Very similar to the Typhoon 50 sold in the U.S., the Typhoon 50 2T available for 2015 in Europe from Piaggio->ke2268 -- maker of the iconic Vespa->ke2257 scooter -- has an aggressive styling that I normally wouldn't associate with a 50 cc scooter->ke2256. It reminds me of the dirt bikes->ke295 I rode with my cousins when I was a kid. Maybe it's the influence of that conjured memory that makes me think this scooter would be loads of fun to drive, or maybe it's that fierce sporty look that invites me to come play.

Continue reading for my review of the Piaggio Typhoon 50 2T

Design

The scooter looks gnarly, which I like. The styling removes it from the 'cuteness' I would normally associate with a 50 cc scooter. For the Typhoon 50 available in the U.S., we get the choice between plain blue and shiny black, and while the black does look awesome, I like the colors available in the Typhoon 50 2T; well, not so much the colors as the graphics on the paint. The designs are fun and lively. It looks like the scooters are having fun even when they're standing still.

Accessories available on the Typhoon 50 2T include a handlebar lock that stows under the seat, a windshield kit to add a scratch- and shock-resistant windshield, an electronic alarm, and a leg cover to protect your legs and lower body in harsh weather.

Chassis

Little brakes and little wheels are not a surprise on this little scooter. The Typhoon 50 2T uses a hydraulic telescopic fork in the front suspension and a hydraulic shock with adjustable preload in the rear, all rolling on 12-inch wheels. The front brake is a 220 mm disc and the rear is a 140 mm drum.

Drivetrain

The U.S. version, the Typhoon 50, comes with a 49 cc, four-stroke engine. That's not the case with its European brother. The 49 cc, Hi-PER 2, two-stroke engine powers the Typhoon 50 2T. At 3 kW at 7,500 rpm and 4.6 Nm at 6,000 rpm, you don't have to wind it up quite as much as the four-stroke (3.4 Kw at 9,500 rpm and 3.8 Nm at 8,000 rpm), but it is a two-stroke so there's an oil injector that looks at throttle opening and engine speed to control the gas/oil ratio.

Pricing

This spiffy little scooter has an MSRP of £1,871. That's quite affordable for around town. You have your choice of Neptune Blue or Titanium Grey.

He Said

My husband and fellow writer, TJ Hinton, says, "This ride almost looks like a case of "scooter meets enduro,->ke3133" and it looks like it would be a blast in light off-road applications. (Riding down the sidewalk is 'off-road,' right?) Like my wife, I like the graphics on the Typhoon 50 2T, though to be honest, I don't know why they can't manage to ship those graphics across the pond."

She Said

"I like the Typhoon 50 in black. It looks surprisingly snarly for a little scooter, but I really like the graphics on the Typhoon 50 2T. Why can't we get graphics like that here in the States? With speeds up to 40 mph, this is the perfect around town ride for running errands downtown and with fuel economy up to 144 mpg, how can you go wrong?"

Specifications