Yamaha scooter: 49cc 2-stroke vs 4 stroke?

Let me first tell you that neither of these bikes will disappoint you. I had a Zuma for 3 years, and it is rock solid reliable.

I am familiar with the C3, and it has a better power band than a Zuma, but not quite the top speed. The C3 will climb better, but if the Zuma is up to speed, it climbs good too. The C3 has the advantage if you are stopped on a hill, and have to start off.

The Zuma carries 2 (and not just 2 midgets) and the C3 only seats 1. This may or not be an issue for you.

Yes, a Zuma has a ZILLION modifications, anything horizontal Minarelli fits it, but seeing the Zuma is not legal as a moped (the C3 is), you are asking for confiscation making it fast and loud. I don't think there are any big bore kits for the C3 yet, but there will be in the future.

Most people like 2 stokes over 4 stroke, you get more power off the line and have more performance mods available. Perhaps a new pipe, but there really isn't much you can do to a 4 stroke. Check with Battlescooter.com If an aftermarket part is available for a Yamaha scooter, they will have it.

That being said, no 50cc is going to keep up speed on a long hill. In the mountains, you really need to be looking at at the least a 125 like the Genuine Buddy. Even better yet, a 150.

depends on a actual 50cc 2stroke engine and a actual 100cc 4 stroke engine. A 'retro' looking 50cc with 6.5 hp is good for 60mph barely and needs the premium fuel, but it gets speeding tickets in the 45mph zones. A current emissions compliant, 80 octane fuel 100cc like some of the Chinese GY6 family has 5.5 hp, gets 50mph in the scooters and is straining to do it, just to keep up with a older Kymco 2 stroke or a Yamaha Zuma. There are some 89 to 99cc engine getting a decent 5 hp in the low emissions, low octane fuel market that have this same performance issue- the little 2 stroke hot rods for their class will out run them- and a old Kriedler 50cc will stomp most of the newer street 100cc engines. Other factors like total weight need to be considered as well as the markets legal loopholes. European Union let the little dirty 50cc 2 strokes be sold a lot longer than the 125 and less engine units that were sold longer than the 126cc and above 'must be quiet and clean burning' to this limit sale time. One big problem in this forum is the poster's vague and sometime confusing questions, lack of information about precise locations, actual vehicles and intended usage. a 50cc liquid cooled 2 stroke engine in a offroad racing motorcycle with no noise limit, no smoke limit, 100 octan fuel available will likely beat a 100cc 4 stroke scooter engine that has to be under 83 decibles, burn clean and run on 80 octane fuel - and 1/2 way between is some varying market 50cc 2stroke, some 100cc 4 stroke engines on the street.

Yamaha 49cc Scooter