If you decide to buy a scooter, then this question will inevitably arise: which engine is right for you? Powerboat experts talk about the distinctive features of two- and four-stroke motorcycles, as well as important criteria for choosing motor vehicles.
Each type of engine has its own design and operation nuances. Therefore, there is no clear answer to the question of which is better - two-stroke or four-stroke. Everything is individual and depends on the budget for the purchase of motorcycle equipment, subsequent financial capabilities for its operation and maintenance, and a number of other points.
Design Features
Structurally, scooters equipped with two-stroke engines are simpler and more compact. Since the operating principle of such a power unit is simpler, just as the lubrication and gas distribution system is free of technical difficulties.
All working cycles in 2T take place within one revolution of the crankshaft (in 4T - within two). Motorcycles with a 4-stroke engine are larger and heavier, but they look more massive and bold. And this is already a matter of aesthetic taste.
Also, the four-stroke engine is designed for a longer service life, it is more reliable - up to 5 seasons on one piston. Some popular models: RACER Neo RC50QT-3X, Motoland PALADIN 150, Yamaha NMAX 150.
The best maxi scooters
Features of such models include the presence of heavy-duty engines and large dimensions. Maxi scooters offer great performance, can reach speeds in excess of 120 km/h and are great for long journeys or multi-day trips.
BMW C 400 X
5
★★★★★
editorial assessment
100%
buyers recommend this product
The model is equipped with automatic stability control and an anti-lock braking system, providing a high level of safety while driving. Additional features of the scooter include support for BMW Motorrad Connectivity. This technology allows you to connect your smartphone to the TFT display and use navigation and communication functions with maximum comfort.
Engine power is 34 hp, volume - 350 cm³. A spacious folding trunk makes it easy to transport luggage and store essentials on the road. The 300 kg load capacity and spacious seats guarantee comfortable travel with a passenger.
Advantages:
- convenient control;
- increased gas tank volume - 12.8 l;
- high speed;
- powerful engine;
- convenient control.
Flaws:
- not a small price.
The BMW C 400 X is an excellent option for city driving or long-distance travel.
Yamaha TMAX
4.9
★★★★★
editorial assessment
95%
buyers recommend this product
To ensure quick engine starting, the SmartKey system is used. Thanks to the built-in immobilizer, it also provides locking of the center stand and seat lock, which guarantees reliable protection against theft. The owner has access to cruise control and a choice of engine operating modes, which can be conveniently switched on the fly depending on the required speed and performance.
Engine capacity - 530 cubic meters. cm, maximum power - 46.5 hp. Anti-lock brakes, inverted telescopic forks and a long swingarm rear suspension contribute to better handling and stability of the scooter when driving at high speeds or on uneven surfaces.
Advantages:
- maneuverability;
- powerful engine;
- high speed;
- fast ignition;
- heated seats and steering wheel.
Flaws:
- complexity of maintenance.
Yamaha TMAX is a versatile choice for traveling on smooth asphalt or rough terrain. It is worth purchasing both for high-speed riding on city streets and for long trips.
Honda Click 125i
4.9
★★★★★
editorial assessment
95%
buyers recommend this product
The model supports a start-stop engine starting system, which ensures automatic shutdown and restart of the engine. This allows you to reduce its idling time, reduce fuel consumption, emissions and noise levels.
The gas tank volume is 5.5 liters, the maximum speed is 120 km/h. To reduce friction and increase engine performance, the design of the scooter uses a cylinder with a shaft offset relative to the axis, and the relief of the intake and exhaust systems is as smooth as possible.
Advantages:
- liquid cooling system;
- quick start;
- low gasoline consumption;
- long service life;
- affordable price.
Flaws:
- small fuel tank volume.
Honda Click 125i is one of the most reliable scooters in its class. An excellent choice for difficult operating conditions.
Piaggio Vespa GTS Touring 300 ABS E4
4.9
★★★★★
editorial assessment
93%
buyers recommend this product
The model is equipped with two spacious luggage racks and retractable seats. Comfortable movement with a load is also guaranteed by a hook for placing a bag and a windshield. 278.3cc 4-stroke engine CM with electronic injection ensures high scooter performance, low fuel consumption and quick start.
The engine power is 21.2 hp, the gas tank volume is 8.5 liters. The liquid cooling system promotes stable driving under heavy loads, and the dual hydraulic shock absorber effectively softens vibrations and shocks when traveling on uneven surfaces.
Advantages:
- volumetric fuel tank;
- fast ignition;
- high speed;
- high load capacity;
- stability on the road.
Flaws:
- high gasoline consumption.
Piaggio Vespa Touring will be an excellent purchase for travelers. It is suitable for long driving not only on asphalt roads, but also on rough terrain.
Dynamic capabilities
Two-stroke. Due to its short operating cycle, it allows the scooter to pick up speed faster, while the response to turning the gas lever is more sensitive. Purely in terms of sensations, riding such a vehicle, especially at high speeds, is comparable to riding a sports motorcycle. Connoisseurs of high speeds, this is your choice.
Four-stroke. Scooters with such an engine, due to the longer stroke of the latter, provide “elastic” acceleration and smooth, smooth movement. The vibrations that the motor creates are almost imperceptible, even if you drive at high speed. This provides significantly greater comfort while riding and makes it easier to control the bike.
Rating of scooters up to 50cc
The editors of Vyborexperta.ru studied the equipment related to scooters: their selection, operation, repair, maintenance using Internet materials, after which they went to the local car market and motorcycle stores. After communicating with sellers and repair specialists of such equipment, we have compiled a list of models and manufacturers of scooters recommended for consideration. Experts helped determine the criteria that you should pay attention to when choosing a “two-wheeled horse.”
Out of almost two dozen models, we settled on ten, comparing them according to the following criteria:
- Type of internal combustion engine: two- or four-stroke;
- Air filter location: if it is low, it becomes clogged with dust faster;
- Size, type of wheels - indicates the cross-country ability, purpose of the vehicle;
- Suspension type – lever increases cross-country ability and smooth ride;
- Load capacity – shows whether it is possible to ride with two people, how much load the scooter can carry;
- Peak speed;
- Availability of seats for passengers, luggage, their convenience;
- Gasoline consumption per 100 km;
- Heat removal system – air or liquid.
Models with low technical indicators and performance characteristics were not included in the rating. There was no place for scooters with poor shock absorption, fragile plastic, and unreliable engines.
The best maxiscooters
Job resource
The four-stroke engine is a priori a more advanced system, therefore it is considered more reliable, which has been confirmed in practice. This unit has a modern oil supply system by spraying or supplying under pressure, which provides better lubrication when every part is literally “bathed” in it. And the complex design of the engine in this case is also “on hand”, it allows you to more evenly distribute and, accordingly, reduce the load on its individual elements. Ultimately, this helps to increase the service life.
How to choose a scooter up to 50cc
The VyborExpert.ru team took into account a huge range of criteria when forming the rating: technical and operational characteristics, design features, feedback from users and experts. We looked at the history of the brand and model. An ordinary person who wants to travel to work, to visit relatives, out of town to a dacha, or to nature should pay attention to the basic parameters.
Fuel consumption
The consumption of the fuel mixture or gasoline depends on the power of the power unit, the type of injection and the load. For regular trips, look at economical models with a consumption of up to 1.8-2 l/100 km, and 4-stroke engines usually consume less fuel than 2-stroke engines. For rare trips to nature, to the garden or to visit relatives, a less economical model is suitable, especially if you are traveling together.
Engine
The advantages and disadvantages of engines with different numbers of cycles are described above. Power indicates the maximum load and movement speed. Motor 3-3.5 hp. enough for daily voyages alone, for rare trips a power unit of up to 3 hp will do, and to transport passengers you will need a power of over 4 “horses”.
Brake system
The safety of the driver and passenger depends on the quality and implementation. There are three types of brakes:
- Disc (mechanical) - the force from the clamped lever is transmitted to the brake pads - the simplest brakes;
- Drums are a reliable mechanism represented by curved pads. Needs frequent replacement of worn-out attachments;
- Hydraulic is the most reliable braking mechanism, where the discs are clamped by a cylinder. Suitable for teenagers and girls.
Manufacturer
Scooters are produced by market giants like Honda, Yamaha - they are distinguished by their high cost, reliability, as well as little-known Chinese, Taiwanese and other manufacturers. If your budget allows, take a branded model - maintenance and repairs will cost less and cause less discomfort.
Transmission
They differ in design and ease of control. There are:
- CVT - to control speed, the belt moves along a cone-shaped clutch. Suitable for teenagers, elderly people, girls.
- Semi-automatic transmission - the speed is switched by pushing the pedal-lever with your foot. Such models are faster than CVT models, but require consistency between the work of the legs and arms.
Design
The height and design of the saddle determines how comfortable it is for a person to sit on a scooter and place their feet on the stands. Determined individually.
Wheel diameter:
- for the city, small narrow wheels with a diameter of up to 10-12 inches are enough;
- For country roads you need wide tires with a diameter of 12-14 inches.
Cooling type:
- water - complicates the design, necessary for long trips, movements under high load;
- air - used on compact models with a safety margin, suitable for short trips without stopping to cool the engine.
What else is important to know when choosing
- Price. Buying a model equipped with a 2-stroke engine will a priori cost less than a bike with a 4-stroke engine. And often the money issue is the determining factor in the purchase.
- Power. A scooter with a two-stroke engine is approximately 60–70% more powerful than a four-stroke engine. This, again, is due to the fact that in such a system all work processes occur faster.
- Service. Two-stroke engines require regular monitoring of the oil level and changing it more often. They also produce more smoke during operation, so you will need to clean the exhaust muffler more often.
- Repair. Carrying out repair work on a four-stroke engine will be somewhat more difficult, and it will cost more than repairing and replacing parts on a two-stroke engine.
- Noise. Here the scooter with a 4-stroke engine wins an uncompromising “victory”. A scooter with a two-stroke engine is objectively noisier.
- Environmental friendliness. Four-stroke engines produce cleaner emissions from an environmental point of view. A timely moment for those who care about the environment.
The catalog of the Sport-Extreme online store includes scooters from Motoland, Racer, Yamaha and other brands. The product comes with a manufacturer's warranty, and there is a delivery service within the Russian Federation.
The specialists of the motorboat center will help you choose the models that suit your goals and expectations.
To get detailed advice on availability, prices and characteristics, just call +7 (4822) 65-65-03.
Fifty cc scooter engine. Four or two stroke?
Just a few years ago, the vast majority of scooters and mopeds with an engine capacity of up to 50cc were exclusively equipped with a two-stroke scooter engine. Now the situation has changed dramatically. Finding a new two-stroke scooter is getting harder and harder. Moreover, while Chinese manufacturers still produce such scooters, the Japanese and Europeans now produce exclusively four-stroke scooters. Although on a fairly large secondary market, finding a two-stroke scooter from the land of the rising sun is not yet a problem.
The situation is “aggravated” by many scooterists who, on various thematic forums, vehemently argue that a two-stroke scooter engine is a pure anachronism and it’s not worth looking at them at all. But is this really so? In the sub-50cc category, does a four-stroke scooter engine really have a significant advantage? Let's try to objectively understand and find out all the advantages and disadvantages of two-stroke and four-stroke engines. I warn you that all the arguments below are valid only for scooters with an engine capacity of up to 50cc. Since for scooters with a large volume, the advantage of a four-stroke engine is obvious. First, let's briefly examine the operating principle of four-stroke and two-stroke engines.
Four stroke scooter engine
As the name suggests, the working cycle of a four-stroke engine is divided into four strokes:
- The first one is injection. During this stroke, a fuel mixture of gasoline and air is admitted into the cylinder. In this case, the intake valve remains open and the exhaust valve remains closed. The piston moves down to bottom dead center. It is important that the fuel mixture has the correct proportions. If the mixture is over-rich, not all the fuel will burn and the scooter engine will smoke heavily. On the contrary, too lean a mixture will lead to a strong loss of power and a large load on the rings
- The second stroke is compression. After the fuel mixture is supplied, the intake valve closes and the piston begins to move upward from bottom dead center, creating the compression necessary for ignition.
- The third stroke is the working stroke. When the piston is near top dead center, the fuel mixture is ignited by a spark. The explosion causes the piston to move downwards, pressing hard on the crankshaft through the connecting rod. As a result, energy is transferred and a working stroke is completed. It is very important that the ignition occurs at the right moment. If ignition occurs too early, the entire scooter engine, and in particular the entire cylinder-piston group, will experience too much stress. If it is too late, then part of the fuel mixture will burn out already in the exhaust system, and the exhaust valve may overheat.
- The fourth measure is release. After the power stroke, the piston moves upward again, pushing the exhaust gases through the exhaust valve into the exhaust system, which are discharged into the atmosphere through the muffler.
Two stroke scooter engine
The two-stroke scooter engine has a much simpler structure. Unlike a four-stroke, it does not have an intake stroke and an exhaust stroke. There is only a compression stroke and a power stroke. And instead of valves, an intake and exhaust manifold are installed. True, the intake manifold is still equipped with a check valve, which prevents the fuel mixture from escaping back into the carburetor during the compression stroke. The intake and exhaust manifolds are installed at different levels and during operation the cylinder alternately “opens” and “closes” them.
The working process of a two-stroke engine itself is as follows:
- Starting from bottom dead center, the piston alternately closes first the intake manifold and then the exhaust manifold. At top dead center, the previously injected fuel mixture ignites and the power stroke begins.
- During the power stroke, the piston opens the exhaust manifold and the waste mixture is thrown into the muffler. Then the intake manifold opens and the fuel-air mixture enters the cylinder from the crank chamber. The compression stroke begins again. Fuel enters the crank chamber itself during the compression stroke, when the piston closes the exhaust manifold, thereby creating a vacuum. This vacuum sucks the fuel mixture into the crank chamber
Since during the compression stroke some of the fuel mixture will inevitably fly out through the exhaust manifold before ignition, the scooter engine is often equipped with a muffler that acts as a resonator. A resonator is essentially two cones of different lengths directed toward each other. It allows you to return part of the unused air-fuel mixture back into the cylinder during the power stroke, thereby increasing the fuel efficiency of the scooter.
Let us now consider what advantages a four-stroke scooter engine has over a two-stroke engine and vice versa.
Four-stroke scooter engine. Advantages and disadvantages
The main advantages that a four-stroke scooter engine has, and which are constantly appealed to by those who install such an engine on devices with a capacity of up to 50cc, are its efficiency and environmental friendliness.
In principle, everything is correct, a four-stroke scooter engine actually consumes less gasoline, and moreover, it does not burn oil along with fuel, which also has a positive effect on both economy and environmental friendliness. Also, a four-stroke scooter engine makes less noise, puffs, vibrates and is generally more comfortable to ride.
But at the same time, it costs much more, weighs more, is more complex and expensive to repair. In addition, the specific power for the same cubic capacity of a four-stroke engine is much lower than that of its two-stroke counterpart.
Two-stroke scooter engine. Advantages and disadvantages
The main advantage of the two-stroke is its simplicity and low cost. A two-stroke scooter engine has much fewer parts, is lighter in weight and smaller in size, and is much easier to repair. In addition, a two-stroke scooter engine is approximately 60-70% more powerful than a four-stroke scooter engine with the same cubic capacity. Since a two-stroke engine completes the entire working cycle in 1 revolution of the crankshaft, and not in 2 like a four-stroke engine.
Of course, you have to pay for this with increased gas and oil consumption, as well as less driving comfort due to higher noise and vibration levels.
Results
To summarize, I want to say that, in my opinion, installing a four-stroke engine on a 50cc scooter is more of a newfangled trend caused by the sometimes irrational desire for environmental friendliness and efficiency than objective technical progress.
In fact, a 50cc four-stroke scooter engine has so little power that Chinese manufacturers often lie by equipping their scooters with 65cc or even 82cc engines, while passing them off as 50cc. Naturally, the larger the volume, the greater the fuel consumption. Japanese manufacturers never lie about the cubic capacity of their products and achieve normal power from a 50cc four-stroke by using more expensive technologies, which affects the price. Considering that 50cc scooters are used mainly for short distance trips, a Japanese four-stroke is unlikely to recoup its cost over time compared to a Chinese two-stroke.
There is an opinion that a four-stroke scooter engine is more reliable because it is better lubricated. But the objectivity of this thesis can be questioned, given that a two-stroke engine has fewer parts that can break. In addition, for scooters with such a small volume, what will be much more important is not the ability to work for a long time without breakdown, but the ability to quickly fix this breakdown using available means. So here too, the two-stroke scooter engine has an advantage.
Which scooter under 50cc is better?
After the work done, we can safely recommend which 50cc scooter to buy.
- Honda Giorno is another revival of the legend of the 70s with an increased fuel tank capacity, a combined brake, and a powerful chassis. Supports tuning, which adds 5-7 km to maximum speed.
- Yamaha Zuma replica 50cc is the best choice for lovers of power and high-speed rides. When labeled 50 cubic meters, the actual engine volume is three times larger. With such a reserve, it is capable of driving for a long time with two adult passengers and luggage.
50cc scooters do not require documents; they can be used by teenagers, elderly people, women as a replacement for public transport, for trips outside the city, in rural areas.
