Designed for extreme penny pinchers, the Roughhouse R50 is great for commuters who are looking to cut back on gas expenditures. Powered by a 50-cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder, two-stroke motor, this little scooter puts out an unbelievable 100 mpg fuel economy. It won’t travel as quickly as its full-size motorcycle or car counterparts due to having a drive boss limiting its speed to meet strict moped restriction laws, but it can handle running at 30 mph quite efficiently. These scooters can go well above the 30 mph mark with the restrictions removed. This scooter is perfect for local commuters who avoid highways or people living in cities.
The design for the R50 is a direct descendent of Genuine’s limited edition Black Cat, which was based on the same exact design but is no longer in production. The major differences being that the R50 has two large headlights and the overall design and styling are more toned down with regard to color and detail. The Roughhouse R50 has simple decals, silver rims, and a black front fender. This gives it a much more aesthetic appeal than the Black Cat model offered. What makes this scooter stand out from the crowd is that is also built with some amount of off-roading in mind. It has enclosed handlebars, a raised front fender, and it is equipped with knobbed, dirt bike style tires to easily handle the dirt just as well as the pavement. The R50 also comes with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which provides better fuel economy by allowing the engine to run at its most efficient RPM based on vehicle speed. The CVT transmission also allows for extremely graceful acceleration. It is also equipped with a telescopic front suspension and a single sided swing arm rear suspension. It has front hydraulic disc brakes and rear drum brakes.
The Roughhouse R50 also has underseat storage space complete with a 12V charging port that can be used to charge cell phones or other items. There is also a small cubby up front that be used for temporary storage. Unfortunately it is not an enclosed space, so it may not work very well on the road. This is a budget scooter. In fact, it is one of the cheapest scooters currently available on the market. It gets the job done for people interested in owning a 50-cc class scooter. The engine has been tried and tested and has proven to be reliable. It does not have newer technology such as fuel injection, which can be had in newer, more expensive scooters, but at this price point, it doesn't really matter. Overall, the Roughhouse R50 is an excellent scooter for commuting, and if desired, it can be modified to produce some actual speed. As an entry-level scooter, it is well worth the price.