More powerful engine  By  mmcl26554 (Read 702 times)

I put a 61mm ncy big bore kit on mine got it for 109 bucks shipped from amazon if you have mechanical know how its much cheaper. Brought my scooter up to 171.3cc big improvement over stock. Some motors won't just bolt on due to the shocks brake configuration swing arm etc. You'd be better off doing a big bore kit and a few other mods or just buy a 250cc.

I was in your exact same situation, having ridden my Chinese 150 for six years. I really had it dialed-in, and it was as good as a 150 is going to be, and was adequate for much of my needs... HOWEVER, local roads have changed, and I now need to travel places only easily accessible by freeways. With that in mind, I decided to get a larger displacement scooter.

I have bad arthritis which makes it difficult to climb over even the "semi-hump" found on many 250cc and larger scoots. I also prefer the smallish size, wheels and lighter weight of the typical air-cooled 150s. Outside of the Italian makers, there are few new-production 250 and larger scooters that still offer small size, light weight, small wheels and a step-through flat-floor design.

Since I can't afford a new one anyway... I researched and found the old Kymco Grand Vista 250 is exactly what I was looking for. I found a well-used, but nice one at a local B&M store, and got it for a decent price, and they took my 150 in trade. It's turned out to be what most of us would like our modded 150's to be, but they just cannot compare.

The feel at low speed, and in tight places is almost like my old 150. But pulling into 50+mph traffic is as easy as with a snappy car; you're there in just seconds. When traffic starts from a red light, the car in front of you doesn't shoot ahead, and cars behind you pass on both sides, cutting you off as they pull into the gap... The little Kymco will settle into a 65-70mph cruise with ease, and above 55mph it feels very much like a solid, full-size motorcycle. It tops out right at 80mph, but cruises nicely up to over 70mph.

Add to that, it gives over 70 mpg gas mileage in town, and you have one SWEET all-purpose scooter... In the city, it's a nimble scooter, on the highway it's more like a comfy motorcycle, able to match most freeway traffic and shoot up inclined entrance ramps like an average car.

Now this old gal is a "horse n' buggy" technology carbureted 250, with only two valves. Simple, but plenty powerful (19 hp) and fuel-efficient. New ones may feature 300cc or bigger engines with four valves and fuel-injection, with 30+ hp. They are light-years ahead of mine, but they are also bigger, heavier and stray a little from the nimble scooter personality I like. They are also expensive.

Even an older used 250 like my Kymco will cost more than modding a 150, but the rewards in drivability and peace of mind with a bone-stock scooter that will outrun most modded 150's without tearing themselves up in the process is worth a lot.

I loved my old aircooled 150, but the watercooled 250 experience is SO much better. I'm on a fixed income, old and poor, and sold off some treasured possessions to generate $2,000 to add to my trade-in, but I'm MORE than pleased with the "new" old ride.

If you do decide to move up to a 250cc or bigger, make sure you try out the smaller ones, AND the longer, heavier touring ones to see which type you like best. And, yes, you CAN find GREAT used Italian scoots at decent prices too. In my opinion, it's worth a lot of sacrifice to have a scooter that still feels, looks and handles like a traditional city scooter, and yet will run with highway traffic without incurring the "white-knuckle syndrome"... LOL!

It's difficult to get a modded 150 (even with big bore and stroke) to go much over 65, maybe 70mph wide-open, and VERY difficult to get one to cruise year after year at 65+ without severely stressing the hot-rodded engine. I have found that 65mph simply is NOT enough speed to safely run with traffic, and I absolutely want a comfortable cruise at 70, and the ability to nudge 80 when blending with traffic.  And a 250 is just about the minimum ride to accomplish that.

This is just my personal experience, but it's a starting point to think about. Hope it may help you decide what to do...

Ride safe!

Leo in Texas