50cc Scooter

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50cc Scooter

How do you distinguish a 50cc scooter from a 150cc?

i bought a scooter off craigslist. the guy i bought it from said it is a 50cc but i think it has more power than a 50cc. is there a way i can find out? the only paperwork he gave me on it was a paper that said the scooter was a donation to the american wheelchair foundation. and in writting it lists a model number and says 49cc. this scooter can speed up to 45 with no problem on an uphill and im a big guy. i like the power but i dont want to get in trouble if im stopped by the police.

The answer is: you have to take the engine apart to determine the displacemant (size). Almost all small engine scooters use the GY6 engine which is made in 50cc, 125cc and 150cc configurations, but that being aside, a great many folks 'modify' their 49/50cc motors, probably better than half are fitted with 'cylinder kits' that boost the displacement to either 72cc or 80cc. So whatever is on the paperwork or stamped on the engine or listed on the little placard under the seat really does not mean much, just the way it came out of the factory.

40mph is about max for a stock 50cc. A 150cc CAN get you about 60mph top end. That all being said, I would bet you have a bike with an 'up tuned 50cc motor'.

Your concern about the police... depends entirely on the 'attitude' in your locality. Some could care less, and would rather just ignore you than have you dragging around degrading smooth traffic flow. Some places, they are very hard on scooters, and really make it hard to live with. Having a scoot that exceeds 30mph in most places re-classifies the bike as one that must be registered, insured and operated by a licensed driver, typically a motorcycle endorsement on your regular license. In short, it is a matter of 'how legal' do you want to be? Regardless of the engine size, almost all states say: "a two wheel vehicle that is not capable or exceeding 30 mph on level ground under its own power" so there you have it, the bike is already technically illegal to be classified as a 'moped' ... sorry to confuse matters, just giving you the reality of life for scooter folks