The Ruckus suspension is no good, horrible, and very bad. I previously replaced my rear shock for under 30$, and recently, I found time to rebuild the front forks with stiffer springs from MNNTHBX (that’s Man In The Box). These new springs can be gotten for less than 50$ and are very easy to install with only one special tool and some grease. This kit is described as “50% stiffer so it actually functions, and 3/4″ shorter for a touch of stance.”
UPDATE MAY 2018
I’ve now been riding on these for one year, and while they are an improvement, hitting potholes can still be violent. These aren’t a cure for the Ruckus’ horrible front suspension. I would prefer 3/4″ more of spring instead of this lowered stance.
I am not providing instructions for this job because MNNTHBX has created this fantastic video demonstrating how to replace the front fork springs in the Ruckus. It starts with the forks on a workbench, though, so here are some steps to get there.
How to Remove the Honda Ruckus Front Forks
- Remove the front wheel
- Remove two 10mm bolts under the front fender to loosen the fender
- Remove the upper two 12mm bolts on the fork clamp
- Loosen the lower two 12mm bolts on the fork clamp
- Pull the forks out of the clamp
How to Replace the Fork Springs
Installation Notes
- You don’t need two people, I did this by myself.
- I used a pocket knife to loosen the seals enough to squeeze a plastic knife in the gap to finish the job.
- I used the same plastic knife to remove the grease on top of the snap rings.
- The first set of snap ring pliers I tried were too thick to fit in the gap between the fork tube and the stanchion. I had to use a cheaper set made from stamped steel to fit.
- This is a great opportunity to wash your front fender.
Pros
- Any suspension upgrade on a Ruckus is a good idea.
- Less bottoming-out in the front end, but not a cure.
- Better response. I noticed a difference as soon as I rode over the bump at the end of my driveway.
- Cost. This is perhaps the most affordable front suspension upgrade.
Cons
- Lowers your bike 3/4″. This is bad if you do not want your scooter lowered. I have foot pegs installed, and I worry about those scraping. I wasn’t able to get low enough to cause them to scrape on my first test ride today. There are a few turns on my regular commutes where I know my pegs used to scrape, and I imagine that will only be intensified.
- Does not prevent bottoming-out of the front suspension.
Here is a photo of the difference between a fork with the stock springs next to one with this kit installed.
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