When it comes to getting onto two wheels for the first time, 50cc machines restricted to 30mph (to comply with the AM licence you can be eligible for at 16 if you have an AM licence and CBT certificate) remain the only way to go.
And, for many, the most appealing, stylish, affordable and east way to do just that is with a ‘twist and go’ 50cc scooter – and there’s a huge range to choose from.
For those wanting something sporty and stylish there are examples from Italy to China ranging in price from just over £1600 to over three big ones. If you fancy something more chic and maybe practical there’s the classic, retro-styled Vespa, sporty scoots with bags of street cred, big-wheeled city scoots that give extra stability, the list goes on….
So, what’s out there currently? What do you get, how much do they cost and what’s our pick of the best? Here’s out Top 10 50cc scooters of 2022 in ascending price order to help you decide…
Lexmoto Echo 50, £1649
A perennial favourite and long-time best seller for one over-riding reason – it’s brilliant value. This Chinese built sports scoot has been around for a few years now but has a lot going for it, not least price. Now £1649.99 it remains one of the most affordable 50cc scooters on the UK market and is even more tempting when you consider it can be had on finance from just £35.34 a month (that’s barely one shift at McDonalds) yet it’s also a decent, credible sports scoot in its own right. The now Euro5 compliant engine delivers pretty much the same 30mph performance as any other; it’s got pukka sports styling; the usual, helmet-sized luggage compartment under the seat and straightforward, adequate controls. The small 10in wheels may make handling a little twitchy but it’s nothing to unduly worry about (and, if you do, the 12in equipped Echo 50+ is available for just £100 more) and there are plenty of dealers and a warranty. For stylishly getting on the road at 16 at a brilliant price it has a lot going for it.
Sinnis Encanto, £1699
Sinnis, is, like Lexmoto, another of the longer-established, better respected western-designed but Chinese-built budget bike brands and its sweetly-styled Encanto offers trendy retro-inspired styling and easy scooter practicality at a budget price – which, when you look at the prices of the latest Italian Vespas, makes them very tempting indeed. Its air-cooled engine produces a fairly typical 2.8bhp, there’s a disc front brake and drum rear, an easy-to-manage low 730mm seat heigh with room for your helmet underneath, there’s nice design features such as the integrated indicators and chrome rimmed headlight, it’s capable of a claimed 120mpg and is available in retro cream or black.
Kymco Agility 50, £1999
The introductory 50c offering from Taiwanese scooter specialists Kymco may be a little basic, but it’s a step up from most Chinese offerings in terms of quality and reputation, benefits from a longer-established dealer network and proven mechanicals and yet still is brilliant value. Kymco currently offers two different 50s of which the more basic Agility is the cheapest. That said, its performance is on par with most others and build quality is as good as any. It also comes in brown, black or blue colour options. And, if all that seems a little too basic for your taste, Kymco also currently offer the more stylish Super 8 R 50 sports scoot (for £2499).
Piaggio Zip 50, £2150
The small and straightforward Zip 50 remains the most affordable of the offerings from the established European scooter manufacturers being Italian scooter giant Piaggio’s entry-level model. The Zip’s actually been around now for over 20 years but it remains attractive. It’s a smaller, 10in wheeled machine and all-round proportions are on the ‘cute’ side, so it suits smaller or lighter riders and shorter trips best. But it’s also ridiculously easy to ride and manhandle and ticks all the usual boxes of adequate 30mph performance and helmet storage under the seat – and all with the extra reassurance of the Piaggio brand and the Zip’s proven, durable history.
Peugeot Kisbee 50, from £2335
Although Indian owned since 2016, historic French brand Peugeot remains among small capacity scooter royalty and it still offers an impressive range of both 50 and 125cc machines. The Kisbee is its most basic, affordable, entry-level 50cc offering and with 12inch wheels, front disc brake and willing 3.4bhp engine it might not be exactly dazzling but it’s got enough going for it with a proven reputation and decent value to be one of the best sellers in the category. A variety of different specs and colour schemes are available, too.
Piaggio Liberty 50, £2400 Euro5
Here’s something a little different. Again, from Italian scooter giants Piaggio, the Liberty is it’s modern, chic, easily manageable scooter offering for the woman (or man) around town. Sober styling, neat design touches (including a built-in USB socket for phone charging etc.) raise it above more budget, youth-orientated offerings while its distinctive, large 16in front/14in rear wheels give great stability and easy, bicycle-style maneuverability. It’s powered by a bang-up-to-date, three-valve, four-stroke single cylinder engine claimed to give excellent economy and which comes in 50 and 125cc forms. The sober, sensible style won’t be for everyone and it’s not the cheapest but for affordable urban transport it makes an awful lot of sense.
Aprilia SXR 50, £2400
Launched last year as a successor to the long popular SR 50 sports scoot, the SXR 50 combines the style and sportiness of the SR with the larger-proportioned, roomier comfort and quality equipment necessary for a modern commuter and as such is designed to appeal not just to young riders but to a broader and more diverse customer base. As such it has LED lights, digital instrumentation, Smartphone Bluetooth connectivity as well a modern, Euro5-compliant four-stroke engine and more. If you’re after a flavour of sporting style from a classic Italian brand but with added comfort and practicality, this could be the one.
SYM Jet 14 50, £2599
Similar to Kymco, SYM is another long-established and proved Taiwanese two-wheeler brand, this time from parent company Sanyang, so is significantly different from, perhaps, the many budget priced Chinese offerings out there. Its Jet 14 is smartly-styled sports scooter but stands out for having larger 14inch wheels (hence the name), for added stability and easy handling and, to go with, slightly larger all-round proportions, which may suit larger riders. Overall, it gives a slightly ‘maxi-scooter’ feel yet remains a decent performer with plenty of spec, such as LED lights, and all for a still-affordable price.
Peugeot Speedfight 4 50, £3109
Ask any teen – or adult for that matter – to name a sports scooter and odds are the name they’ll respond with is that of the legendary Peugeot Speedfight. The then French firm (its scooter arm has since been taken over by Indian giant Mahindra) effectively invented the whole ‘sports scooter’ genre when it came out with its first Speedfight in 2000 which, with its sporty-styling, suspension and brakes was an immediate hit, set the template for the type and led to the Speedfight 2 in 2002, Speedfight 3 in 2009 and this latest version in 2014, available in both air and liquid-cooled versions and featuring projector headlamps, inverted forks and even radial-mount brakes. In short, for a sports scooter it’s still pretty much the definitive article and yet remains pretty good value, too!
Vespa Primavera 50, £3550
We’ve saved arguably the most stylish, but definitely the most pricey and luxurious, until last. Italian legend Vespa, which is also owned by Piaggio, has always been arguably THE icon when it comes to scooters, with its novel and distinctively-styled machines proving a huge success and the foundation for an empire right through the 1950s and ‘60s. More recently, along with Lambretta, they became the definitive scooter choice for ‘Mods’. While, since the early Noughties, their classic style has been blended with fully modernized mechanicals and classy luxury touches to create modern, but retro-styled scooters, in a variety of capacities that are hugely fashionable round town transportation. The Primavera is its smaller model (the larger is the GTS), is available in 50 and 125cc forms and is simply a work of art. There are modern four-stroke engines, smart clocks, a plush seat, decent luggage and lots of colour options and neat design touches. It’s not cheap, sporty nor, arguably, as practical as some (its luggage space is adequate rather than generous). But it is gorgeous to look at, has the best name in the business, is beautifully built and finished and, for style-conscious types around town, the only 50cc scooter to have.
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