Added a 50cc scooter to the stable...

[DarbyWalters]

Decided the easiest way to save on fuel costs (since getting rid of my Jeep CRD is not an option) was to put miles on something much more efficient. I got a 2008 Lambretta DUE 50 that is reported to get 80+ mpg...I will be happy getting 70 mpg. That should bump my overall average mpg to around 45mpg or so...I can live with that or better.

http://www.lambrettausa.com/files/im...E50-Silver.png

[GasSavers_Ryland]

I haven't worked on that exact brand yet, but I know for sure that parts for alot of the chinese made scooters are hard to find and EXSPENSIVE, often many times more then name brand scooter parts, and the chinese made scooters don't work out of the box needing alot of time tuning, dissasembling, rerouting of wires and fuel lines that are shorted out and pinched.
I say this having worked at a motorcycle shop and having people stop in with year old chinese made scooters, drop them off hand the title over and tell us that we can KEEP IT, we've fixed a few just to get rid of them, and there are more that just don't work... maybe we'll use them for parts.
I currently have a 2005 Tomos Arrow, not as good as a honda scooter, but their pre-2007 modles are well made, their 2008 modles are made in china and we have a brand new one at the shop and aren't going to buy any more.

Just did a google search, and they appear to be made in italy, the closest dealer of those is over 300 miles away so I don't see many.

[GasSavers_Red]

Nice looking scooter. Seen a couple of em running around the UCLA campus.

[DarbyWalters]

Hey Ryland...that is true of the "chinese" scooters but the "taiwan" built scooters are great quality (most) and parts are easy to get. It is the same bike as an Aldy Panther 50(2T) with a Minarelli Style engine.

OK, I was hoping to get around 70-80 mpg with a 50cc 2 Stroke carrying my 225# frame...I filled up at 59.7 miles and filled up today at 170.1 miles with 0.97 gallons...that is 114.84 MPG. If this mpg number holds true down the road (it could actually get better after breakin) I will be estatic. I didn't even drive my Jeep CRD today...would have cost me ~$17.00...instead I spent ~$3.00.

[DarbyWalters]

Well the MPG has not dissappointed...over 120 mpg second tank. 50cc and I weght 226+ so not bad...bike is breakin in a bit and getting stronger. I should have purchased one months ago.

[korax123]

So whats the top speed on one of those bad boys.

I got 65mpg my last fill up on my ninja 250 a lot of the tank was just letting it warm up once a week and not even riding it.

[DarbyWalters]

If you take out the restrictor (in the CVT) the 50cc will pull to 36 new...after breakin probably around 40+. I am going to pipe it and try to get available speed to 45...but I bought it for the mpg and if it only reaches 40mpg I am still happy. Average so far is 117mpg...amazing!

My last bike was a Yamaha YZF 600R...I could get about 44mpg after regearing(DID chain and change of sprockets)...I was happy with that back then <2006>

[GasSavers_Ryland]

is that scooter 2 or 4 stroke? I found that after braking in mopeds that I've owned that they react really well to synthetic fluids, 100:1 synthetic premix oil, synthetic tranny fluid and gear box oil, synthetic wheel greese.
but they seem to do best after brake in, as some synthetics lube to well for the parts to properly seat.
also some after market exaust systems on those small engines give a small boost in top speed, but a big drop in gas mileage, so keep track of it carfully.