. You pass. Normally, you drove around for twenty minutes, parallel parking, making right and left turns until they were satisfied, on and off the interstate. HE was terrified of the car. I drove like a grandma going to church.

There was something about the car.... A couple pics while the work was still in progress.

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firebird 5.jpg (336.18 KiB) Viewed 753 times

I was never a car guy in high school, and learned to do "some" maintenance later in life, up to and including pulling the front of the engine apart far enough to replace timing belts, before my health got too bad and the engines got so complicated you needed computers to set everything.... But several of my friends in high school always had grease under their nails. The owner of the 'bird graduated from VA Tech as an engineer and went on to BIG things.

[markiver54]

Good story...nice car!!