Kymco 500 vs Piaggio X9 500?

[quinnmallory]

Purchasing a used Kymco xCiting 500 sometime soon (has 700 miles on it.). My previous scoot was a Piaggio X9 500. I've never ridden a Kymco before, so I'm wondering if I'll be able to flat-foot it like I was able to do on the X9 (I'm 5'10"). Also, if anyone has had any experience with both scoots, are there any major differences in how it handles? I'm mainly choosing this over a smaller cc scoot because I fancy having a maxi-scoot under me in SoCal's traffic.

[mrjlube]

Hello just wanted to comment on your concern about the flat foot thing. I have an 09 x500 and am also 5/10, I can not flat foot it but am very comfortable riding it! At stop lights I am on the balls of my feet! I'm so hapy for ya getting the kynco, I hope you enjoy it as much as I have! 3,500 miles andd runs just perfec!!!!

Happy scooting!!

[jan.strydom]

I am sure you will be ok - the bike has a fine balance despite it's weight!!  enjoy!!

[adri]

It's a great upgrade. I had the chance to ride an X9 around the neighbourhood and you'd have to pay me to get me to ride it any further. I did a few hundred km aboard the Xciting 500R and it was great, well balanced, I could lean it comfortably even from my first ride. The bike had a lot more than the rider... but I was riding through the rain, that's my excuse

[quinnmallory]

Thanks for the feedback. This is actually an '07 model Kymco, so I'm not sure how it's different from current x500 models. I have to say, though, that I did enjoy my X9 while I had it. Rode it across the country and it did pretty well. Never had a problem with it, but had to sell it when money because tight after a layoff. I was looking for another only to learn that the X9 500 model was discontinued in the US.