Scooter Review Bug-Kymco Pronto 50 While 50s seem to be dominating the sales figures, some of them are a little too small for the average Aussie frame. Here's one that fits
- With licensing laws what they are 50cc seems to be the big marketplace for scooters in terms of volume in Australia, and there seem to be more and more of the little beasties appearing on a daily basis not only in the shops but also on the streets. Yet, even at the economy, two-grand-no-more-to-pay end of the food chain, some 50s are still more equal than others.
Specifications range from bog-stock basic to quite exotic, with prices to match and 50s come in all manner of shape and size, so where do you start? That grasshopper, depends on what you want.
Let's take a look at a new player, Bug's 50cc Pronto, to see where it fits. Taking a VMoto Milan at one end and a Vespa ET2 at the other, the Pronto is definitely right of centre, being bigger in size and very suitable to the taller rider, eg, me. Put it this way, I very much like the Bolwell Jolie 50 for its zippy engine, but I have to ride it like a slalom skier, knees out this way then that to avoid the bars. The Pronto simply fits me better.
It may not have the instant off the line burst that the Jolie has, but then again very few things do and yet the Bug will motor up to 60km/h with relative ease (and with my 90kg or so on board) and will keep on going. The test unit we had arrived with about 25km on the clock. The first day it struggled to 60, the second to 65, and the third to 70 and then kept going. Once the engine is run in, 75km/h should be pretty sustainable, at least on the flat. Even with only 35km on the clock, it held 60km/h over the Anzac Bridge in Sydney, and that's a long sustained climb.
More impressive than the speeds, however, is the comfort. When most 50s are built small, the Pronto is sized for the more, how shall I put this, Australian rider, and that makes all the difference in day to day practicality. Adding to the generally useful nature is the underseat storage, good for a full-face helmet, the fold out shopping bag hook in front of the rider's knees and a generous rear rack which works as a luggage holder, pillion grabrail and mount for a topbox.
 The engine is a 39x41mm 48.9cc aircooled two-stroke, with a fuel capacity of 5.3 litres - or between $5.00 and $6.00 a fill. At 93kg, the scooter is relatively light, which makes parking it on the centrestand nice and easy.
The 12-inch wheels carry nice fat rubber - in motorcycle-like sizes of 120/70 front and 130/70 rear - for confidence inspiring road-holding and braking.
Wrapping the whole thing up is stylish silver or red bodywork, with black in-fill panels and tasty chrome highlights. There are, as well, two optional screens available. All in all, a classy package.
If you're after a generously sized 50 for general runabout duties, at $2599+orc, it's hard to find better value for money.
As published in TW SCOOTER MAGAZINE - 3/03/2005
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