Kymco's response to replacing the LIKE shocks.

[Stig / Major Tom]

 Sent a request to ask if there might be some other Kymco shock which we could use to beef things up on the LIKE 200i.

  getinfo@kymcousa.com very kindly replied & pretty quickly, as well

"Sir, we don't have any nitrogen shocks, which sounds like what you're wanting, that will fit this smaller bike.  The nitrogen shocks we offer as accessories are geared toward the larger cc bikes.
Our  only suggestion is that you research what is available aftermarket. 
Thanks."

So, we are on our own, again, in this search for an improvement to our LIKE shocks.
There are a lot of scooters out there which may have the ideal shock for us - I am getting convinced that there is not a motorcycle shock that will work for us. They may be too thick to use, even if they are not too long to use.
We just need to find a nice strong scooter shock which is around 320mm to 350mm long with a spring/weight capacity a bit heavier than out LIKE's. Eye-to-clevis mounted, 10mm over 8mm mounting bolts.

Amazing to have a company spokes-person be so responsive to a customer of a motor vehicle!
Well done Kymco!!

[tclhb]

Glad to see they are responsive. I've read some bad things on different sites about some scooter parts. As far as getting any. Having good dealers and support is a huge plus.

[de dee]

  is there any one close to you with a downtown,the shock is a little longer,  it should be good with your Wt. on it, I think the ends are the same,  or would it lift the scooter to high,  the downtown shocks come off easy, took me about 5 min. a shock,. the upper bolt is a  snug fit, 

[Stig / Major Tom]

  is there any one close to you with a downtown,the shock is a little longer,  it should be good with your Wt. on it, I think the ends are the same,  or would it lift the scooter to high,  the downtown shocks come off easy, took me about 5 min. a shock,. the upper bolt is a  snug fit, 

Hey thanks De dee,
Your reply sent me scrambling to look at this shock. The price is a little steep at $111 each, and the top and bottom bolts are 10mm ....but that 10mm at the bottom I could deal with.  Hard to say - is it too thick and/or too long?
I have no way to measure since there are none of these scoots around here.
The price gives me a clue that it might be too thick to work on our LIKE's....our shocks are $51 each. Crazy that I'm down to trying to guess the appropriateness of a shock by its price....."need one more than $51 but not much over about $80 or it is gonna be too big, maybe ??" I even tried counting spring coils and measuring the drawings of the various Kymco shocks....but found I could not go by that.
I need to find a dealer who has all kinds of Kymcos (even 4-wheelers!) and go in there with a tape measure and some calipers to measure:  length eye-to-clevis, coil diameter and coil thickness and max. rider weight.
There are no dealers like this around here - so put in some calls to SYM dealers, & not any luck with them. No salesman is gonna go measure some shocks on a scooter. Even asked sellers of various scooters on eBay - on the ruse that I'm interested in their scoots. Geez, one SYM had 15.5" shocks!
I will keep working this .....and I know some other fellows are on it ,too.
I've already purchased one set of Taiwanese shocks that most likely are too thick. (they looked good in the photos - but sold w/no demensions other than length) ...when I'm snowed in this winter I'll take this thing apart and see for sure.
Thanks much for your response though!
Stig