Launched in 1992, the Suzuki AH50 scooter was designed in Europe as a fun little scooter. At just 60kg, this was definitely the baby of Suzuki’s AH series, which included 100 and 125cc models. As its name clearly indicates, the AH 50 was powered by a small 49cc engine. This was another in a line of air-cooled two-stroke engines found in Suzuki two-wheelers since the 1960s.

Suzuki engineers managed to squeeze 6.5 bhp out of the 49cc unit, which is quite a lot for a 60kg bike. The automatic transmission allowed almost anyone to start driving immediately. With its 10-inch, low-wheelbase tubeless wheels, it was easy to handle. It wasn’t long before the Suzuki AH 50 became popular with younger riders looking for a legal scooter that would respond to the throttle. In fact, European motor enthusiasts strove to tune performance to new levels with custom parts and modifications. At least one Italian company offered kits that allowed riders to improve acceleration and power delivery. While factory spec scooters often hit 70 mph, tuned AH 50 bikes were rumored to cross the magic 100 mark.

If you see a Suzuki AH50 on the street today, you might not recognize it as the bike with such a sporty heritage. It has the same clean lines and 90s design of the other AH series scooters; attractive but not spectacular. However, an original AH 50 from the 1990s registered in the UK will have a restricted engine, per driver safety laws at the time. The instrument panel was basic, providing the pilot with important information in a group. The AH 50 even came with sensible features like a small storage area under the seat, big enough for a rider’s helmet.

Most of the existing Suzuki AH50 scooters would have undergone some customization or repair. The common parts are the tiny rear view mirrors and the seat. However, an enthusiast can always choose to reverse engineer a Suzuki AH 50 back to its factory specs. Since production of the bike ceased in 1995, only a few reputable spare parts dealers carry genuine AH 50 parts. An expert dealer can also help you identify which parts of the AH 50 are interchangeable with other AH series scooters. With a little effort, you can restore this scooter quite easily. Even today a Suzuki AH 50 in good condition is an inexpensive scooter that has few frills but plenty of excitement.