I’ll admit I am not well enough versed in scooters to know by sight which model Macklemore rides through a wall in his music video for “Downtown,” but I know that this Yamaha Riva instantly made me think of it*. I also know that I agree with Macklemore’s sentiment that: “Eight-hundred cash, that’s a hell of a deal.”
Admittedly, this scoot is going for $850 and the seller is pretty firm on the price, stating “offers are not accepted.” But Macklemore sang that line in 2015. Adjust for inflation and that’s $1,063 in 2024 money. So, indeed, it is a hell of a deal. Now you, too, can ride around Spokane, screeching like Foxy Shazam vocalist Eric Nully.
The Riva XC180 was sold in North America from 1983-1985. Driven by a 171cc single-cylinder air-cooled lump, Yamaha claimed a top speed of 70 mph. The seller, however, suggests that’s optimistic.
“I am 220 lbs and I had this up to 45 mph easy,” he explains in the item description. “And it was still climbing when I ran out of road.”
How long was the road? Was it his driveway, or Highway 61? I feel that might be useful information. Nonetheless, the Riva XC180 was well-liked but short-lived due to two main issues: firstly, it had no underseat storage. But I suppose that feature is less common on bigger-engined scooters.
More annoyingly, the Riva XC180 also had a reputation for suffering issues with the choke. The seller makes no mention of said issue, but buyer beware. A larger Riva XC200 replaced the XC180 toward the end of the 1980s.
My favorite thing to have learned in researching the Riva is that Yamaha sold an accessory rack designed to hold a tennis racquet. Obviously.
You can find this Riva XC180 for sale in Meadville, Pennsylvania for $850 here on Facebook Marketplace.
*NOTE: I think the scooter that Macklemore rides is actually a Honda Elite.