Big Ruckus # 12 today

[fullmetalscooter]

Quote :They are unique and there are less than 2500 of them in the world , which makes finding one an experience in itself end quote.

There s are only that little of them made? So on my travels through cycle-trader finding one with .5 K or 1/2 miles for 5 grand must make it the last new one left or close to it. Asking price was 5 grand with some room to go down. No I m no telling anyone where because I should have the cash in 2 months if I pull the trigar on it. If not I ll tell whom ever wants to know. The only thing I don't like is the fact the seat doesn't go back far enough for my size 6.5 foot. Someone know if you can mod it ? Also Reaper you ve said in the past anyone whom get s one is going to be dumping another 400 bucks in parts on it to make it 100% . I do like them and really want something to keep as daily transport for the next 10 years.

[Warney]

There were approximately 2500 sold in North America, how many were sold in Japan is unknown. Search youtube for Honda PS250, there are a number of Japanese videos posted. At least one gray import is in Sweden, one in Russia, a few are in Britain, some are in Hong Kong. A 2005 with 300 original miles was on Sioux City Craigslist for $4000 last week, guess it sold.

[TheReaper!]

Originally Posted by Warney

There were approximately 2500 sold in North America, how many were sold in Japan is unknown. Search youtube for Honda PS250, there are a number of Japanese videos posted. At least one gray import is in Sweden, one in Russia, a few are in Britain, some are in Hong Kong. A 2005 with 300 original miles was on Sioux City Craigslist for $4000 last week, guess it sold.

The ad said $4,500 and the owner told me he would take $4,250 , which was a good price if it was as pristine as the owner claimed .

TheReaper!

[TheReaper!]

Originally Posted by fullmetalscooter

Quote :They are unique and there are less than 2500 of them in the world , which makes finding one an experience in itself end quote.

There s are only that little of them made? So on my travels through cycle-trader finding one with .5 K or 1/2 miles for 5 grand must make it the last new one left or close to it. Asking price was 5 grand with some room to go down. No I m no telling anyone where because I should have the cash in 2 months if I pull the trigar on it. If not I ll tell whom ever wants to know. The only thing I don't like is the fact the seat doesn't go back far enough for my size 6.5 foot. Someone know if you can mod it ? Also Reaper you ve said in the past anyone whom get s one is going to be dumping another 400 bucks in parts on it to make it 100% . I do like them and really want something to keep as daily transport for the next 10 years.

You're going to dump more than that in it it you want it to run and handle right . The carb needs re-jetting , the OEM variator needs to be upgraded to a jcosta , and the rear shock needs an upgrade . I put Bitubo's on all of mine , not cheap but VERY GOOD shocks . Now there are people who have BR's , and they say they've been driving them totally stock for years with no problems and they run just fine . All I can say to them is that's fine , if your happy with it like it is then keep it that way . If and when you get one you'll see what I mean .

TheReaper!

[fullmetalscooter]

Thanks reaper just on unanswered question , Can the seat rails be modded to go back farer then they do. Seem even on the rear most setting it's 3 inches to little.

[TheReaper!]

Originally Posted by fullmetalscooter

Thanks reaper just on unanswered question , Can the seat rails be modded to go back farer then they do. Seem even on the rear most setting it's 3 inches to little.

You know what they say ? "If you've got the money we've got the time" . Sure the whole fixture could be moved back by any tool and die / fixture maker . The plastic rear deck would have to be altered but that is also easy enough . You could also have a good welder re-do the floor boards a couple of inches forward . By adding some spacers upward which I think would have to be done any way , another inch of space could be gained .

I am also a little big for the BR , but I just place my feet out on the very top of the floor boards . I got used to it and left well enough alone . The seat hardware looks like this below. It operates like a manual car seat . If you look at part# 27 that is the track and would have to be moved back and up . All that said If I were you I would look elsewhere for a scooter , 6-5 is a stretch for any 250 scooter . You need to rip the plastics off some thing like a Silverwing and make it into a Ruckus style scooter . I’m reasonably sure you wear a TALL sized suit ? Unfortunately for you they don’t make a TALL sized Big Ruckus .

[HandKPhil]

Originally Posted by TheReaper!

New I think they were over $400 with shipping , so if it is the last new one available what's it worth ?

A 50% premium ? That may look like a great deal at some point ?

A used set of hand guards just went for over $250 on EBay .

When things get scarce , they get expensive .

TheReaper!

To each his own, but I'm just a regular Joe, and I'm not paying $600 for a scooter windshield. ..lol
I appreciate Ferraris and Porsches, and I understand the allure of having something rare and collectable, but I'm just not going to buy into a bubble, especially late in the game.

Remember when Honda CT70's were all the rage a few years ago, and people were paying absolutely stupid money for them? Well I sought out the most pristine Honda ST90 I could find, and bought that instead. Not only did I get a rare, original bike, but I got a better bike than a CT70, in minty, unrestored condition, for about a third of the asking price of a minty CT70. Rode the wheels off of it for three years, then sold it for a small profit. It's nice to enjoy one's hobby (and even better to make a few bucks from it), but I try to make sure to keep the emphasis on enjoying the hobby, and not so much on the money end of it. (Not slamming anyone, and again - to each his own)

[TheReaper!]

Originally Posted by HandKPhil

To each his own, but I'm just a regular Joe, and I'm not paying $600 for a scooter windshield. ..lol
I appreciate Ferraris and Porsches, and I understand the allure of having something rare and collectable, but I'm just not going to buy into a bubble, especially late in the game.

Remember when Honda CT70's were all the rage a few years ago, and people were paying absolutely stupid money for them? Well I sought out the most pristine Honda ST90 I could find, and bought that instead. Not only did I get a rare, original bike, but I got a better bike than a CT70, in minty, unrestored condition, for about a third of the asking price of a minty CT70. Rode the wheels off of it for three years, then sold it for a small profit. It's nice to enjoy one's hobby (and even better to make a few bucks from it), but I try to make sure to keep the emphasis on enjoying the hobby, and not so much on the money end of it. (Not slamming anyone, and again - to each his own)

That won’t happen to the Big Ruckus unless another better Big Ruckus comes along . (FAT CHANCE)
I had a guy in the Netherlands try to buy a pristine pair of 2005’s I had , he was pretty
much willing to pay whatever I was asking . I wound up selling the pair to a gun dealer
from northern Michigan . He told me that he had seen one at a show about a year before ,
and began looking for a like new one ever since . He told me flat out that he knew he was paying
top dollar for them , but he wanted them like new and didn’t want a project . Then a few months ago
I sold one for even more to a 39 year old Ohio woman who was the head Gynecologist at
an Ohio hospital . My customers ages have ranged from 39 to 76 , all of them had money wanted a nice one
and was willing to pay up to get one .


My point is there is another customer out there that has the money , wants a pristine super low mileage BR
and is willing to pay for it . There were 882 2005’s and 1448 2006’s known to have been built , that is a total
of 2330 . There were a few 2007’s made for the Japanese market and that was the end of it . Long story short
the more time goes by , the more valuable they will become , ESPECIALLY the low mile pristine ones . Full price
retail out the door was a little over $6,000 when they first came out , it won’t be long and you will see the nice
ones selling for more than retail . It won’t be any different with the OEM NOS accessories , I’m already seeing it
in the accessories .


Right now there might be a couple hundred low mileage ones left , and there will be even less as time goes by .
I personally have 3 extra ones in my collection and they’re not for sale .


TheReaper!

[fullmetalscooter]

I m thinking its time for you reaper to do a real right up on them byond the crappy page here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Big_Ruckus . Why not edit the wikipedia page to reflect what you know. It's just not that great of page right now.

[redhandmoto]

Originally Posted by fullmetalscooter

I m thinking its time for you reaper to do a real right up on them byond the crappy page here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Big_Ruckus . Why not edit the wikipedia page to reflect what you know. It's just not that great of page right now.

Hear, Hear; another vote for a Reaper write-up..

A good opportunity for you to discuss & disseminate the kind of special insight only you BR Menschen have:

- how the JCosta and upjets really wake them up, allowing 80+ freeway, all day for days on end with no sweat;

- how the brakes might, possibly, be a little underwhelming for that kind of performance, so vigilance is called for;

- how high-speed, long-distance sustained riding will cause the temp light to come on in very hot weather after a time, despite tha fan and liquid-cooling; slowing down to about 70 "fixes" that, but the real "fix" is addition of air scoops to the intakes, whether the hard-to-find & expensive OEM type or some sort of homemade kluge.

Damn; I think that retro-fitted front disc and EFI would make the BR perfection itself. "Plumbling truck" aesthetics are part of the charm...

[TheReaper!]

Originally Posted by fullmetalscooter

I m thinking its time for you reaper to do a real right up on them byond the crappy page here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Big_Ruckus . Why not edit the wikipedia page to reflect what you know. It's just not that great of page right now.

There are a lot of gear heads over at Total Ruckus , who know a lot more than me about these .

This is what I do to all of mine , some people keep them stock and live with the BR gremlins .


#1 change oil and add only one quart , Honda recommends 1.2 quarts which is to much oil .
Using the recommended amount gives you oil blow back on to the air filter which leads to cutting
air off to the engine . Then replace or clean the air filter . What happens is the oil blow back plugs
the filter leading to a bad bog off the line .


#2 Re-jet the carb to a 45 pilot and a 102 main , then replace bowl screws with hex heads .


#3 Replace Honda variator with Jcosta . This eliminates the vibration on take off and the flat spot
at around 5 MPH . And overall performance from 0 to top speed .


#4 Replace rear shock , I buy the Bitubo because they work well and I like the looks of them .
The Honda shock is not only weak , it’s unsafe . On a severe lean the rear tire can lose it’s grip , I know
because I almost went down . That was enough foe me , I ordered the Bitubo that day .

That’s pretty much it , now like I’ve said before on this and other forums , some people are quite
content with the BR stock . I’m not one of them , that’s for SURE ! When I did all of the above to my son’s
BR he said “O MY GOD IT’S LIKE A WHOLE DIFFERENT SCOOTER” . I concur .

Most people quite simply are just to cheap to spend the extra say $700 for the up grades , personally I wouldn’t drive a BR without the up grades . But that’s me .


So there is your write up , short and sweet .


TheReaper!

[TheReaper!]

Originally Posted by redhandmoto

Hear, Hear; another vote for a Reaper write-up..

A good opportunity for you to discuss & disseminate the kind of special insight only you BR Menschen have:

- how the JCosta and upjets really wake them up, allowing 80+ freeway, all day for days on end with no sweat;

- how the brakes might, possibly, be a little underwhelming for that kind of performance, so vigilance is called for;

- how high-speed, long-distance sustained riding will cause the temp light to come on in very hot weather after a time, despite tha fan and liquid-cooling; slowing down to about 70 "fixes" that, but the real "fix" is addition of air scoops to the intakes, whether the hard-to-find & expensive OEM type or some sort of homemade kluge.

Damn; I think that retro-fitted front disc and EFI would make the BR perfection itself. "Plumbling truck" aesthetics are part of the charm...

You're right about the brakes , they are adaquate and that's about it . I've never had one over heat , that said I've never pressed one all out on the freeway . I have taken trips with one , but at slower speeds for several hours of constant driving without any problems . On making changes to the BR , I would like to see a 250 , a 500 and even an 800cc . I would also like to see either a soft tail setup or dual rear shocks and EFI . The bottom line is the BR is what it is , and to me that is once the gremlins have been exorsized , a great around town 250cc scooter .

Did I mention a very EXPENSIVE around town 250cc scooter ?

TheReaper!

[boatmole]

Originally Posted by btcn

Yea that theres a good way to make a little extra cash on the side. I bet if you's a keepin a few even more than you need, in a few years or maybe more they's gonna really be worth somethin.

Wow with only 2,500 of them made they is gonna be hard to find. I seed one at my dealer in Hollister but it is $3,900 out of my price range by lots. Not for me but I do think they's cool. Most bikers probably won't give you so much shit for riding one neither like they is gonna one a plastic scoot of with all them body parts like a Vespa.


siyeh why the hell does your friend only ride it 10 times a year? Is he have a medical reason, to many bikes, or do we now have scooter posers?

I saw the one in Hollister early on, was said to have been retired CHP officer who owned it, never dropped, well ridden but not as well maintained, was filthy and needed tires and a few other cosmetic fixes when last see. We passed on it. We bought an 06 online from Frontier Harley in Lincoln Nebraska, just arrived today, 7k miles, other than scrape on right floorboard and muffler guard and broken rear brake lever, looks and runs like new, engine is spotless. Not saying what I paid for it, less than than the Hollister bike, much less than the 06 in LA recently listed for $4,900. If you need a good shipper let me know is good and reasonable.

There is just something about the simplicity and industrial charm of a Big Ruckus, KLR650, Ural Sidecar and a Moto Guzzi that puts the fun factor in motorcycling for me. By the way I've bought, restored and sold 8 out of 10 Ural Sidecars, yes we make money, but its a love for an odd ball machine and the people who ride them that keeps me going. Doesn't matter if your restoring BR or Urals, none of it will make you rich, but it will make you a lot of friends.

Happy Hollidays.

Marty