Review
Manco Phoenix 5050L 49cc Scooter
Sold By Fox Valley Karts
By Jay Steele
Lafayette, IN

After my experience with the Baja Motorsports Baja SC50, I spent a bit more time researching my new choice for an around town scooter.  I made sure the people I got the scooter from could also service the scooter.  Thus my decision to go with the Manco Power Sports Phoenix 5050L, sold by Fox Valley Karts in Lafayette, IN.

I ordered the Phoenix 5050L on Saturday August 19, 2006 and was told it would be ordered on Monday, and should arrive and be ready a few days later.  Thursday I picked upped the Phoenix 5050L from Fox Valley Karts and after a few minor adjustments I was on my way. 

As I was picking up the scooter, the first thing to impress me was a request by John Copland, owner of Fox Valley Karts, to bring the Phoenix 5050L back after a few days (break-in time) so that he could make any needed adjustments while I waited - not a day or so later but while I waited.  That's customer service!  This gave me even more confidence in my purchase of the Manco Power Sports Phoenix 5050L from Fox Valley Karts, as I recognize their willingness to make sure the Phoenix 5050L performs to my expectations. 

I did notice a discrepancies in the information I read on the Manco Power Sports web site and the scooter I received - I will be contacting Manco to find out about these differences and hopefully get them solved.  The Auto Remote Start w/Alarm system was missing on the scooter I received - a feature I really wanted.  I'm hoping that getting this won't become a problem. 

I took the Manco Power Sports Phoenix 5050L all over the place today (Friday August 25, 2006) and it performed pretty well, a whole lot better than the Baja SC50 did, although I believe it loses too much power when going up hills - the speed is reduced to 20 MPH or less, which isn't real good.  On the flat and down hill it gets up to speed a little too slow also, it starts out pretty well and then the revs reduce and it takes too long to reach speed -- I'm not saying the speed is bad, but I think once I take it in to get adjusted, things will improve! 

I used the Phoenix 5050L to go to work today (Saturday August 26, 2006) and noticed that the Manco Super Sports Phoenix 5050L needed to warm up before the idle would work properly - John told me that this would be the case, so I figure that once the adjustments are made on Thursday, things will get better.  By Thursday I'll have about 150 miles on it, and by the gas used so far I estimate I'll be getting around 100 MPG, not bad for a scooter that claims it should get 80 MPG -- and a whole lot better than the 35 MPG I was getting on the Baja SC50.

The scooter does get great mileage, even better than the stated 80 MPGs, and since the adjustment made by John - it is running quite well, although there is a bit of hesitation at times when I take off.  This might be solved if I let it warm up before I start riding.

I have been riding the Manco Power Sports Phoenix 5050L for a few weeks now and find it to be a very enjoyable ride.  I still haven't gotten the remote start for the unit - but don't expect any trouble, as it is what was advertised.

I have always filled the tank when it got to the red zone - but have never been able to put even a gallon in the tank.  So I figured that the gage was just wrong, and decided to run the scooter out of gas and make sure it took the 1.7 gallons it states it does.  I also wanted to get an accurate measure of MPG's as well, so that I didn't have to rely on the gas gage to be accurate. 

Ran the scooter out of gas on Monday, which surprised me as I should have been able to travel another 50+ miles before it ran out.  It only took 1 gallon of gas!  - Hummmm!