As motorcyclists, we’re a fun-loving bunch and take pride in doing stupid shit as long as it doesn’t get us killed. For example, taking our bikes where they simply have no business going.
I remember a time I took my Yamaha MT-07 to the beach and got it very stuck near the shore. And that time when I took my Triumph Street Triple RS through what could only be described as an enduro trail. Fun times.
But as much as I consider myself an adventurous dude who’ll ride anywhere his bike can physically take him, there’ll always be more extreme, more adventure-minded folks out there. Enter Dual Dorks, a YouTuber and dual-sport and enduro enthusiast who one day woke up and decided that the Honda Ruckus made for the perfect exploration dual-sport.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with the Ruckus, this thing’s a scooter. Yes, a literal scooter with a tiny 49cc engine and 10-inch wheels. That’s exactly a third of the displacement of most entry-level dual-sports, and wheels that are half the size. Sounds pretty capable, doesn’t it?
And Dual Dorks wasn’t planning on taking it on some light trail, either. He wanted to conquer the Washington BDR on this thing, a route known for its rugged trails, rocky paths, steep climbs, and technical terrain. Typically, ADV bikes, dual-sports, enduros, and off-road rigs can be seen traversing this route—but a 50cc scooter? Definitely a sight for sore eyes.
Our hero managed to cover mile after mile, camping out with his Ruckus and a simple tent next to off-road rigs and recreational campers. And so far, things seemed to go pretty smoothly…that was, until they didn’t.
It seemed that the little Ruckus was having its fair share of problems, and was simply tuckered out from all the rugged terrain it was covering. The first issue reared its ugly head when the Ruckus didn’t want to start. After some troubleshooting, it was discovered that a loose connection to the fuel pump was to blame. After a quick fix, the Ruckus was back on the trail, and endured more rugged miles.
Check out part two of Dual Dorks' adventure below.
Unfortunately, the inevitable mechanical gremlins once again reared their ugly heads. Dual Dorks tried everything to bring it back to life, pretty much stripping the thing completely of its bodywork and cleaning what needed to be cleaned. No dice. Naturally, the best option was to hike back to civilization and figure things out there.
With a rental Nissan Frontier pickup truck on hand, he went back to his fallen steed, loading it effortlessly onto the back of the truck without so much as a ramp. That was it. The adventure was over.
Back home, he was quick to start on diagnosing the problem. Turns out the Ruckus had a valve issue causing it to stall, and there was simply no way he’d find the tools and parts he needed to fix it on the side of the trail. Nevertheless, the tiny Honda made it surprisingly far. It’s just that the Washington BDR was simply too much for this little scooter to handle.
But despite the setback, one thing’s clear. People will keep pushing the bounds of what machines can do—even if it means getting lost and stranded. But hey, despite the adventure being cut short, Dual Dorks’ video series made for quite the entertaining watch. It makes me want to hop aboard my scooter and simply chase the horizon.
What about you? Do you have any memorable stories of a time you rode the wrong bike on the right occasion? Share your stories in the comments below.
Source: Dual Dorks via YouTube
