Quick question about top speed on a 250cc scooter

[scottfla]

I'm very happy with my 150 (top speed so far of around 62 mph, verified) since it cruises easily at 50 mph. It's perfectly fine for in town. Anything higher than 52 mph or so, it creeps up slowly and doesn't seem to want to be there.

But, you knew there was a but, didn't you, I went on an 80 mile round trip out of town yesterday and can see where in the future I'm going to want a higher cruising speed, maybe 60-65.

So, my question is, what's the cruising speed of these Roketa/Ricardo/Tank/etc 250 cc scooters? Every company spec has different numbers (one evewn said they would go in excess of 85 mph!)

But if these things will easily reach and then cruise at 65-70 mph, I might figure out a way to upgrade soon. Remember, I don't want to do much if any WOT riding.

As always, thanks for your advice.

[ashley]

Well I have a Kymco People 250, and I traded my UM Matrix 150 for it. The fastest I've ever had my P250 is 85mph WOT. I can cruise the interstate with the rest of them, and acceleration is absolutely fast on these bikes. I've read many manuals to scooters will actually read the top speed as slower than it really is. A lot of 250s are built differently, and the top speed will be a little different, but I believe 250s were meant to ride interstate speeds...plus they do awesome in towns with slower speeds as well.

[cloudaz]

I've been able to us my Bandit UC250C on the freeway here in Phoenix, AZ. I cruise about 70-75mph and I've gotten it to 80mph. ;D

later
Wendell

[Gary]

I have a Viva 250 tourer, which is basically the same as a Tank I believe. I can cruise pretty comfortably at about 65 mph. I've recorded a peak speed on my bicycle computer of 75.4 mph, but that may have been with a bit of a tailwind.

The scoot is just fine for any of the normal roads around here, even those with 55 mph speed limits. You never feel like you are holding up traffic, even up hills. I ride on the freeway some, but to be honest, the ride there is only so-so. There is enough power to go 70 (not quite WOT) , but I get buffeted around quite a bit by the wind and the steering is somewhat jumpy. Short hops of a couple of miles are OK, but I wouldn't want to go much further. If lots of freeway rding is what you had in mind, then I'd look at some of the other scoots mentioned by Wendell or Ashley, or maybe a 400.

[T W I S T E R]

I weigh 230 pounds. I test rode a used 2004 Reflex and got 80 MPH out of it.

[AZscooter]

Kymco GV250 has top speed of a little over 80 and is real comfortable at 70
I feel quite comfortable on the freeway, well as comfortable as you can feel on a freeway.
Mike

[monty57]

I have a Roadrunner 25 TLX with the CF Moto 244cc drive train. I have checked the top end with gps and that was 71 MPH. I will cruise at 55 to 60 no problems even with my wife on board.

I persnonally would not want to try my scoot on the interstate as I belive it is under powered and under-weight but for two lane highwasy I have no trouble staying out people way and keeping up with traffic.

[Leader]

I have a 2002 Reflex. While the speedo indicates that I am traveling up to 83 mph, my GPS (Garmin Quest) indicates 76. I tend to cruise in the low 70's. I weight 150 lbs.

[oldscooterguy]

My trusty 1985 Elite 250 will do 69 with my 280lb butt on it and a tall windshield.

[stewntexas]

Don't know for sure. With me weighing in at 212 lbs., my '95 Helix reaches 65 - 68 easily, but with the high crosswinds in S. Texas, nothing but fear and common sense keeps me from trying to go faster. It feels like there is some throttle still left, but I have not, and will not, find out for sure.

[lewtwo]

I have the people 250.
The highest top speed WOT I ever got was 77.5mph GPS.
Indicated top speed was quite a bit higher.
Bear in mind speedometers tend to anywhere from 5 to 15 mph faster thatn the real speed.
I have yet to hear of a scooter that came with an acurate speedometer.

[gusset]

Personally, I take most "top speed" numbers with large doses of salt. It's often unstated whether the number is the indicated speed, or something else. I'd assign a little more meaning to numbers people give, including/especially dealers, if they would at least specify how it was measured..."indicated", "gps", "paced", etc.

I'm not familiar with how a GPS unit samples, or how precisely they measure the positions they use to calculate speed, so I am never certain what "fudge factor" to assign. However, when I see a GPS measured speed, I at least can rest assured that it's reasonably close.

[tastroman]

I had a Honda Elite 250 that would top out around 75 when new. Towards the end of its life the top speed had dropped to about 68.

[scottfla]

So the more expensive 250's have a higer top and cruising speed, for the most part?

[roadster250]

Don't know about the expensive ones, but my brand new Roadster 250 (same manufacturer as the Viva 250 but better looking) now has an electric fuel pump and it currently seems to be topping out on the flats at an indicated 64-65 with by 210 lb buttocks on it.

[ashley]

I would certainly point out that all 250's don't have the same top speed. Depends on the design, obviously. For the price, the people 250 is a little higher than normal 250s I believe. I think you would pay $4000+ for a brand new People 250.

[TeamTEOR]

Water cooled 250s will typically achieve more speed & power than a air cooled motor, and the water cooled motors last longer. Maybe you might want to base your purchase on that. Whatever it is you buy though, be happy and enjoy the ride!
Tom