Has Kymco Quality Declined?

[Togger]

Yesterday I went to test ride a Kymco Like 150. The first thing I noticed was it seemed like they really lowered the quality of certain components like switches, buttons, etc. compared to a 20 year old Bet and Win 250. Then I rode the thing and it made a lot of noise but wouldn't move out like I thought it would. Maybe I got spoiled, but I didn't think there would be that much difference between a 150 and 250. Either that or the Like wasn't set up the same. Being made in Vietnam, maybe that's the difference. I got the Like to 25-30 and it seemed like the engine was really revving. BTW it seemed to physically fit me.

[Stig / Major Tom]

Nope.

Stig

[CROSSBOLT]

Would not know since ours are 2013's....but up to then, no.

[klaviator]

My Like 150i is pretty quick for a 150.  Yes I have ridden with other scooters and the riders of those scooters were very impressed with the performance of my 150.

Mechanically the quality has been pretty good but I have had some electrical issues.  Keep in mind that newer scooters have much more complicated electronics so there is more to go wrong.  My old Super 8 150 had a carb and non ABS brakes.  The Like has front and rear ABS and combined brakes which makes for a complicated system.  It works great, when it works properly but I had issues with mine and there ended up being a recall on Like 150i's.  Keep in mind that BMW also had a recall and stop sale on some of their scooters and motorcycles because of brake issues so Kymco isn't alone in having these types of issues. 

[randyo]

I am good friends with the people at my local multi-brand dealer, the service manager still says even though it currently sucks to get parts, Kymco is their most reliable brand, over the Japanese big 4, and their least reliable brand is Polaris

[Ruffus]

@Togger, don't know which year your test-ride LIKE was, but I lately had the chance to work on several KYMCO models, as LIKE 2010, 2013 ,further GRAND DINK 150 2003 as YAGER 200i from 2007. And I did more than maintenance only.

So I could see IF the owner takes care of this scooters, it might last nearly forever.
Material is top in any model I saw until now. High quality japanese or spanish bearings and oilseals.

Looking into several gears I saw very nice mechanical finish and NO worn out sprocket (despite destroyed bearings due to lack of oil)  in any.
Spareparts are easy and inexpensive available, at least here in Italy, and from point of accessability  for maintainance our KYMCO is not worse, even easier than any other brand.

I do not see this plastic fairings verso metal covering of i.g. PIAGGIO a disadvantage, way less corrosion problems, therefore less workshop stops.
This step-tru system of KYMCOS smaller scoots has a lot of plusses, be it for access or shopping bags
Reality shows that even big guys can deal with the LIKEs frame.

About performance, the scoot you had was for sure not in its best shape, speedwise. My LIKES reached easily 95km/h (GPS figures) with right rollers or Dr.P squares.

[Neil955i]

Not in my experience.  My 2019 X-Town is up there with the big 4 for parts quality.  As for longevity, well, we'll see.  So far so good.