If you’re looking to move beyond the 50cc range of scooter motor sizes, the next up are those with the 125cc engine displacements. How fast exactly can those scooters in the 125cc range go?
125cc scooters have an average top speed of 56 miles per hour (mph). Scooter manufacturers publish top speeds that range from 50-60mph. Consumers report top speeds that range approximately 5-8mph over the published top speeds.
The scooters here are all right at the 124-125cc engine size area, but we still see a 10mph swing in published top speeds. Let’s dig into that difference.
Terminology Refresher
Let’s start with what cc means since we are all about educating newbies here! cc is the abbreviated unit of measurement that represents the engine displacement. This translates to how much of an air and fuel mixture an engine displaces. The higher the number, the more power, and therefore speed available to the engine to propel you forward.
List of Manufacturer Speed Maximums
Seeing as a scooter is a source of transportation, the manufacturers are required to list a maximum speed that is safe for riders to reach, and their components are designed for the speeds they provide. Below are published top speeds for the range of reputable scooter brands that have a 125cc model.
- Piaggio Typhoon: 60 mph
- Lance PCH: 59 mph
- Lance Cabo: 59 mph
- Lance Cali Classic: 59 mph
- Lance Havana Classic: 59 mph
- Genuine Buddy Kick: 55 mph
- Kymco Agility: 50 mph
- Genuine Buddy: 50 mph
Notice that the list has the scooters listed from fastest to slowest.
Another interesting thing to note is that the Lance scooters are all showing the same top speed. Their horsepower information is all the same, and there is a slight torque difference for the Cabo to the rest, but otherwise, if you’re interested in Lance in this engine size, you’re just picking which style of scooter speaks to you.
What Others Say About Speed…
If you ask owners of these scooters, you will hear that their scooter without modifications definitely goes faster than the published speeds from the manufacturers.
I have taken my Genuine Buddy Kick up to 63mph personally, and I think she had more to give. I generally cruise around at 50mph for where I travel, and it does not sound or feel like it is near a maximum for her motor.
The general consensus is that you can get another 5-8 mph above the published top speeds, but this add-on limit is not what you’d right around at normally. I look at the range beyond the published speed as what I can use if I need to really get on it to get myself out of a situation like not keeping up with traffic well or to avoid an accident. Your scooter is not meant to drive at its maximum output for an extended period of time.
To keep your scooter happy for longer, use the absolute maximum speed judiciously.
Is the Fastest the Most Expensive?
The fastest scooter in this line-up, the Typhoon, is not the most expensive scooter in this category. The average cost of these scooters with 125cc engines is $2,412. However, the most expensive scooter here is the Buddy Kick, but it is also the only one with fuel injection in the list. If you take the Kick out, the line-ups average is $2,299.
The table below has the speeds, cost, and models condensed in the order of the scooter’s cost. So the Kick has the fuel injection that seems to really add to the cost of the scooter. The Buddy is the most expensive with the Typhoon right behind it. Now what is interesting here is that the Lance scooters are all reporting top speeds of 59mph which is just a hair behind the Typhoon, but they cost about $500 less than the Typhoon.
| Model | Speed | Speed Rank | Cost |
| Buddy Kick | 55 | 6th | $3,199 |
| Buddy | 50 | 8th (last) | $2,699 |
| Typhoon | 60 | 1st | $2,599 |
| Lance Line-up | 59 | 2nd – 4th | $2,099-$2,199 |
What this means is that this is not a case where throwing more money at the scooter gets you the fastest new scooter on the market.
Scooter Weight
For a physics 101 refresher, the heavier something is, the more power it takes to propel it forward. That means that the heavier something is, it can slow down the speed. The average weight for these scooters is 230 pounds, and the highest weighing scooters are the fastest. The others are very close in weight, but the heavier scooters aren’t slowing down much in comparison to the weights and speeds of the competing scooters in this engine size!
Your weight and the weight of your gear can also be a factor here. The top speed calculations are based on a rider weight of 172 pounds. For about every 10 pounds above or below this value, you lose or gain about 1 horsepower as a general rule of thumb. If you’re loading up a 125cc scooter with a ton of camping gear or groceries, don’t count on the absolute maximum during those times.
2-Stroke versus 4-Stroke
Gotcha! This isn’t a thing in this category of scooters. Normally, when you talk scooters, the 2-stroke versus 4-stroke power versus efficiency conversation comes up, but all of the scooters with the 125cc engine size are 4-strokes.
So Who Should Buy a 125cc Scooter?
We have already established that the speed max you should count on is in that 50-60mph range. You can likely get a few more miles per mile out of one, but that still puts you in the 55-65 range as a true maximum but not a speed you should maintain for a long period. This puts scooters in this range as solid for urban riding like the 50 but with more flexibility, AND we now add in suburban riding.
The average speed in the US on rural highways is 55mph, so you can incorporate a little of that type of road into your route planning. Just think through the driving culture in your region. A speed limit of 45 mph where I ride seems to equate to a true limit of 55 mph or else I run the risk of dealing with aggressive drivers inconvenienced by the little moped (that isn’t a moped).
Looking for More Speed?
I have honestly never heard of a scooter race, but I can see wanting a little more oomph! I look at scooters as a zippy option to get around town in a fuel-efficient way. The speed of the scooters in this range are going to have you traveling on 45-50mph speed limit roads without a problem.
If you’re looking for more speed, an obvious option is to get a scooter with a larger engine displacement (recall: cc’s) as modifications to your scooter are not likely to give you a substantial increase to its factory speeds. Mods are likely to bump you up to another 5-10 miles per hour.
I have put together a full price list of scooter costs for each bucket of cc’s. Here’s the link to the list, and your next level up is a range of scooters in the 150cc. There are also 150-200cc and 200cc+ categories to browse depending on what you need.
Seriously, hop over to the list of options in the next level up if you’re concerned about getting more speed to be safe on the roads you’re traveling on. The prices of scooters are influenced by motor size, but there is a lot of overlap in the different size classes. There are some low-end 180cc options like the Lance 200 line-ups that have electronic fuel injection and cost less than the electronic fuel-injected 125 Buddy Kick in this list.
Maintain Your Scoot for Max Speeds
Lastly, if you want to obtain and retain the top speed of your scooter, follow the break-in and maintenance guidelines from the manufacturer. Scooters have a break-in period that helps get all of the components lubricated well. Once you have done this, you’re all set to then ride normally and essentially keep things lubricated well by staying on top of your servicing to keep your scooter operating at its best.
Be Seen, Be Safe!
Ride with your gear no matter your speed!
