Anybody heard of Kymco?

[waterinthefuel]

They are a Taiwan made scooter that I was told is light years above a Chinese one. The lady said they used to make Honda parts, and broke off as their own line of toys.

I was told this is an "industry standard" scooter brand. Even "name brand" scooters can't hold a stick to this one's warranty. The most I found was 1 year, they double that, a full 2 year warrany on all scooters. That's impressive to say the least.

http://kymcousa.com/

 

[tommays]

Re: Anybody heard of Kymco?

IMHP the market is allready jamped packed with the name brands makeing it very diffcult for anybody to stay in it in the long term

Look at Tohatsu outboards a very good product that cant really get a wide spread dealer network because there are allready so many others


Tommays

 

[Gone]

Re: Anybody heard of Kymco?

I saw that brand a lot when I was in Taiwan, more so than any other due to import duties. They have a captive market. Taiwan has a maximum displacement (CC) engine size, I think 175cc It was funny to see aggressively styled "Ninja" style motorcycles with only a 175cc engine. The engines look like Honda copies. Talk about a mouse motor.
In mainland China, the copyright laws are very loose. Many factories build for the majors, The majors supply all of the parts and quality people to oversee the assembly. These same plants then manufacture their own version of the major's product with their own parts. A knock-off is branded "HODNA" or "YAHAMA". I thought that it was an error, but found that it was on purpose.
Roadstar car audio was knocked off as "Rodastar", so it is pervasive in their market.
Buy one and keep us updated.

 

[MRS]

Re: Anybody heard of Kymco?

Buy a brand name when and if you buy they are not that much more and a whole lot cheaper in the long run. The other ones are really just a copy and not a good one at that if you are going to ride it once or twice a year it might work for you but if you need parts do not count on them for them. You get what you pay for......

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Anybody heard of Kymco?

Kymco (Taiwan) has been around quite a while. In fact a LONG time. Its not Chinese. Made in some pretty impressive factories right along side where a lot of your new car parts are made. Plus a LOT of parts in your boat right now. Sorry, its the future. On the bikes, light years ahead of the Chinese junk, but still short of Honda quality. But damn close, and closing in. Theres nothing wrong with their bikes, but if ya want solid quality. Get a Honda . Thay have been at it a REAL long time, and have a name to protect. And this is coming from a Harley rider with 46 years in the saddle.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Anybody heard of Kymco?

Scaaty, you sound just like my father. I bought a Honda 4 wheeler about 14 years ago and the biggest problem we've had is the tires losing air after long storage periods. He bought a Yamaha a year later and we've had some minor issues with it, nothing major, but my bike certainly runs better. He said "just get a Honda and be done with it."

Kymco definitely looks like a good bike, I mean a 2 year parts and labor warranty is even better than the name brand scooters, but the closest known service dealer is 2 hours away, almost 100 miles. We have a Honda place right across town.

Ugh, now I find out my company is being bought out and I might not have a job soon. Now all purchases are on hold. :'(

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Anybody heard of Kymco?

All I can say is the future is here, its affecting everyone, we are slowly be turned into third world status, working middle class disappearing, and I don't like it one damn bit. All ya can do is vote the bastards out. Sorry about your job. Seems like you know aviation, and I've been upside down in a Champ Decathlon myself a few times. Friend is up to a twin turbo commuter. Last Oshkosh was 1999 (then moved west), and it was pretty well determined that general aviation was being destroyed by lawyers. Its basically illegal nowadays to innovate. This country won't relax on laws until we get that that wheel made square instead of round. Wish ya well...

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Anybody heard of Kymco?

I could go with the Kawasaki Eliminator 125 but I'd be scared that thing didn't even have enough power for riding around town.

Assuming I can get on with the new company, I don't know whether to go Honda Rebel (which is uglier in my opinion) or Kawasaki 125 (which is a tiny motor for a cruiser) or hold out and save my money to buy a homebuilt! LOL

I do have good news Scaaty, (ok, I didn't highlight your name, the board did that automatically) GA is coming back strong. Cessna began producing the single engine pistons again, and companies like Cirrus are actually outselling Cessna for years and years in a row. Even C-172's are now coming equipped standard with the Garmin G-1000 glass cockpit.

I'm already a pilot so I wouldn't have to get retrained, I'd only need to build and fly. With the "sickle" I'd need more training and a paid up life insurance policy! LOL 8)

 

[aspeck]

Re: Anybody heard of Kymco?

WITF, your described useage from an earlier thread would suit the Kawi well. I have a couple of them (100cc and 1000cc - yep a wide gap!) and they have been good bikes for me. Unless you are a lot heavier than me (which I doubt) then the 125 will let you cruise on the highway at 60mph with no problems.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Anybody heard of Kymco?

Aspeck, my town is large (200,000) and has a lot of 40mph surface streets and of course down here in Louisiana its flat as a pancake. I weigh about 150lbs and am 5'7 so I figure that bike really would be ideal for me.

I would only need 55 out of it for a couple of miles to get to work, everything else is 45 or less.

What kind of gas milage would you estimate she'd get?

I've been looking very hard at the Kawi the past few days and have probably looked at every website google pulls up when you type in Kawasaki Eliminator. I've shyed away from the Kymco because getting it worked on would be hard because of where the place is located.

I love the look of the Kawi, and not to mention a 3 and a half gallon gas tank would last forever!

 

[Gone]

Re: Anybody heard of Kymco?

70-80MPG depending on riding style.
My old 185 got 90mpg and my 650 gets 45mpg.

CD

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Anybody heard of Kymco?

Hop on down to a Kaw dealer. Check out a 250 Ninja. Cycle World just had a write up on about 5 little bikes, and all the raves go to that little (well, not really little, but inexpensive- relatively) Ninja. Rebel is a girls bike IMO. The Ninja has no 250 markings, and most people won't even know its not the big crotch rocket. More upright seating, good bar seat ergos, good resale. Best Bet IMO. Glad to hear Aviation still kicking for the few that can still afford it. Like to see more areas with less restrictions, and the ...Jeezz help me out here,....what is it, a "Sport" type licence/rating?...can't think of what its called. Think ya get it with 10 hours, but pretty limited. But so what? I have just as much fun in my 12/ 4hp rowboat, as my 25 footer. Rather fly a Cub than a Jumbo any day

 

[aspeck]

Re: Anybody heard of Kymco?

WITF - definitely depends on your driving habits - if your are wheelie-ing it at every stop sign and red light, then expect to only get about 40 - 50mpg! If you baby her she will b\get you close to 100mpg. It is hard to baby my old (1980) KZ1000 and I still get about 40mpg with her (with my 230 lbs and sometimes a rider) on the hills of central PA.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Anybody heard of Kymco?

Hey Scaaty,

Thanks to you I'm now looking into the 250 Ninja. I'm surprised to see it is just barely in my price range. Nice looking bike. I was worried about the leaning over to ride it. I see you mentioned that, and by the pictures on Kawasaki's website the guy is setting almost upright. I wonder how slow it is though. I wonder if the Ford Pinto's will be pushing me along at green lights! LOL

The license you are talking about is called the sport pilot license. It allows you to get your license at only 20 hours, but there are some restrictions. No night, no more than 1 passenger, no flight over 10000 feet, no planes over 1200lbs or so, and no planes over 120 knots.The Cub is one of the only old production planes that already fit the sport pilot catagory. There are several new plane manufacturers who are making planes just to fit this new catagory. They are not eyesores by any means. It hopefully will open up GA to more people, including, well, me!! I do hope to one day build my own, but it won't have to fit those restrictions because I have the full license already.

I wish I could drive both bikes, the 125 and Ninja before purchase. I can't find a 125 around here. Must be pretty rare. I saw them give one away on The Price is Right the other day! That was pretty neat!