[kz1000st]

I recently parted with a 2008 Bashan 150cc. It had about 9800 miles on the clock and ran well for a 10 year old scooter. I knew from hanging around scooter forums that it was a 45 mph machine. Any more than that and you would be pushing it beyond its build capabilities. Was it a Vespa? Hardly but it cost one quarter as much at the time. If I kept it I would have expected a long life from it.

Here's the thing. Right now the scooter market is about 65% 50cc models. The 50cc GY6 was originally designed as an 80cc engine and downsized to 49cc. In my world it's the engine that gets you down the road and the 50cc GY6 has proven to be relatively a tough unit. Since all 50cc stock scooters are limited to 30 mph it will last a long time and has for most people. This is where companies like Lance, Wolf and Bintelli make their bread and butter.

Do the brand name companies have better brakes and suspension? Absolutely. But if you're using the scooter to get to the train station all that really matters is if the engine holds up.

Two years ago a young man from Michigan rode a Bintelli Scorch 50cc from Michigan to Key West with zero breakdowns. He admitted that his mechanical knowledge was lacking so it was all the scooter. In the last ten years the Chinese have gotten better and they're not the hazards they were eleven years ago.