I am planning a trip trough the French countryside and was wondering if the elevation climb (roughly 800 meters at the halfway point) will be a big factor.
I'm not looking to go fast, roughly between 50 and 80 km/hr. Are there any particular scenic routes?
I googled it and it seems it would take 6 hours by bicycle (conservative) and 2 hours by car (optimistic!).
This isn't the definitive answer, as I never traveled there but I can give a couple of tips. I've traveled in a 50cc scooter before (for several days).
The 50 cc scooter should be able to climb and do everything you want. It will just do it slower :)
Things to take into consideration:
You won't be able to make average speeds nowhere near 80 km/h, and very hardly 50 km/h. Especially if there are many slopes. My average speed was about 30 km/h. Scooters have a quite powerful start, compared to a car but lack the strength at higher rotations. You will go slow climbing hills. I could pick daisies on some hills :)
Depending on the scooter (air cooled or water cooled) it is wise to stop every now and then. If the scooter is water cooled it will be a bit more resilient. Keep an eye on the temperature. Stop at least for half an hour if you think the engine is too hot. I actually burned the engine in one of my rides :) (I don't think it will happen to you, this was an old scooter, but be aware).
Note that you can't go into highways and equivalent roads. You probably don't even want to since you are after scenic routes, but be aware. I had troubles with my planning. I found a new highway, that ate the old road, on my way and ended up having to find a long alternative way, taking me much longer than I had foreseen.
Using Google bike planner might not work out as they may give you ways that are exclusive to pedestrians and bikes. If using the car planner, don't forget to avoid highways (all kinds, even the free ones).
Enjoy!
I've been living in Grenoble for a few years, and my girlfriend is a native from Lyon, so I know a bit the region. If you plan to take the road you put in the above link, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed by the scenic character of the road :)
You may want to go through the Vercors mountain (Saint-Gervais->Autrans->Lans-en-Vercors->Engins) or Chartreuse (through the park), but it will obviously be longer... and higher! Near Lyon, you can make a (big) detour through Perouges, which is a nice medieval village.
I'm a bit surprised to see all those warnings about overheating on a 50 cc engine. I think they are more reliable these days. However, don't expect to go between 50 and 80 km/h on a stock scooter. You'll have to have a modified one, which then will be less reliable, and is illegal (although the police is pretty tolerant). If you plan to go through the mountains, you should indeed check the stations' location, as you will of course have a limited autonomy.
Try the maps from ViaMichelin http://www.viamichelin.com/ Michelin has a green line alongside scenic roads.
Besides that, ViaMichelin allows you to select motorbike, car or bike (although, be aware that bike calculations cannot exceed 200km)
This is a terrible idea :)
You can't travel on french highways with a 50cc scooter, it's forbidden by law. If you do that, you will likely get arrested by the police and your scooter will be seized.
You can decide to avoid the highways, so why not?
Well, a scooter's engine can only take so much drive before it overheats. Basically, if you travel non-stop for 3-4 hours, you may seriously damage it. I know because I traveled from Paris to Picardy on a 125cc (about 1h drive), and my engine suffered from it. This is the main reason why people who want to travel buy a motorcycle instead of a scooter.
Finally, you should consider the amount of gas and the speed at which the gas goes away in a scooter. You may have to stop at every gas station to refill your scooter, which wouldn't be very convenient.
All in all, get the train, rent a car or buy a motorcycle =)
