50cc Scooter Comparo - It's true, great things do come in small packages!
5-3-2010
by Amyot Bachand, moto123.com
If we learned one thing during this comparo, it's that 50cc scooters really have a role in the world of two-wheelers. The smaller machines are what we call "neighborhood scooters" -- great to run errands, see friends and have fun, while developing useful civilized riding habits. These little creatures are easy to tame. In fact, we had two raw rookies to powered two wheelers amongst our testers, to represent the new clientele for these machines.
We evaluated scooters from a number of different backgrounds and with different designs, such as:
Country-type, with big ballooned tires -- Most popular among young riders, they're led by the Yamaha BW's and its Korean rival, the Hyosung Rally.
Classic urban -- These stars include the ultra-classic Vespa S 50 (The most expensive of the group) and the minuscule Honda Jazz, with its traditional European styling.
Modern urban -- A quality machine from Taiwan, the sporty Kymco Super 8.
Bicycle-type -- With big, 16-inch wheels, the Kymco People S50.
Different -- The unusual-looking Yamaha XF50, aka C3, which our editor likes to call the Bread Box.
MAKE
MODEL
TYPE
ENGINE
(STROKES)
PRICE
WARRANTY
(MONTHS)
Honda
Jazz
CLASSIC URBAN
4 t
$2,949
12
Hyosung
Rally
COUNTRY-TYPE
2 t
$2,395
24
Kymco
Super 8
SPORTY URBAN
2 t
$2,645
24
Kymco
People S50
BICYCLE-TYPE
4 t
$2,895
24
Vespa
S50
CLASSIC URBAN
2 t
$3,999
12
Yamaha
BW's
COUNTRY-TYPE
2 t
$3,249
12
Yamaha
C3
URBAN
2 t
$2,949
12
WHO AND WHERE?
We determined a specific urban test circuit, combining neighborhood streets, crowded boulevards, and a small section of road with a speed limit of 70 km/h to validate top speeds. We also conducted braking tests from 50 to 0 km/h.
Seven machines, seven courageous testers, especially the two newbies. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Moto123.com)
Our team of test-riders included:
Alexandra Caron: a first-time scooter rider. She loved it.
Amyot Bachand: journalist, enthusiast and full-time rider (except during the winter months).
Bertrand Godin: race car driver and well-known automotive writer, with a long history of two-wheel riding.
Donna Mei-Ling Park: also a first-time scooter rider and big-time thrill seeker. She's the host of The Auto123 Show, which documented the whole evaluation.
Michel Deslauriers: a 50-cc scooter rider since age 14, and chief honcho for both Auto123.com and Moto123.com.
Pascal Bastien : motorcycling journalist since 2006. He craves anything with two or four wheels.
How the Scoots made out
Here are the details on each machine.
HYOSUNG RALLY
The Rally's design did not register unanimous approval from the board. Despite fairly modern lines, our judges felt that its flashy colours lacked harmony, especially the red handlebars. The same goes for the instrument panel: Alexandra found the orange odometer hard to read. The riding position suits small and average-sized people, as knee room is limited for taller individuals. Henri questioned the angle of the passenger seat: "The backward slope is exaggerated," he said. And like most competitors, there's barely enough space to store your helmet.
This Hyosung Rally sure look racey, a major plusfor young riders. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com)
While peppy, the two-stroke engine proved excessively noisy. Pascal found the transmission to be effective, with good overall performance. Everyone thought that the brakes felt spongy, with the Rally ending up fourth in the brake test.
Aside from styling, the most common complaints about this scooter included the overly-soft suspension and the resulting bouncy ride.
The Rally is the most affordable (cheapest?) of the group, but the odd design, high noise level and overly soft suspension definitely need to be improved.
KYMCO SUPER 8
Most of our judges agreed with Michel's assessment that the Super 8 was "The most stylish scooter of the entire fleet, with good looks and a decent price." This bike did show the way in terms of trendy looks that most manufacturers are shooting for. The instruments and controls are easy to locate and the under seat stage can swallow your helmet.
Kymco Super 8, with its angular, minimalist style. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Moto123.com)
The riding position generated two very different kinds of comments (this is true for both Kymco models). The ladies either found the seat too wide or the handlebars too far off. Conversely, the larger males felt right at home, and some would have liked a bit more room for their feet. All noticed excessive vibrations through the seat at idle.
In terms of performance, Pascal nicely summed up this scooter: "average acceleration from a standstill, most likely due to the lazy CVT. The two-stroke engine struggled when going up a hill".
On the other hand, the Super 8 proved to be the quickest from 50 to 0 km/h, using its super-effective front disc to come to a full stop in only 6.3m. Ride- and handling-wise, the suspension felt just sporty enough, and not excessively firm (14-inch wheels standard).
Donna drove the bottom line home: "Overall, the Super 8 is a solid scooter; it just doesn't stir emotions in the rider." Quality and affordability are part of the mix, though.
KYMCO PEOPLE S50
Styling and build quality also help the People S50 win over riders. In fact, the modern layout of the instrument panel appealed to everybody.
The Kymco People S50 came to a motorcycle look, with the large diameter wheels that swallow bumps most effectively. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com)
It features more than enough room and comfort for a passenger, not to mention well-designed footrests for the rear seat. Once again, the ladies were not fond of the riding position. Alexandra likened it to a big, fat horse saddle, adding that the storage capacity does not meet the minimum standard for this type of urban scooter. On the other hand, the guys found the People S50 quite accommodating.
With its 16-inch wheels, the bicycle-looking scooter offered a smooth, compliant ride on Montreal's bumpy streets. "We are talking here about motorcycle-like stability," claimed Pascal. Nearly everyone enjoyed its handling but came away unimpressed by the S50's initial acceleration (Limp CVT disease again!). Once up to speed, though, the four-stroke engine got us over hills nicely.
The People S50 delivered the second-best braking performance. Pascal also liked the stiff frame and quality materials. In the end, it was a surprising showing by the two Kymcos, which had just arrived straight from Asia and received minimum pre test preparation - so they really were stock!
VESPA S50
Alexandra loved the cute butt of the retro-styled Vespa (Italian for wasp). "The profile speaks to me," she confessed. Since cargo room is limited, countless storage accessories from the manufacturer are available to you for longer range ridings.
This ultra-classic scooter lead the pack when it came to comfort and ergonomics. "The riding position is comfortable, and the hands fall naturally on the handlebars," said Amyot. According to Pascal, this machine is great for leisurely rides, and handling in corners and bumps is commendable, "Proof that Vespa applied their vast knowledge to come up with the best possible compromise between comfort and efficiency over bumps."
On a negative note, the rudimentary instrument panel and oddly-positioned turn signal controls work against the rider. Moreover, the center stand must be somewhere away from the center of balance, as it takes a real tug to put it on the stand.
The Vespa S50 - A classic look that defines the scooter since the late 40s. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com)
On the road, the Vespa's performance disappointed a lot of our judges, with pedestrian-like takeoffs and accelerations. "The engine lacks power and gusto," warned Henri. "At high speeds, you can feel some vibration through the frame and under your feet," added Bertrand. Fortunately, the brakes were well up to the task.
This most comfortable scooter of the test fleet will also set you back the most at purchase time - style and quality do have a price!
HONDA JAZZ
The Jazz scored big styling points with its traditional yet attractive lines. "While low, this scooter looks great and the retro-theme instrument panel works beautifully," stated Donna.
The Honda Jazz was the most compact machine of the lot, ideal for teenagers - at least until they grow out of it! (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com)
As the smallest scooter of the group, the Jazz is perfect for shorter riders, with not much room for longer legs, let alone for a passenger. The comfortable seat hides a tiny trunk that won't swallow a full-face helmet.
Our two techies confirmed the quality of the materials and their assembly. Lightweight and nimble, the four-stroke Jazz delivered steady accelerations, even when going uphill. Pascal argued that its CVT has no equals.
On the other hand, the Jazz took the longest distances to stop from 50 to 0 km/h, paying the price for the tiny front drum brake, whereas all the others sported a disc at the front.
The handling did not impress all our testers. Alexandra and Henri did not appreciate the twitchiness resulting from the light weight, especially through the steering. One rider's agility is another one's twitchiness! Four of our pure bred riders reveled in the little scooter's agility. Pascal raised a good point: slightly firmer shocks would instill more confidence in the rider, without turning the ride into an unwanted massage. Logically, this smallest of scoots sported the smallest wheels and tires of the group.
YAMAHA XF50 C3
The bread box shaped C3 (Aka "C Cubed") clearly puts function above form. Either you like it or you hate it. As far as most of us are concerned, we liked it. And our most experienced boss did note that it reminded him of the Cushman scooters from the 30s to the 60s.
The Yamaha C<sup>3</sup>, a look only a mother could love? No, as most of us liked it by the end of the day. And get a load of that long underseat storage space. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com)
You can store any small bag or briefcase but not a helmet under the elongated flat seat, under you and your passenger.
This Yamaha offers a great riding position with generous legroom; with only Henri voicing some discomfort before negotiating a more comfortable position - for shorter distances only however.
Alexandra said she felt at one with the funky little machine, while Michel marveled at its "Cruiser look", emphasized by the non-functional fork extensions.
The C3 displayed adequate balance on the road. For Pascal, the ride and performance more than satisfied his needs, quickly reaching a high top speed without intimidating beginners.
YAMAHA BW's
Our overall favorite, the BW's looks pretty conventional - we see them everywhere - with the two dual round headlights and the fat tires that we recognize quickly. "It doesn't strike you at first, but there's definitely something about it that speaks to you," explained Donna.
Sales leader Yamaha BW's, with its familiar bug-eyed look and fat, confidence-inspiring tires. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com)
The riding position was the most criticized, however. Many found the floorboard too narrow and the rider's seat either too wide or too short. Amyot claimed he had to slide over to the passenger section to find decent comfort. Storage proves adequate, but two-up riding forces you to move forward and end up too close to the handlebars.
What makes the BW's so great, then? One word: performance. The engine and CVT team up to deliver smooth takeoffs, safe passing manoeuvres and deliver close to 70 km/h if you wait long enough. The power surprised many of us, newbie Donna as well as veterans.
Men and women alike appreciated its competent handling and dynamic presence on the road. The suspension may have felt a bit too stiff at times, but it generally allowed our judges to ride anywhere and get the better of bumpy streets and softcore trails. This is one versatile two-wheeler!
Pricing is a tad higher than it should be, as Yamaha sell them like hot cakes without having to spend for significant changes or upgrades over the years.
Technical Information
MAKE
SADDLE
FUEL
WEIGHT
WHEELS
50 kph
to 0
PRICE
WARRANTY
MONTHS
Honda Jazz
719 mm
5L
80g
10po
14.6m
$2,949
12
Hyosung Rally
745 mm
4L
90g
10po
9.5m
$2,395
24
Kymco Super 8
790 mm
5L
106g
14po
6.3m
$2,645
24
Kymco People S50
800 mm
7L
102g
16po
8.5m
$2,895
24
Vespa S50
775 mm
8.6L
102g
10po
8.1m
$3,999
12
Yamaha BW's
765 mm
5.7L
91g
10po
10.6m
$3,249
12
Yamaha C3
735 mm
4.5L
90g
10po
12.3m
$2,949
12
WRAP-UP
Neighborhood scooters provide an excellent means of transportation and a safe tool to learn the ropes of two-wheel riding, with plenty of models to choose from. After you've defined your needs and budget, make sure to pick the right scooter with a proper riding position. As this compare showed, no single scooter can suit all sizes and riding style.
"I dunno about that seat, looks slim to me", said Henri. The two thin guys thought it was OK! (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Moto123.com)
An extensive road test around the dealership is a must before you rush to sign a contract. Remember: if you don't fall in love with a particular model, there are more than 30 others for you to look at.
Performance is what helped the BWs win top honors. Two people rated this Yamaha as their favorite, and several had it as their second favorite. And remember, when you ride a scooter on a major highway, you need to reach 65 km/h rather quickly to keep up and not expose yourself to undue dangers.
The Yamaha C3 was a close runner-up, offering about the same level of performance as the BWs along with a better riding position. Too bad styling is so polarizing.
Japanese scooters are still the performance leaders, with mature engine-transmission combos. The Taiwanese are getting closer quality-wise, but they still need to fine-tune the mechanical aspects and the refinement of the electronics, such as they are. Their low price certainly adds to their attractiveness though!
The Vespa remains a benchmark for any scooter aspiring to win over well-off or prestige-minded consumers. The Koreans, meanwhile, are enjoying decent success with their competitively-priced products.
Big thanks to our entire team of test-riders and partners, Alex Berthiaume & Fils, who supplied four of the seven models, Kymco Canada and Suzuki-Kymco in Lachine, and National Motorsports who supplied the Hyosung.
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