The more things change......, A ramble.

Discussion of Genuine Scooters and Anything Scooter Related

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Southerner
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The more things change......, A ramble.

Post by Southerner »

I was making my long ride home from work one day this week when I noticed two scooters approaching. Now, in this area, no-names are about the only scooters around so they don't excite much interest normally.

But these had the distinctive two round headlights each and so I knew they were a pair of Ruckii (Ruckases? Ruckoi?)

Anyway, they were name-brand scoots with a young man on each, probably high-school age. This was in the fringe area near town where one quickly sees horse pastures and such but still close to "civilization."

I have often wondered, as others have in print, what, exactly, a Ruckus is really good for. I know many people are perfectly happy with 50cc scoots but the Ruckus is literally bare-bones compared to just about anything else, not even an enclosed "pet carrier."

I thought back to when I was about that age and the chosen mount was my old 50cc Honda Mini-Trail. Not really much different, when you think about it. It reflected the off-road emphasis of the time and was my Dad's way of mollifying my mother, who hated the thought of her sons on the pavement with MCs of any kind.

But these lads' need is obviously for a way to get to and from town. Off-road capability is probably limited to dirt roads, not pastures and the woods like in my day. This is simply the cheapest reliable transportation available. Storage is by the common backpack or the usual "tie-it-on-any-way-you-can."

They probably don't see them as minimal, but as freedom machines. They were obviously having a good time.


I miss those days. :(
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Rob
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Post by Rob »

Back in the day, when I was 13 or 14, my first bike was a Honda CT70. A few of my neighborhood buds all had the same bike. I guess we got an early start on being "bikers".

Actually those were some very good times ... even keeping an eye out for and avoiding the cops. Thanks for bringing back some memories and a chance to reminisce.

Rob
"Sponges grow in the ocean. That just kills me. I wonder how much deeper the ocean would be if that didn't happen."
- Steven Wright
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phatch
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Post by phatch »

We also can't forget the millions of kids whose parents won't let 'em get a motorbike who experience this exact freedom on BICYCLES... even those little BMXers with the ridiculously short seat and no gears, that were used to get all over town!
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skully93
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Post by skully93 »

The ruckus is a durable and easily modified machine. Local clubs here have them and do amazing things with them I couldn't begin to tackle.

I bet those kids love em.
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Southerner
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Post by Southerner »

phatch wrote:We also can't forget the millions of kids whose parents won't let 'em get a motorbike who experience this exact freedom on BICYCLES... even those little BMXers with the ridiculously short seat and no gears, that were used to get all over town!
In fact, I only recently read an article in a mc mag wherein the author stated that he had never known a motorcyclist who wasn't a bicycle rider first. I don't think I do either.

A lot of parents were/are dead set against their kids having scoots or mc's. I was lucky my dad had owned one when he was younger.
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JHScoot
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Post by JHScoot »

ramble on, Southerner....
Riding is riding
Southerner
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Post by Southerner »

Me and Led Zeppelin.
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Post by still shifting »

The Ruckus is a growing phenomena and modifies all to hell, they are doin' crazy things to those machines. R
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Rob
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Post by Rob »

Southerner wrote:Me and Led Zeppelin.
What ... no mention of Lynyrd Skynyrd?

Rob
"Sponges grow in the ocean. That just kills me. I wonder how much deeper the ocean would be if that didn't happen."
- Steven Wright
Southerner
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Post by Southerner »

I suppose I should have. I am southern.
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