What made you get a Kymco?

[scuggler]

gas prices lol. i went to my local honda shop and found a "used" 05 zx50. only had 171 miles on it so i snached it up for 1K and loved it ever since 

[TechGuy]

I decided to get a scooter to save a few bucks in gas and to have fun.  I had ridden a Vespa in the 80's and started looking into the Vespa at the local dealer ( a BMW Motorad dealer).  They also had Paiggio's (Vespa's parent company) in stock. I think of Piaggio like a Chevy relative to the Cadillac Vespa. I test rode a P Fly 150 and a BV250 and found the Fly to lack the power to haul my big butt and the BV was a blast with its 15 inch wheels.  The stability of the larger wheels was great and my only prior scooter experience was with the small wheels of a Vespa P200 (a GREAT! scooter).  This started me down the road of large wheeled scooters.  I felt the stability of the larger wheels was critical for the in-town commuting I was planning on doing in the suburban areas of Sacramento the I commute in. I did want to keep the bike "smallish" and nimble. I spend 99% of my commute on 40-50 MPH, multi-lane roads with occasional freeway required sections of driving. I considered the BV but was concerned the ~5K price tag would be a deal killer with my wife. I researched and sat on the Aprilia Sport-City 250 and Scarabeo 200 but never rode them (Aprilia are made by Piaggio and share engines with P and V bikes).  During my research for these bikes, I saw Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki made excellent scooters but had a gap in the 250cc range and were top-end bikes but were out of my physical size and price ranges.

Kymco's name kept showing up as a reliable, price effective scooter with several models in the desired 250 cc range that moved me with confidence and was freeway capable.  The local dealer were out of stock by now (it was late June / early July by this time) and not likely to have new, larger bikes until August or September. I started looking on Craigslist for used scooters. 

I test rode a 2005 P250 and liked the ride.  It had some cosmetic damage and a cupped front tire that shimmied when decelerating.  I chatted with 2 scooters mechanics and they both said "Buy It!  For $2200 you can't go wrong"  I have Vespa's here everyday but the Kymco's run forever without a lot of problems. That's why I sell them and why I dropped the China Scoot maker's line I tried this year". 

4000KM later, I would tell anyone (and I do) buy a Kymco and you'll be very happy with your choice.

[History Nut]

My People 150 is my first scooter. I just got it. I wanted something for economical local transport that I could also carry on the back of my motorhome for travel. I wanted a scooter but most of the ones I saw had small wheels/tires. I saw a used P150 in a local shop and liked the fit and larger wheels/tires. I researched them on the Web and decided to buy it but the used one had already sold. I then ordered a new one and just picked it up. I really like it.

Basically I bought it because:

Large wheels
Brand Reputation
Price

[yajblackburn]

I've been working on scooters for 11 years and have had close to 100 scooters in the past....all of which I sold.  I've had everything from Puch Maxi's, Honda Spree's, QT50's and much more.  I've recently (past four years) have heard of the Kymco lineup but have never seen any on the local roads.  On a regular trip to the salvage yard I stumbled across a ZX50, after some negotiations I was able to purchase the ZX, a Yamaha Razz and a Yamaha QT50 all for $300.  I sold the other two bikes and kept the ZX.  Three years later, I still drive it today.  Back in June I came across an ad in the local Craigslist for a Kymco People 50 for $50 at a yardsale.  I woke up early the next morning (5:00am) and drove to the yard sale.  I was the only one there when he started the yard sale so I had first dibs.  I bought the bike and had it running the same day.  I recently spend $350 on new items for it and it is my all time favorite scooter.  Since then I've had the opportunity to work as a mechanic in a local scooter rental shop that rents Kymco Agility's.  Since it's the end of the season, the owner is getting rid of them for dirt cheap so I picked up a couple of them.  I've yet to work on them to get them running. 

[Areomyst]

My first scooter was a mistake.  I bought a brand new scooter at the local dealership, it was a "Marshin Area 51" which is a Chinese epidemic (just about all Marshins were).  I paid $1,000 for it (I worked at the dealership that I bought it from... I got ripped!).  We sold Kymco where I worked, and as my time at this dealer went on, I realized how great the Kymco scooters were.  I bought a People 50 for my wife, and later ended up with a ZX50.  I still have both of those, and I'm also working on a custom build of a Kymco Super9 http://www.kymcoforum.com/index.php?topic=476.0 

My Super9 is my baby, of course.   I almost bought a People 250 (classic style) before they stopped importing it, but ended up not buying it and staying married.   The Super 9 will be for fun and track, and I'll have my Vespa P200E running eventually for my daily driver.

Cheers!

~Josh

[bongoman]

Mine was love at first sight, the first time I saw her in person. I had read some about the Kymco brand, was familiar with the other touring scooters, and seriously considered the Bergman 650. However, several scooterati friends who were instrumental in converting me from motorcycles to scooters highly recommended their local Kymco dealer and then . . . I walked in and wanted it then and there.

I've added some things, trim and graphics, and will be adding some others. For now, this is the way mine looks when I'm just riding around town. I regularly commute from Austin to San Antonio, and farther and load her down with saddlebags and a top case.

We have the good fortune to live in some of the best roads for riding anywhere; the central Texas hill country. My Puff - I call her Puff 'cause she comes and goes like a puff of smoke - is the most fun ride I have ever had.

Our longest one day ride was 575 miles, from New Orleans to San Antonio. For that one, I changed out the stock buttbumper for the backrest mod from Jac Vinson in Austin.

I sure am glad to find this forum. Thanks for so many informative, entertaining posts.

[AZCycle]

I really wasn't interested in scooters until I met my girlfriend two years ago, who owned a TNG Milano 150 (yes, a Chinese Scoot).  She bought it from the local scooter store who has since stopped carrying them because they're a nightmare company to deal with, as expected.  She still has it and it's running well, so we're keeping our fingers crossed.

Anyway... I was very interested in hers and we stopped by the scooter shop (www.goscootover.com/) on a routine basis for me to drool. They carried Modern Buddy and Kymco and I was starting to save up to get a MB Rattler 110.  Then, as I was perusing the local Craigslist, I came across this guy selling a 2002 Kymco Bet & Win 250 with only 2000 miles on it.  I was instantly sold!

We went and looked at it that evening and I fell in love.  Unfortunately, the cheap price was due to it having a salvage title.  Apparently the first owner rear-ended (at low speed) a pickup truck with it's tailgate down.  The owner was unhurt but all the plastics on the front end and windshield were smashed, as well as some scrapes on the right side when she dumped it after colliding.  So it was considered a total loss, even though the body was straight, etc.

The 2nd owner bought it as is at an auction, fixed it up with all new plastics, and that's when I bought it.  It still has the scrapes on the right side (very minor) and he never purchased the outside temperature sensor but I don't really care about that.  So that's how I got my B&W 250.  I use it to commute 13-miles each way to work 3-5 days a week and just love it.

I already added some driving lights to the lower turn signal pods for better visability, and I'd like to add some performance upgrades after new tires.




And here is the local scooter group (of all makes/models) at a run up Mt Lemmon.  Mine is on the far left:

[Honkerman]

I purchased a Kymco People 150 back in September for several reasons:

• Excellent Reputation
• Good pricepoint
• No excessive dealer fees
• large wheels for good stability
• 152 cc engine just a bit larger than competitor's engines

All in all, A good scooter at a good price.

[Gollum]

I am Downsizing from a Suzuki DR650SE. Rode everything I could afford to purchase .  Found that I didn't like the bargain basment models much , until I got on an agility 125.  It has enough poke to get about, manouverable and carrys 2 people reasonably well. I was comfortable on the seat, and could reach the controls easily (way more easily than the DR).  Sold itself with the warranty and the dealer is across the road from work.  Just have to sell the DR now.   

Greetings from Oz.

Gollum

[axy]

First I bought Cobra 50 back in 2000,after selling my Peugeot Zenith 50. It was a good deal, I got it 2nd hand with 2000 kms on it for 40 % of the price of the new from a friend of mine. After two years sold it to another friend and now it is still on the street, happily driving around.

Then I had Piaggio NRG 50, Yamaha TW-125 and new Kawasaki ZR-7S.

In 2008 my girlfriend got Agility 125 and two weeks ago I got People 250 S after selling Piaggio Beverly 200 I have been driving for the past (almost) four years. Importer for Croatia is a friend of mine, so I get a good support and good deal too! 

[michiman]

Well I had been checking out scooters for about a year.  Rode a Rebel back in the 80's when I was in my teens...  Kymco seemed to have the best bang for the buck...  I then found a location the was dropping scooters.  So I got my 2007 GV for 3500 the same as what someone tried to sell me a used 2006.   I got a great deal and I love the scooter...  I am trying to get my wife to get her m\c permit.  Then I will move up to a larger scoot...

[momontheloose]

I shopped around for 6 months - searching the internet for horror stories and good reviews. I finally ordered a tng  ts250. Ordered the thing and it never showed up at the dealership. Since I was scheduled to take my Basic Rider Course on a specific weekend and the bike wasn't anywhere to be found, I started to look at alternatives. The prices on the big brands were just out of my league. My boss has a Kymco agility and really liked it. In all my research I only found one bad report on the Kymco brand. I liked the two year warranty too. I bought the xciting 250. I'm having my midlife crisis. This is my first scoot/bike. I'm turning 50 this summer and am mom to a 3, 7, and 15 year old. The thing I love about the bike is I don't bring my kids with me. I've only had it 1 month and love it. A 250 has plenty of power to go what ever speed I need. I'm not interested in touring but would love to go on some group rides to meet some people. We were able to take our Basic Rider Course on scooters. I highly recommend the class. It should be required training for everyone. I am very happy with the quality and look of the bike.
Minnesota Mom

[Rozz]

I wanted a scooter ever since I first saw a Vespa back in the 80's--I was driving a 400cc Kawasaki then.  Fast forward a quarter century and I finally got my Vespa.  A 150 cc scoot, bright red.  Last year my husband bought a real motorcycle, 900 cc Vulcan and I was pressured to upgrade.  Got a 250cc Piaggio.  Never really felt comfortable on it.  This year when I was in the Vespa dealership checking out the new lineup another customer told me about the Kymco Xciting 500cc.  I found a dealer, miles away, went for a test drive and now it sits in my driveway.  Got caught in a dreadful storm on it today.  Wind, rain, hail.  It did just fine, me, that's another story.
Love the new scoot.  Gives me the power to keep up with my biking buddies, but I'm more comfortable on the automatic step through design.  Tons of power.