How is a scooter different than a motorcycle?
What are "C.C.'s"?
Do I want a "50" or something bigger?
2-Stroke VS 4-stroke engines
What to expect from a scooter's performance

How is a scooter different than a motorcycle?
Key design features set scooters apart from motorcycles. The most critical of these is the placement of the engine within the chassis. A scooter's engine and transmission, together as a single unit, are positioned low in the frame and to the rear of the rider. This positioning of the mechanical bits enables the rider to "step through" the frame of a scooter and to sit behind what is known as the "legshield". All of the heat and fumes from the engine are dissipated behind the machine. Also, as a result of the positioning of the engine, a scooter has a very low center of gravity. One straddles a motorcycle, sitting "on" it rather than "in" it. The engine and fuel tank are positioned between the rider's legs and knees. Heat produced by the engine and fumes from the fuel tank make the ride less comfortable, especially in town when "scooting" from light to light. Scooters typically come equipped with automatic transmissions while motorcycles are foot-shifted. Scooters have two hand operated brakes. Motorcycles had one hand brake, a clutch lever, a foot brake and a shifter, making the operation of a motorcycle more difficult than that of a scooter.

What are "C.C.'s"?
In order to understand what we mean when we refer to a scooter as a "50" or a "150" or a "500" you must first understand the concept of "displacement". This refers, quite simply, to the amount of air an engine can inhale at one time. The larger the capacity of the cylinder, the more air it can hold. Another way of looking at displacement is to visualize how much the water level would rise in a glass of water were to place a piston inside of it. The bigger the piston, the more the water will rise. So, a "50cc" engine displaces 50cc of air (or water). This also explains why auto engines are measured in cubic inches and in liters.

Do I want a "50" or something bigger?
This is the ultimate question when it comes to selecting the appropriate scooter for your individual needs. In Colorado a "50" does not require license plates (it[s registered with a decal, instead), the operator does not need to possess a motorcycle endorsement and the scooter can be parked on the sidewalk or at a bicycle rack. As you will learn later in this article, the top speeds of 50cc scooters vary, however none are appropriate for highway use or use in fast-moving traffic. They are appropriate for getting from place to place in an urban setting. If your commute involves even light highway travel or long stretches of suburban thoroughfare you will want to consider purchasing a bigger scooter.

2-Stroke VS 4-stroke engines
One of the first things a potential scooterist needs to understand is the difference between the two basic types of scooter engines: 2-strokes and 4-strokes, especially when shopping for a 50cc machine.

4-stroke engines are like the engines in cars; except that they have a single cylinder while cards typically have 4, 6 or 8 cylinders. This type of engine receives it's lubrication from an oil pan located at the bottom. Oil splashes about, insuring that the crankshaft, camshaft, piston, valves and various bearings operate smoothly. 4-strokes ingest a mixture of fuel and air from the carburetor or injection system through the intake valve and expel spent gasses through the exhaust valve. Both valves are opened and closed by a camshaft.
4-strokes are noted for their low-revving, "torquey" nature. They make most of their horsepower at low RPM. The "four strokes" are intake, compression, power and exhaust. This type of engines "fires" once for every four times the piston travels from the top of the cylinder to the bottom. Most scooters larger than 50cc's are 4-strokes.

2-stoke engines are the more basic of the two engine configurations and they make more power per C.C. of displacement. 2-strokes function with fewer moving parts than 4-strokes because instead of utilizing valves and a camshaft, they "breathe" and expel gasses through holes in the cylinder walls called "ports". As the piston passes the ports, they are opened and closed to allow flow to occur. Rather than receiving lubrication from an oil bath, as with a 4-stroke, two strokes actually burn a fuel and oil mixture. This is why 2-strokes typically emit a small amount of blue smoke from their exhausts. 2-strokes are noted for their high-revving nature. They make their power at higher RPM than 4-strokes and, since the have fewer components, they reach higher RPM more quickly. The "two strokes" are the compression stroke and the power stroke. Intake and exhaust are handled by the ports. This type of engine "fires" once every other time the piston travels from the top of the cylinder to the bottom. Two strokes fire twice as often as 4-strokes.

To put it simply, 2-strokes are "zippier" than 4-strokes, although they typically get poorer fuel economy and, since they burn oil, are generally not as clean; although, modern technology is helping to make 2-strokes less harmful to the environment.

At Sportique we have always preferred 2-stroke engines in smaller displacement scooters.

What to expect from a scooter's performance (by category)
Having discussed 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines and having explained what engine displacement refers to, we are ready to break down the different types of scooters that are available and what can be expected from each. It's important to understand your own needs and expectations so that you are equipped to compare and contrast them with the capabilities of various machines.

*A quick note about Chinese scooters: We strongly recommend avoiding scooters imported from China, particularly those sold via the Internet, on Craig's list, at Flea Markets, etc. In the interest of offering these scooters at an attractive price, manufacturers skimp on quality to an unacceptable degree. These scooters are imported by the container and distributed without the benefit of parts and technical support, warranties and a dealer network. Chinese scooters are unsafe and difficult to maintain. None of the performance guidelines spelled out in this article are applicable to Chinese scooters. Some models listed are manufactured in China for companies based in Europe, Japan and Taiwan.

50cc 4-cycle scooters
Typical price: $2000 - $2500 new, $1200-$1800 used
Honda Metro & Ruckus, Vespa LX & S, Yamaha Vino & C3, Kymco Cento, SYM Mio, Piaggio Fly (China)
These scooters are at the top of the heap in terms of fuel economy. 50cc 4-stroke machines typically get over 100 miles per gallon. These machines tend to be very small, perfect for riders under 5'8". They typically will not carry a passenger, at least not comfortably. Some 4-stroke 50's are equipped with a disc front brake, although most are not. Machines in this category are ideal for neighborhood transportation and very light commuting on roadways with speed limits no greater than 35mph. Very little is available in terms of performance upgrades for these scooters. Expect underwhelming acceleration and top speeds of 28-35 MPH.

50cc 2-cycle scooters
Typical price: $2500 - $2800 new, $1500-$2100 used
Kymco People, Kymco Super 8, Kymco Super 9, Kymco Like 50, Genuine Buddy, Genuine Rough House, Aprilia Scarabeo (older), Aprilia SR50, Vespa ET2(older), Yamaha Zuma, Yamaha Vino (pre 2007), any Malaguti or Italjet 50
These scooters offer much more flexibility than 4-stroke 50's in terms of performance. Because they are more powerful, they can be operated on a wider range of roads. The typical fuel economy of 2-stroke 50 is around 85 MPG. Most 2-stroke 50's will easily exceed 40 MPH and some will flirt with 50MPH. Most of these machines are equipped with a disc front brake, are passenger-capable and are easily upgraded to 70cc's using an aftermarket cylinder and piston "kit". Machines in this category are ideal for most in-town travel on roadways with speed limits up to 45 MPH.

80-100cc scooters
Very few models exist in this category and those that do, such as the Honda Elite 80, are dated designs which under-perform most modern 50's. A slow, underpowered 80cc scooter makes very little sense in Colorado since laws here are favorable toward 50's. Avoid!

125cc & 150cc Scooters
Typical price: $2900 - $3500 new, $1800-$2800 used
Kymco People 150, Kymco Super 8 150, Kymco Bet and Win 150, Genuine Buddy 125 / 150, Vespa LX 150, Vespa ET4 (older), Honda Elite 125, Honda SH150, Yamaha Vino 125, Aprilia Mojito 150, Piaggio Fly 150 (China), Aprilia Sport City 125 (China), Derbi Boulevard 150, Malaguti Ciak 150
The 125 / 150cc category offers a wide variety of scooters of various shapes and sizes, all of which are capable of speedy commuting and light duty highway use (2 lane). All 150's are capable of carrying a passenger with very little decrease in acceleration. A typical 125 / 150cc machine will exceed 65 mph with some models capable of flirting with 75mph. Some models, like the Buddy, are physically no larger than their 50cc counterparts and therefore offer a wonderful power to weight / seat height ratio. These models require a license plate and operators must possess a motorcycle endorsement.

150cc "Traditional" Scooters
Typical price: $3400 - $4500 new, $1800-$3500 used
Genuine Stella, Vespa PX, Bajaj Chetak, Vintage Vespas (late 70's, early 80's)
The defining feature of these models is a manual, hand shifted gear box. Rather than a modern "CVT" automatic transmission, these machines utilize a four-speed manual transmission. Scooters of this general type have been in production since the post-WW2 era. They offer almost infinite customization, personalization and performance opportunities thanks to an enormous world-wide network of aftermarket parts suppliers. These are the scooters that have moved entire continents for decades. In terms of performance, a traditional 150 will offer top speeds of about 55-60 MPH. Because the operator can select a specific gear, these machines are excellent for climbing hills and are generally more fun to ride than automatics. Most traditional machines are 2-strokes, although the Genuine Stella became available with a 4-stroke engine in 2011.

200cc scooters
Typical price: $3700 - $4500 new, $2800-$3500 used
SYM HD200, Kymco Like 200, Kymco Yager 200, Kymco People 200S, Genuine Blur 220i, Aprilia Scarabeo 200 (China)
The 200cc category is an emerging one. New models in this range are being released every year. The reason 200s are becoming popular is that they offer the most power possible in a "scooter-sized" package. They are highway capable and, in some cases, freeway capable. These models feature large passenger seating areas and are powerful enough to easily handle two full-sized adults. A typical 200 should exceed 70 MPH while some will flirt with 80MPH. Most scooters in this category are fuel-injected and are built with very substantial brakes. Think of a 200 as a 150 with a little more juice.

250cc to 300cc scooters
Typical price: $4500-$7500 new, $2800-$6000 used
Vespa GTS 250, Vespa GTS, GTV 300, Kymco Downtown 300, Kymco People 300, Kymco Xciting 250, Kymco Grand Vista 250, Kymco Bet and Win 250, Honda Silverwing 250, Honda Helix, Yamaha Majesty 250, Yamaha Morphus 250, Piaggio MP3 250, Aprilia Scarabeo 250, Aprilia Sport City 250 (China)
The 250cc class of scooters is where you will begin to look if what you seek is touring capability. These are at the lower levels of the "Maxi" scooter category. Most 250's and 300's are fuel injected and capable of speeds in excess of 85MPH. These models are typically plush, featuring a large seating area, significant underseat storage and weather protection in the form of full fairings (with the exception on the Vespas). 250's are at home on Mountain passes, super-freeways and residential streets. They blur the line between scooters and motorcycles while retaining the features that make a scooter a scooter.

"Maxi" scooters, 400cc's and larger
$5800-$8500 new, used – various.
Kymco Xciting 500, Suzuki Burgman 400 and 600, Aprilia Scarabeo 500, Piaggio MP3 400 and 500, Piaggio X9 500, Yamaha Tmaxx
Maxi scooters are the biggest and most powerful scooters on the market. All are water cooled, most are fuel-injected. These are scooters capable off cross-country travel, adventure riding, crossing mountain passes and running to the 7-11. It's reasonable to expect top speeds of 85-100 MPH from a Maxi scooter. In order to be stable at higher speeds, these machines tend to be very heavy. Most have seat heights that rule them out for smaller riders with limited experience. All Maxi scooter should be treated as motorcycles and should not be operated without safety training.