Scooter Review Piaggio Zip 50 Funky, Fresh, Simple Pleasures $1990+orc
Words by PETE CALLAGHAN, photography by LOU MARTIN The Zip 50 is personal transport to please the heart and the head.
Scootering doesnít get much simpler than a 50. Itís even simpler if you live in an enlightened State, such as Queensland, SA, WA or the NT, where no more than a car licence is needed to ride a 50 on the road.
Piaggioís Zip 50 is an excellent example of the pure simplicity of the mighty 50. Small, light, practical and dead easy to ride, the cute little Zip ticks just about all the boxes required of a 50cc scooter, including the one concerning price, which is crucial in this ever more crowded sector of the market.
The Zip runs on four-stroke power, in this case Piaggioís 49cc Hi-Per 4 single-cylinder engine. The engine fires up easily using either button or kickstarter, and itís a reasonably perky performer once wound up. Hills will slow your progress and it wonít win any traffic-light drag races unless your opponentís using pedals, but the Zip ís not alone among 50s there.
 For most running around, the Zip will sit happily on 50km/h all day every day. One of the Zipís greatest strengths is its predictable and capable handling, even with my 83kg bulk on board. At first glance I thought the spindly- looking, non-adjustable single rear shock wouldnít be up to much, but it actually works very well, and in combination with the 30mm telescopic forks at the front, gives the Zip a supple and well-damped ride.
With 10-inch cast aluminium wheels, the Zip is as quick steering and nimble as youíd expect, but the suspension is very effective at taking the sting out of any bumps, which lessens the penalty of having those small wheels. Stopping is also painless, with good feel and bite from the single front disc and single-piston caliper combination, backed up by a competent rear drum that isnít over-eager to lock up.
Petite dimensions and light weight are traditional 50 hallmarks, and the Zip 50 has both, but it is pretty comfortable nonetheless. The footwell is flat, but not particularly roomy for size 10 shoes, and taller pilots may need to splay their knees to avoid the handlebars. A nice touch is the adjustable seat, which can be raised or lowered through three positions by moving the hinge. The seat itself is well padded and roomy enough for the rider, but pillions may find it a squeeze, with only small footrests on offer as well.
On the practical front, the Zip 50 scores solid marks. Thereís space in the underseat storage bin for an open-face helmet, while the filler for the 7.5- litre fuel tank also lives under the seat, as does the battery access cover.
There ís a bag hook and a lockable storage compartment behind the legshield it has built-in retaining walls, so your gear wonít spill out when you open the compartment door. And our test scoot had an accessory 28-litre topbox fitted ($99, plus $49 for the carrier rack), which wasnít big enough for my open-face, but would comfortably take a bag of groceries.
Instrumentation is basic, with a speedo and odometer plus warning lights for fuel, indicators and high beam. A clock would be nice. The mirrors give an adequate field of vision, but the stalks can unscrew themselves so it pays to check them every now and then.
Styling is an area where everyone has a different view, but the smart lines and cute curves of the Zip 50 are easy on the eye. Build quality was also of a high standard, with good panel fit and an air of durability. At $1990+orc, the Zip 50 wonít send you broke and it should last for ages.
As published in TW SCOOTER MAGAZINE - 28/12/2007
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