When choosing the right scooter for you, there are a lot of important factors to consider before you purchase – and one of the most critical factors is engine size. The engine size of a scooter dictates how fast your scooter can travel so it’s super important that you get the correct sized engine for your scooter – so just how fast does a 50cc scooter go?
If you are thinking about purchasing a scooter and you need your scooter to be able to travel at certain speeds, then this is the place for you.
We are going to be taking a look at 50cc scooters and how fast they can travel. This way, you can work out whether or not a 50cc scooter is right for you!
So, check out the information below!
What is a 50cc Engine?
First, let’s talk about engines.
50cc stands for ‘cubic centimeters’ on engines which means that an engine is 50 cubic centimeters in size.
This means that a 50cc is very small – in fact, it’s the smallest size of engine you can legally drive on a road!
As a result, if you are looking for a very small scooter, it will likely have a 50cc engine.
Scooters with 50cc engines are pretty common across the world and due to their small size, they are usually one of the most affordable types of scooters.
This is why a lot of people looking to purchase their first scooter end up with a 50cc engine because they are smaller and more affordable to purchase.
However, while price and size are important factors to consider when purchasing your scooter, it may be in your best interest to purchase a larger engine because the larger the engine, the faster a vehicle can travel.
So, just how fast does a 50cc scooter go?
How Fast Does A 50cc Scooter Go?
On average, a scooter with a 50cc engine can travel around 30 mph or 50 km/h.
This is not the top speed a 50cc scooter can go. Some 50cc engine scooters can travel at speeds up to 60 mph or 96 km/h.
However, this doesn’t mean that your 50cc scooter will comfortably travel at that speed over long distances.
In general, most scooters with 50cc engines travel between 30mph and 40mph.
Although 50cc engines have the capability to reach speeds as high as 60 mph, there are other factors that slow it down and make it very difficult for a 50cc scooter to travel that fast.
These factors are weight, engine type, and aerodynamics.
Weight
The more weight that is piled onto your 50cc scooter, the slower it will go. This is true for a lot of vehicles as the heavier a vehicle is, the more power it will require to travel at the same speed as a lighter vehicle.
Scooters are very small and light vehicles so it’s easier for them to reach higher speeds. However, as they have smaller engines, they don’t have a lot of power behind them when more weight is piled onto the scooter.
Such extra weight can include luggage or an extra passenger – so this is definitely something to consider.
What all this means is that if you are planning on traveling on your 50cc scooter with a lot of luggage or an extra passenger, your scooter may not have enough power to stay at between 30 and 40 mph and will be noticeably slower.
Two-stroke engines are more powerful than four-stroke engines but far less common. This is because a four-stroke engine emits a lower amount of emissions compared to a two-stroke engine.
As a result, most scooters you find today have 50cc four-stroke engines because emission laws have restricted their use.
It’s not very likely that you will be able to purchase a two-stroke 50cc engine scooter but if you are, you need to check the laws in your area.
Some places have outright bans on two-stroke engines to help keep the emissions in built-up areas low – so you may not be able to drive a 50cc two-stroke engine scooter where you live!
Aerodynamics
The wind has a huge effect on a vehicle’s speed – especially for light, open vehicles like scooters. If you are ever traveling on your scooter into a headwind then you will notice that your scooter will slow down.
This is because the forces of the wind are pushing against your scooter, forcing it to use more power just to stay at the same speed.
So, on windy days, your 50cc scooter may struggle to reach speeds around 30mph but this all depends on what direction you are traveling in and what direction the wind is blowing.
Who Should Buy A 50cc Scooter?
As 50cc scooters comfortably travel at speeds around 30mph, 50cc scooters are best suited for everyday use.
The speeds they travel comfortably are suitable for roads in built-up areas, residential areas, and away from any highways for fast, open roads.
They are the slowest type of scooter out there because they have the smallest engine so they struggle when traveling at speeds above the 30 mph and 40 mph range.
Because of this, 50cc scooters are often recommended to beginners who are just getting started with riding scooters.
More experienced scooter drivers will be able to handle a larger, more powerful scooter engine that is capable of traveling comfortably at faster speeds.
So consider your experience when deciding what size engine your scooter should have.
Final Thoughts
So, a typical 50cc scooter can travel comfortably at speeds around 30mph.
This makes them unsuitable to ride on very open roads with higher speed limits and better suited for short, quick journeys around residential areas.
Their lack of speed and power also makes them a great first engine for those new to driving scooters – so this is definitely something you need to consider carefully before you purchase!
Think about where you want to ride your scooter and choose the engine size accordingly. Good luck!
Hi! My name is Johnathan, and I am the creator of ScooterAdvice360.com. Having been riding motor scooters and bikes for over 20 years, I have picked up a few things! I ran my own scooter store in Florida, selling all manner of motor scooters, mobility scooters, hoverboards, e-scooters and accessories, from Forzas to Vipers, Hellcats to Vespas.
Here, at ScooterAdvice360.com, I want to ensure everyone has access to the information that they need to enjoy their bikes and scooters for longer.
