2-stroke vs. 4-stroke scooters

[cookiedough]

Sort of not Valk related, but motorcycle related at least right?

I seen locally on craigslist a used 3 year old Genuine brand roughhouse R50  which is a 50cc 2-stroke able to go 45-50 mph made in Taiwan being better quality than any chinese brand scooter.  Am comparing that to a 125 or 150cc Kymco 4-stroke scooter for same used price say 900-1000 bucks tops also made in Taiwan.   I own a 250cc Kymco scooter for 5 years now good quality not one issue and put over 6000 miles on it so far so I think Kymco made in Taiwan is good quality (also a 4-stroke motor though)

Yah, I know HOnda or Yamaha or Suzuki scooters are tad bit better quality, but after all is just a scooter and not willing to spend much over 1K on any used scooter, plus is for mostly in town driving but need to be able to drive 45 mph since a 4-stroke 50cc only goes tops 35 mph. 

Question is:  Anyone know about Genuine brand scooters and more so being a 2-stroke, any out of the ordinary repairs or reliability long term having to mix/inject automatically in 2 separate compartments oil with gas vs. owning a 4-stroke.  I do know it will be LOUDER (dirt bike sound) with some exhaust smell/smoke being 2-stroke but is the only 50cc oil injected 2-stroke that will go 45-50 mph.  It might also go thru more spark plugs more so being 2-stroke not as clean burning am sure. 

Local dealer support is all over whether Genuine or Kymco brand and parts are readily available for both being Taiwan companies national known.  Just not sure being a 2-stroke that Genuine brand is worth it 50cc vs. a 4-stroke Kymco brand also a bigger engine 125 or 150cc.  Is more so for my daughter who wants to try it out since not willing to spend over 1k for any used scooter and then if do not like it in 3-4 years if still runs well can not loose much money still able to sell it for say 700 bucks or so.  Plus,  not so sure she wants to get a cycle license since anything over 50cc engine need to get a motorcycle endorsement in WI where as the Genuine 50cc do not think she needs cycle endorsment just a regular drivers license. 

[Pete]

No question go with the larger engine, all other things being equal.

I have owned and ridden many 2 cycle bikes (road and trail) so I am not biased against them.
But 50 CC is just to small either way 2 or 4 stroke.

[cookiedough]

No question go with the larger engine, all other things being equal.

I have owned and ridden many 2 cycle bikes (road and trail) so I am not biased against them.
But 50 CC is just to small either way 2 or 4 stroke.

good point on being only 50cc engine whether 2 or 4 stroke, but then the daughter has to get a motorcyle endorsement as well and right now in college she has not time to get that done.  A 50cc requires just a car license.  Not sure she would like the LOUD 2-stroke engine noise either with just a tad bit of smoke/smelly exhaust.  Nothing wrong either with a 4-stroke Kymco for 900-1K either being 125 or 150cc engine able to go 55 mph vs. the 2-stroke 50cc doing 45-50 mph top speed. 

I might just keep my eyes open for other larger 4-strokes unless this guy is willing to go down to say 800 bucks for that 2 stroke with 5K miles on it which means he used it quite a bit for 3 years at 1500 miles per riding season here being 7 months tops.

 

[msb]

My youngest daughter had a Yamaha 50 -  2 stroke when she was in university  and loved it. Same reson...only needed a regular liscence...no MC endorsement.  We looked at .any 50 cc scooters and definitely the 2 stroke was the choice for her due to the extra oomph....too many hills, etc around here and  needed all the get up and go  she could get out of 50 cc .  That Yamaha was a great bike, she rode it for 2 years before it got hijacked....cut the safety chain of the post right in front of where she worked part time and toted it away.  6 months after she received her insurance $$ the RCMP called her to say they recovered it

[cookiedough]

yah, would never buy a 50cc 4-stroke way too slow at 30-35 mph top speed tops not fast or powerful enough to make it up the steep hill where she is on campus no way.  She commented to us one month ago she really appreciates her roommate who lives up in that area who drives her around if needed to since although bus route is free for college students in town, have to wait about 1 hour for the bus route to go say 10 miles in town, not very efficient use of her time.  A used clunker vehicle is out of the question as well. 

I drove one once 50cc 4-stroke and took about 30 seconds to get up to 30 mph top speed with me on it being heavier was a joke.  I laughed at with me on it and returned it promptly to dealership saying NO thanks. 

Been reading up on the genuine roughhouse r50 2-stroke and is what I feel the best 2-stroke or 4-stroke 50cc on the market able to go 45 mph or tad bit more if unrestricted which sounds like most do easy enough with no issues on reliablity doing it.  Would make a nice spring present for her on campus but like you,  it has a good chance of getting stolen even if I can get it for say 800 bucks.  I would feel horrible though if she got into a serious accident with it since larger town with heavier traffic at times besides just using it on campus.  A bus or her roommates car is much safer. 

She is even finding time to volunteer for feeding people in need  also taking on 5 full time classes and just emailed her has TONS of homework to do been working on it all weekend long as well. 

[cookiedough]

tricky law in WI on mopeds under 50cc whether classified as moped or motorycle in question:

This 49.5cc 2-stroke by taking a simple restrictor ring out makes it go from 35 mph top speed (website states 30 mph) to near 50 mph and dealers are doing it all the time.

Well,  WI state laws state is a moped if under 50cc and not able to go over 30 mph which if restricted, is about right.  

If it goes OVER 30 mph which it will do, then must be classified as a motorcycle, thus my daughter having to get a cycle license added onto her regular drivers license.  

I wonder what would uphold in a court of law if she has a regular drivers license no cycle endorsement going say 48 mph on a 49.5cc moped 2-stroke engine?

either way she can by law (I think??) drive except on expressways, etc. where speed limit is say 65 mph or whatever but is a valid argument.  My guess is she still would need a valid cycle endorsement even if has the 49.5cc moped engine since able to go over 30 mph.  Interesting argument on that one I think?

[Robert]

 I would recommend against them only for the fact that they cannot get away from people and some use them as target practice in cars. Its a safety issue since they have no defense against a crazy driver and are at their mercy. I don't know your area and people here can be a bad when driving on a busy street with a 45 mph sign and the scooter in front of them only does 35. How about the Honda Silver Wing?

I had a guy here that was on a scooter and I told him the same thing. He was a bit surprised but he did get rid of the scooter when a deal came by on a Harley 888. He came in beaming from ear to ear and told me of the stories of people while he was riding the scooter and the trips he now takes on his Harley.

[..]

Is rider training mandatory in your state for over 50cc?

If so why wouldn't you want her to get a license?

[Alpha Dog]

Is rider training mandatory in your state for over 50cc?

If so why wouldn't you want her to get a license?

I agree .  College students have lots of time on their hands. Heck I  worked full time ( except spring due to my baseball scholarship and graduated in 3 1/2 years.   I would just go with a 125 or 150 cc quality scooter like a Kymco or Sym that can do 65mph and very maneuverable.  Or go with a gently used Honda, or Yami, or Suzuki.  Do not buy Chinese - sure you already know this.  Also this way she will have a license and will be set up should she like riding and go to motorcycles later in life.   Good luck.

As a side note Honda makes a very sweet PC 150.  New around 3k, however there may be some good deals on used ones out their as they have sold pretty well for Honda, at least as far as US scooter sales go.

[Oldfishguy]

Find a used Honda Grom.  They have been out for a couple years now and used should be showing up this spring.

About $3000 new, if you can find one.  They were pretty hot sellers a few years ago.


https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-05-18/honda-grom-review-big-thrills-tiny-motorcycle

[cookiedough]

Yah,  a honda grom or pcx150 by honda is better, but used is still 2K or so out of my budget being 1K tops.  I wanted her to test drive my 250cc scooter but too big for her to handle since I found a steal of a deal on a honda silverwing for 2K for myself and wanted to give the 250cc to her on campus. 

the search continues....