50cc Super Battle

[Del Fuego]

Hey Guys,

This is a bit of an advert but it should help a few of the people who keep asking about which 50cc bike to buy. We have just completed our 2008 50cc "Superbattle" pitting 13 50cc scoots against one another back to back.

Read it here: http://www.thescooterreview.com/reviews/comparison-tests

Enjoy

[tgb_novice]

:clap: Yah that was a really nice handy and well done :) . :clap:

BTW was wondering if you could review the TGB 101s as well as I have it :dodge: and like it but want to get an expert opinion in comparison with the others out there :)
:2thumbsup

[Morcs]

So why are there far superior scooters like the Gilera Runner and Piaggio NRG missing? not to mention the likes of the Yamaha Aerox, Gilera DNA and peugeot speedfight?

all of which are far superior in terms of performance (all will hit near 100kph) and are far more modifyable.

[Dave Lobster]

Can a moped test really be described as 'super' without laughing?

[Pogo2]

and cant wait for the maxi scooter review.

Just a question tho....
On the Honda Today page you said "throw in a gallon (3.8l)...etc. 3.8L is a US gallon (sometimes referred to as a short gallon) whereas NZ has been used to Imperial gallons of 4.5L in the past. So in fact for 1 gallon, your range would be even greater.

Nit picking bastard I know, but just wanted to let you know.

[DMNTD]

So why are there far superior scooters like the Gilera Runner and Piaggio NRG missing? not to mention the likes of the Yamaha Aerox, Gilera DNA and peugeot speedfight?

all of which are far superior in terms of performance (all will hit near 100kph) and are far more modifiable.

I guess because it was a review on 50cc scooters...
Great to see the Yamaha up on top...I sell a LOT of these wee scoots and yes i do own one

[davereid]

:clap: Yah that was a really nice handy and well done :) . :clap:

BTW was wondering if you could review the TGB 101s as well as I have it :dodge: and like it but want to get an expert opinion in comparison with the others out there :)
:2thumbsup

The guys who did the review tried hard, and its a nice web page. Like Morcs said, they didn't get their hands on some of the better scooters, so the value of the test is limited.

And of course, any test is subjective, so you are at the mercy of a reviewers opnion.

IMHO your TGB is the match of any scooter in the review, and as good as you will get anywhere, particularly for $2K.

TGB make half the bloody euro bikes anyway - whip the tranny off your next piaggio or peugeot and have a look.

None of the chinese bikes will do 5000km before they are f*cked, they just aren't well enough made. Electrics will crap out, plastic will rot in the sun, body panels won't fit or will break when you try and take them off. Then they get harder and harder to start, until you give up.

Check out the aussie 50cc endurance tests.

http://www.valleymotoscooters.com.au/Home/tabid/4921/mid/5564/ctl/details/newsid/1109/Default.aspx

[Morcs]

I guess because it was a review on 50cc scooters...
Great to see the Yamaha up on top...I sell a LOT of these wee scoots and yes i do own one

they are all 50cc's.

in fact my first bike was a gilera dna 50. (2 stroke) did a genuine 100.:bleh:

cool bike. would clean up all those in the test :cool:

[DMNTD]

they are all 50cc's.

in fact my first bike was a gilera dna 50. (2 stroke) did a genuine 100.:bleh:

cool bike. would clean up all those in the test :cool:

Ahhhh indeed but some would claim that they are 50cc "motorbikes",I guess.
MY old flat mate had a RG50...that could haul for what it was.

[xwhatsit]

That's awesome, guys! I suppose you didn't put in those fancy 100kph 50ccs because you're doing a test on mopeds, and a 100kph 50cc scooter is not going to be able to be registered as a moped?

Pretty damned cool. I want an Adly Silver Fox :laugh:

[ZK-Awesome]

Where's the Suzuki SJ50? Very common in NZ, at least in Nelson

[Del Fuego]

Ok to briefly answer some of those queries.

We tried to aim it at reasonably common 50cc machines available now. So we had to get an assortment of current models. The clincher being that they are available in NZ as that is where the test was done. The other complicated bit is we had to get the NZ distributors to supply the bikes and some of them are a bit difficult to get bikes off etc.

The next big comparison test will probably be done in australia so we can get hold a few of the brands that aren't supported here. Unfortunately we are never going to be able to test all the current models available. This is for a couple of reasons A) it would be virtually impossible to test realistically 50 or more bikes and B) each market have different models and brands available. So in reality to test em all we would have to ship bikes from all over the world to one place and have a hundred guys to test ride, performance test etc etc... impossible.

We will get better and better with this stuff as we get more well known in the industry globally. Currently we are small fry (although we are now the largest english language scooter review site in the world)

Yes the name is a bit of a laugh... and to be honest more than a little tounge in cheek. In saying that there will be a 125 super battle and a maxi one.. so they will be a bit more super... ish.

We are using US Gallons rather than imperial for the simple fact that of our global traffic about 70% of it is from the states.

Chinese scoots and reliability... I know where you are coming from but both the lifan and the vmoto/Keeway (the keeway especially) seem to be pretty well bolted together. Don't forget that most of the Jap... and a lot of Euro scoots are assembled in china... like anything there are good and bad products everywhere. I look forward to seeing how they last but I have high hopes... I know someone who has done 40 odd thousand kms on his Urban and that is still going strong (keeway bike) so really is wait and see.

Thanks for all the feedback, keep it coming

[Pogo2]

We are using US Gallons rather than imperial for the simple fact that of our global traffic about 70% of it is from the states.



I didn't realise that your publication was so global. I guessed (incorrectly) that the website was designed for internal consumption.:bash:

Bring on the Maxi scooter reviews!

[davereid]

Good on ya. I've got an '04 TGB 101 you can test anytime. Its the entry level model, and its got 40000 km on the clock, but take it for a hoon.

[tgb_novice]

Good on ya. I've got an '04 TGB 101 you can test anytime. Its the entry level model, and its got 40000 km on the clock, but take it for a hoon.

Yay!! I second that and I have an 08 of those, which has done only 1000k's :).:scooter:

:rockon:

[Del Fuego]

Cheers for the offers guys, may take you up eventually if we can't get a hold of one off a distributor at some point.

And yeah we are cranking it globally, over a couple hundred thousand page impressions globally of which only about 12 thousand are local NZ peoples haha but yeah we are based here.

[2Cycle]

Where's the Suzuki SJ50? Very common in NZ, at least in Nelson

I think the SJ has been replaced by the AZ.

Cool review. I didn't realize at first it was a NZ site until I saw Rangitoto in one of the photos.

I narrowed it down to the Jog and the AZ when the wife and I were looking for a scoot. The Suzuki won because it is made in Japan and the wife liked the looks better. She gets lots of questions at work about scooters especially lately with the fuel prices.

I changed the variator front pully and it now tops out at 66k (gps). Having to restrain myself from putting in the 70cc kit (for now anyway).

[Del Fuego]

I really enjoyed the little suzuki stormtrooper. the only thing that really let it down... compared to the jog was the drum front and the horrible looking suspension (felt fine just don't know how long it will last) plus a few extra details like remote seat release etc on the Jog.

[Herman]

Hello,
I'm resonably knew to the scooter scene and dont yet have one. Am looking at (most likely) the Yamaha Jog or (less likely) a Suzuki.

This question is a bit off topic but what is the difference between the Suzuki AZ50 and the Suzuki UZ50? I understand the SJ50 is the Chinesese model?

Any help appreciated,
Cheers

Josh

[NedKellley]

Thanks for that Del, well interesting and informative....allways liked the Vespas, as a kid in UK I rode a Lambreta, now commuting on a Chinese Sepia...

Going to get a new Scoot in the Summer, was planning on a Vespa, but the Jog is definitely up there now???:oi-grr:

Thanks again mate, have your site saved to favorites and am enjoying it!:2thumbsup

[2Cycle]

Hello,
I'm resonably knew to the scooter scene and dont yet have one. Am looking at (most likely) the Yamaha Jog or (less likely) a Suzuki.

This question is a bit off topic but what is the difference between the Suzuki AZ50 and the Suzuki UZ50? I understand the SJ50 is the Chinesese model?

Any help appreciated,
Cheers

Josh

The UZ50 is the 4 stroke model and the AZ50 is 2 stroke. If your looking at scooters probably the first thing you will come accross is that 4 stroke 50cc scooters are slow, don't even bother going for a 4 stroke unless you live somewhere without hills. The jog and the AZ are both great scooters.

[aklbob]

Check out http://www.scooterhq.com.au/ for lots of reviews too..

[geoffm]

Enjoyed reading the mega-test, and wasn't it welltimed.
One problem I have is that being pretty tall (6'2+) and there is more of me than there used to be. I tried a couple of scooters (Suzuki and Yamaha) - I couldn't ride them if there were corners - my knees hit the bar
I took an Adly Silver Fox (derestricted) out for a spin a couple of weeks ago. I was pretty impressed and am giving one some serious thought. $2100 with a decent warrenty. There are some Chinese Scooter importers that offer 3 months parts warrenty (it is labor that costs if you have to pay someone to fix it) for scooters selling for more money.
There sure are a lot of no-name Chinese scooters around. It wil be interesting to see how some of them last or if they end up dumped or ins sheds due to dodgy electrics and build quality.
G

[Azzman]

For taller riders take a look at the Hyosung SB50 SupeCab, it has heaps of room in the cockpit (especially compared to the SJ Suzi). Or for something with more style the Hyosung SF50, it also has 12 inch wheels for improved handling.

[geoffm]

For taller riders take a look at the Hyosung SB50 SupeCab, it has heaps of room in the cockpit (especially compared to the SJ Suzi). Or for something with more style the Hyosung SF50, it also has 12 inch wheels for improved handling.

Thanks for that - what are they like for derestricting? A restricted scooter in Auckland traffic is a menace.

[Del Fuego]

Heya Geoff.

I am surprised you had any size dramas with the Jog... or the Suzi for that matter. I am 6'3" and had no problems at all with the size and that includes maximum attack mode on our test track... any chance you just need to modify your technique a bit? The Vespa's are a lot bigger framed and may feel better to you... just depends if you want to spend twice the cash... maybe get your learners and go up to a 125 or similar?

[geoffm]

Heya Geoff.

I am surprised you had any size dramas with the Jog... or the Suzi for that matter. I am 6'3" and had no problems at all with the size and that includes maximum attack mode on our test track... any chance you just need to modify your technique a bit? The Vespa's are a lot bigger framed and may feel better to you... just depends if you want to spend twice the cash... maybe get your learners and go up to a 125 or similar?

I have a full license - owned and riding motorbikes for over 20 years - (and raced slowly years ago). I also had a couple of Velosolex and a Mobylette years ago - all of whcih proved that the French should stick with hot women, cooking and wine.
The reason for a 50 is running costs - cheap rego and no Wof means it costs peanuts to own and run. The FA50 i have now costs $200/ year rego and insurance to keep in the garage. See http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=76833
Getting a 125 means all the costs of a full sized bike - $300 rego, higher insurance costs, $40 Wof every 6 months, etc. If I was going down that route of a commuter motorbike rather than using my "real" bike, I would get a dirt bike with lights as a bit more versatile.
I looked at the costs of running the BMW into town each day (no parking costs) and what a pain it was in the traffic a big bike was. A scooter made sense for my 10km commute - especially when the BMW got totaled a week later... It is definitely much easier for going to work - a U turn means you can pick the bike up and carry it, but it is so slow it is dangerous. If the FA could do 50+, it woudl be perfect - cheap enough that I don't care about it and cheap to run.

[Willdat?]

Hyosung's SF50 is super easy to derestrict, plenty of info online, I'm 6ft 3 and wanted a slightly bigger scooter, the neat thing with the SF50 is the legit pillion seat. You cannot carry two people for less. Being a 2 stroke it is a little heavier on gas but I still manage 150km off 4L, with 2 up half of the time.

I've only got my learners bike licence, but because I've got my full car licence you're allowed a pillion provided there are footpegs and a seat for them.

[Azzman]

Yup...sooopa easy, cut the blue wire to the CDI.

[Willdat?]

Be careful which wire you cut, on my 06 it was a black wire. And you can pull it rather than cut it. The forums at www.korider.com have some good info

[MarkH]

Be careful which wire you cut

As anyone who has ever watched any Hollywood movies will know - you have to be very careful of which wire you cut, the wrong one and the whole thing explodes killing you!