What's a good 50cc platform to modify to a larger displacement?

toothy · 01-18-2013, 07:33 PM

I want to make a faster-than-legal scooter for a person in my life.

What model and make is most simply souped up?

Thanks, tooth.

tbonestone · 01-18-2013, 08:18 PM

Well opinions are like butt holes... everyone has one, do if you want my opinion a zuma is my top vote. The parts and shops offering them can put out some crazy bikes out.

elzebub · 01-18-2013, 08:25 PM

I second the Zuma suggestion, great platform for modding.

brianwheelies · 01-18-2013, 09:55 PM

Ruckus seems to be the most heavily "swapped" platform.

seraph · 01-18-2013, 10:00 PM

Zuma if you want to modify the stock engine - 70cc kit, pipe, big carb, etc - they can do 60mph or better and wheelie most of the way there (a mechanic friend has a 2-stroke Vino, same motor, and with a big carb and a pipe on the stock cylinder it'll manage both the wheelies and the 60mph parts).

Ruckus if you want to swap the motor - there's tons of info out there on swapping in either Zuma 2-strokes or bigger GY6 150cc 4-strokes. Just make sure you upgrade to disk brakes, too, as the stock little drums are underpowered even for the stock, slow, 4-stroke 50cc motor. The Ruckus crowd has even taken to turbocharging their motors now.

MODNROD · 01-19-2013, 05:32 AM

ANY Minarelli 50cc 2stroke.
Huge aftermarket, up to over 100cc and over 30HP (yes, over THAT much).
Zuma, Jog, Piaggio stuff, etc.

25-30HP in a 70kg frame goes pretty good........

tortoise2 · 01-19-2013, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toothy

I want to make a faster-than-legal scooter

The downside of "gaming the system" is legislative changes . . comply with the law.

ragtoplvr · 01-19-2013, 08:36 AM

I know of a case where an officer in Missouri clocked a hopped up moped going well 40 no tags and insurance. It could have been several tickets, but the officer was nice and only wrote one. He did say this time.

Could have been no helmet, no endorsement, no insurance, no tag and who knows what else.

Rod

tortoise2 · 01-19-2013, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ragtoplvr

Could have been no helmet, no endorsement, no insurance, no tag and who knows what else.

Scooter impound expenses and, depending on state statute, arrest.

chazbird · 01-19-2013, 09:16 AM

Technically its a motorcycle but a Honda Passport with Lifan 140cc 4 speed manual engine swap.

JerryH · 01-19-2013, 10:25 AM

I have built a couple of mopeds (actual pedal mopeds) that would exceed 50 mph, legally they are limited to 30 mph. You just have to be careful where you ride them. Neither one of those engines had a very long lifespan, the power and high RPM simply overwhelmed the stock bottom end.

I'd say a Zuma 2 stroke is the way to go. The Genuine Rattler 110 2 stroke is interesting, but I have no idea what is available for it. You could get away with a Zuma, if it has a motorcycle plate on it. No displacement or speed limits on motorcycles. In my state everything BUT pedal mopeds MUST have a motorcycle plate on it, including 50cc.

The Ruckus with a GY6 swap is a whole nother matter. It is about twice as long as a stock Ruckus, and would be real easy to spot. I'm not sure what those guys do. Even in states where a 50cc has to have a motorcycle license and plate, what do they insure them as? The VIN shows 50cc, but a GY6 is 150cc. If you insured it as a 50cc, your insurance would not likely be any good. In my state it could be registered as a special construction vehicle, but that is hard to do.

YamaGeek · 01-19-2013, 10:30 PM

1960's C100 + whatever Honda clone engine strikes your fancy.

Like was said earlier in this thread, a Lifan 140 cc will fit most step through Hondas and make it faster than it's designed for, which is what happens with any 50cc bike that's modded to go faster.

The Genuine Rattler 110 hop ups are limited to about 125 cc's and although add a lot of punch, the stock bike is not the same bike as the 50 cc Rattler. It's larger and heavier, and the 110 engine as stock is pretty peppy.

brianwheelies · 01-19-2013, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tortoise2

Scooter impound expenses and, depending on state statute, arrest.

Tortoise, it isn't every day that one runs into the fanatic Sargent who is notoriously abusing authority and beating innocent people. Not only that, in court everything was dropped and I did that myself without a lawyer.

That being said, shit can happen. As long as it is registered and insured with proper licensing(all very inexpensive with a scoot) who cares about the mods.

01-18-2013, 09:55 PM	#4
brianwheelies Iron toocus Joined: Aug 2005 Location: Las Vegas, NV Oddometer: 935	Ruckus seems to be the most heavily "swapped" platform. __________________ 2009 Aprilia SR50 R Factory 2012 Bont Vaypor Custom 2pt My drivel \/ http://chillislives.blogspot.com/

01-19-2013, 05:32 AM	#6
MODNROD Perpetual ponderer Joined: Feb 2009 Location: Midwest, West Oz Oddometer: 1,664	ANY Minarelli 50cc 2stroke. Huge aftermarket, up to over 100cc and over 30HP (yes, over THAT much). Zuma, Jog, Piaggio stuff, etc. 25-30HP in a 70kg frame goes pretty good........ __________________ Every ride's an adventure if you can't ride for crap http://www.dragtimes.com/Ducati-Mons...lip-10329.html

01-19-2013, 10:25 AM	#11
JerryH Vintage Rider Joined: Jul 2009 Location: Chandler, AZ Oddometer: 1,686	I have built a couple of mopeds (actual pedal mopeds) that would exceed 50 mph, legally they are limited to 30 mph. You just have to be careful where you ride them. Neither one of those engines had a very long lifespan, the power and high RPM simply overwhelmed the stock bottom end. I'd say a Zuma 2 stroke is the way to go. The Genuine Rattler 110 2 stroke is interesting, but I have no idea what is available for it. You could get away with a Zuma, if it has a motorcycle plate on it. No displacement or speed limits on motorcycles. In my state everything BUT pedal mopeds MUST have a motorcycle plate on it, including 50cc. The Ruckus with a GY6 swap is a whole nother matter. It is about twice as long as a stock Ruckus, and would be real easy to spot. I'm not sure what those guys do. Even in states where a 50cc has to have a motorcycle license and plate, what do they insure them as? The VIN shows 50cc, but a GY6 is 150cc. If you insured it as a 50cc, your insurance would not likely be any good. In my state it could be registered as a special construction vehicle, but that is hard to do. __________________ "I refuse to give up the thrill of living for the relative safety of existing" Nick Ienatsch "Life is not a race. Don't treat it as such. If you don't believe me, just have a look at the finish line"

01-19-2013, 10:30 PM	#12
YamaGeek Ancient trailbike padwan Joined: Jun 2007 Location: western oregon Oddometer: 4,115	1960's C100 + whatever Honda clone engine strikes your fancy. Like was said earlier in this thread, a Lifan 140 cc will fit most step through Hondas and make it faster than it's designed for, which is what happens with any 50cc bike that's modded to go faster. The Genuine Rattler 110 hop ups are limited to about 125 cc's and although add a lot of punch, the stock bike is not the same bike as the 50 cc Rattler. It's larger and heavier, and the 110 engine as stock is pretty peppy. __________________ ____________________________________________ We're here because of a love most exestential. (toothy)

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01-18-2013, 08:18 PM	#2
tbonestone Lost soul Joined: Jun 2011 Location: Chicago-suburbs Oddometer: 143	Well opinions are like butt holes... everyone has one, do if you want my opinion a zuma is my top vote. The parts and shops offering them can put out some crazy bikes out.

01-18-2013, 08:25 PM	#3
elzebub Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2007 Location: Upstate SC Oddometer: 106	I second the Zuma suggestion, great platform for modding.

01-18-2013, 10:00 PM	#5
seraph asshole on a scooter Joined: May 2008 Location: Seattle, WA Oddometer: 268	Zuma if you want to modify the stock engine - 70cc kit, pipe, big carb, etc - they can do 60mph or better and wheelie most of the way there (a mechanic friend has a 2-stroke Vino, same motor, and with a big carb and a pipe on the stock cylinder it'll manage both the wheelies and the 60mph parts). Ruckus if you want to swap the motor - there's tons of info out there on swapping in either Zuma 2-strokes or bigger GY6 150cc 4-strokes. Just make sure you upgrade to disk brakes, too, as the stock little drums are underpowered even for the stock, slow, 4-stroke 50cc motor. The Ruckus crowd has even taken to turbocharging their motors now.

01-19-2013, 08:36 AM	#8
ragtoplvr Beastly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2007 Location: S. W. Mssouri Oddometer: 4,560	I know of a case where an officer in Missouri clocked a hopped up moped going well 40 no tags and insurance. It could have been several tickets, but the officer was nice and only wrote one. He did say this time. Could have been no helmet, no endorsement, no insurance, no tag and who knows what else. Rod

01-19-2013, 09:16 AM	#10
chazbird Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2009 Oddometer: 2,056	Technically its a motorcycle but a Honda Passport with Lifan 140cc 4 speed manual engine swap.