Honda Ruckus Scooter Touring in the Utah Desert; Sun Tunnels, Devil's Playground, Ghost Towns

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  • Опубликовано: 20 авг 2024
  • 170 miles of fall desert touring in Utah on a 50cc Honda Ruckus scooter. Started in Kelton, UT and headed towards the Nevada border. Visited the mud flats, the Sun Tunnels, camped at Devil's Playground, and returned on the old transcontinental railroad grade.
    The Honda Ruckus did pretty well off-road for a scooter. Fully loaded with 60 pounds of gear it could still come close to it's top speed of 35-40 mph on the flats, with acceleration suffering just a bit. Managed even steep climbs without much trouble. To our surprise the first one gallon tank of gas got us to mile 93 of the trip and probably could have come close to the 100 mark if we'd have pushed it.
    I had one good wreck and neither of us had any mechanical failures. Next time Ruckus touring somewhere that remote I will at least bring a spare belt for the transmission and maybe a tire tube just in case.
    Music: You Um, I'll Ah by Doctor Turtle

Комментарии • 173

  • @isit1984yet
    @isit1984yet 8 лет назад +151

    Very cool. Both of you are blessed to have each other's friendship. I do crazy trips like this also, but it's always solo because I've never found someone else who's interested in adventure. I rode my 2003 Yamaha zuma 50cc from Minnesota to South Carolina last winter, all back roads and camping (sometimes in the snow) it was pretty amazing. America is empty except for the cities.

    • @billkohler4489
      @billkohler4489 7 лет назад +1

      isit1984yet

    • @jocelinpaul6571
      @jocelinpaul6571 6 лет назад +5

      canada is even more empty do a road trip across there amazing stuff you might not find in the us :P

    • @justinvanderweg204
      @justinvanderweg204 6 лет назад +1

      I wanne buy a zumba but there ar oploste no zomba's in Europa

    • @user-hb8be5wb4q
      @user-hb8be5wb4q 5 лет назад

      Well, did you stop at South of the Border? Just one of the local jokes and places to stop! Great video, thanks for sharing!

    • @hghtdclbns6267
      @hghtdclbns6267 5 лет назад

      Daaaaamn gotta check that emotions

  • @lowcountrydawg2525
    @lowcountrydawg2525 4 года назад +15

    Great scoots. Bought my '07 Ruckus new, have 14,700+ miles on it and still going strong. I'll never sell this scoot.

  • @UncleBman
    @UncleBman 6 лет назад +12

    Thanks for the inspiring video.
    I will be soon be able to commute to work on my Ruckus.
    Fourty minutes on tree lined back roads in the woods, and neighborhoods.
    Way better trip than 20mph average on major highway for a half-hour.
    Gets my mind right 😊.

  • @tiredowalkin
    @tiredowalkin 8 лет назад +9

    Your efforts and successful journey has demonstrated the rugged durability of the mighty NPS50 and you have EARNED my stamp of approval and respect!

    • @kirkearl
      @kirkearl  8 лет назад +2

      +tiredowalkin Thanks!

    • @tiredowalkin
      @tiredowalkin 8 лет назад

      kirk earl LOL....biker wave/

  • @fctryoffetsh39
    @fctryoffetsh39 7 лет назад +27

    shows how good Honda is

    • @MrGreenelight
      @MrGreenelight 3 года назад

      Not really, I have had two Chinese scooters, both 1/3 of the price of a Honda.
      I rode them to death, unfortunately both eventually were stolen, I put a chain on the second when my first was stolen while in a hotel trip. The second was stolen when two guys picked it up and loaded it onto a pickup truck.
      I now have a electronic alarm, it goes off when tampered with.
      ruclips.net/video/OYGPhYa6jyw/видео.html

    • @fctryoffetsh39
      @fctryoffetsh39 3 года назад +2

      @@MrGreenelight guess its the rider love my Honda 11000,miles still strong

  • @CyclingJunkieUSA
    @CyclingJunkieUSA 5 лет назад +5

    Really enjoyed that. Thanks for taking the time to share your adventures. Makes me wanna buy a Ruckus.

  • @scotticus80
    @scotticus80 5 лет назад +3

    I just finish day 4 of a 6 month ruckus tour. In St. George Utah right now. I started in Park City, Utah. I am carrying a packraft with me for whitewater paddling.

    • @kirkearl
      @kirkearl  5 лет назад

      Lazarus next time invite me

    • @scotticus80
      @scotticus80 5 лет назад +1

      @@kirkearl you can join me at any time. I will be down in Dixie for the next two weeks.

  • @RayRand
    @RayRand 5 лет назад +3

    Awesome vid, thank you. I am about to buy a suped up moped and want to go on road trips and go camping etc. That's how I found this channel and this has been very inspirational. Sometimes you have a dream but you don't know how realistic it is .. and people often laugh at you when you tell them what you want to do. Channels like this tell me I'm not crazy.

  • @MexiChriS
    @MexiChriS 8 лет назад +6

    Wow. I found this to be very light and lifting. Like inspirational. Plus the info you gave out in the description to your responses in comments. Nice share! Might just pick one up for the hell of it since I'm in a very desert area to explore and use to save gas around my city for random activities.

  • @doenjangstew4438
    @doenjangstew4438 6 лет назад +6

    Thank you for sharing. Good scenery! I love American mountain, woods, dessert and wild animals. My dream is like this to travel in America nature by a small motorcycle. Thank again.

  • @THEWILDLIFEOV
    @THEWILDLIFEOV 6 лет назад +1

    I just found out that my ATV is broken down, AGAIN, and there's not time enough to fix it before I leave on a 6 week Idaho hunting trip. I'm on my way into our Honda dealer in the morning to see if they have a black Ruckus in stock. Thank you SO much for the video, which has instilled in me the fact that a Ruckus is, indeed, a tough little Overlander vehicle!

    • @kirkearl
      @kirkearl  6 лет назад +1

      Nice! You may want to test ride one up some steep hills before buying so you have clear expectations of what these are capable of. They look really rugged and are really fun in the mountains and desert, but they are much less capable than even a 50cc dirt bike on steep hills. I still take mine in the mountains and go up some fairly steep stuff, but the scooter transmission limits the performance quite a bit. If the hill is a steep mountain road, I'll routinely be stuck at 5 mph. They really lack torque also, if you stop in the middle of a steep hill you may need to push with your feet to get enough momentum for the belt variable transmission to engage. I think you'll be happy as long as you know the limitations. Oh yeah, and way low clearance. All that said, I've been up some nasty stuff. Good luck!

  • @edwardpetersen4309
    @edwardpetersen4309 3 года назад +1

    Well made video! Love my Ruckus

  • @metaspencer
    @metaspencer 7 лет назад +14

    awesome adventure and a great film. well done!

    • @kirkearl
      @kirkearl  7 лет назад +3

      Thanks! Glad you liked it.

  • @stevenmitchell9250
    @stevenmitchell9250 8 лет назад +10

    Wonderful little video. Looks like you guys had a great time.

  • @mchiek86
    @mchiek86 Год назад

    See this video so many times in my other account but still amazed till now...

  • @supermotogreg
    @supermotogreg 8 лет назад +4

    Nicely composed video. You captured the mood of the desert.

  • @nicknick9081
    @nicknick9081 4 года назад +1

    Beautiful video!

  • @fastfranz4217
    @fastfranz4217 4 года назад +1

    WOW!!! That's been a ride!!! Greetings from Hanoi (Vietnam) ... ;)

  • @vkhiev
    @vkhiev 5 лет назад +1

    That's alot of packing into a ruckus very cool 😆

  • @NeverMind-bm5nm
    @NeverMind-bm5nm 4 года назад

    One of those videos I keep coming back to 🙏

  • @bubot17
    @bubot17 3 года назад

    Now that is an adventure bike

  • @burnindaylighthikers98
    @burnindaylighthikers98 6 лет назад +1

    not sure how we found your video, but we throughly enjoyed it. Looks like some good times. thx. for sharing.

  • @blueschild61
    @blueschild61 3 года назад +1

    I need a lot more than six minutes of this.

  • @normaperez7906
    @normaperez7906 5 месяцев назад

    This was so relaxing to watch

  • @RandomButtonPusher
    @RandomButtonPusher 6 лет назад

    Great little film of a great little adventure. Nice music to set the tone.

  • @stephenpomeroy1214
    @stephenpomeroy1214 7 лет назад +2

    loved this,great vista,s and music.....cheers

  • @dazpwc926
    @dazpwc926 4 года назад +1

    great little video. well done.

  • @mikehoward8201
    @mikehoward8201 6 лет назад +1

    Gonna pick my 2017 up this afternoon and ride it home! Enjoyed your video. I don't live near any deserts, but am close to the National Forests...plan doing some rides and camping outta my truck!

  • @t3-tofinototuk.333
    @t3-tofinototuk.333 2 года назад

    Nice. I just returned from a 8000km roundtrip ride (stock DR 650) to the Arctic Ocean - Tuktoyuktuk, NWT and those units would be a riot to ride the 1600km of the notorious Dempster Hwy on. The big 1250 GSA's and African Twins are very common there but they are also the ones' that when they bite the dust you need two to pick them up or they are damaged too badly to continue. In addition, I found many of the bigger bikes decide to only go to the Arctic Circle and then return south. That road makes a lot of riders rethink their skills and bike durability.

  • @mcschneiveoutdoors3681
    @mcschneiveoutdoors3681 5 лет назад +1

    That was kinda relaxing...thanks for posting.

  • @ferway6295
    @ferway6295 8 лет назад +2

    Excellent video, looks fun.

  • @RogerKomula-kl9lb
    @RogerKomula-kl9lb Год назад

    Just put in loan paperwork for one and started collecting social security to finance my travels. Hardest part was finding one to buy. Luckily I started looking before the snow melted.

  • @ep2353
    @ep2353 7 лет назад +2

    Beautiful video. Thanks!

  • @Natty44fitness44
    @Natty44fitness44 7 лет назад +2

    A true rider

  • @__BERSERKER__
    @__BERSERKER__ 5 лет назад +1

    Ive always wondered what rig like this would be like. This is the ultimate bug out rig. You could scavenge enough gas to get you 500 miles down the road. I'd consider a bicycle trailer for gear.

  • @12TBJ34
    @12TBJ34 8 лет назад +1

    Simply AWESOME! So cool!!!

  • @jtysondavis4092
    @jtysondavis4092 Год назад

    Great vid. Thanks for posting. Jealous!

  • @hmat7472
    @hmat7472 6 лет назад +1

    super, good music and video

  • @ludmillaroman
    @ludmillaroman 6 лет назад +1

    thanks for sharing that. well done.

  • @MarioLeBon1
    @MarioLeBon1 7 лет назад +1

    Great adventure. Merci beaucoup !

  • @CampervanKevin
    @CampervanKevin 8 лет назад +11

    wow you have editing talent!

  • @darkstreamfish2729
    @darkstreamfish2729 4 года назад

    I have a Ruckus... but alas, I live in Fl. and therefore cannot visit these majestic rocks.

  • @RandomButtonPusher
    @RandomButtonPusher 6 лет назад

    Nice little adventure film!

  • @ko_medic
    @ko_medic 5 лет назад

    This looks like heaven man

  • @johnbellamy6449
    @johnbellamy6449 Год назад

    got a 2006, japanese import here in the u k .its only got 5200 miles on it. love it.

  • @187_Hannibal
    @187_Hannibal 8 лет назад

    Good for you guys, looks so beautiful out there!

  • @justinwells6795
    @justinwells6795 6 лет назад +1

    This looks awesome! :D

  • @SkyeRocket
    @SkyeRocket 5 лет назад +4

    Meanwhile people are out here saying you can't tour on a 250...

    • @kirkearl
      @kirkearl  5 лет назад +1

      Skye Rocket it’s a great experience touring at full throttle max speed 100% of the time.

    • @SkyeRocket
      @SkyeRocket 5 лет назад

      It is! I love it lol

  • @caitnu3863
    @caitnu3863 7 лет назад +13

    3:38 is this where The Book of Eli was filmed? Looks a lot like it.

  • @BobLinton
    @BobLinton 8 лет назад +3

    Would love to see more Ruckus adventures from you. Maybe take your oil can guitar and play a bit by campfire. :)

  • @hikermonkey6183
    @hikermonkey6183 5 лет назад

    Awesome video looked like great fun!

  • @MOTOZILIANS
    @MOTOZILIANS 2 года назад

    absolutaly awesome adventure✌

  • @Terrapin2871
    @Terrapin2871 2 года назад

    Niice…great video!

  • @GreyRideMotoVlog
    @GreyRideMotoVlog 4 года назад

    Nice scooter. Im watching bro

  • @KingofStreet3
    @KingofStreet3 7 лет назад +9

    MPG hype is real

  • @empty5953
    @empty5953 6 лет назад +1

    Amazing adventure

  • @I_Am_Michael
    @I_Am_Michael 8 лет назад

    awesome video dude.

  • @rc2634
    @rc2634 6 лет назад +1

    incredible

  • @rucrac7315
    @rucrac7315 5 лет назад +1

    Hi there Our RucRac would be a Great Addition for your Ruckus.

  • @latenightcereal2390
    @latenightcereal2390 3 года назад

    To be honest I haven't been paying attention, I literally thought this was the longest intro of my life... I'm gonna go find an actually video now.

  • @YoureNowOnTV
    @YoureNowOnTV 7 лет назад +1

    Very cool

  • @danhold1
    @danhold1 8 лет назад

    nice trip, and video

  • @sundancekidd1550
    @sundancekidd1550 3 года назад

    I would totally dig this

  • @micharlflynn4404
    @micharlflynn4404 Год назад

    Love your video. Where was this filmed. I love the ruckus.

  • @jaywinters2483
    @jaywinters2483 2 года назад

    Love this. 👍

  • @wmc9722
    @wmc9722 7 лет назад +3

    Very nice! Really enjoyed 'going along with you' both on this trip.
    Would you buy a 250cc model if you saw one in perfect condition?

  • @gomezfamilyteam
    @gomezfamilyteam 8 лет назад +1

    THIS IS SO RAD!!

  • @kcdiazWTV
    @kcdiazWTV 7 месяцев назад

    Do Aspen, California next. 😂

  • @AZdirtdog
    @AZdirtdog 8 лет назад +9

    What kind of mpg did you average, how heavy were the riders and gear

  • @poppacooter
    @poppacooter 3 года назад

    awesome

  • @akkev907
    @akkev907 8 лет назад +2

    Thanks for posting. Do you have any more cool Ruckus videos?

    • @CrustyBiker
      @CrustyBiker 6 лет назад

      Yes look up "Honda Ruckus the road is life" and also "Honda Ruckus Bob goldfinger Edition" and also read comments on goldfinger one !

  • @saeidmomtahan
    @saeidmomtahan 6 лет назад

    Amazing, inspiring

  • @caseycarbone3499
    @caseycarbone3499 8 лет назад +4

    I wanna do something like this on my ruckus so bad

    • @jinsungpark6410
      @jinsungpark6410 8 лет назад +2

      I WANT A RUCKUS SO BAD. Im 13 gotta convince my parents somehow next year

    • @caseycarbone3499
      @caseycarbone3499 8 лет назад +1

      Do it there so much fun

  • @tonicninja2870
    @tonicninja2870 6 лет назад

    Im planning on doing this soon solo probably but I’m ready never minded being by myself

  • @TaskSwitcherify
    @TaskSwitcherify 6 лет назад +2

    Question: you guys did the disk brake conversion? Was it necessary for the trails you chose?

    • @harvestmaster5968
      @harvestmaster5968 6 лет назад +2

      I haven't done the conversion. The 50cc Ruckus is so slow and so light that I have never needed any stronger stopping power than it has with the stock brakes. I'd spend a lot more time and money trying to make it faster before I spent any thing on the braking system. Without swapping out to a 150cc and altering the look of the bike, there isn't a ton that can be done to make them very much faster. I've got a new polini variator and belt and when I put a simpler exhaust on I can get over 40 pretty regularly. Lightweights can supposedly hit 50 with a few similar mods. The 150cc conversion looks too much like a lowrider look to me. I prefer to keep it offroad looking, even if slower. Plus, I'd rather be on a Honda engine than a 150cc chinese scooter engine when I am 80 miles deep in the desert.

    • @TaskSwitcherify
      @TaskSwitcherify 6 лет назад

      Awesome, thanks! You'd enjoy Asia very, very much. Rent a 150cc there (like a PCX150) for $7/day and go anywhere! Bali or Northern Thailand are awesome for that. I did approx. 1500 miles there.

  • @milesoroads
    @milesoroads Год назад

    We was just out at the transcontinental railway to scout doing this. How did I not find this video till now. Do you think something like a monkey run would be possible there? If I recall it was 90 miles on that pass.

  • @MinimalistMotoLife
    @MinimalistMotoLife 7 лет назад +6

    now I understand why someone would buy a ruckus then put pegs on it, look how much crap you can haul that low!!!

  • @captain4825
    @captain4825 4 года назад +1

    Looks like a lot of fun! How fast did you get the Ruck up to out there?

    • @kirkearl
      @kirkearl  4 года назад +2

      SuckRat 4Life they were pretty much stock so top speed was in the low 40s. Surprisingly though even with all the gear loaded on there the top speed was still the same. I thought they would be slower.

    • @captain4825
      @captain4825 4 года назад +1

      kirk earl oh wow I thought it would be slower too! Thanks for replying to me, really enjoyed the style of the video and want to make my own. I am in the process of looking for a ruckus right now. Have a great night !

    • @kirkearl
      @kirkearl  4 года назад +2

      Pretty sure the top speed was the same because it’s being limited by the CDI computer and not the actual horse power. It did seem like it took a longer to accelerate to that top speed though. That must be the main impact of more cargo.

    • @captain4825
      @captain4825 4 года назад +1

      kirk earl oh interesting! I hear a lot of people mod them!

  • @wywybulldog3785
    @wywybulldog3785 6 лет назад

    These guys look like a pair of circus bears on those things.

  • @faunaflage
    @faunaflage 7 лет назад +1

    So...were the boards to skate the Sun Tunnels? Transitions looked crazy tight.

    • @kirkearl
      @kirkearl  7 лет назад

      faunaflage nah. They were just decks with no trucks. We were going to tow them on the salt flats, but it turned out to be way too much friction to slide. I bet a good skater could rip the tunnels though.

  • @fctryoffetsh39
    @fctryoffetsh39 7 лет назад +2

    subbed thanks man

  • @benjamindavis5762
    @benjamindavis5762 7 лет назад +2

    I see spare gas cans on the video but also where do you fill up in the middld of fhe desert?

    • @kirkearl
      @kirkearl  7 лет назад +5

      Even in rough terrain and hills we got a little more than 100 MPG, so the 1 gallon Ruckus tank, plus one extra can was enough for our 170 miles in the desert.

  • @DragonPop64
    @DragonPop64 5 лет назад

    I wish the ruckus was just a little bigger. I'd look like mario kart character on one.

  • @connexionInternet
    @connexionInternet Год назад

    Great video! Why does one bike have a skateboard deck on the back with no trucks or wheels?

  • @yohank1195
    @yohank1195 4 года назад

    wonderful movie, what's in the Red tank? extra Gasoline? or Water?

    • @kirkearl
      @kirkearl  4 года назад

      Yohan TV an extra gallon of gas. One gallon is good for 110 miles on the Honda ruckus.

  • @israeljacob26
    @israeljacob26 5 лет назад +1

    Are your Ruckus stock or modified?

    • @kirkearl
      @kirkearl  5 лет назад +1

      Israel Jacob pretty much stock. Bought a polini variator, but it isn’t very noticeable. Other than that just a few cosmetic mods.

  • @emilypowers2576
    @emilypowers2576 5 лет назад

    Been three years are the Honda's still in good running shape

  • @fctryoffetsh39
    @fctryoffetsh39 6 лет назад

    Love mine I might get a metropolitan also

  • @kenpstok151
    @kenpstok151 7 лет назад +2

    Did you do any modifications to the Ruckus? I have a stock 2014 and am trying to keep it 50cc but get some more umph out of it

    • @kirkearl
      @kirkearl  7 лет назад +3

      There are things you can do, but most of them get you tiny gains without changing engines. I had a Polini variator pully in the transmission that got me maybe 1-2 MPH more than my friends stock one. That amount actually added up a bit when riding full throttle for hours on end. the site Total Ruckus has lots of tips to get closer to 40-45 mph on a stock. Some people are claiming 50 at times.

    • @kenpstok151
      @kenpstok151 7 лет назад +1

      thank you so much. You guys are an inspiration to this ruckus owner.

  • @attackandsnack
    @attackandsnack 8 лет назад +1

    did you guys modify your ruckus' at all? increased suspension or different tires or just all stock with stuff strapped to them?

    • @kirkearl
      @kirkearl  8 лет назад +5

      Mine was stock for the trip with the exception of a Polini variator/pully upgrade in the transmission. It gave me about a 1 MPH advantage over my friend stock Ruckus. That amount was actually noticeable when riding wide open throttle for 8 hours in a row. I'd stop and let him catch up every half hour or so. I had a noisy Briggs and Stratton exhaust on before the trip, but decided I wanted the quiet stock exhaust in the serene desert. Glad I did. The stock suspension was fine even with the extra weight. If I had after market suspension for the trip I am not even sure if I'd go stiffer or softer... it was a non-issue. We had zero breakdowns even with one significant full speed crash. Looking back, next time I will bring an extra transmission belt, a tire repair kit, and a bunch of better tools just in case. We were 90 miles from anything for most of the trip.

    • @rcdemon22
      @rcdemon22 7 лет назад

      kirk earl

  • @ericx4124
    @ericx4124 3 года назад

    Wow. Super cool. I’m getting one for a rec/shtf project.

  • @fctryoffetsh39
    @fctryoffetsh39 7 лет назад

    this must be a serious scooter after all it's not cheap

    • @kirkearl
      @kirkearl  7 лет назад

      Derek Boseley these scooters can be picked up used for a little over $1k in my area. I think a new one is around $2500. Not as cheap as a Chinese scooter, but still about as cheap as legal transportation comes. 100 mpg is pretty sweet too.

  • @fctryoffetsh39
    @fctryoffetsh39 7 лет назад +1

    thanks I might get one like the tires is it around 40mph

    • @kirkearl
      @kirkearl  7 лет назад +1

      Derek Boseley it will do 35 really easily. 40 takes some tuning. When I had a more open exhaust on it I could hit 40 pretty easily. They are pretty slow, but it is fun riding full throttle all the time. Some people mod them with a 150cc Chinese scooter engine, but it changes them quite a bit. They are really best for cruising around the city and leisurely cruising dirt roads.

  • @TheChertoff
    @TheChertoff 11 месяцев назад

    What is your body height in centimeters? I want to understand how I will look on this moped.

  • @quick6091
    @quick6091 6 лет назад

    August I leave for ruckus adventure

  • @Hi-lb8cq
    @Hi-lb8cq 8 лет назад +2

    what type of motors are in the ruckus's???

    • @kirkearl
      @kirkearl  8 лет назад +2

      +Chris Torrez It is a Honda 50cc 4 stroke

    • @ABetterLifeInc
      @ABetterLifeInc 5 лет назад

      It is a 49cc GET motor. Extremely cheap to maintain but durable.

    • @derekweinerttv4163
      @derekweinerttv4163 5 лет назад

      Honda

  • @fctryoffetsh39
    @fctryoffetsh39 7 лет назад

    I got a tattoo awhile ago it does 38 but vibrates after 30 might sell it or work on it or get the metropolitan

  • @TonicJohn
    @TonicJohn 8 лет назад +2

    Nicely done... I'm a fellow scooterist just to the East of you in Colorado. If you still have the Ruckus you should join us in August for the High Desert Gathering in Colorado. This is going to be our 7th year and we strive every year to keep it 50cc friendly...
    highdesertscooters.com

  • @MrBighogman
    @MrBighogman 7 лет назад

    Awesome video. What is the name of the song or musician?

    • @kirkearl
      @kirkearl  7 лет назад

      Thanks a bunch! It is just a cool band I found on a creative commons music site.
      Credit from the video description:
      You Um, I'll Ah by Doctor Turtle

  • @kazumi78
    @kazumi78 8 лет назад +1

    Is RUCKUS scooter name?

    • @xStr8UPDoPex
      @xStr8UPDoPex 8 лет назад +1

      +kazumi7878 Yea its a Honda Ruckus

    • @kazumi78
      @kazumi78 8 лет назад +1

      +xStr8UPDoPex Thank you for nice movie.We call the Zoomer in my country.www.honda.co.jp/ZOOMER/