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Photo of a Piaggio Zip

Piaggio Zip

From city commuter to 1997 champion: Leon Haslam won on a Malossi-tuned Zip SP-based racer.12

Researched November 2, 2026 from 25 sources

Also called

  • Zip 1Common shorthand for the first generation.3
  • Zip 2Common shorthand for the redesigned generation introduced in 2000.3

At a glance

0100200
2.8–11.8 hpPower
0100200
25–70 km/hTop speed
0150300
2.8–6.8 N·mTorque
05001,000
71–107 kgWeight

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.2357911

Engine
50cc two-strokes; 50/100/125cc four-strokes; liquid-cooled SP210
Layout
Zip 50 4S Injection: rear-mounted engine/swingarm4
Gearbox
CVT automatic, centrifugal clutch, geared final drive2
Built at
Madrid, Spain; Pontedera, Italy; Foshan, China; Vĩnh Phúc, Vietnam2
Units built
More than 750,000 sold by April 20118

The story

Conceived as a cheaper Sfera for city commuting, the Zip combined 10-inch wheels with a compact chassis. Its 2000 redesign added a height-adjustable seat and room for a full-face helmet under it.123

1992: The budget city scooter arrives19921994: Zip & Zip adds electric drive19941996: Zip SP goes liquid-cooled19962000: A fresh body and Hi-Per2 power20002006: Zip 100 arrives with 70 km/h20062011: Sales pass 750,00020112018: Three-valve i-get for model year 201820182021: Euro 5: 2.8 hp and a 6.6 L tank20212024: Production ends; farewell follows in 20252024 Piaggio Sfera: 1990–1998Piaggio Sfera 19901995200020052010201520202025
Before and afterMilestones315
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
1990–1998Piaggio Sfera
1992The budget city scooter arrives
1994Zip & Zip adds electric drive
1996Zip SP goes liquid-cooled
2000A fresh body and Hi-Per2 power
2006Zip 100 arrives with 70 km/h
2011Sales pass 750,000
2018Three-valve i-get for model year 2018
2021Euro 5: 2.8 hp and a 6.6 L tank
2024Production ends; farewell follows in 2025
  1. 1992

    The budget city scooter arrives

    Conceived as a cheaper Sfera for city trips, the original Zip has a disputed debut: 1991 or 1992. Piaggio dates it to 1992.134

  2. 1994

    Zip & Zip adds electric drive

    The Zip & Zip becomes the first scooter with combustion and electric motors, offering 75 minutes of electric running at up to 30 km/h.5

  3. 1996

    Zip SP goes liquid-cooled

    SP means Sport Production: the 50cc two-stroke gains liquid cooling and single-sided front suspension, with 10-inch wheels.6

  4. 2000

    A fresh body and Hi-Per2 power

    A redesigned Zip range gets a height-adjustable seat, full-face-helmet storage and the updated Hi-Per2 two-stroke engine in the base 50.2

  5. 2006

    Zip 100 arrives with 70 km/h

    The new 100 4T claims 70 km/h, 30 m in 4.7 seconds and 53 km/l at a steady 40 km/h.27

  6. 2011

    Sales pass 750,000

    More than 750,000 Zips have been sold by April, as the two-stroke 50 returns to the range.8

  7. 2018

    Three-valve i-get for model year 2018

    Announced in November 2017 for model year 2018, the Zip gains an air-cooled, fuel-injected, three-valve i-get 50 four-stroke meeting Euro 4.24

  8. 2021

    Euro 5: 2.8 hp and a 6.6 L tank

    The Euro 5 Zip S 50 has 2.8 hp, 2.8 Nm and a 6.6 L tank. It measures 1,700 x 670 mm and returns 41.6 km/l on the VMTC cycle.9

  9. 2024

    Production ends; farewell follows in 2025

    Production stops in late 2024 as Euro 5+ rules approach. A January 2025 farewell marks the retirement.26

Every generation

  • Piaggio Sfera
    Piaggio Sfera1990–1998
  • Piaggio Zip (first generation)
    Piaggio Zip (first generation)1991/1992–1999

Versions

10 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • Standard

    Zip Base / Zip 25

  • Standard

    Zip RST

    1996–1998

  • Standard

    Zip 50 Cat (UK)

    2001–2005

    4 hp
  • Zip 50 4t

    Standard

    Zip 50 4t

  • Zip 125

    Standard

    Zip 125

    12 hp

  • Standard

    Zip S

  • Performance

    Zip Fast Rider

  • Special

    Zip 50 Special Edition

    2012

  • Special

    Zip 50 i-get Special Edition

    2023

  • Zip&Zip Bimodale

    Special

    Zip&Zip Bimodale

    1994–97

How to spot one

Look for

  • Redesigned Zips: compact proportions and tiny 10-inch wheels.1
  • Modern Zips: the handlebar headlight sits behind a clear, teardrop-shaped cover.4
  • Modern Zips: paired slashes in the nose house the turn signals and parking lights.4
  • Modern Zips: the rear light follows the upper edge of the side panels.4
  • Early Base models have six oval, nostril-like vents in the front panel.3

Year by year

  1. 1996–1998

    Zip RST updates the old Base with a hydraulic telescopic front fork.3

  2. 1996–1999

    Fastrider RST puts the headlight low in the nose, moves the indicators to the handlebar and adds a more stepped seat.3

  3. 2000

    The complete redesign brings sharper, more angular bodywork and a front disc brake to the regular Zip.12

  4. 1996–2005

    SP1 has a low headlight and vents above it. Its ZAPC11 prefix also occurs on 2001 SP2; other early SP2s use ZAPC256.3

  5. 2001–2005 (UK)

    Zip Cat keeps the redesigned styling but adds 'Catalyst' beneath 'Zip' on both tail-panel badges.12

Don’t confuse it with

  • Puch Zip / Gilera Easy Moving

    These are alternate names for the Zip family; the Puch Zip name was used in the Netherlands.2

  • Photo of a Piaggio Zip
    Zip
    Photo of a Piaggio Typhoon
    Piaggio Typhoon

    Piaggio Typhoon

    Typhoon has a bulky shark-nose front and 12-inch wheels; modern Zips use 10-inch wheels and a handlebar headlight.1412

  • Photo of a Piaggio Zip
    Zip
    Photo of a NRG Power
    NRG Power

    NRG Power

    NRG Power carries its headlights in the front shield and rolls on 13-inch wheels; modern Zips place the headlight on the handlebar.412

Against its rivals

  • Sym Orbit 50

    Zip vs Sym Orbit 50

    Price as tested lower is better

    Zip1,366 €
    Sym Orbit 501,190 €
    16
  • Benelli Pepe 50 base

    Zip vs Benelli Pepe 50 base

    Price as tested lower is better

    Zip1,366 €
    Benelli Pepe 50 base1,190 €
    16

  • Zip vs Peda H2O

    Test placing lower is better

    Zip2 place
    Peda H2O4 place
    16

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

  • Versions

    • Why each of the 10 versions matters

  • Legend

    • 14 stories from its legend
    • “Britain's two-wheeler bestseller in 2001”
    • “More than 750,000 sold by 2011”

  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 2 generations

  • Market

    • 6 things to check before buying one
    • Where prices are heading, and why
Read the full file in SPOT

SPOT is free on iPhone. Full car files come with SPOT Plus.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 25 sources
  1. Piaggio Zip : le bestseller des petits prix — Scooter Mag scooter-mag.fr
  2. Piaggio Zip - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  3. Speedgurus Rollerchaos: Schraubertipps: Typenkunde Piaggio Zip rollerchaos.blogspot.com
  4. 50 CC PIAGGIO SCOOTER RANGE press.piaggiogroup.com
  5. Motocicletta bimodale Zip & Zip collezioni-online.museoscienza.org
  6. Addio Zip. L'icona degli anni 90' va in pensione - News - Moto.it moto.it
  7. news | Piaggio Zip 100 4T motorbox.com
  8. Piaggio ZIP 50 | Motorkáři.cz motorkari.cz
  9. Modello Piaggio Zip S 50: guida completa a prezzi, versioni e optional disponibili | InMoto.it inmoto.it
  10. Prova su strada | Piaggio ZIP SP motorbox.com
  11. Test Ride Piaggio Zip oto.detik.com
  12. Piaggio Zip 50 Cat Specs - Piaggio Zip Info - Zip 50 Specs whitedogbikes.com
  13. Piaggio ZIP 50 Special Edition 2012 - Motoblog motoblog.it
  14. Wide Magazine wide.piaggiogroup.com
  15. Piaggio Sfera - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  16. Primerjalni test: Skuter za jurja - Avto-magazin.si avto-magazin.metropolitan.si
  17. Luciano Marabese ci ha lasciati - News - Moto.it moto.it
  18. Prova | Polini Zip Evoluzione 3 & TMax Evoluzione motorbox.com
  19. Film moto : Attack the Block lerepairedesmotards.com
  20. Piaggio Zip 50 2t by Malossi: il Re degli scooter italiani! - Motoblog motoblog.it
  21. Pegassi Faggio Sport in GTA Online: Price, Top Speed | GTADB gtadb.net
  22. Film moto : Leurs enfants après eux lerepairedesmotards.com
  23. VERY RARE – 1998 Piaggio ZIP SP 50cc Mk1 | Brighton Moto brightonmoto.co.uk
  24. Piaggio Zip 50 2T reliability: MOT pass rate & common problems · Bike Reliability bikereliability.co.uk
  25. Punya Budget Honda Beat, Bisa Beli Vespa LX150 dan Piaggio Zip Bekas oto.com
  • scooter-mag.fr
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • rollerchaos.blogspot.com
  • press.piaggiogroup.com
  • collezioni-online.museoscienza.org
  • moto.it
  • motorbox.com
  • motorkari.cz
  • inmoto.it
  • oto.detik.com
  • whitedogbikes.com
  • motoblog.it
  • wide.piaggiogroup.com
  • avto-magazin.metropolitan.si

Photo credits

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