State-of-the-art design does not even begin to describe the Kymco Xciting Scooter 500Ri. Easily making short work of long road trips and commutes, the Xciting 500Ri 498.5cc four-stroke injection engine eases you in and out of traffic situations on highways and bi-ways. Comfort is key on this Kymco scooter - it comes equipped with fully automatic transmission for easy riding and an adjustable back rest for easy sitting! Other features include four-position brake levers, chrome finishing, carpet-lined storage compartment under seat, Folding aluminum passenger pegs and side stand with integrated engine kill switch. Base price of $ 7,000. Kymco.
Companies from South East Asia never fail to impress me. From Hyundai in the four-Wheeler Hysoung to industry when it comes to motorcycles. And now Kymco. We all know they make good lil scooters, which actually sell well in countries like Italy and this new 125cc bike, the Sports KR, is all set to change the way people look at Kymco.
First impression when you see the bike is as if its a modified CBR 125R. Koreans were known to copy automobiles Taiwanese now well and have done it too. In fact, Kymco KR have made the look better than the CBR, and I personally think this has been possible with the use of wider tires (110mm front and 140mm at the rear) and a wider looking fairing up front.
Engine and performance wise though, the KR is nowhere near the CBR. The 125cc runs a carb instead of Fuel Injection on the CBR, and pumps out 12.8 bhp and 9.9 Nm of torque as compared to 13bhp and 10.6 Nm for the CBR 125R. The difference isn't huge but when you consider that the KR weighs around 15kilos more, runs 110mm front and 140mm rear tire, surely the performance takes a hit. The true top speed for example is 104km / h, around 10km / h less than what the CBR manages. But what is interesting is that the company claims that top speed is limited to 104 by the rev-limiter. Now, why such a thing?
Anyways, pricing has always been the trump card Korens, with the KR Retailing for £ 300 less than the CBR 125R at £ 2399.
KYMCO's recently released Quannon 150 sportbike (MSRP $ 3,449) is destined for U.S. dealerships during the second quarter of 2009 as an early-release 2010 model.
The bike, for Euro markets released last year, is powered by a 149.3cc water-cooled four-stroke four-valve kymco_quannon150 engine producing 14 hp. Physically, it's not much smaller than Kawi Ninja 250R's. People will recognize it as being more diminutive than a 600-class machine, but not by much.
I had the chance to road test the Quannon earlier this year. I stand 5'9 "and found the ergonomics quite hospitable. At a standstill I was comfortably flat-footed with knees bent. Once underway, the clip-on-like handlebars and slightly rear-set foot pegs supplied equal comfort with a sporty feel.
The bike has an extremely short first gear (something I also noticed during a recent test of the Indian-made 160cc TVS Apache RTR) but a quick shift out and through the next four gears supplied more than enough forward thrust to propel me confidently down the 55 mph county Roads on which I was riding.
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The new KYMCO Quannon 150 is an all-new $3449 option for entry-level riders.
KYMCO, the good folks from Taiwan, have stepped up to challenge Kawasaki’s entry-level sportbike dominance with the introduction of the Quannon 150. KYMCO chose the recent IMS show in Long Beach to launch its all-new sportbike model.
Powered by an air-cooled 149.3cc Single, the Quannon will debut in the US as a 2010 model. Sporting a 62 x 49.5mm bore and stroke, the air-cooled mill produces a claimed 14 horsepower. While the hp isn’t overwhelming, the beginner bike should enjoy phenomenal fuel efficiency (70-75 mpg claimed) with the four-valve engine and five-speed transmission. Combined with the 3.6-gallon tank, a rider can expect a range of over 250 miles on the little commuter/beginner motorcycle.
A steel frame chassis is mated to a telescopic front fork and a rear monoshock (no indication of adjustability on KYMCO press material). Stopping the 299-lb (claimed) bike comes via single discs, front and rear. The Quannon’s 17-inch wheels should help the little bike handle like a bigger machine, similar to the Ninja 250 it will always be compared with (which increased its wheel size to 17-inch with its 2008 redesign). Seat height is 31.5 inches (an inch taller than the Ninja).
KYMCO Quannon 150 Photo Gallery
The Kawasaki Ninja 250R has long been the unchallenged newbie-friendly sportbike, but the Quannon at $3449 actually bests its rival in MSRP, with a $550 price break (the Ninja saw a $500 price bump this year). And the little Quannon comes with a standard two-year warranty – as well as an optional four-year extended warranty available at the KYMCO dealer.
Available in red and blue, the Quannon 150 maintains a true sportbike look and isn’t half bad in the styling department. As for the Quannon’s future success, there figures to be plenty of entry-level riders to go around (the Quannon would do well just poaching sales off dealer’s standing Ninja 250 waiting lists). Either way, another option is a good thing for the entry-level market.
KYMCO Quannon 150 Specifications Engine: Air-cooled 4-valve Single Displacement: 149.3cc Power Claims: 14 HP Bore/Stroke: 62 x 49.5mm Cooling: Forced air Ignition: Electric Transmission: Five-speed Chassis: Steel frame Front Suspension: Telescopic forks Rear Suspension: Mono shock Front Brake: Single disc Rear Brake: Single disc Front Wheel/Tire: 110/80-17 Rear Wheel/Tire: 140/70-17 Dimensions (LxWxH): 81”x28.5”x46.2” Seat Height: 31.5 in.
