Suzuki’s AE50 was introduced in Canada in 1990, seemingly as a competitor to the popular Yamaha Jog and Honda Dio. I haven’t been able to find much information on the Hyper but I have seen one with my own eyes at a local dealership and there are enough listed in Canadian classified ads that it seems clear they were sold in Canada.
So what do I know about the AE50? Not much .... basically that it is a 50cc 2-stroke scooter that Suzuki sold in Canada and overseas in the early to mid 90’s. It was sold in ’95 for sure. I haven’t been able to find any evidence that this scooter was sold in the USA.
The top speed is reported to be a bit over 60 km/hr (40mph). Supposedly this scooter is extremely peppy for a 50cc, so it seems likely that the top speed is limited by a restriction in the variator as is the norm for 2-stroke 50’s. This scooter makes an impressive 6.5hp @ 6500 RPM which is great for a 50cc. That’s comparable to Honda’s 2-stroke 80cc Aero. Perhaps this scooters peppy nature is the reason why fuel economy is typically reported as being poor (for a scooter). From my reading, observed fuel economy is typically around 60mpg which means that filling up the 3 litre (0.8 gallon) tank happens pretty often.
Ergonomically speaking, some AE50 owners have complained of an uncomfortable seat while other owners haven’t noticed a problem. One complaint I have heard is that the mirrors are too narrow so visability is poor. This could be remedied fairly easily with some wider aftermarket mirrors. The AE50 does not have a glovebox but it does have some storage space under the seat which is nice. The storage area isn’t huge but you could fit your lunch in there or a rain suit. The fuel tank is also located under the seat which limits the amount of storage Suzuki could muster up. The gauges on this scooter are pretty standard fare. You’ve got an odometer (which rolls over at 9999 kms), a speedometer and warning lights for the oil, blinkers and high beams.
Buying an AE50 seems a bit risky simply because there’s likely little support out there from other owners and probably even from Suzuki. I have no idea if you can still get parts for this scooter but I would check into this before you buy one. If Suzuki Canada does still support this scooter then it would be a neat and unique scooter to pick up. Before purchasing one, I’d stroll into your local Suzuki dealer and ask if stuff like head gaskets, drivebelts etc are still available. Pick a few parts at random and ask if they are available to get a general idea of your odds should you need something.
This scooter may have been sold under the name ‘Hi Up’ and it shared its engine with Suzuki’s AD50 (called 'the Address') which you can read about here. These two scooters appear to be very similar.
If you’re simply looking for a peppy and affordable 2-stroke 50cc, I’d like at Yamaha’s Jog and Honda’s Dio, as they are both very similar style-wise but those scooters have huge followings. However, if you’re looking for something a bit more unique or you found a great deal on one of these, I would go for it as long as you’re comfortable getting spare parts from Suzuki or some other source like eBay.
Pros:
* Powerful
* Unique
* Underseat storage
Cons:
* Difficulty getting parts (there’s almost nothing on eBay)
* 60mpg
Owner Reports:
“There is some storage space under the seat ... not a lot mind you. You could probably fit a six pack or some gloves and a rain suit. The top speed is over 60km/hr (37mph). This thing rips. The fuel economy is not that great, but it does have a small tank so fill ups aren't too bad. Comfort level is ok but the mirrors are far too narrow. I can only see my shoulders when I look in them. The maximum weight for is 190lbs and I weigh over 220, but it will still take any scooter out of the hole."
Engine capacity : 50 cc 2-stroke
Transmission : A/T 1-speed
