The modern-day Honda builder, whether they know it or perhaps not, is immersed in multiple forms of inspiration. Some blatant, others subliminal; life’s “live feed” transcended via the Internet, automotive magazines, and native builds be involved in what we build and the way we build it. Information is shoved down our throats at breakneck speeds, and as a result, build quality has increased by leaps and bounds.
A perfect example of this fast-moving progression is Jon Domingo’s 2003 Ruckus. Sure, people were personalizing these two-wheeled people movers the second they started rolling off of showroom floors; however, comparing builds of history to today’s rolling works of art looks like light-years of separation. Skim through Domingo’s spec list and you’ll find that every portion of his Ruckus is upgraded, modded and improved and in some cases, completely removed if deemed unnecessary. Inspiration was key to bringing his vision to life, since he explains. “Inspiration came from my buddies out West. When I saw anything they had and exactly how well built these people were, I knew I necessary to have one. With the crazy gas prices, I wanted to possess a unique vehicle that I could ride around Chicago to get a daily commute during the summer. The stock Ruckus was good to ride around, but I’m the type of person having to personalize everything I own.”
2003 honda ruckus exospeed wheels
2003 honda ruckus tucked front frame
2003 honda ruckus kics lug nuts
Found and purchased in Wisconsin, this Ruckus didn’t stay stock for very long. Soon a complete tear down occurred, and Domingo began a nine-month journey that included plenty oferror and trial, and real-world R&D. He adds, “We named it Kaiju, which is Japanese for ‘strange beast.’ It’s something you don’t see everyday. The plan was to build something to drive daily, with reliability and the neck-breaker appeal. Being a photographer, I wanted to build an issue that would reflect the things I look for when I’m shooting, which are the details on top of the clean, simple look.” Details abound, including a few firsts from the Ruckus world according to Domingo. “Being original means custom parts, so many of the parts we designed for the bike were sent out to get CNC [machined]. This is the first Ruckus in the world to use six-pot front/four-pot radial rear brakes. It’s also the bike that started the Koso afterburner taillight trend.”
Efficiency was key, and the factory 49cc mill was no part of the equation. A larger 170cc powerplant was swapped and outfitted with a high-lift cam from Taida, a 48mm velocity stack, and Mikuni TM-28 front-face carb. Akrapovic provided its Megaphone Ti exhaust, and Domingo opted for a custom-built, big-bore header to totally overshadow the Ruckus’ original power output. A cleverly used electronic fuel pump ensures the carb is definitely primed and avoids any thoughts of losing pressure during WOT.
Using the powerplant sorted, attention was turned to the aesthetics. Anthony of AAndL Bodyshop expertly sprayed the frame with Bianchi D2 Celeste Green, while Domingo got his on the job a rare Daytona gas tank cover that he had hydro-dipped inside a faux woodgrain finish.
Proper rollers can be a must on any type of project vehicle, whether it’s two or four wheels involved. A call to Exospeed produced a custom three-piece forged drag wheel, which was then wrapped in a Michelin 2CT dual-compound tire-a similar ones utilized by competitive motorcycles. Keeping Domingo on the straight and narrow is undoubtedly an ATR coilover out back, and a Jiso 290mm drag fork in advance.
As a high-level automotive photographer, Jon Domingo has seen his share of quality builds directly, and his mental notepad is chock filled with ideas after countless shoots. Combine by using his window to the world using the Web, and also you start to understand just how important inspiration, both conscious and unconscious, is usually.
Owner Specs
Daily grind
Design engineer and automotive photographer
Favorite sites
TheChive.com, gumship.com, standardfunctions.com, TotalRuckus.com
Scren name
JDMOTO
Building Hondas
15 years
Dream car
KPGC-10 GT-R
Inspiration for this build
Fatphos x Minkus
Future builds
Z-swapped Ruckus, 66cc Metropolitan, 10×10 Ruckus
2003 honda ruckus mikuni carb
2003 honda ruckus koso afterburner taillights
2003 honda ruckus RRGS power king
Bolts & Washers
Propulsion
161QMK-GY6
ATR Fatty GY6 mounts
Custom engine brace bar
Taida T-300 cam
48mm velocity stack
Mikuni TM-28 front-face carb
SeanSean front-facing-carb angle flange
Koso throttle kit
SF custom big-bore header
Akrapovic HP Megaphone Ti exhaust
Mr. Gasket electronic fuel pump
RRGS oil cooler
-6AN lines
NCY Ti dipstick
11-pole stator
Unlimited CDI
Motorio DR2 Variator
Koso Delta Racing clutch
Koso CNC Racing clutch bell
Custom lightened flywheel
Powerlink 842x30x20 belt
RRGS Ti front axle
Suspension
ATR Low Stance rear coilovers
Jiso drag fork with ext. damper
Resistance
Frando Radial 6-pot front
Frando Radial 4-pot rear
LoS 260mm front disc
ATR 200mm rear disc
Ceramic racing pads
Frando dual master cylinder
14mm piston levers
Goodridge stainless racing lines
ATE Super Blue Racing fluid
Wheels & Tires
Front: Billet 8-spoke 12×3.5 9, MG 100/600-12
Rear: Exospeed Star 8 13×7 12.7, Michelin 2CT 140/60-13
ATR rear hub
LoS front hub
LoS front/rear hub spacers
Kics R40 Neo-chrome lugs
Rays Forged valvestems
Exterior
Bianchi Celeste Green paint
Daytona hydro-dip woodgrain gas tank cover
Shaved rear frame
ATR lower seat frame
Tucked handlebar
Tucked front frame
Tucked rear frame
Rucksters extension bar
FLP stem cover
Gojin dress-up kit
Rat Koubou gas cap
Koso afterburner taillights
Rigid Industries 6-inch LED lamp
Kiatco frame caps
Custom Neo-chrome bolts
Electronics
Koso DB-2NR gauge
Push-button start/kill
Integrated headlight/turn signal indicator
Interior
Custom Bride seat
Gojin drag bar
Thompson BMX stem
Password: JDM stem cover
POSH Racing grips
Props
LoS Garage crew, Standard Functions, Frando, Fizz Autosports, A&L Bodyshop, JDM Chicago, JLExospeed and Garage, RC Scooters, D Yogi, Chonicrebellion and Nice Fatphos x Minkus, Kevin C, Christian R, TotalRuckus.