A personal vehicle is the dream of anyone who does not have one. Freedom of movement, the ability to have your own time and not depend on public transport leads many to purchase an inexpensive but worthwhile unit.
A scooter is the optimal means of transportation not only outside the city, but also within the metropolis. Even a beginner can handle the controls, because driving requires category A and A1 licenses.
Differences between Chinese scooter models and European ones
This type of motorcycle is represented by several manufacturers from Japan, Europe and China. The first ones are distinguished by their build quality and high price. European scooters differ in their stylish design. Chinese products are better in price compared to Japanese and European models, and the first motorcycles of this type began to be produced in Italy.
Motorcycles from Europe have impressive sizes. Technical equipment and ornateness often lead to breakdown of the unit. Spare parts must be ordered directly from the manufacturer.
At the very beginning of production, Chinese models were of low quality, especially in comparison with Japanese and Italian products. The current situation looks different. Now, Chinese manufacturers take into account all the previous shortcomings and produce truly worthy scooters with competitive advantages. They have proven that they are specialists in the production of motorcycles.
Enduro
Most off-road motorcycles fall into this class. They are suitable for driving around the city and rough terrain, if you do not take into account hard enduro models, which often do not have a title, and therefore, by law, are sports equipment that is prohibited from driving on public roads. Chinese manufacturers offer many inexpensive models to suit every taste, and buyers who are willing to spend a more substantial amount can look towards Japanese or European bikes. If you want to choose a motorcycle for rough terrain, but also plan to ride on roads, then it is definitely worth considering an enduro. An off-road and city motorcycle must have all the necessary documents for registration with the traffic police.
Chinese scooter 50cc
What are Chinese mopeds with so many cubes? This is a transport format suitable for the city. Chinese scooters with small cubic meters are budget models that almost anyone can afford.
Among the advantages of a small-capacity scooter:
- Fuel consumption is minimal - 2.5 liters per 100 kilometers (depending on the model);
- Wide range of models;
- Maximum speed is 75 kilometers per hour.
Among the main disadvantages, some note the presence of only one seat, for the driver. The Chinese took this point into account and offered their consumers a large selection of 50 cubic meters equipment, equipped with two seats.
Modern Russian-made mopeds up to 50 cubic meters are the most popular with prices
Many of the Russian scooters are still in production. The demand for such vehicles remains at a high level due to accessibility, unpretentiousness, efficiency, and cheap maintenance. In addition, no driver's license is required to drive here. The most popular and available on the market are ZID mopeds.
ZID 50 Pilot
Cost 12000-32000 rubles.
The entire exterior of the Pilot model indicates that it is intended for off-road driving. This is confirmed by the raised exhaust pipe, long suspensions, and a minimal number of plastic body kits.
Good maneuverability is ensured by its low weight of about 87 kilograms. Thanks to its compactness, the ZID 50 “Pilot” moped is very easy to control. Even a teenager can keep it on the road.
This vehicle is equipped with a two-stroke engine with a volume of 50 cubic centimeters and a power of 2.72 horsepower.
Its real top speed is about 60 km/h. The technical data sheet indicates 50 km/h, as this meets the requirements for mopeds. Only 2.2 liters of gasoline are consumed here per 100 kilometers.
The air-cooled engine is mated to a 3-speed gearbox. Here the gears are changed traditionally. The first is down, the second and third are up. The design does not provide for a rechargeable battery.
Chinese 4 stroke scooter 150cc
A two-wheeled vehicle with high speed capabilities and a 150 cc engine can hardly be classified as a “frivolous” vehicle. This is an intermediate option between a full-fledged motorcycle and a small-sized model.
The 150cc Chinese has the following advantages:
- Economical fuel consumption due to engine rotation and starting in four stages;
- Winning engine configuration. This type of scooter is better due to the lowest environmental pollution;
- Produces less noise when driving;
- The best Chinese scooter for dynamic trips within the city and beyond.
Among the disadvantages is the high cost in comparison with the 2-stroke younger brother.
Pitbikes
These mini motorcycles are not made for lazy rides, but for fun. Don't be fooled by their modest size and small engine capacity - pit bikes are capable of a lot! This class is very diverse, it can include both an off-road moped with a 50 cc engine, and an evil little monster with a 2-stroke engine of 35-40 hp. Such motorcycles are not allowed to drive on roads, but they are ideal as a moped for forests and other off-road conditions. Even a complete beginner can handle this lightweight motorcycle, especially if you don’t buy a model with a high-power engine.
Which Chinese scooter to choose
The cost of a mini bike from China is impressive and immediately appeals to you, but before choosing a unit, you need to answer the basic questions:
- Driver's age.
- Do you need a scooter for traveling around the city or outside of it?
- How much does it cost, how much is the future scooterist going to spend?
- Will he travel alone or with a passenger?
Help: Following official documents, driving a vehicle up to 50 cubic meters does not require a license. Category A is needed when driving a car of 150 cubic meters or more.
The rating influences the choice, but it is better to rely on the following characteristics:
- Type and model;
- Cost of the product;
- Motor;
- Accumulator battery;
- Fuel consumption;
- Tire size.
A reliable “friend” when traveling out of town is a type of small motorcycle with a pendulum-type front fork. When the road is bad, depreciation increases with it.
Information: According to documents, more stringent requirements are imposed on the technical equipment of transport used outside the city.
The engine can be two or four stroke. The first type starts the car in two cycles, the 4-stroke - in four stages, during which the amount of emissions into the atmosphere is minimal and less gasoline is consumed.
2-stroke engines consume more fuel and consume more oil. Their dynamics are uneven. The units are easy to use and maintain. The speed of gaining speed made them optimal for country trips. The simplicity of the engine configuration reduced the overall weight of the scooter. On the one hand, this is a plus. On the other hand, the vehicle is vulnerable to theft due to its low weight.
The Japanese has all the advantages over a scooter from the Middle Kingdom. But in defense of the latter, one can cite the fact that Chinese specialists have surpassed everyone in copying famous brands. Therefore, all motor vehicles, as well as electronics, are successful clones. They undergo an additional upgrade, taking into account all the existing shortcomings of Japanese and European manufacturers.
The new Japanese scooter is certainly better, but for the price of some models you can buy a decent SUV. Units from the Land of the Rising Sun are distinguished by their sophisticated technical equipment and lower engine operating capabilities. The build quality of Japanese plastic is much lower than Chinese.
Among the large selection of Chinese scooters, you can choose a model with the optimal price-quality ratio.
Cross motorcycles
If a motorcycle rides well off-road, this does not mean that it will feel just as confident on asphalt roads. Cross-country equipment, for example, was created without any regard for asphalt; its element is rough terrain. Usually, cross-country athletes have neither lighting equipment nor mirrors, since all this is excess weight, which designers are trying to get rid of. This is the perfect bike for riding through mud, forests and fields, especially if you know how to handle it. Many motocross models are designed specifically for experienced bikers, and for beginners they can be dangerous due to excessive power. But for off-road riding they haven’t yet come up with anything better than a 200-250 cc cross bike.
The best Chinese mopeds
The best Chinese scooter is a moped that satisfies all customer needs. A rating and review of models will prove that recently China has not only completely improved the design of “motorcycles” from European manufacturers, but also equipped them with excellent technical characteristics. China has proven that cheap transport models do not mean low quality.
Delta
Irbis Delta and Viber Delta are popular scooters in this series. These are the cheapest models, which have the advantages of units with minimal cubic meters and good characteristics. The minimum number of cubes in the engine is 50. More expensive models are equipped with 75-100 cc engines.
Delta mopeds from any manufacturer are equipped with the same motors, which simplifies their maintenance. Reliable 4-stroke engine with long service life. Minimum fuel consumption (2 liters per 100 kilometers). There is no plastic lining, which is a positive thing, since over time the plastic begins to crack.
Among the disadvantages are the lack of a fuel level indicator, a low-capacity fuel tank, and a small storage compartment.
Alpha
A review of the Chinese Alpha showed that it is a bright representative of Asian technology, combining a low price and good technical characteristics. In appearance, it resembles a full-fledged motorcycle with large wheels, large front forks and a rearview mirror. Alpha is a large size scooter with a respectable design.
The speedometer and special light bulbs are ergonomically located on the panel. A reasonable solution of the manufacturer is to install a small fuel tank (4 liters) in the unit, since gasoline consumption per 100 kilometers is 2 liters.
Despite the comfort of movement, Alpha mopeds are not perfect. Their electrics, built on a generator, are vulnerable. The 4-stroke engine does not have a forced cooling system or a manual gearbox.
Harley
The speed of the Chinese chopper in a smaller version of Harley is only 60 kilometers per hour. But it starts very quickly and climbs hills without difficulty, thanks to the optimal transmission number. Other advantages include the presence of a disc brake on the front wheel and a design with a twist.
The operation of the mechanisms does not cause any complaints, and the braking system delights with its impeccability. The moped will last a long time due to the absence of plastic parts. This unit is equipped with a 50 cc engine, which means it is possible to drive it without a license.
The “fly in the ointment” is a narrow seat designed only for the driver, a small trunk and insufficiently rigid shock absorbers.
Assets
A lightweight moped, created as if especially for beginners - the Active series. Interesting design, good technical characteristics, semi-automatic gearbox. Such a moped cannot be called a “stool”.
A roomy seat, 17-inch wheels and all this at a modest price. With a mixed operating cycle, the scooter consumes 2.5 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers. The downside is that its fuel tank capacity is 3.3 liters. There are minor problems with electrical components and plastic elements that quickly fail.
Sport
The sporty design turns the scooter into a compact sports bike. The practical absence of breakdowns has made this series of scooters popular not only among those who have just begun to master serious two-wheeled transport, but also among professionals. This is a travel option not only among the wilds of the city, with its traffic jams, but also on country roads. It is easy to operate, despite the full technical equipment.
Panda
A scooter whose design is thought out for young people. It combines sport and classics. Panda is a good solution for traveling within the city and small towns. The instrument panel is equipped with all necessary sensors.
Folding footrests, high beam control button, hand protection. However, with all the advantages, there are significant disadvantages. Fragile plastic and low ground clearance.
Flight
Excellent driving dynamics, 12-inch wheels, high ground clearance, good speed and European design - the Reis series scooters. Several modifications of mopeds are produced. Some have rear disc brakes and an additional muffler. In Asian versions there is a front disc brake. Due to the enlarged wheels, the cross-country ability of the vehicle is increased. Among the shortcomings: fragile plastic and easily deformed front fork.
Storm
Brutality and power shine through in the design of the Storm series scooters. The “evil expression” of the style emphasizes the support of the modern concept of an aggressive direction in the appearance of not only bikes, but also cars. Mopeds in this series are equipped with high-level optics. The presence of a muffler and rear disc brakes enhances the favorable impression. With its weighty dimensions, the transport itself looks bulky. Among the disadvantages are some disruptions in driving dynamics, which is due to the large size of the moped.
Comparison of 3 Off-Road Scooter Models
To determine the best off-road scooter, we compare 3 popular models from different companies according to the main criteria:
Model | Yamaha BWS 100 | Honda Lead | HF05 Hyosung SF 50 Rally |
Front fork type | pendulum | telescopic | telescopic |
Ground clearance | 12 cm | 11 cm | 12.5 cm |
Power | 6.8 l. With. | 6.4 l. With. | 3.48 l. With. |
Engine capacity | 100 cu. cm | 89 cu. cm | 49.3 cu. cm |
The best of these off-road scooters is the Yamaha BWS 100, which not only has high power and engine capacity, but also has a swing-arm front fork that is optimal for bad roads.
What is the price?
A natural question is about the cost of scooters from the Middle Kingdom. The price of a new moped ranges from 40 to 200 thousand rubles. Some models may even be more expensive than a sophisticated brand of car.
But the cost of a brand new Chinese mini bike will be significantly less than a new Japanese unit. Its price is determined by several factors:
- Manufacturer, brand;
- cubic capacity;
- Country of purchase and so on.
Fact: An identical model in different countries can be purchased at different prices, since the cost is formed from factors and the amount of customs duties (customs clearance amount).
What were mopeds with pedals like in the USSR?
Soviet times were a unique period when children could be captivated by an ordinary bicycle, and even more so by a moped. Not everyone in the family had such a luxury, and if they did, it was used carefully - so that it would reliably serve for 10 years or more and pass from generation to generation. Modern children are not surprised even by gifts in the form of phones worth almost a hundred thousand rubles.
Model B-901
The main dream of a Soviet teenager is a moped. It was a vehicle that seemed to resemble a bicycle, but was equipped with a motor and could reach higher speeds without additional physical effort. Today, few people know that even before the mass distribution of mopeds equipped with a kickstarter, mopeds with pedals were popular. They even came up with jokes about such vehicles like “you drive 2 meters, you twist 10 meters.”
Such an interesting saying was applied to them because for the power plant to work, it was necessary to pedal intensively. The first-born among moped equipment in the USSR were ordinary bicycles, the design of which was supplemented with motors. Popularly, such developments received a very original name - holes. Initially, such equipment was made by folk craftsmen who wanted to give the bicycle more life and make it a more versatile vehicle. The first Soviet hole-in-one, which was created on a production and factory scale, was the B-901 at the Kharkov Bicycle Plant in 1958.
Model MV-042
The Lviv bicycle factory took over the further initiative for assembly. He released the MV-042 “Lvovyanka” model. Here, engineers not only installed a motor, but also tried to give the vehicle the shape of a real moped. The first full-fledged moped in the USSR was the Verkhovyna-Z, which was produced by the Lvov Bicycle Plant from 1970 to 1973. This “iron horse” was equipped with a Sh-51 engine, which was capable of accelerating it to 50 km/h. The pair had a 2-speed gearbox. The main competitors for the products at that moment were the models of the Riga Motor Plant. The latter were superior to their opponents in the quality of the materials used.
The most attractive and popular model from the dawn of cyclists was the Riga-13. It was introduced in 1983. Mokik was equipped with a D-8 engine and a set of lighting devices. In addition, the equipment received a high-voltage transformer, which made it possible to tidy up the ignition coil. The moped's engine had a power of 1.3 hp, which allowed it to accelerate to a maximum of 40 km/h.
Model Riga-13
Moderate speed indicators made this model especially popular among young people. Officially, Riga-13 is the latest version, the engine of which was driven by pedaling. Serial production continued until 1998.
Bottom line. In the Soviet Union, mopeds whose engines were driven by rotating pedals became widespread. This was a period of transition from bicycles to full-fledged mopeds.
Reviews from owners
From the experience of real owners of this type of transport of Chinese origin, many note the affordable cost of mopeds. Despite the peculiar attitude towards Chinese products, many objectively evaluate the price-quality ratio of the product.
Quality and reliability are two points that people pay attention to when buying a two-wheeled “friend”. Chinese manufacturers are constantly improving their products, so the quality of scooters in this country is getting better every year.
Most of the minor complaints are about the quality of the plastic, which is an order of magnitude better than its Japanese counterparts. The good news is that if your vehicle breaks down, you can easily find spare parts for it, and if you have certain skills in this area, you can repair the scooter yourself. Broken parts are replaced with elements from other manufacturers. In addition, the mini bike is easy to tune.