My most recent e-mail to kymcousa and the response from their customer rep., Steven, with the parts pertinent to this thread in bold. I include the entire e-mail because it has some information I think may be of interest to others on this forum:
Hi Steven, I do know where these dealers are, but to get there requires traveling on roadways that are over my scooter comfort level. It's why I bought a scooter from a dealership close to me, and now that they are no longer handling Kymcos, I recommended to KymcoUSA that they find a replacement dealer within this same county, which would be good for your business since Nassau County is one of the wealthiest in the state.
Regarding your e-mail of yesterday in which you brought up about the service manual, I know I can purchase one--my point to the dealership was that they should provide one to me for no cost since they have purposely discontinued servicing Kymcos; a decision that had to have been made by the dealership before I purchased my Super 8. Having that manual will enable me to do at least some of the work for which I would ordinarily have gone to the dealership, and very well mean the difference between being able to ride my scooter to get it serviced as opposed to having to pay for a costly tow. Again I use the example of the brake fluid--though the owners manual shows how to accomplish this probably very simple task, the instructions are rendered useless by the fact that the owners manual does not show how to remove the plastic handlebar cowl that covers the master cylinder and renders it inaccessible. In future owners manuals, they should include all steps required to access the required area and handle the work.
BTW, on your company's website, I see the Super 8 is listed as a non-current model; are you going to discontinue making it?
I do appreciate your continued efforts on my behalf.
Denise
Our district manager for that are will indeed investigate setting up another dealer in that area when the situation/s allow him to do so. Until then the other dealer will be the only other option I can offer you.
I understand your example concerning the service manual. Unfortunately that is not something I or control in any way with a dealer who no longer wishes to be a servicing dealer for our company. I can only leave that discussion between you and the dealer.
That model is slated to be discontinued.
Steven
It could be the S8 will be manufactured for other countries, but apparently it won't be for the US. It looks like only half of their scooter selection will be available in the US. I suspect it is because of the lack of popularity of the humble scooter in America; I know they are very big in other countries. I hope this is not going to present a problem for those of us who own scooters on the discontinued list to get needed parts.