Two-Up 50CC Scooter

karpems · Post by **karpems** » Tue May 13, 2008 1:40 am

Hey Everyone,

We are thinking about a 50cc 2 up scooter and were wondering what people would recommend. We are new to scooters but will be taking the MSF course before we purchase one. Any recommendations which ones to test drive?

nissanman · Post by **nissanman** » Tue May 13, 2008 2:28 am

50cc probably won't be your best choice for 2 up riding. A 150 would be better. Since you're already taking the MSF course getting a motorcycle endorsement is no big deal. Now two 50cc scooters...

jrsjr · Post by **jrsjr** » Tue May 13, 2008 2:39 am

Do you have a SYM dealer near you? The SYM RS 50 is a physically large 50cc scooter that at least has some room for the passenger, though the passenger seat is pretty small. Don't expect to be Speed Racer two up on that scooter, though.

The Yamaha Zuma has a passenger seat. It may be a little zippier than the RS 50, so that's an idea.

The Buddy 50 is too small to recommend for regular passenger use. Neither of the Honda 50s has a passenger seat. The Kymco People 50 doesn't have a passenger seat. That's about all I can think of.

The problem is that a 50cc scooter is already hard-pressed to keep up with traffic. Adding a passenger slows the scooter down quite a bit.

ScootLemont · Post by **ScootLemont** » Tue May 13, 2008 2:49 am

I have ridden 2 up with my daughter (70lbs) & me (200lbs) on my 50cc Rattler - my rattler is kitted & does about 50mph (indicated)

It was OK power-wise with the two of us, but not something I would want to do a lot. - a 125+ might be a better idea - or a Rattler 110
if you plan on doing a lot of 2-up riding.
have fun... finding the right scooter is a lot of fun.

KRUSTYburger · Post by **KRUSTYburger** » Tue May 13, 2008 3:17 am

I've ridden myself (145#) and my sister on the back (150#) on my Buddy125... which is basically the max weight limit. It performs pretty well at a reasonable speed. I can't imagine a 50cc being enough for any regular 2-up riding. Maybe if you each weighed less than 100#?

ESPECIALLY if you have any hills around.

BarnabyHooge · Post by **BarnabyHooge** » Tue May 13, 2008 4:51 am

My wife insisted she wouldn't be riding with me, so I just got the 50cc for cruizin' the hood. Now she loves it and rides along frequently. It works ok, but 125 would be better. Depends on where you're riding. In Chicago I can hardly get up to speed long enough to even worry about it, but there are times I wish it were a little more peppy. We're a combined about 300# and I think we get up to round about 40mph on a straight away.

jfrost2 · Post by **jfrost2** » Tue May 13, 2008 1:18 pm

50cc and 2 up is impossible unless you ride on the edge of the road. 125cc is do-able, but still not comfortable.

Witch · Post by **Witch** » Tue May 13, 2008 2:50 pm

I had a kitted Scarabeo 50 that I occasionally took a passenger on. We could get up to 50mph if not on a hill, and it wasn't too uncomfortable. But taking off from a standstill and tackling hills, you could really hear the strain of the engine. It worked OK, but like everyone else says, I'd recommend at least a 125 for occasional 2-up riding, and a 150 if you're going to do it regularly.

Good luck with your MSF course! You won't regret taking it.

FA-Q · Post by **FA-Q** » Tue May 13, 2008 3:04 pm

Kymco Super9 L/C with a performance exhaust. Fast and roomy.

jeq · Post by **jeq** » Tue May 13, 2008 7:13 pm

I asked the salesman at ScooterWorks (which is joined at the hip
with Genuine Scooters), and even riding one of us and my 110-pound
daughter, he advised against a 50. For that matter, at 240, he
advised against my riding a Buddy 50 solo...

Ended up getting a 150 (pictured, making new friends with a
BMW K1100 and a Kaw Vulcan in the playground at work yesterday).
Very happy with performance, though it's still not fast enough off
the line for determined tailgaters.

Hey, KRUSTYburger! Is that pic of you as stunt double for Iron Man?

jeq

BarnabyHooge · Post by **BarnabyHooge** » Tue May 13, 2008 9:11 pm

jeq wrote:I asked the salesman at ScooterWorks (which is joined at the hip
with Genuine Scooters), and even riding one of us and my 110-pound
daughter, he advised against a 50. For that matter, at 240, he
advised against my riding a Buddy 50 solo...

Ended up getting a 150 (pictured, making new friends with a
BMW K1100 and a Kaw Vulcan in the playground at work yesterday).
Very happy with performance, though it's still not fast enough off
the line for determined tailgaters.

Hey, KRUSTYburger! Is that pic of you as stunt double for Iron Man?

jeq

That's funny.....the gent at Scooterworks told my wife and I that the 50cc would be fine if it's simple city riding.

Like I said, I think it works out OK, but I would rather have the 125......too late for that.

Am I dong any damage to the motor riding with 300# total???

jeq · Post by **jeq** » Tue May 13, 2008 9:48 pm

BarnabyHooge wrote:
jeq wrote:I asked the salesman at ScooterWorks (which is joined at the hip
with Genuine Scooters), and even riding one of us and my 110-pound
daughter, he advised against a 50. For that matter, at 240, he
advised against my riding a Buddy 50 solo...

jeq

That's funny.....the gent at Scooterworks told my wife and I that the 50cc would be fine if it's simple city riding.

Like I said, I think it works out OK, but I would rather have the 125......too late for that.

Am I doing any damage to the motor riding with 300# total???

I should clarify, as my situation is quite a bit different from yours,
and I don't want to put the wrong words into his mouth. I'm out in the
suburbs, with a 10 to 15 mile commute to work, on roads that generally
run 50mph, and in good weather, most of my riding will be commuting
in traffic. I could ride the 50, but by the time you add the 40 or so
pounds of junk I drag back and forth to work every day, I wouldn't
want to try to keep out of the way of the inevitable tailgaters.
For city driving, where you and your wife combined weigh just slightly
more than me and my laptop case, you should be okay.

The Buddy seems well built. As long as you're not always going for
maximum acceleration when riding two-up, the engine should be fine.
The drive belt may wear more quickly riding two-up than one-up,
but I'd be surprised if it's much of a difference. If, on the other hand,
you give it full throttle every time you start from a dead stop -
then it doesn't matter if you're on a Buddy or a Harley, you're going
to put more wear and tear on the engine than necessary.

(Kind of creepy riding a vehicle this quiet - when the car behind
starts to get close, I can actually hear the hiss of the air intake
on its engine. When I hear that, it's time to pull over and let them
pass, as they obviously need their masculinity affirmed more than I.)

jeq

ryder1 · Post by **ryder1** » Wed May 14, 2008 12:42 am

Getting a 125cc or 150cc would be the scooter to have in the long run w/out regrets.

You can't ride the 50cc full throttle all the time.

You can always start with 50cc then give your wife the 50cc and you move up to the 125cc.

m3x14 · Post by **m3x14** » Wed May 14, 2008 1:32 am

My wife and I ride 2 up to work pretty often. we only work a couple blocks away and it is kind of a pain. First, the power just isn't there (i am 190 and wife 135) and my 50cc is now 70cc. Second, it is really cramped. I have to always ask her to scoot back because my knees start getting close to the bars (i am 6'0"). I would go bigger if i were you.

jeq · Post by **jeq** » Wed May 14, 2008 2:58 am

ryder1 wrote: You can always start with 50cc then give your wife the 50cc and you move up to the 125cc.

What makes you think his wife will let him have the 125?

mandyscoots · Post by **mandyscoots** » Wed May 14, 2008 7:40 am

jeq wrote:
ryder1 wrote: You can always start with 50cc then give your wife the 50cc and you move up to the 125cc.
What makes you think his wife will let him have the 125?

YEAH?!

KRUSTYburger · Post by **KRUSTYburger** » Wed May 14, 2008 4:32 pm

jeq wrote:Hey, KRUSTYburger! Is that pic of you as stunt double for Iron Man?

How did I miss this?!
YES!!! It's ABOUT TIME SOMEBODY noticed!!!

BONUS BEHIND THE SCENES FOOTAGE FOR YOU!!!:shock:

ryder1 · Post by **ryder1** » Thu May 15, 2008 2:06 am

I don't think she will, but let her deal with him!

MikieTaps · Post by **MikieTaps** » Fri May 16, 2008 5:01 am

When my girlfriend and I are riding my 125 I have yet to need to use full throttle. We are able to keep up with traffic and on the hills I am able to stay at posted speed limits at only 75% throttle....

Post by **ericalm** » Fri May 16, 2008 6:16 am

MikieTaps wrote:I am able to stay at posted speed limits at only 75% throttle....

What? They post those—what did you call them—speed limits?

MikieTaps · Post by **MikieTaps** » Sat May 17, 2008 6:21 am

ericalm wrote:
MikieTaps wrote:I am able to stay at posted speed limits at only 75% throttle....
What? They post those—what did you call them—speed limits?

HAHAHA, I'm just trying to say we keep up with traffic on the hills around here...

We go too fast to read the signs when we are not on the hills

thepamcat · Post by **thepamcat** » Fri Apr 18, 2014 8:35 pm

My boyfriend and I have gone for rides on both a Yamaha Zuma 125cc and a 50cc. The 125 was definitely faster and seemed to me, to be more comfortable for the passenger (me!). We rode the 125cc on vacation, in PR where the roads weren't congested, were well maintained and the speed limit was 50mph. We were able to keep up with traffic fine.

We got a 50cc in Mass, where we only do city riding with some hills here and there. We are able to keep up with city traffic no problem but riding uphill is pretty slow. Our combined weight is 350.

So short answer, it depends on what type of 2 up riding you'll be doing.

ender07 · Post by **ender07** » Fri Apr 18, 2014 8:51 pm

Dredging up a 6 year old thread? Lol haven't seen that in awhile! I would stick to 2013 & up if I were you!

skipper20 · Post by **skipper20** » Fri Apr 18, 2014 10:48 pm

karpems wrote:Hey Everyone,

We are thinking about a 50cc 2 up scooter and were wondering what people would recommend. We are new to scooters but will be taking the MSF course before we purchase one. Any recommendations which ones to test drive?

Assuming you pass the MSF course you'll be able to get an MC endorsement on your DL. This allows you to ride a scooter above 50cc in displacement so with 2 up riding in mind I would strongly urge you to forget the 50cc scooter and get a minimum of 125cc. Even if you're a pair of lightweights I suspect you'll be very disappointed in trying to ride 2 up on a 50cc scooter. You might reach 25 mph if you're lucky and if there's any sort of a hill, you'll bog down in a hurry. I owned a Buddy 125 for a short time and a prospective buyer said she would buy it if she and her friend could ride it safely 2 up. I told her to get on behind me, which she did, (I weighed 185 at the time & I guessed her weight at about 135) and we went around the block several times including up a short hill and no problem. I made the sale! OK, this was with a 125. For more than just an occasional 2 up, 150cc should be your minimum as it will give you a little extra margin of safety and there will be less stress on the engine. BTW, congrats on taking the MSF course. A very wise choice. Not only will you get that ticket for your MC endorsement, you'll get some excellent riding experience and learn things that will make you a much safer and skillful rider. Above all, have fun and ride safe!

Bill in Seattle
'12 Buddy 170i Italia "The Olive Pit"

agrogod · Post by **agrogod** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 5:07 am

Hey Bill aka skipper20, you happen to take note of the date on this post?

Posted: 12 May 2008, Mon 21:40 PM

Just saying

scootERIK · Post by **scootERIK** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 1:53 pm

In some states it is illegal to ride a 50 cc with a passenger.

ender07 · Post by **ender07** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 2:14 pm

Also this thread is old (2008!)...start a new one!

skipper20 · Post by **skipper20** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 4:25 pm

agrogod wrote:Hey Bill aka skipper20, you happen to take note of the date on this post?

Posted: 12 May 2008, Mon 21:40 PM

Just saying

Obviously I missed the almost 6 year old date. My apologies.

Bill in Seattle

Modern Buddy

Two-Up 50CC Scooter

Two-Up 50CC Scooter

It can be done

Re: Two-Up 50CC Scooter