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Xciting 500 / New kid on the block
« on: February 06, 2010, 02:22:04 AM »
Hi All,
For about a couple of weeks now I am a proud owner of a 2006 Kymco
Xciting 500.
I am a professor for Sound & Acoustics at a local university, and live
since 18 years in San José, Costa Rica. I hear all the people out
there saying "oh, he can ride in winter!" Yep, and "winter" here is
basically summer because the dry season goes from December until late
April.
I've ridden scooters since the Lambretta and Vespa Times (way back in
the 60-ies), owned a Peugeot Speedfight 50cc recently, and this is my
first experience with a Maxi-Scooter.
Well, it's a world of difference between Mini and Maxi: it handles
weight-wise like a big bike, but less comfortable. The loss in handling
is greatly compensated by the fun riding it. For all that weight (about
the same as my Suzuki Intruder 800cc) it is surprisingly nimble, with a
reassuring feeling of good road handling.
The engine starts up immediately, but needs about 5 to 10 kilometers
(3.11 - 6.22 miles, for all the non-metric people out there) until the
temperature needle even moves up a notch.
The braking system/sequence is something getting used to. Never had that
before, but I am very satisfied with the results: stops on a dime!
The best lights for night-time driving I've ever had on two wheels,
almost like a car! Especially here in Costa Rica, where roads are full
of potholes, not well marked, and now and then a missing lid from a
manhole with absolutely no warning.
Ok, I could go on raving about the pluses of the "VelocÃpedo" (as my
wife calls it), but I also have a few questions, which I will leave for
my next posting.
Hearty Saludos from (sunny) Costa Rica,
Napoleon
Four wheels move the body, two wheels move the soul.
For about a couple of weeks now I am a proud owner of a 2006 Kymco
Xciting 500.
I am a professor for Sound & Acoustics at a local university, and live
since 18 years in San José, Costa Rica. I hear all the people out
there saying "oh, he can ride in winter!" Yep, and "winter" here is
basically summer because the dry season goes from December until late
April.
I've ridden scooters since the Lambretta and Vespa Times (way back in
the 60-ies), owned a Peugeot Speedfight 50cc recently, and this is my
first experience with a Maxi-Scooter.
Well, it's a world of difference between Mini and Maxi: it handles
weight-wise like a big bike, but less comfortable. The loss in handling
is greatly compensated by the fun riding it. For all that weight (about
the same as my Suzuki Intruder 800cc) it is surprisingly nimble, with a
reassuring feeling of good road handling.
The engine starts up immediately, but needs about 5 to 10 kilometers
(3.11 - 6.22 miles, for all the non-metric people out there) until the
temperature needle even moves up a notch.
The braking system/sequence is something getting used to. Never had that
before, but I am very satisfied with the results: stops on a dime!
The best lights for night-time driving I've ever had on two wheels,
almost like a car! Especially here in Costa Rica, where roads are full
of potholes, not well marked, and now and then a missing lid from a
manhole with absolutely no warning.
Ok, I could go on raving about the pluses of the "VelocÃpedo" (as my
wife calls it), but I also have a few questions, which I will leave for
my next posting.
Hearty Saludos from (sunny) Costa Rica,
Napoleon
Four wheels move the body, two wheels move the soul.