| Peugeot Jet C-Tech 50LC

The arguments will rage on forever between proponents of fuel injection and those preferring the good old carburettor. While there’s no doubt that the more modern way of throwing petrol into an engine can be faultless, one can also argue that the latest in the Peugeot Jet range, the normally aspirated C-Tech, is by far the better of the bunch to date.

Engine and fuelling arguments aside, the real jewel in the Jet’s crown is the chassis. As scooters go this is a pretty fine handling sports bike. Thankfully the machine comes with a pair of pencil eraser soft Hutchinson Funzy tyres providing all the grip needed to make the most of this rock steady and razor sharp beam frame.
Peugeot have, with this machine, established a new set of rules when it comes to scoot handling and hopefully the youth of today will learn to appreciate this ability to the full. Don’t just park up in town centres and talk scoots, or whatever it is you find to talk about. Get out, find some bends and wear some knee slider plastic out. It’s a far better pastime than any computer game yet invented, albeit a little more risky should things go tits-up!

The aluminium beam frame is light years ahead of the old style under-slung cradle tubing previously found holding the wheels of scoots apart, and the stiffness provided by one huge straight piece of metal running from the headstock to the engine mounts gives handling and road-holding beyond belief. With the shock absorber now mounted in front of the engine, the loads that this transmits are handled by the much stronger centre section of the frame rather that the very end of the rear chassis. This keeps the engine running straight within the frame and (as the wheel is, in turn, bolted to this) makes the mid-corner stability very sure-footed and capable of some impressive corner speeds.
The bouncy bits at each end are obviously perfectly matched to the chassis and someone over at the Peugeot R&D department has been putting in some serious track time in the pursuit of C-Tech excellence. The forks are stiff enough to keep the front wheel tracking true while still damping out the potholes and unevenness found on the roads in the UK. Likewise with the rear shock (can we still call it that if it lives in the middle?) This is just the right side of racetrack-like stiff but still compliant enough not to shake your fillings out.


Balance-wise the front/rear bias is spot-on, a rarely seen thing with scooters as the extreme mounting of the engine unit usually sees a large shift of mass towards the back end. But the frame and the large, eight-litre fuel tank serve to counter this, making the front end feel far more planted and secure when diving into bends and also when the throttle is cracked open ready for the exit. Overall the package works brilliantly, enabling the rider to really push and (with the help of those soft Funzies) explore areas not possible before with a standard, out of the showroom, machine.
Braking, too, is up there with power to match the chassis and engine perfectly. The large vented front disc has a bite that does not diminish with constant heavy use and is easily capable of hoisting the back end aloft even at speed. Thankfully the rear is a little less powerful and works in complete harmony and unison with the front to haul the Jet C-Tech up in no time should the need arise.


It really is a sports bike in disguise, such is the fine handling and ride that the scoot rewards you with. As if the ride wasn’t enough I reckon this scoot looks the absolute dog danglies, too. It takes all the very best design cues from the leading machines of the last few years and melts them into the modern and streamlined shape that we see here, not as aggressive as the single-minded Blaster, but more of an acceptable image to present to the world. Add to that the faultless paintwork and detailing and,for the money, you have one hell of a cool scoot.
Boys, if you can’t pull with one of these you are going to spend a lot of time pulling something else! Ladies, get one and you will know what the saying ‘flies around shit’ means instantly.