They are considered the same and are the basic, least expensive scooters you can usually purchase. These little scooters are kind of like the stereotype for what people think of when they think of a scooter. Small, quick, cute, whatever you think of them, two things are certain: they are inexpensive and great on gas mileage.

CC vs. Horsepower

Let's get to the heart of this to start off with. What is the deal with CC and horsepower? Well, CC simply stands for cubic centimeters. This refers to how much engine capacity there is. Like horsepower, the bigger the number, the more power there is. A simple conversion is this: 15 to 17cc equals about 1 horsepower. So that means something hat is 50cc is a little over 5hp. Doesn't sound like much, but remember these little scooters only weigh a couple hundred pounds, so it does not take much to get them going.

Here is a look at some of the more popular models in the 49cc and 50cc class:

Honda

Remember the Spree or if you are a little older, the Honda Cub. Well, is still going strong with two options in this class: the Metropolitan and the Ruckus. The Metro is more of a standard looking scooter while the Ruckus is more bare-bones and stripped down and features thicker than normal wheels.

Vespa

Vespa features the LX50 that gets about 100mpg and the S50 that get 90mpg. Consider these things have 2 gallon tanks and that is a lot of mileage on $6.

Yamaha

They have a very large selection of 50cc's. The Aerox R, Aerox TY Race Replica, Giggle, JogRR, and the new Neo's 4-Stroke. All are pretty cool and are worth a look.

These are some great places to start looking. These little scooters have been around a long time and are still a favorite on college campuses and in big cities. They are so affordable and easy to use, you owe it to your bank account to check them out.