Is your Kymco made in China?

[BettinANDlosing]

Totally agree with you there, none of my co-workers are on a commission based pay and we also really enjoy getting people on two wheels and out of cars. In America people see scooters as just a fun toy still for 75% of people. I ride around in rush hour able to escape easily in gridlock laughing all the way home at people getting road rage and stress sitting in their prisons on wheels. 7see scooters in America joining the rest of the world in number of users, we just get cheap ass gas that allows people to justify a 7000 lb SUV for carrying around one soccer mom. A few years back gas hit over $6 a gallon and we sold out of scooters so many people were making the switch.

[Stig / Major Tom]

I've been working at a Kymco dealer since before the likes came out. Those were really the first batch of bikes other than the Agility that said made in China. It was a sad day opening the crate and seeing that sticker. That being said there are vastly different quality of parts coming out of China now, I've torn apart the Like GY6 a few times and the casting and machining is way better than generic brand China scooter. Just think about how your giving a 12 year old the opportunity to work and earn a decent 2$ a day wage to bring home to his family, doing good for the world! The Taiwanese are too stinking rich now.

B and L,
I did read about about that price drop in a couple of places.
The LIKEs were priced at @$3500 and then the price was dropped to $2600.
Do you remember that? What was that all about?
And, Thanks for your "inside a LIKE engine" comments. If you ever want to expand on what you see as a Kymco mechanic - there are a lot of people here who would be a very interested audience!
Curious Stig

[BettinANDlosing]

We always had the same out the door price on the Like, never $3500 for the normal version. But maybe your thinking about the Like "LX" the msrp on those is a few hundred more, but still not $3500. Maybe they realized they needed a lower MSRP setpoint a bit after starting to import them? Either way we got the Like's right when they got the first batch in the US and they always had Made in China on it haha. I've been told from Kymco that the 50cc 2t engines are still 100% made in Taiwan even though the chassis says made in China, but he also told me most of the 4t engines up to 200cc are made in China. This does not go for old models like the People 150, S200 etc those engines were all made in Taiwan, just the newest batches of GY6 based bikes are China. One funny thing, and it seems like the last good 150cc bike they import is the Movie 150 (Not sure what it's called outside the states). rated at 14 hp and it really goes, still made in Taiwan too. We've only sold one and it was a tough sell for some reason, price is fairly high but it has INSANELY large seat storage for a 150cc.

[BettinANDlosing]

Also on the note about engines an such, next time I open something up that I feel will be of help to someone I plan on documenting for the Forum.

[ophelia]

Overseas, the Movie 150 is sold as the Racing 150. Very nice premium bike.

[Porkie]

Posting disrespectfully about a Mom driving an SUV is just Class envy. The SUV is nothing more than the 'Station wagon' of yesterday. Most get better mileage than the old station wagons did. How is this Mom supposed to take her contingent of soccer players around, on a scooter or maybe a couple of smaller cars?

On scooters for commuting: In the United States, most people drive long distances to go to work, in sometimes terrible traffic and dressed well also. Would you recommend 1 million scooters flowing into traffic in Los Angeles, St. Louis, Chicago, Nashville, D.C., New York etc? How naïve.

Your example of the $2 a day China Boy is not our problem but the problem of a communist regime where the money is at the top and there is no 'trickle down' at all to the proletariat: It's a lie and a myth.

Instead of making me want to buy a product made with slave labor, no matter the cost, rest assured, I would never support a company or product made that way, regardless of if it put the China Boy out of work.

I remember when it was disclosed that 'NIKE' used child slave type labor to make their tennis shoes and soccer balls, in Pakistan. Cost was $3 for a $99 pair of flashy tennis shoes. The workers made less than $1 per hour.

I wouldn't spit on their products to waste hydration:)

Sam:)

[ophelia]

Porkie,

I believe the right tool should be used for the job. Mom has options. Mom can use a scooter when it's just her personal driving and take the kids and their friends in a minivan or a multi purpose vehicle or a modern station wagon that are far more fuel efficient. I fully support freedom to drive whatever we want, but I have a feeling big thirsty vehicles will ultimately be unsustainable and be cost prohibitive to run. Hopefully our tastes change and let us adapt before then.

I am a big proponent of living closer to work to cut down on insane commutes, but highways can accept powerful maxi and midi scooters as car replacements if staying close to the American way of life is a priority. Dressing well and riding to work need not be exclusive. The storage on a scooter is a very helpful too. Also, scooters would not add to car traffic but replace some of it. Congestion would not increase.

I don't think workers in third world countries are underpaid solely because they are under oppressive communist regimes and are completely untouched by Western capitalism. I believe it's comforting to blame other nations or even our poor communities at home for their misfortunes and allow our people to create markets that encourage wage slavery both at home and abroad. Efficiency and profit without a metric for social or environmental harm. GDP does not account for these. Even an environmental disaster will create jobs with the true costs unrecorded and unaccounted for. Worth consideration.

However, I admire that you are aware of poor conditions overseas and refuse to support that part of the economy, Porkie.

PS. our family does have a big SUV. It costs us $5000 in gas a year after I tally up the gas receipts, money that I would rather put elsewhere. It is not my decision to make to get rid of it, but I exercise other options including another smaller car or my fleet of scooters whenever possible.

[BettinANDlosing]

I am in no way envious being trapped in a tank that gets 15-20mpg. And personally I think it's sad that in 2014 people still drive cars that get the same mileage as old school station wagons. I would highly recommend millions of people commuting daily on scooters that would be some scary fun sh**. Obviously if a soccer mom is driving her kids that's whatever but to travel alone in a behemoth car like that makes me mad personally. Were supposedly in a fuel crisis and people can't help but but bigger and bigger vehicles, it's sad. One mom and three kids can fit perfectly well in a Honda civic or the like.

[wkreps]

One mom and three kids can fit perfectly well in a Honda civic or the like.

When my brother in-law and sister in-law were picking up their adopted son from Taiwan they saw a family of 5 load onto a scooter and drive off. The topic came up again after I got my scoot. It was (front to back) dad, baby, mom and then a kid hanging off each side. I'll have to see if they got a pic.

[AMAC1680]

When my brother in-law and sister in-law were picking up their adopted son from Taiwan they saw a family of 5 load onto a scooter and drive off. The topic came up again after I got my scoot. It was (front to back) dad, baby, mom and then a kid hanging off each side. I'll have to see if they got a pic.

Not my wife and kids in the civic.
I'm done with raising families but as long as my wife and kids had to compete with Yukons they would be in a bigger car.

I don't care how many can fit into whatever, wherever.

Be Big,
AMAC

[Porkie]

I live 11 miles each way from the business I own in town and 90% is on beautiful country roads, so I utilize my scoots from 50cc to 650cc or my current 500cc Xciting. I also ride my Goldwing----when the weather is nice and if I don't have to go out on IT calls and carry stuff. If I do, I drive my 2010 Chrysler mini-van or my 2009 Dodge Ram, Mega-cab, Bighorn, 4x4 pickup, with the 400HP Hemi engine, especially if I have to pick up equipment for the 2 diesel tractors, Big ZTR mower, John Deere Gator or the brand new Polaris Ranger 800cc side by side, 6 passenger fun vehicle, as I own an AGRI farm also. If anyone has a 'GAS CRISIS,' it's me to fuel all of my stuff.

Now, if you live in the town where you work, are single or have a wife and no kids and carry very little, then enjoy your 50cc string trimmer scooter and Prius and look down on the rest of us people who out of necessity do what we have to do.

Lots of folks have moved to the suburbs or rural areas to avoid the high cost and crime and congestion of inner city living and because the homes and properties are so much cheaper and this may give us LONG commutes.

It costs me over $100 to fill my truck up and on the road I get 21 mpg, in total comfort, a/c, Sirius radio etc.

My current scooter, gets 42 mpg, is hot or cold or wet or dry, doesn't hold much and is no fun in high humidity.

Do I pat myself on the back or chastise myself for conspicuous consumption? Pride and ego makes one think they are more enlightened than someone else.

I wish everyone in the world could have a wonderful life, not wanting for anything but why pray tell do I (we) have to pay for it with income equality thinking, that raises other countries up as it brings us down.

Sam:)

[ophelia]

Sam, if you need a big pickup truck for your work and play, then by all means drive it. It's the right tool for the job. Just others that may not need that capacity and capability may want to put their money elsewhere that can derive them more enjoyment, like wonderful vacations or trips or home renovation. It's about reallocating and making best use of our resources and improve our standards of living.

I like my Downtown 300i, and I have made such daily commutes before in all weather for years. I acknowledge it's not everybody's thing and it does not make me better than you. But it certainly is possible and within the realm of reason for some of your fellow countrymen that wish to explore alternatives in transportation. I am not imposing this on you by any stretch.

I wish everyone in the world could have a wonderful life, not wanting for anything but why pray tell do I (we) have to pay for it with income equality thinking, that raises other countries up as it brings us down.

Now I believe we have all been carefully trained as we grew up by people hopelessly mad for power and status that the only way for the rest of us to live well is that we all must collectively suffer greatly and live worse than third world countries. That we must all climb over our fellow people to scramble up a hopeless mountain and cement whatever foothold we find against everyone beside or beneath us. That we have been trained to view anyone who speaks against this system that benefits the elite is a communist or a socialist or a snob or a bum or votes for the other guy or is too proud or wants you to just plain feel bad. Perhaps by speaking to you today I am the enemy, maybe one of those Occupy Movement bums. It is funny how entrenched we are in this thinking. But does this sound reasonable to you?

What say you if other first world democratic countries seem to take care of its citizens and not diminish anyone's level of enjoyment and dignity and satisfaction in their lives? That perhaps Americans could take the lead to be a model country where everybody lives incredibly healthy and well but remains an economic, yet sustainable powerhouse? Just some food for thought.

[Porkie]

I say, so be it.

From the rich to the poor and most of us in between, we are all pawn's in a divine comedy, with misguided puppet master's pulling the strings.

I appreciate your astute observations and comments--it's been a pleasure!

Sam:)

[souzamoto]

All current Agility, Like and Super 8 models, for USA consumption, are assembled at the Kymco China Factory
The rest of the models are Taiwan built.
All of the ATV / UTV models are Taiwan built.

[Stig / Major Tom]

All current Agility, Like and Super 8 models, for USA consumption, are assembled at the Kymco China Factory
The rest of the models are Taiwan built.
All of the ATV / UTV models are Taiwan built.

Yeah, thank you very much!
Can I ask how you know this? It is a respectful question ....this kind of information is hard for me to come by and is very interesting!. A little back-story is cool to know!
(I just wondered where our Kymco's were built ! ) I have not seen them all, but the ones I have stood next to seem to be impressively built.
Stig