It was quickly apparent that the Ruckus, fresh off the showroom floor, lacked performance to match its rugged good looks. But a naked scooter like the Honda Ruckus is just the canvas that the scooter artist needs. Over the years, an industry of performance parts has sprouted up so that you can tune your Ruckus to match you personality and performance requirements.

One of the most active websites to help Honda Ruckus enthusiasts is www.totalruckus.com. If you are a Honda Ruckus rider, check out this site and get involved with the Ruckus community – there is probably a group of Ruckus enthusiasts in your city or town.

We will be conducting hands-on reviews soon so stay tuned.

Some early specs:

SYM SYMBA SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: Air-cooled 4-stroke Single cylinder
Displacement: 101.4cc (will require a motorcycle license in most Canadian jurisdictions)
Transmission: 4-speed Semi Automatic (no clutch to operate – very simple to change gears)
Fueling: Carburetor
Front Suspension: Telescopic Fork
Rear Suspension: Swingarm, with adjustable shock
Front Brake: 130mm drum
Rear Brake: 110mm drum
Tires: 17 x 2.5 front/rear
Seat Height: 29.9 inches
MSRP: $3,195

AVAILABLE COLORS
Black / White
Blue / White
Red / White

See what SYM Canada has to say

We’ve had it. No longer will we publish the horsepower ratings for scooters. They’re confusing and pretty much meaningless. The only reason we wanted to publish horsepower was so that a rider could do an apples to apples comparison between scooters and get some idea about which one had more poop – you know, giddy up. That’s what horsepower is all about isn’t it?

Well, after doing a lot of research, and trying to figure out why many scooters with more horsepower did not perform as well as scooters with lower published horsepower, we’ve come to the realization that, due to a lack of standards, confusion abounds. Published horsepower is next to meaningless.

Horsepower can be measured in many different ways in addition to the SAE and metric differences. Different manufacturers will publish different horsepower and different rpm. We found we were looking at web sites and owner’s manuals and often trying to compare the incomparable. (If you want to know more about horsepower we strongly recommend looking it up in wikipedia for some excellent information.)

Until there is a better standard, horsepower rating comparisons are bullshit. Get on the scooter and take it for a test ride. See how it performs off the line. What about at the top end when you wind it out? How is it going up hills? How is performance with heavier or lighter riders or when doubling? These are the things you want to know. Depending on the power of the engine and how the scooter is set up will make a lot of difference.

Let the test drive guide your decision and not the stat sheet.

KYMCO - Quality Scooters

Links:

www.kymco.ca (Canada)

www.kymcousa.com (United States)

www.kymco.com (International)

“What’sa KYMCO?” you may ask. In Scooter Underground’s opinion, KYMCO (Kwang Yang Motor Company, Ltd) is one of the greatest manufacturers of two wheeled vehicles that you have probably never heard of. KYMCO is a Taiwanese manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters. (When it comes to quality scooters, Taiwan is at the top of the heap – do not confuse Taiwan with China!)

Founded in 1963, KYMCO first manufactured engines and complete small bikes under license for Honda for 30 years before creating their own brand of scooters and motorcycles. KYMCO is the world’s 5th largest manufacturer of scooters and motorcycles. Long a leader in quality, fuel economy, and versatility, today KYMCO manufactures motor scooters, motorcycles, and ATVs at five plants in Asia, including the main facility in the city of Kaohsiung.

KYMCO is the largest scooter manufacturer in Taiwan (no small feat), and currently exports to 88 countries worldwide. All KYMCO plants use the latest technology for the engineering and production of reliable engine, chassis, and other components. Since 2004, KYMCO has been officially accredited for ISO-9001 quality in manufacturing; KYMCO is committed to maximum customer satisfaction and constant innovation, making use of the most advanced CAD/CAE tools to bring superior engineering and design to their products.

In Canada, KYMCO is distributed through BECO Motors Ltd. Having dealt with many manufacturers, at Scooter Underground, we can safely say that KYMCO is one of the best companies to deal with that we have ever experienced – they really care about quality and customer satisfaction.

In the United States, distribution is through KYMCO USA  (50% owned by the parent company), with headquarters, marketing and distribution centered in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

KYMCO is dedicated to building the brand’s reputation and market share through superior value, frequent new product introductions, strategic industry partnerships, and excellence in dealer network support.

KYMCO has had partnerships with many better known companies such a Honda and BMW. KYMCO currently manufactures the engine for the new BMW G 450X Enduro (see below):

KYMCO People Scooter

January 2, 2008

BMW Taps KYMCO

By Guido Ebert

BMW’s forthcoming G 450 X enduro is powered by an engine sourced from Taiwan’s Kwang Yang Motor Co. Ltd. (KYMCO).

Although developed by BMW, the 449cc single-cylinder DOHC four-stroke engine powering the model is manufactured by KYMCO in Kaoshiung, Taiwan, then shipped to BMW’s motorcycle production facility in Berlin.

“We and our partners developed a dedicated production line for this product that will deliver all of the processes and strict quality controls that have come to be expected from BMW,” explains Peter Müller, EVP Development and Model Lines, BMW Motorrad.

BMW formally unveiled the G 450 X to the world in November 2007 at the EICMA show in Milan. The company spent much of 2007 testing and refining the unit at select European enduros, and plans to enter the bike in the 2008 World Enduro Championship. U.S. launch plans have not been finalized.

Source: DealerNews – The Voice of Powersports Retailers – Jan 2, 2008 – www.dealernews.com

The Scooter Underground store carries the full line of KYMCO products and we are proud to represent this excellent company.