Can You Take a 50cc Scooter on the Highway?

It shouldn’t be surprising that 50cc scooters aren’t the fastest form of transportation out there.

You even might be wondering – can you take a 50cc scooter on the highway?

While there are ways to make a 50cc scooter faster for free, it’s still probably not going to be powerful enough to take on the highway.

These scooters are small and lightweight, making them the perfect choice for urban and inner city riding.

You’ll want to look at something like a maxi scooter if you want a scooter that’s perfectly capable for highway adventures.

In this post, let’s take a look at why you shouldn’t take your 50cc scooter on the highway and some other factors to consider.

Safety – A 50cc Scooter Simply Isn’t Fast or Safe Enough for the Highway

If you’re planning on taking a scooter on the highway, you would want to have an engine of at least 125cc or higher. 50cc scooters simply don’t have enough horsepower for highway riding.

Even with 125cc’s, you’re still going to be pretty tapped out on most highways, especially in Canada, the United States, and most of Europe.

When it comes to 50cc scooters, these typically have a top speed of less than 50mph.

Not only will you not be able to keep up with traffic, traffic will be having to actively avoid you.

This means there will be a lot of vehicle action around you, increasing the chance of an accident or close call when you’re on the highway.

In some countries you’ll be able to ride on the shoulder, but in a lot of developed Nations this won’t be an option at all.

Putting all this together makes you a safety hazard and even if you’re wearing the best scooter helmet possible, you don’t want to take a chance with bigger vehicles.

So to answer your question – no, you definitely don’t want to be taking a 50cc Scooter on the highway.

Where are 50cc Scooters Good For?

The smaller 50cc scooters excel in fully Urban and congested areas.

If you live in a bigger city or an area where it’s easy to get around, a 50cc scooter is perfect.

Outside of North America, these scooters are used by millions of people on a daily basis.

It’s worth noting that in these areas there isn’t as big of a car culture, with less SUVs, trucks, and heavy vehicles in urban centers.

A lot of people prefer riding smaller scooters, such as a 50cc scooter, because they’re highly fuel-efficient, easy to maneuver, and perfect for commuting or riding around in busy areas.

If you live somewhere where traffic is moving fast or there are a lot of Highways, you’ll want to go with a bigger scooter or even a beginner motorcycle.

50cc Engine Power – Another Drawback for Highway Riding

The engine inside a 50cc scooter is small. It doesn’t produce enough power to keep up with highway traffic and you wouldn’t want to be riding it that hard for that long anyways.

While it’s possible to derestrict these engines, this will have a detrimental impact on the engine longevity.

With such a small engine, you won’t be able to pass other vehicles or accelerate to keep up with traffic.

In the city they are fine, but taking a 50cc scooter on the highway should definitely be avoided.

Local Traffic and Highway Regulations

Another consideration is the local traffic laws and Highway regulations.

A lot of countries, especially in Canada and the United States, don’t allow 50cc Vehicles onto the highway.

This is because it’s dangerous and they don’t have enough power to keep up with highway traffic.

In some countries you don’t need a license to operate a 50cc scooter, but other countries will require one.

It’s your responsibility to make sure you have the right license and follow all of the road rules when you’re operating your 50cc scooter.

Final Thoughts – Avoid the Highway on Your 50cc Scooter

If you haven’t realized our opinion yet – avoid taking your 50cc scooter on the highway at all costs.

These happen to be one of the slowest forms of Transportation on the road and they are much better suited for urban and heavily congested environments.

Not only could it be illegal to take a 50cc scooter on the freeway, it’s extremely dangerous and disrespectful to other drivers.