TheScooterScoop

(Think the Rattler was a bit small? Well, Dan’s no small fry and he loves it!)

Dan Hoyt as self proclaimed “vehicle geek” from Middleton, CT was the first person to contact us with the scoop on this new gem from the Genuine Scooter Company. He ended up doing more than just taking her for a test drive and writing a review, he actually bought one.

For a little backgrounder and before we get into Dan’s review let’s answer some questions. Who is Genuine? What’s the deal with the 2-stroke? What’s different about the Rattler “Buck Ten”?

First The Genuine Scooter Company. Based in Chicago, Genuine started as a vision of Philip McCaleb in 1989, as ScooterWorks (also a supportive sponsor of TheScooterScoop) and has evolved into one of the USA’s top non-traditional OEMs (a traditional OEM is an “original equipment manufacturer” like Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Vespa). They are known for producing a top-notch product including the legendary 2-stroke Stella. Speaking of which, what IS the deal with 2-strokes? If you’ve been keeping tabs on ‘em you’d know that they are a vanishing breed. Strict emissions regulations have caused many scooter manufacturers to drop them from their product lines rather than go jump through the hoops to make them compliant. However, the 2-stroke engine is not uncommon, we see them in lots of yard equipment, and a handful of new scooters, but who knows for how much longer. 2-Stroke engines produce more power and torque than their 4-stroke brothers. Right now the new 2-stroke scooters with the largest displacement available in the USA are the Genuine Stella (with 150cc), the Genuine Rattler (110cc) and the Daelim Delfino (100cc). Now you’re starting to see where the Rattler fits in and where it’s different. In my opinion, the Rattler “Buck Ten” is our sprint scooter. You start with 110ccs drop some aftermarket parts on it and you’ve got a real wheelie machine.

So, there’s the primer now let’s dive into the review. Now let’s turn to our resident expert and keeper of the Rattler Yahoo Group (click title link), Dan Hoyt. Take it away Dan (feel free to read or ignore the parenthetical “steve” below):

This is my review on the new Genuine Rattler Buck Ten. For anyone reading this that has interest in this machine I hope it helps you out. Either in making the decision to get one, or not to get one. As we all know getting the right scooter makes all the difference. I will attempt to stay on course and hit the major areas of questions I seem to get a lot of.

The most frequent question people seem to ask me about my Buck Ten is “Why?”. Some mean it in the “why get a scooter” way and others in the “why that scooter” way. If you’re reading this review you already know why a scooter is great. For this review I’ll mention the “why this scooter” angle. In trying to find the right scooter for me it took me close to a year to settle down on the Rattler. I wanted something fun, unique, sporty and with a great reputation and support. I kept looking at the 50cc class of two strokes out there but nothing jumped out at me. At nearly 200lbs and 6ft tall most seemed too small. Then I had to factor in if I didn’t want to get run over while scootin’ to work I’d need something that can do over 40mph. If I bought a 50 it’d take hundreds of dollars in performance parts to do that. That’s when I came across the Buck Ten. At only $200 more than the 50cc version it didn’t cost anymore than adding a performance pipe to a 50. The price was reasonable too, $2599 is a great price for everything you get on this scooter. So I made the decision to wait for a Buck Ten… (hey, are you using my ellipsis’s? That’s my trademark, or at least the blatant overuse of them. You’re safe for now). I’m not a good waiter. Two months before it was released I already had e-mails in to Genuine and my local dealers, a month before it was released I had a deposit on one at Scooter Centrale to get their first one in. I couldn’t wait to see it for REAL.

My first impression of the bike was a good one. Fit and finish on the bike is good, not perfect, but more than acceptable. The details on the bike catch your attention right away. The wide, polished motocross style handlebars (I dig it). The digital speedometer (dig it). The wave rotor up front (dig). The large dual headlamp setup (it’s… unique). I mean this bike stood out (indeed). Sitting on it you feel that it’s a sturdy machine, no creaks and groans. All the switches function properly and are clearly marked (except for the one speedometer button… which apparently does nothing according to the user manual). I was feeling great about my decision to wait for this scooter all this time.

Since I picked up my new scooter on a workday I’d have to wait a bit to really get out on a ride and see what it was like. I loaded it up on my truck and took it home. I did ride it in to work but since it wasn’t broken in yet I babied it all the way there and back. This is my first scooter and it made some immediate impressions on me. I haven’t had that much fun in a long time, commuting to work no less! (that’s what I’m talkin’ about!) The front brakes on this thing work very well, the rear drum, well it’s a rear drum. The suspension felt fine down the backroads and over the bumps, ruts and manhole covers I hit on the way to work. Surprisingly no rattles (from the RATTLER? For shame). Being a former motorcycle guy I at least expected a few rattles from the kickstands (yes 2 of them), but nothing. Just the tell tale sounds and smells of a two stroke doing its thing. Now I had to get this bike broken in. Scooter Centrale said about 400 miles, the owner’s manual says 200 miles and change the gear oil then avoid beating the life out of it until after 1000 miles. I changed the gear oil at 200, it takes less than 1/2 a qt so it’s cheap and easy (that’s how I like ‘em).

I’ve had the scooter just over 3 weeks now and have 300+ miles on it. Being past the initial run-in by Genuine’s standards I felt it was safe to open it up a bit more and really see what it does. Time for the twisties! The handling on this bike is great. It doesn’t have a super long wheelbase, and the frame doesn’t bend and twist a lot. The combination of those two things really makes this thing nimble in the back roads. It does not however make it the roomiest scooter on the market. I get around the room issue while cruising down main street by doing two things. I ride solo, so I just sit back on the seat. If I want more legroom the Rattler has the solution, the front of the scooter is notched out a bit at the bottom near your feet. This lets you rest your heels on the bike while sticking your toes out front a bit, an instant gain in legroom.

Getting around town requires at least two things around my area. Acceleration and speed. I was honestly quite impressed at how well the Buck Ten hits the 30mph range, almost like it doesn’t like to go any slower. To test top speed I broke out my trusty Garmin GPS. Scooters are notorious for optimistic speedometer readings, for safety reasons I needed to know how fast is the bike really going. I got up to an indicated 58mph on the speedometer, the Garmin felt it was closer to 53mph. I also tried to check out how off it was at slower speeds too. Too keep it simple for myself I figured out that it’s off just over 1 mph for ever 15 mph indicated (i.e. 15mph is 14, 30 is 28, 45 is 42). I can live with that.

My early research on scooters had me worried about the day that I had to ride home at night, scooters are not known for great headlights. The Buck Ten has a great headlight! When you actually get close enough to see it you’ll notice it’s really just one light designed to look like two. That one light is a motorcycle headlight, same wattage as the one my BMW R1150R had. I had plenty of light for my ride home. Now that I’ve been scootin’ around town so much I needed to put some gas in it. The fuel cap is a bit awkward to get off the bike, the grab handle gets in the way a bit. Thankfully on a scooter you’re not doing that too often. My fuel mileage has been anywhere from 69 to 84 mpg so far with mid 70s the most common. The gas tank on the Buck Ten is just over a gallon (it warns you with a blinking gas gauge when you get low). I have yet to put a full gallon in it yet, I can live with that too.

This review is long enough already so I’ll sum it up (finally (this is Dan’s “finally” not mine. He could keep goin’ in my opinion.)). The Genuine Rattler Buck Ten lived up to my expectations in most areas, exceeded it in a few and did not fall short of expectations anywhere. It’s been reliable to date, not even a burnt out light or anything. If you’re like me and always find yourself looking at machines like the Zuma or the Typhoon with that rugged and sporty kind of look, but couldn’t justify how much it would cost you in parts, time, and voided warranty to get the performance you were looking for the Buck Ten may be the right choice for you. I’ve only added a pinstripe and removed super mudflap and my Rattler’s perfect for me. No warranties were harmed and my wallet hasn’t opened to make it faster. Maybe in two years when Genuine stops covering the Buck Ten I’ll change some more. If anyone reading this wants to see pictures of the scooter or has any specific questions feel free to ask in my yahoo group “genuinerattler”. Last, but not least, thank Steve for taking the time to listen to me ramble on about my Rattler and share my views with all of you on his Blog.

Nice! Lots of good stuff in there Dan. Thanks a million for sharing your opinion on this new scoot. I’m glad she worked out for you. I hope to one day take a Buck Ten out on the road here for myself. This seems to be a good scooter for aftermarket body and engine parts. Who knows we may have our very own version of the French MBK Rocket Spirit or Peugeot TKR as seen all over Scooter-System.fr. Bravo to Genuine for another hot product! I can’t wait to see what’s revealed in the coming months for 2008 *cough cough, Stella, cough*.

Click on images in the slide show to see ‘em bigger.