My official opinion of the 2010 Honda Ruckus 50cc scooter is, "come on, Honda, are you kidding me... an MSRP of over $2k for this?". My personal thought is, "Alright, Honda, you tried (sorta), now I can make it better myself".
My primary dislikes of this scooter are the underpowered OEM engine, a weak rear suspension shock, sacrifice of storage for aesthetics, and poor drum braking system. While it's not woefully lacking in these areas, it certainly has room for much-needed improvement.
Straight from the showroom, it will achieve a top speed of around 35mph within about 12.5 seconds on flat straightaways... a little faster for light riders of about 150lbs or less, topping out at around 40mph; and slower for heavy riders of 200lbs+, perhaps as low as 30mph.
On moderate hill climbs, speed can drop down to the low 20mph's. My disclaimer... these speeds are roughly typical of ALL 50cc scooters with original parts. 50cc scooters are not manufactured to be speed demons. They're built to be efficient, cost effective commuter vehicles.
The 2010 Ruckus rear suspension shock simply lacks muscle. An average adult male will sink the shock fairly deep just sitting on the unit, even more so for large riders, or riders bearing added weight.
Rough roads will cause increased loss of handling (greater at higher speeds), as the feeble shock may bounce the rider and scooter about unsafely. Above all, you will feel the road through the seat and factory suspension, and long rides on bumpy roads will cause fatigue and soreness.
Storage space, simply put, is none-existent on the 2010 Ruckus 50cc. There is no storage compartment found on the factory-made scooter, though there is a minimal lockable bolt for the helmet.
This leaves the Ruckus, and its rider, at a disadvantage where practical use is concerned. This also hinders the rider from storing basic tools with the scooter itself, which is a risky venture when away from home.
The front and rear drum braking system lacks stopping power, even more so when the Ruckus is carrying greater weights. Braking from cruising speeds to a complete stop can be precariously long, making it necessary for the rider to consistently assess stopping distances (and defensive driving maneuvers) where stop-and-go traffic is a reality.
This can make the 2010 Ruckus unsafe to speed along through busy streets where obstacles (and pedestrians) can appear suddenly in the path of travel.
Last, there is no fuel gauge in place from the factory, no faring or windshield to reduce wind resistance or buffeting, a not-so-ergonomic wide handlebar, and the factory tires lack solid traction when cornering at moderate speeds and while on wet or debris-strewn roads.
Now, that was a rough introduction review to the 2010 Honda Ruckus 50cc scooter. Alas, here is the ray of hope found within what I actually do like about this scooter.
