new downtown 300i or xciting 500ri?

[evlweevil]

Hello everyone, have a question about picking up a new scoot. I own a 2007 GV250 which is awesome and a burgman 400. I'm looking into replacing the 400 due to constante clutch issue's. It's very hard to find any dealers that have either the 300 or 500 in stock let alone both  , so i figure i'd ask people here what there opinion's are on this subject. I will be riding this scooter 5 days a week rain or shine to work which is 12 miles each way thru town and on rt 63(up to 65mph at times). Some large and rolling hills, with some stop lights at these hills. any info would be helpful. contacted kymco yesterday asking if there was any of these scoots in the area that i could go and test drive also.
  So again thanks for any input.

[racewalker]

I had the same questions when I started looking. I watched all the forums on the dt300i after they got them in Australia about 3 years ago and the same on the 500. I mainly looked for people having problems. Basically I didn’t see much on the 300 but have seen several issues on the 500 in the same time period. Drive belts, water pumps, clutches, etc. I bought the 300, have 5000K on it now. I have had 1 issue which turned out to be a loose connection. I ride 100K a day to work in all kinds or weather. I have had the machine to 120K passing cars and had throttle to spare. I am planning a trip next year with it which will be about 7000K. I had some trouble getting it in Canada as it was a new item this year and still have the only one in this part of the country. I would buy one again if something happened to this one.

[Hoolander2]

From the little reading I've done I think those owners who have installed a Dr. Pulley clutch on their Burgmans have solved their clutch problems.  If you like your Burgman otherwise you might want to look into that.  Have you read about this on the Burgman forums? 

As for the 300 vs 500 question -- the 300 is sounding better and better to me all the time.  I do like my 500 only for the fact of a higher top end.  Just in case I ever needed it.   

[adri]

How tall are you? I quite liked the Xciting 500Ri ABS, my girlfriend preferred the Downtown 300i because she's shorter.

Ride safe!

[scootinChris]

I'm a fresh DT300i owner only 600 km on it now.
I'm very happy with the 300 and have no problem with my 6' and 32" inseam.
Longest ride was 1.5 hour and I'm looking forward to some more spare time to tour longer.

Happy hunting

[evlweevil]

I am 5' 6" tall and weigh about 220lb. I have just under a 31" inseam. I have sat on the 500 with it on the center stand and the front of my feet touch the ground. Just found out that my locale kymco dealer has both new downtown (burnt orange) and the xciting 500ir coming in.  Can't wait to do the test ride!
   About my burgman found that suzuki has a service bulliten on how to fix the issue but are not forth coming with it.going thru dealing with dealer and suzuki right now. suzuki don't want to pay for the upgrade saying it won't fix the issue and dealer is not willing to warrenty the work the just did 1000 miles ago(clutch is bad again). just at the point were no matter how much i like the scoot i have had enough of the drama that comes with it!. So kymco maxi scooters here i come.