The Ruckus and Metropolitan are very similar when it comes to some features but also very different in many aspects too. The part where they are the closest would be when it comes to overall performance, they have very similar horsepower numbers which means that they also have similar top speed and average speed numbers and they are only within 3 MPG of each other too. The Ruckus is a little behind though when it comes to some technology as the Metropolitan is fuel-injected where the Ruckus has still has a carburetor.
The Metropolitan, unlike the Ruckus its 49cc sibling in the lineup has at least received some updates over the years. They took a step backwards on the Metropolitan because they wanted to offer it at a lower price point but it was lacking in certain areas so they went back to the drawing board in with quite a few changes to the engine and added a real glovebox for storage among other things.
They showed that they do listen to customer feedback and ultimately made it an all-around better scooter for the 49cc market. All in all, I like the Metropolitan.
Do I wish Honda made some changes for to make it just that much better? I used to as well. Honda has sold two main generations of the Metropolitan. The first generation model code CHF50 was sold from to in North America and is the focus of this article. For , Honda introduced an entirely different second generation model code NCH50 which has been discussed separately. This second generation Metropolitan uses the Giorno moniker in Canada and overseas.
The first generation was sold from to under the Metropolitan USA and Jazz Canada names in North America, while internationally it used other monikers including Crea and Scoopy. This scooter was restricted to 25mph via a series of restrictions to the variator, ECU, intake and camshaft.
This motor was also used in the Honda Ruckus, but with a longer swing arm. The GET2 was developed around the turn of the millennium by Honda Japan and it featured a number of neat innovations.
Honda slipped a tiny radiator for this liquid cooled engine directly onto the right side of the engine next to the flywheel. By using a fan on the flywheel that blew on the radiator, Honda was able to create an exceptionally strong liquid cooling system without having coolant hoses routed all over the scooter.
Another innovation was the double use of the alternator as the starter motor, thus eliminating the traditional electric starter motor. Honda devised a way to run power backwards through the alternator and thus spin the engine to start it.
This simple system was noiseless and saved the weight, cost and complexity of a normal starter motor. The — Metropolitan had a decent top speed of 38mph, the same as the restricted Vespa ET2. The Metropolitan is rated by Honda at 4. For the model year, Honda made a few tweaks to the Metropolitan that raised the top speed to mph. These changes included a higher redline RPM vs. Perhaps more important than the top speed increase was the new crankcase ventilation system.
It is also typically more expensive because of the relative complexity of four-stroke valve-trains. One way has already been done by Honda: a high, compression ratio. However, there are other upgrades that you can make yourself. Letting the exhaust and the whole head flow more freely is the way to build more power. These are the fastest upgrades versus machine chops, camshafts and valve porting.
These are bolt-on upgrades that quickly provide better performance. Take the old one off, put the new one on and the system is instantly faster.
While increasing flow increases performance, the most restrictive area of the head limits a motor. A high-flow exhaust won't do you much good if the engine cannot breathe air in.
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