Thoughts on KYMCO Xciting 400i

[Jonnielights]

Hi Everyone,

I'm seriously considering buying the KYMCO 400i based on my needs as a NYC all year commuter.

I love my Like 200i but considering the amount of driving I'm doing (5000mi since May 17) on NYC streets and highways, often enduring the city's perilous road conditions, especially in the spring, my bike at times feels lacking.  Between the suspension travel, small wheels, and lack of power I often find myself pushing the Like to it's limits, and beating myself up in the process, neither one a comfortable thing to be doing.

I have looked at more traditional motorcycles, of course my friends like to poke fun at the fact that I scoot everywhere. but between the storage, comfort, overall convenience, and gas savings I can't see myself on anything other then a scooter right now. 

That said, the 400i seems a good fit, my concerns primarily involve it's weight and size, it's heavy and big and say what you will about lane splitting but in this city of mad traffic it is the only way to get around efficiently on a motorbike.  Because of Stig I have also considered the Piaggio BV 350, as far as size and weight it is a more appealing bike, but from what I read, it's limitation comes on the top end, highway travel and high speed acceleration.  My only transport is my scooter and I want to be able to safely use it anywhere, so I need some top end confidence.

Any owners of the 400i or anyone for that matter, I would appreciate your thoughts.  I love my Like, and will almost certainly keep it on the road for the high traffic rush hour days because it is so easy to throw around and also for the depths of winter, but I need to consider something more appropriate for my day to day needs, the 400i seems on paper that it might fit the bill.

Please let me know what you think and thanks.

Jon

[LidoCA]

 I like the 400. It is on my short list if and when I pick up a maxi. The burgman 400 has gotten quite pricey for me. I am considering the Kymco 400, the BV350, as well as the Yamaha Xmax.  All seem to be good scooters without too much negative press.

[hypophthalmus]

When I lived in Fort Worth, a city with unusually rough and bumpy roads, I went from a Yamaha Vino 125 to a Kymco People 250 and it made an enormous difference. Maybe that's useful for extrapolation.

By comparison, my Yamaha XV250 cruiser strikes my as being somewhat rougher. But it's hard to tell, since the streets where I'm living now are pretty good and I can't drive them side by side.

Personally, I wouldn't consider a vehicle with a manual transmission in a city -- there's enough to worry about already. And it's more effort in stop and go traffic.

I could drive in Dallas highways on my People 250, even though it was pretty marginal for that purpose. So I personally would expect to be happy with either the BV350 or the Xciting 400i for that.

Looking at the numbers, the Kymco 400 has a higher top speed, but the horsepower ratings are actually very similar and the BV350 is lighter. That makes me suspect that the BV350 just has lower gearing and would accelerate faster at the top end. Or maybe a lower top "gear".

[Stig / Major Tom]

Save $2000 and take a sit test on the xtownie 300 ABS ?
Would that one work for your commutes?
Seems a crazy bargain for a 300 scoot with ABS!
The depreciation would be much easier to bare, I would think.

Stig

[PaulF]

Find out what the service intervals are as well.  Hopefully they are better than the Like.