Kit & extras or Engine - How should i spent $500?

I 90c swap would offer you good torque even in stock trim (Vert can tell ya more about that), but aftermarket pipes, cylinders, and other aftermarket parts are a bit harder and more expensive. If you can get a deal on a 90cc swap and left it fairly stock it should last for quite a while without any major tuning issues.
On the other hand, a good 70cc sport cylinder and pipe could be bought with all the tuning parts for your stock carb and cvt within your price range. We could help you through the process of putting a bb kit on your scooter and help you get the trans tuned for the power if you decide to go that route. The right cylinder-pipe combo with a good tune could net you around 10+hp all within your range.

I think the 90cc engines would make a great choice for hilly terrain. Just pull out the old engine and put the 90 in. The 50 and 90 carbs were the same size on my scoots. The stock pipes were the same too. Same airbox. Same coil. Same CDI. They use the same spark plugs. It's about as simple as you can get to make more power. The 90cc might come with a larger cooling fan too. It would still be a good idea to check the jetting when you're done the swap, but otherwise you should be fine with just bolting it in. You would still have the option of adding performance parts later.

There are certainly 70cc kits out there as fast and faster than the 90s though. We could certainly help you with any questions you have along the way if you choose to go that route. I liked my 70, but I can;t compare it's torque to my 90. I needed to rev more to make it's power. 2strokd's scoot is very impressive doing wheelies to demonstrate it's power, but a lot of that is in his transmission too. Either the 70 or 90 will likely need trans tuning for best results.

Thanks. Glad to help.

It is a minarelli style engine. PartsForScooters has them back in stock according to their site.

www.partsforscooters.com/90cc-2-stroke-1PE40QMB-Engine?sc=9&category=597

Sport cylinders should be better for torque. The Polini sport kit has a great reputation for torque. I know the Malossi sport kit is supposed to rev about 800RPM higher, but lacks a little torque compared to the Polini. The more race oriented cylinders want to rev high to make power. If you really wanna rev high, you'll probably want to consider a kit with a single piston ring rather than dual rings.

I've never rode a Polini 70cc yet. 2strokd's scoot seems faster than my modded 90cc, but it also doesn't hurt that he's got deeper gears and he's got his transmission tuning down pat. I know my MRP 70cc Triton would do over 50MPH with me on it at 280lbs. It would still get up and go too. I used the stock carb and airbox with stock jetting and then just added 2000RPM clutch springs, a 1000RPM contra spring, and an MRP pipe. It was extremely reliable and not finicky at all with weather changes. It still got 60ish MPG. The stock 90cc should be pretty comparable to that, just doesn't have to rev as much. I think if you guys are used to 50s, either a 70 or a 90 would make you very happy.

The Polini Sport kit is a torquey lil beast. It combined with a good tuned cvt will leave you on the back tire more than you planed for .
As far as high reving its not, but that just means the bottom end of your motor doesnt take so much abuse. My scooter doesnt see over 50mph much at all anymore but it gets there pretty quick, a lil quicker than in that video from late this summer

I can't wait to hear how it rode!

Let us know.

Looks normal....Glad you got your bb kit in!
Cant wait to hear how well she runs???

Ok first ride report.

Not broken in yet and no transmission tuning. (decided to wait till it is broken in)

After warming it up for about 15 min i set off. Went about 4 blocks and lost power and died. Took a while to start but finally got it going. Ran fine the rest of the way to the office. So far i'd say at least 5 mph faster and much quicker to get there. But i'm still riding it conservatively.

Only problem so far is that at idle it sounds like a diesel truck. Doesn't stall just rough and loud.

All in all i think i"m gonna love this little upgrade. And i'm really liking the guys at Ozark Powersports who did the work. Gotta like a guy who has a sport bike but rides his scoot because it's more fun ;D

Thanks Brent, It ran smooth as could be the rest of the day. No hesitancy or roughness at all. But it did scare me.

I went back and listened to your scoot videos, mine sounds close to what yours does so that mede be feel a bit better.

Lots going on for me with the Haiti thing but i"ll try to look at the plug tomorrow.

I also installed a 70kit and the exact same thing kept happening, losing power and engine cutting out. After a while it would start again. Then it started to, what sounded like, piston knock... After the mechanics inspected it they told me it was pretty much trashed! What could have caused this?!!?

Good, its running well then.?.
Your right on track with the cvt tuning. Get that tuned well and that will help even more. Have you ever had the cover off? Just wondering if its still got the shim in the vari ?
By removing that you can get some more mph w/out reving so high. The down side- it might take off a bit slower from a stop w/out the shim . There are so many factors into a GOOD cvt tune. I could go on and on, sorry !
Sounds like you have good low-end torque w/that kit.

Yeah, the shim keeps the belt from traveling up the vari all the way.
A way of restricting from the factory .

Cool ya did a burnout
When we gonna see some smoky burnout vids ;D