Most of the time, you’re searching for interesting stuff – be it in the physical world or scouring the interwebs – to discover something worthy of putting together for your readers. Then there are those times when you stumble across a diamond mine while scavenging through some yawn-inducing material. Case in point, Albert Yau’s (@mugen76) incredible custom Honda Ruckus. Let’s put aside the story behind how we managed to come across this one, and focus on one man’s dedication to build a beautiful custom, albeit one based on a rugged scooter! Actually, this is Albert’s second build, and the project started when he acquired a lightly modded Ruckus from a friend. In addition to wanting to craft a JDM-inspired Ruckus, he also wanted to paint it TopSecret Gold – inspired by Mr. Kazuhiko “Smoky” Nagata’s olympic gold medal inspiration to paint his JDM-tuned cars gold.

Homage aside, the goal was to build a really fast and reliable Ruckus – something with a bit of show and go. Albert custom built a Taida spec’d 187cc 4-stroke GY6 engine, oil-cooled with an upgraded CVT transmission. This powerplant allows him to achieve speeds of nearly 130km/h. Stopping this beast required an upgraded 260mm RRGS disc brake rotor for the front and a 220mm rotor for the rear clamped down by front and rear RRGS calipers. Custom gussets were also welded to the rear frame along with a variety of high-end American and Taiwanese bolt-on parts to complete the project. And no, it’s not a trailer queen; Albert rides this beauty all throughout the streets of Chicago, Illinois, and hopes to grow the Honda Ruckus scene one day at a time.

View the complete build process here, and get in touch with Albert on Facebook.

If you want to get really nerdy, here is the complete parts list!

Engine & Performance
187cc GY6
Taida 63mm big bore cylinder
2.2mm stroker crank.
Hand port, polished Taida valve head
Taida 14k rpm valvesprings
Taida Titanium retainers
Taida HD rocker arms
NCY stainless steel high compression flat valves
Taida T300 camshaft
NCY taller gears 16/37
Dr. Pulley variator/weights 14gr
NCY compression spring
Dr. Pulley Hit clutch
Gates kevlar belt
Mikuni Tm28 slide carb
Stage6 filter
Short Axle
Taida starter motor
Taida valve cover
NCY 20sprag Heavy Duty Starter Clutch
11-pole Stator
NCY racing flywheel fan
Custom 30mm intake manifold riser
Composimo angled cocking flange
NCY Oil cooler kit
Ballistic 410cca lithium battery
Standard Functions fuel line/filter
ATR wire harness/front frame tuck
NCY CDI
Metro fuel sending unit
Koso multi-functional digital unit
Dorbyworks v2 engine mount w/oil cooler/mikuni mount
Dual tip carbon titanium Yoshimura exhaust, solid 304 stainless steel big bore header.
Motul 300v double ester synthetic oil
Magnetic drain plug

Wheels/Suspensions/Brakes:
Dorbyworks 12″x4″ 5-Spoke front wheel
Dorbyworks 12″x8″ 5-Spoke back wheel
100/60 MMG
140/70 Avon Vyper Strike
FLP custom rear disc hub
ATR rear shock
RRGS modified lowdown fork – 5coils cut.
RRGS front and rear ph80 caliper
RRGS 260mm front rotor
RRGS 220mm rear rotor
RRGS 12mm axle
RRGS spacers
RRGS axle pullers
Russel stainless steel braided line 34″ and 92″
NCY titanium rotor bolts
CNC billet brake levers/master cylinders

Body & Accessories:
Killer Scooter Klip-Ons Handlebar setup
Kajima foam grips
NCY billet throttle
Stage6 left controls
Daytona BSC mirrors
Kajima amber front turn signals
Gojin dress up bolt kit
Mojo License Plate Mount
Wrenchwerks fuel cap
rPro Monster kicker foot rest
modified Daytona long kickstand
KillerScooter frame caps
NCY v2 fuel tank cover
2008 Ducati sequential taillight
Rigid Industries 6″ SR specter LED Headlight
LosGarage Custom headlight brackets
FLP front frame cover
rPro Stiffler bar
shaved custom welded gusset rear frame
custom FLP gussets
shaved ATR lowered seat frame
Ruckur streamlined Bride wrapped seat w/custom memory foam
Drowsports carbon bottle cage
Pjdm carbon fan scoop
custom painted front frame w/wire tuck
JDM TopSecret Gold paintjob