The gas powered, street legal scooters of today provide riders with a convenient, fuel efficient method of quick transport within urban areas. These scooters come in three basic engine sizes: 50 cc, 125 cc, and 250 cc. In our review of the best cheap gas powered, street legal scooters we’ve concentrated on the 50cc Scooters with the engine size of 50 cc are the most affordable, and have the best gas mileage, which makes them absolutely perfect for the fast paced, urban lifestyle.
The 50cc motor scooters in our review are geared towards beginners, or those shopping for an inexpensive alternative to the more pricey models available. From the Tao Tao, Coleman and X-Pro, know that you’re getting a basic, solid running machine, one that is easy to ride, easy to operate and when it comes time to trade up to a more powerful model, you’ll be an expert, experienced and efficient rider.
1. Tao Tao Thunder 50cc Gas Powered Scooter
Looking for an inexpensive, sweet, sporty and reliable street legal 50cc scooter? Well, if so, then have we got a beauty just for you. The Tao Tao Thunder lives up to its name, giving its rider both power and good gas mileage of 80 to 100 miles per gallon. Powered by a 50cc, 4 stroke, air-cooled engine you’re sure to experience a powerful and fast acceleration. Features of the Tao Tao Thunder include a durable, comfortable polyurethane seat, dual rear view mirrors, lockable storage area and bright headlight. Superior braking is provided by a dynamic front disc brake, which will require little or no maintenance. The Thunder is approved by the US Department of Transportation and US California Air Resources Board.
- Street legal, approved by the US Department of Transportation and EPA
- Dynamic front disc braking
- Excellent gas mileage
- Easy to care for and maintain
- May be difficult for the beginner to assemble, a mechanic may be required
2. Coleman Powersports 50 cc Scooter
Our second pick is the Coleman Powersports 49 cc, all steel frame scooter, model JL50QT. This scooter design was initially created with the purpose of getting college students who worked for Coleman to ASU and back, and do it affordably. This stylish, swift and powerful street legal scooter is driven by a 4-stroke, air-cooled engine with a dependable CDI, electric ignition system. This easy to ride, fuel efficient scooter provides you with a comfortable ride up to 32 miles per hour for riders up to 330 pounds at 95 miles per gallon. Features include back-up kickstart, dual front and rear hydraulic suspension, rear mono shock, automatic transmission, front and rear disc hydraulic disc brakes.
- Fuel efficient at 95 miles per gallon
- Top speed of 32 miles per hour with a weight capacity of 330 pounds
- Easy to operate electric ignition with kick-start backup
- High quality, durable steel frame
- May be a bit too pricey for some new users
3. TAO TAO Gas Powered Scooter, ATM50-A1
The Tao Tao ATM50-A1, street legal, gas powered scooter is by far one of the most popular gas fueled scooters of its price point on the road today. Once you hop on this beautifully engineered scooter, you’ll easily be able to travel at speeds up to 35 miles per hour. It sports a fully automatic, CVT transmission, a 49cc 4-stroke air-cooled engine, CDI ignition with a kick-start backup. Mileage for this beauty is a stunning 100 miles per gallon, with some users claiming they can get much more. Braking power is supplied to front disc brakes, and rear drum brakes. It comes with front hydraulic suspension and rear hydraulic spring suspension. As for lighting, two headlights, brake light and blinkers will get you through the night. Weight capacity for the ATM50-A1 is around 250 pounds, and controls are throttle. All materials required for assembly are included in your purchase.
- Comfortable, smooth ride
- Travels up to 35 miles per hour
- Mileage of up to 100 miles per gallon
- Passenger weight capacity of around 250 pounds
- Assembly by a certified mechanic may be required by some users
4. TAO TAO CY50-A 50cc Street Legal Scooter
We believe that you’ll find the sporty design of the fuel efficient Tao tao CY50-A 50 cc Gas Powered scooter perfect if you like to ride on the edge. The first thing you’ll notice is how its silhouette just slices through the scenery as you ride. All this power emerges as the result of an air-cooled, 4-stroke engine with an electric ignition with a back-up kick start, and fully automatic transmission. You’ll find the ride comfortable, courtesy of its durable polyurethane seat. Another neat feature, is the roomy rear storage area, which can be locked tight when necessary. As for mileage, look for around 100 miles per gallon. Braking is efficient and smooth due to dynamic front disc braking system, and bright, halogen headlights are more than enough to get you through the night. The CYA is approved by both the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Transportation. Weight capacity for the Tao Tao CYA is 225 pounds with a top speed of 25 miles per hour.
- Responsive electric ignition with kick-start back-up
- Roomy, rear storage area
- Exceptional mileage at around 100 miles per gallon
- 225 pound weight capacity
- Aftermarket parts to improve performance must be purchased separately
5. TAO TAO Vetas CY50-B 50cc Scooter
The Tao Tao CY50-B Vetas 50 CC Scooter has a stylish, unique retro design, one that will definitely make you stand out on the road. This sporty 50 cc scooter is powered by a fuel efficient, 4-stroke, air-cooled engine which provides you with excellent acceleration. Braking is provided dynamic front disc brake. We mentioned fuel efficiency, which in the case of the Vetas-50 gives you around 80 to 100 miles per gallon. When you compare that to it to the mileage of the average family car of 24.7 miles per gallon, you can already see the savings you’ll gain using your Vetas-50 for errands and short trips. Other features include a lockable rear storage unit, comfortable polyurethane seat, and dual rear view mirrors. The Vetas is street legal, which means it is approved by the US Department of Transportation and EPA.
- Stylish, Italian retro design
- Excellent mileage of 80 to 100 miles per gallon
- Lockable rear storage unit
- Durable polyurethane seat
- It may need to be assembled and tuned by a certified mechanic before you take it out
6. X-Pro 50cc Gas Powered Scooter
When you take your first ride on the X-Pro, model MT04, you’ll immediately notice how smooth a ride it is. Powered by a dependable, 4-stroke 50 cc engine with a fan-assisted air cooling system, it’s ease of operation comes from a fully automatic transmission, electric ignition with back-up kickstart, and twist throttle controls. Designed to be eco-friendly, its muffler utilizes a catalyst coating along with a muffler purifier, which reduces both air and noise pollution. Braking is supplied by a front disc and rear drum brake, and the dual front fork provides you with a smooth ride. Other features include a multi-reflector tail light, electronic fuel gauge, well laid out instrument panel, rear and front side reflectors, and automatic shutoff. Wait, if that’s not enough, there’s more: Free stuff. That’s right with this purchase you also get a pair of free goggles, foam hand grips and riding gloves!
- Fan-assisted cooling keeps temperatures down while extending the life of your engine
- Electric ignition with a kick-start backup
- Automatic transmission
- Eco-friendly, reduces both noise and air pollution
- Free items, including goggles, foam hand grips and riding gloves
- May be too expensive for beginners
Bonus – The Crazy Cooler All Terrain 49cc Motorized Cooler
Hey, tailgating season will soon be among us, and what better accessory to add to your tailgate parties than a motorized, rideable cooler? While it’s not exactly a scooter per se, this motorized cooler is designed to keep your drinks/food cold, and lets you ride it from one area of the parking lot to another. So, say you need to go collect a few refreshments? No problem, just hop on your Cruzin Cooler, go to the refreshment stand, grab some goodies, place them in the 48 liter cooler, hop on and drive it on back to your vehicle. Powered by a 49cc, 4-stroke, 2 HP engine this fabulous addition to your outdoor activities comes with durable, all-terrain tires. Features also include a convenient wheelie bar, and reliable disc brakes. What makes the Crazy Cooler better than the rest, is that they are designed to take you anywhere, over gravel, grass, or dirt via its dual rear wheel drive. This makes them the perfect choice for picnic lovers everywhere.
Criteria We Used to Evaluate Our Gas Powered, Street Legal Scooters
As you can see from reading our review of the >>>>>>> best gas powered scooters, they can be a valuable asset when it comes to your daily commute or running small errands. With gas mileage around 80 to 100 miles per gallon, you can see why gas powered scooters are rapidly gaining in popularity among city dwellers.
Price
When searching for the perfect gas powered scooter, we knew that the majority of prospective purchasers are searching for an affordable, dependable method of transportation. This is why we kept our selection in the lower price range. Inexpensive scooters have 50cc engines, can only reach a maximum speed of 35 miles per hour, so not made for highways, but should be perfect in urban areas.
Automatic Transmission
One item which may discourage some from purchasing a gas powered scooter, is the possibility of changing gears, which involves using a clutch. This is due to the fact that older, more vintage gas powered scooters required the use of a clutch. However, all of the scooters on our list have fully automatic transmission, which makes both learning how to ride the scooter, and daily operation much simpler.
Gas Mileage
This goes without saying, as it’s probably the main reason you are considering a scooter in the first place. 50 cc scooters have the least power, but do provide the best gas mileage. All of our 50 cc gas scooters have terrific gas mileage of around 80 to 100 miles per gallon, which is much more than either a car or motorcycle.
OEM and Parts Availability
The availability of aftermarket parts and accessories is an absolute necessity when purchasing a motor scooter. After all, There may come a time you’ll need a replacement side or face plate, tires or perhaps new handlebars. We made certain that the brands we have listed on our review of the best 50cc motor scooters had products which were easily available for order and purchase.
Lockable Storage Units
These scooters had to have reliable and dependable storage units, not just simple racks or curry hooks. For today’s busy world, a storage unit should be large enough to hold a jacket, text books, or even a laptop, plus it should be secure.
Fun and Enjoyment
Last but certainly not least, it was extremely important that you have a comfortable and enjoyable ride. All of the 50cc scooters on our list will provide you with a smooth ride, absorbing bumps as you go, easy to handle and operate. Even the Crazy Cooler has a wheelie bar for those of you who may like to entertain fellow campers with a few tricks.
So why Buy a 50cc Scooter?
Those who have purchased one of these scooters have found that they can leave their car or truck at home when venturing out for small errands or local trips around the city. With an average mileage of 80 to 100 miles per gallon, these little 50 cc dynamos have more than proven their worth. These scooters are not only a source of reliable transport, but they are also low maintenance and easy to store using a high quality, all-weather scooter cover.
By using one of these gas powered scooters, you’ll be able to comfortably cruise through traffic jams with ease. While on your scooter, you’ll be able to weave yourself out of the tangled mess of traffic jams, with little or no effort. In fact, learning to ride and operate a scooter takes very little effort in and of itself. We assure you, that in no time at all you’ll be up and running, even if you’ve never had any previous scooter experience. Finally, as you will see in our review of the best 50cc scooters, that there is a color combination, style and design to suit anyone’s needs.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, our review of the best, cheap motorized scooters available. Before you purchase your scooter, know that it’s a good idea to consider what you need it for: Short errands or longer commutes. This is important as motorized scooters with 50cc engines are not meant for highway use, as they only typically reach speeds of up to 35 miles per hour. All in all, we hope you enjoyed our review of the best, cheap motorized scooters. Please come back and visit us soon, for more reviews on interesting and fabulous products designed to enrich your life.
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