How Fast Can a 50cc Scooter Go?

A 50cc scooter is the best choice if you’re a beginner as they are economical, convenient and you may not even require a valid license to ride one of them.

50cc scooters are not designed for everyone and if you’re looking for something with greater speed, you’d have to pick a scooter with a larger and more powerful engine.

But how fast can a 50cc scooter go? Are there any benefits to owning a 50cc scooter and is it possible to make the scooter go any faster?

We will cover all these and more over the course of this article, so sit back and read up about whether buying a 50cc scooter is a good investment in 2022.

Short Answer: A 50cc scooter can touch a top speed of 30mph or 48kmph. This is mainly due to the fact that 50cc engines are smaller and have a speed lock which restricts the overall top speed you can travel.

Recommended Read: Best Oil for 150cc Scooters

What do you mean by 50cc?

50cc basically means that the engine is capable of burning 50 cubic centimeters of fuel and air to generate power and propel you forward. It’s a technical term given to engines to describe just how much power an engine can generate.

Scooters with a high CC engine are built to withstand high volumes of energy and will result in your scooter reaching a higher speed. Whereas, scooters with lower CC engines (50cc) are smaller and will tend to have a lower displacement which results in an overall slower speed.

How Fast Can a 50cc Scooter Go

50cc scooters are built to offer limited speed and range. They come with a speed restricted engine that lets you touch a maximum of 30mph or 48kmph. There are a handful of 50cc scooters that can touch top speeds of 60mph, but that’s only if you unlock the engine or modify components within the engine.

50cc scooters are available in two variants, namely; 2-stroke and 4-stroke. Each variant will have a different top speed simply because of their respective engine designs. For example, a 4-stroke 50cc engine is much more economical than a 2-stroke, but a 2-stroke 50cc engine can churn out more power than a regular 4-stroke engine.

Another factor that can alter the top speed of a 50cc scooter is the weight of the rider. The lighter the rider, the greater the coverage and speed you can travel at. Whereas, the heavier the rider, the slower and less distance you can cover.

Which is faster, 50cc or 150cc?

Well, now that you know what CC means and how it ties into scooter engines, you should also realize that any scooter with an engine displacement higher than 50cc would be considered faster and more efficient.

A 150cc scooter can easily touch a top speed of 60-80mph which is greater than a 50cc scooter. There are many differences between the two in terms of engine design, components, restrictions and rules.

Think about it like this, if the engine is larger, it’s going to be able to consume more fuel and churn out more power. You will be able to touch a higher top speed while covering greater distances than you would have on a 50cc scooter.

What are the restrictions for riding a 50cc scooter?

Because 50cc scooters are the least powerful modes of transportation out there, governments have taken special measures to restrict their movements. For example, 50cc scooters can’t enter A-roads or be ridden on any highway within the USA because of how slow they are and for the fact that you don’t need any license to operate them.

You can safely use them on other streets, by-lanes and even off-road if they’re built for it. If you don’t want to get penalized with your scooter, it’s safer to ride it within your town or city and stay off restricted paths.

How Can I Make My 50cc Scooter Faster?

50cc scooters are sold with a built-in speed lock that doesn’t let you travel faster than 50mph. But did you know that with a few modifications or touch-ups, your scooter can go faster? I’m going to provide you with a couple of tips that you can follow to make your 50cc scooter go faster.

Change your air filter

One of the most common modifications made to scooters is to do with their air filter. If you’re really keen on boosting the speed of your scooter, changing the air filter or replacing it with an expansion chamber is your best bet. Increasing the airflow helps boost your speed and deliver better efficiency.

Check your fuel filter

Believe it or not, many times the low performance of a scooter is credited to a faulty or blocked fuel filter. Either changing the fuel filter or removing it will prevent fuel from getting blocked and ultimately when the engine receives better fuel supply, it will deliver better performance allowing you to go faster.

Tune the engine

50cc scooters use carburetors and if you’re truly looking for ways to boost your speed, tune your carburetor. Tuning your carburetor will allow your engine to complete full revolutions and this will in turn increase your speed limit. There are many things you can do with the carburetor to improve your speed, it takes a bit of training and hands-on experience to achieve this.

Change your exhaust pipes

Brand new 50cc scooters use stock exhaust pipes or chamber pipes. These are designed to limit the overall power and performance of the scooter and will result in lower speed. In order to increase your engine’s horsepower, change the exhaust pipes and replace them with aftermarket ones built for performance. While doing this, make sure the pipes are designed to handle the low-performance 50cc engines.

Customize the fuel timing

All scooters use a fuel timer to deliver a certain amount of fuel to the engine. By customizing the timing, you can teach the engine to access fuel earlier and this will result in better fuel consumption and performance.

Is it Legal to De-restrict a 50cc Scooter?

In the USA, it’s not illegal to de-restrict your 50cc scooter. However, if you don’t have a license, haven’t completed the CBT test and are below 17, then you would be liable to pay a hefty penalty for the modifications if you happen to ride it on either an A-street, Highway or Super-highway. Here, anything that lets you travel over 30mph would be deemed a motorcycle and you will have to follow the laws of the state.

However, some countries in Europe have made it illegal to de-restrict your 50cc scooter even if you have a valid license and in other Asian countries like Japan it’s entirely illegal to modify the scooter regardless of what type of license you carry.

Benefits of Using a 50cc Scooter

50cc scooters are low performance vehicles that deliver a maximum of 40-50mph which is ideal for cruising. Since there are restrictions on where you can use a 50cc scooter (not on highways), it’s safe to say that you can chill and ride to a local store without any worries.

Another key benefit of owning a 50cc scooter is that they offer better fuel economy. The smaller the engine and lower the displacement, the less fuel gets consumed and in return you don’t spend as much on topping up the tank.

50cc scooters can be used by anyone over the age of 12 and you do not require a valid license to ride a 50cc scooter.

These scooters are easier to handle and are less dangerous to ride as compared to bigger motorcycles. That’s because these vehicles have a built-in speed limit that does not allow you to exceed 40-50mph.

A 50cc scooter is one of the most affordable means of transportation. They are pocket-friendly and cost a fraction of the price of a new bike or car.

Because of their smaller build, you can easily find a parking spot for your 50cc scooter. Simply slide in between two already parked bikes or cars and you’re good to go. Just make sure you do not park in a haphazard manner.

Finally, if you’re concerned about the environment, opt for a 50cc scooter. They use less fuel and emit fewer pollutants than other vehicles on the road, which make them some of the best modes of transport around.

50cc scooters are easier to maintain and you wouldn’t have to spend the same amount of time and effort as you would while maintaining a larger capacity motorcycle or scooter.

FAQ’s

Is 50cc enough?

Yes, if you’re looking for a mode of transportation to cover short distances. They are great for commuting to and from work, but I wouldn’t recommend using them for long distances or for climbing hills.

What’s the maximum weight a 50cc scooter can carry?

50cc scooters are designed to be small and compact, so when you buy one, you should ensure that they can handle your weight without any drop in performance. On average, 50cc scooters can hold a maximum weight of 200-350lbs.

What’s the mileage of a 50cc scooter?

Most of the 50cc scooters out and about will have a 5-6L fuel tank and would generally have a fuel economy of 100 miles on a single tank. But this number greatly differs depending on weight, speed, and resistance.

What is the top speed of a 50cc scooter in kph?

A majority of 50cc scooters will have a restricted speed limit of 48-50kph. But there are some manufacturers that have designed scooters which can touch a top speed of 60kph+.

Also Read: