Depending on when I publish this article on Tweaked for your Pleasure you may, or may not, know that I bought my brother an electric scooter that is equal to a 125cc engine and I used it for a month so I could also do a review on here and I learnt something from it today.
You see I have always enjoyed cycling and riding motorbikes and it is something I always wanted to make sure I could have the most powerful motor I could buy just so I could easily reach where I needed to go and none of that power was ever used. The most I would get is around 60-70 mph depending on what road I was using and after testing the electric scooter my mindset has started to change to the point where I think a 125cc engine is fine for everyday usage.
The first thing I noticed about reusing a 125cc motorbike is just how economical when it comes to how much fuel it uses. While the electric scooter uses quite a bit of the battery due to my weight, I can confirm that when my brother uses it the power isn’t much and the limits it has is due to battery technology itself. Petrol scooters at 125cc roughly get 100 miles per tank and motorbikes tend to be double that seeing a fuel tank is about twenty quid nowadays is not too bad at all.
When it comes to fuel usage I would recommend making sure to get one that has a good MPG and you would get quite far on it for these I recommend a motorbike as they tend to have bigger fuel tanks. For electric motorbikes, I can’t recommend much but get one with the biggest battery that you can.
The second point is that they are so cheap to run, insure and maintain that it is quite stupid really when you think about it. For paying insurance for the scooter I barely paid anything close to 100 quid and that is including breakdown, fire thief and all the bells and whistles. Comparing it to my 800cc it is insanely cheap and for repairing these things the parts tend to be cheap overall the quality isn’t bad assuming you get it from a respected supplier.
The final point I like about 125cc is they are stupidly cheap to buy, repair, and insure and surprisingly will hold their value quite well when it comes to reselling them as people are always happy to buy them as learner bikes.
I imagine I will replace my Super Soco Tc Max in time and will buy a petrol one while I wait for battery technology to catch up as I do still worry about the range and with very few electric charge points from experience not having one for a three pin plug and I am too cheap to buy an adapter. Overall I don’t miss using a more powerful engine even if those more powerful motorbikes feel solid I do think a simple 125 motorbike is enough for me.
Join the Discussion
- Have you also experienced a shift in perspective regarding the practicality of 125cc engines versus more powerful options, similar to the author’s revelation after using an electric scooter? How has your own experience influenced your views on the ideal engine size for everyday commuting?
- For those who have owned or currently own a 125cc motorcycle or scooter, how would you compare the overall cost-effectiveness, maintenance, and convenience of owning one to higher-powered alternatives? What advice would you give to someone considering purchasing a 125cc vehicle for daily transportation?
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It’s great that you’re thinking about electric scooters and their potential benefits! I think you make some valid points about their economy and practicality. However, I’m not sure I agree that 125cc is enough for everyone. I think it depends on the individual’s needs and circumstances.
Thank you for the comment!
Honestly, the only reason I think anything above 125cc is needed is if you the speed or maybe if you have to pull a massive load.
I’ve never ridden a 125cc before, but after reading this blog post, I’m definitely considering it! You makes some great points about the benefits of riding a 125cc, and I can definitely see how it would be more economical and easier to maintain than a more powerful engine. I’m also intrigued by the idea of an electric scooter, and I think it would be great to have one for shorter trips around town. Thanks for the food for thought!
I think a 125cc engine is plenty for most people. I don’t think there’s any need to go bigger unless you’re planning on doing some serious off-roading or something. They’re cheaper to buy, insure, and maintain, and they hold their value pretty well.
I think a 125cc engine is plenty for everyday use. I never felt the need for more power when I was riding my scooter and I was always able to get where I needed to go without any problems. The biggest thing I noticed was how much cheaper it was to run and maintain a 125cc scooter compared to a more powerful engine.