PEUGEOT SPEEDFIGHT 3 50 (2009 - on) Review

When it comes to scooters, there’s none more iconic and successful than the Peugeot Speedfight.

• Read: top 50cc scooters and mopeds
• Related: Peugeot Speedfight SF4-125 first ride

The French runabout has been around since 1996 and still appears in Peugeot's scooter range today having sold well over half a million units around the world. For 2009 Peugeot redesigned it from the ground up, bringing it firmly into the 21st century. The all-new Speedfight 3 features fully-revised chassis and ergonomics and a choice of two different engines/specs.

Peugeot celebrate 20 years of the Speedfight

In 2017 Peugeot launched a special edition Speedfight 50cc to celebrate 20 years of production. The scooter had shifted over half a million units and was in its fourth incarnation. The special edition got a cosmetic makeover with a black double-stitched seat with a removable pillion cowl, aluminium footboards, plus a Snakebike sports exhaust system.

Peugeot Streetfight 50 Total Sport

In April 2016 Peugeot unveiled a special 'Total Sport' edition of their new Speedfight 4, coinciding with the model's 20th year of production, and marking the manufacturer's two decades of partnership with oil giant Total.

Based on the fourth generation of the Speedfight scooter, the Total Sport featured a liquid-cooled two-stroke engine, fed by a Dell’Orto carburettor, which delivered 5% more power and 15% more torque than the previous model. An inverted 32mm fork and a remote reservoir rear shock absorber, combined with the 12-inch alloy wheels, low profile tyres and the fuel tank location under the foot-board, all combined to deliver improved stability and sharper handling.

The Speedfight's styling was claimed to be inspired by Peugeot’s ‘Exalt’ concept car, with twin helicoid headlights, separated by the distinctive grille and aviation-style fuel cap.

Complementing the Total racing livery and matt black bodywork were highlighted inserts in the air intakes, aluminium footrests, pearly saddle-cover, micro lamp crystal turn indicators, a rear spoiler and inverted sports silencer. The dashboard had both USB and 12V sockets and accommodated a RAM X-Grip smartphone holder.

The Speedfight 4 Total Sport was priced £2099.

Chassis-wise, the biggest change with the new Peugeot Speedfight 50 is the switch to 34mm telescopic forks, which replace the old trademark, single-sided swinging arm. In addition the new versions has 13-inch wheels in place of the old bike’s 12s, to improve stability.

The redesign has also added a whopping 120mm to the overall length of the Peugeot Speedfight3, plus 30mm to the wheelbase, altered the floorboards and resculpted the legshields.

Overall, the changes are welcome. The bigger wheels make it feel more planted, the new forks are an instant improvement over the old awkward and heavy single sided front arm and the new, radially-mounted front brake is stonking.

For the 2009 Peugeot Speedfight 50, two new engines are available – either air or liquid-cooled. Both are Euro 3 compliant two-strokes and both feel fairly nippy, although we preferred the liquid-cooled version. It sounded as sweet as a nut and would produce another 500rpm over its air-cooled stable mate – essential extra power on a 50!

The UK's 50cc scooter and moped market is dwindling in the 2020s with many young people opting not to ride or choosing electric alternatives, which can make far more sense than electric leisure bikes. A short hop to work or college followed by a long opportunity to charge is ideal electric bike territory, especially with running costs as low as 1p per mile!

Sadly, the Peugeot Speedfight's original two-stroke engine has made way for a less powerful four-stroke unit - something that will infuriate the purists of the genre but gets the bike through Euro5 regulations.

Peugeot quality and reliability has always been among the best in the scooter class and the Speedfight3 maintains that tradition. They’re generally robust, refined, and well built.

Peugeots have always happily occupied the upper middle-ground, offering quality machine with decent spec at reasonable prices, and the new Speedfight3 is no different – that’s why they’ve proved so popular.

The new Peugeot Speedffight3’s seat height is unchanged at a comfortable 800mm but the seat has been reshaped and the fuel tank repositioned to lower the centre of gravity and help gain storage space beneath the seat. The result is there’s now enough space to accommodate a full face lid – or the optional Peugeot stereo system which plugs into the 12v socket and includes an iPod dock, sub and amp. The speakers mount into the dummy air intakes on the side of the rear panels. It also has handlebar-mounted controls. Cool or what?

Styling-wise Peugeot’s baby still looks like a Speedfight but the panels have been sharpened up, lights and indicators redesigned and the paintjob refreshed. The instruments are all new, too.