I get emails about the Ruckus, and I try my best to answer every question I get. Here are a few good ones from Marty.

Hello,

While seeking information for the Honda Ruckus in general I found this site g3integra.com. Very informative. I send this email specifically because on the web page to the bottom right in the Thank You For Reading Box the comment about having bought a ’08 Ruckus stood out to me.

Presently, I am seeking to buy a Honda Ruckus on Craigslist Hawaii. There is a ’08 Ruckus selling for $1,200 (or was?). I am excited with anticipation to get a ruckus… But I need to do my research. I seek your input, any.

Question one: Keeping it simple, is the ’08 Ruckus good to buy for $1,200, with 4,400 miles? If it all depends, what will the indicators be for such a determination? For example, how can one know if the owner has been keeping up with the oil changes as required?

Question two: At 5,000 miles what would be the price approximately for the services as required? Can it be done fairly simple following along in the service manual (is this advisable)?

Question three: Do you have any regrets or experiences in regards to the ’08 Ruckus you bought in 2011? Should I go for it! and by it?

Thanks,
Marty

Marty:

Thanks for visiting my site, and I am glad you find it useful. Here are my answers to your questions.

Question 1: Is the ’08 Ruckus good to buy for $1,200, with 4,400 miles?

I think any Ruckus that is in good condition is worth 1,200$ right now. Most of the stock scooters I see for sale are listed at 1,500 or 1,800$. The guys who think their mods are worth 500$ at resale will list their bikes at 2,200$ (or even MSRP!), but I see most of them reduce their asking price after the ad has run for a few weeks.

Qustion 2: How can one know if the owner has been keeping up with the oil changes as required?

There is no way to know if the oil changes have been on time. The maintenance interval on the engine oil is 2,500 miles, so only one change should have been done on a Ruckus with 4,400 miles. Just ask when the last time the oil was changed. Pull the dipstick to see if the level is correct.

Question 3: At 5,000 miles what would be the price approximately for the services as required? Can it be done fairly simple following along in the service manual (is this advisable)?

The maintenance items at 5,000 miles are…

• Inspect throttle operation
• Clean crankcase breather
• Replace spark plug
• Inspect engine idle speed
• Inspect brake shoe wear
• Inspect brake system
• Inspect brake lock operation
• Inspect headlight aim
• Inspect clutch shoe wear
• Inspect suspension
• Inspect nuts, bolts an fasteners
• Inspect wheels and tires

The only mandatory cost if you DIY this maintenance interval is the price of a spark plug and your time to inspect the bike. For spark plug information, see my Ruckus spark plug page. I do not have pages for every one of these items yet, but stay tuned! If you find that you need new brakes, then your cost includes new brakes, too. It’s hard for me to give you an estimate cost because of the unknown condition of the scooter. Do I recommend that you try this stuff yourself? Absolutely. If you find that you don’t enjoy maintenance after trying it, seek professional help. There is no good reason to avoid maintenance or to conduct it improperly.

Question 4: Do you have any regrets or experiences in regards to the ’08 Ruckus you bought in 2011? Should I go for it! and buy it?

Do I have regrets? Absolutely not, I love my Ruckus. If you want a 40mph scooter, go for it.

Thanks again, Marty.

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