Honda Zoomer X

[][ndy]

And official video out of Thailand

http://youtu.be/DQI2jJwYzx8

Reading about this on the totalruckus forums and from what it sounds like, it may be replacing the current Honda Ruckus model. May have a 110cc or 125cc motor as well. Hope this one comes stateside soon!

[cbolling]

That is pretty cool.

I could easily see that replacing the Ruckus inthe US.

[Warney]

110cc?

[tastroman]

I like it but Honda, please send us something in the 250-300cc range. I think you have the 100-150cc market pretty much covered.

[Hardguy]

Yep, looks like 110cc PGM-FI fuel injected from 2:18 on that video.

[LarryRickenbacker]

Howdy,

To some degree I'm going to side with Tastroman: Honda has a fair sized gap in it's scooter line between the PCX 150 and it's ageing dreadnaught Silverwing. Working Honda's side of the argument, with such a weak economy-and not just in the USA- the tried & true 125cc segment is the "safe" play. Of course, the new Zoomer-X may well be a 110cc scoot, but anyway, it's a fresh design and is spiffy looking.

PS: Is it me, or does the rugged/handsome little Zoomer-X appear to be Honda's take on Yamaha's little Zuma 125?

[cbolling]

I can definitely see some Zuma influence in the design.

Those might be the highest spec front forks ever fit to a small scooter.

[JerryH]

I like it, but Honda should realize that most Ruckus owners in the U.S. seriously modify them. The stock Ruckus is nothing more than a starting point to build a completely different scooter around. The "Ruckus scene" has become a big thing here, and a huge aftermarket has grown up around it. That scooter does not look like something that could be modified like the Ruckus.

[][ndy]

Originally Posted by JerryH

I like it, but Honda should realize that most Ruckus owners in the U.S. seriously modify them. The stock Ruckus is nothing more than a starting point to build a completely different scooter around. The "Ruckus scene" has become a big thing here, and a huge aftermarket has grown up around it. That scooter does not look like something that could be modified like the Ruckus.

I agree. And what happened to the dual headlight idea that was a signature to the current Ruckus design? Seems they scrapped that and made it more Zuma like.

I can see this becoming a highly modifiable scooter like the current Ruckus. I just don't like all the heavy plastics around the seat area. That's the only part of the scooter that makes me go "yuck", that seat. I'd defiantly be dropping that first thing.

[Forde]

thats awesome they dropped the zoomer in the uk and ireland for 2012 so hopefully it comes back

[cbolling]

So is this the engine from the now defunct Elite 110 we had a couple of years ago?

Now that most of the two strokes are gone I just don't see a 50cc four stroke as being safe on public roads.

They are just not fast enough to keep up with traffic and become a danger to themselves and others.

[][ndy]

I'd like to put some knobbies on and racks everywhere for an adventure style scoot. A trail 110 of sorts.

[JerryH]

To make it off road capable, it would probably need much better suspension, and more of it. It would also need a strong enough frame. Plus the Trail 70/90/110 had much larger diameter wheels. It was basically a beefed up and restyled Super Cub.

I believe the Elite 110 was liquid cooled.

I like the Zuma design, I just bought a new Zuma 125. I would have loved to get a 125/150cc version of the current Ruckus, with a larger frame and more load carrying capacity. The Ruckus reminds me of the B&S powered mini bike I had as a kid. But at 6'1" 220, I just don't fit on the 50cc Ruckus. Seems like they both had about the same top speed, just over 30 mph.

Yes, it's too bad about the 2 strokes. My first motorcycle was a 2 stroke, an old early '60s Bultaco dirt bike. I have owned many 2 strokes. I still have a 2 stroke Stella, which I will never get rid of. It can be rebuilt forever, since it uses Vintage Vespa parts. But. Not all 2 strokes are as fast as 4 strokes. My Vino 125 with a CVT tops out faster than the 150cc 2 stroke Stella with a manual shift. The big difference is in the transmission. The Stella can be downshifted low enough to climb anything without lugging the engine. The Vino's speed drops considerably on a steep climb, but it's engine rpm does not go up. The CVT simply does not have a low enough gear range for climbing.


As for the safety of 50cc scoots, they are advertised for around town transportation. That is exactly what they should NOT be used for. There is no place in town other than residential streets to ride them. Even on a 45 mph road, they are a rolling roadblock, and you can't ride them in the bike lane because they have no pedals. If you want 50cc for city use, you are better off with an old fashioned moped (with pedals) And then you have red lights. Pull up to a red light on a 50cc, and you can expect to get run over by the vehicle behind you when the light changes. I put over 12,000 miles on an '07 Honda Met, 95% of it out on rural roads with speed limits up to 65 mph. But I rode to the far right, and watched my mirrors. When a car came up behind me, I would pull over onto the shoulder. Also, from what I've heard, the old Met was about 5 mph faster than the new one.

[seraph]

Originally Posted by JerryH

I like it, but Honda should realize that most Ruckus owners in the U.S. seriously modify them. The stock Ruckus is nothing more than a starting point to build a completely different scooter around. The "Ruckus scene" has become a big thing here, and a huge aftermarket has grown up around it. That scooter does not look like something that could be modified like the Ruckus.

I'm pretty sure the Ruckus scene sprouted up because there was nothing like them in the 125-150cc range. So people built the scooter they wanted (a bare-frame/tough 150cc). From what I've seen the Zuma 125 has been getting a lot of business from the Ruckus crowd, so that's a segment Honda has been giving up to Yamaha.

If Honda made a 125-150cc Ruckus, they could make $3,500 from those customers instead of $2,000 like they do now. Honda makes no money from engine swaps and big brake upgrades.

[tbonestone]

I had a ruckus for a year. Loved it. Seeing this, well... I want it really bad.