2009 QLINK Zip Review

Founded in 1988 in Taipei, Taiwan, QLINK has spent the last 25 years producing some of the cheapest scooters and dualies on the market. QLINK might not be a household name in the U.S., but the company, whose product line includes bikes and scoots produced by a dozen different Chinese manufacturers, has established distribution networks in Mexico, Brazil, Hungary, Nigeria, Taiwan, and China. Currently, QLINK operates three distribution centers in the U.S., but the brand is growing by leaps and bounds, thanks in part to the popularity of models like the affordable Zip.

In 2010, QLINK revamped the Zip and gave it a new name, the Rave 150, but 2009 models of this Chinese-made scooter still pop up now and then in the American resale market. Unfortunately, the QLINK Zip’s combination electric/kick starter has been known to give riders some trouble, especially in cooler climates, but once it’s up and running, the Zip proves to be a handy, mid-sized scooter, perfect for urban commuters.

The QLINK Zip is powered by an 149.5cc single-cylinder 4-stroke, which is fed by a teeny-tiny Mikuni carb. QLINK has dropped the Zip on matching 14-inch wheels, paired with 100/80 front and rear tires.

The 2009 QLINK Zip may not be the burliest scoot arounder, but it has style to spare, with aggressive modern lines, a special front fairing, a tuned sport exhaust system, and passenger handrails. Storage is minimal, but you should be able to fit a small bag into the under-seat compartment.