Top speed and speedo accuracy

[Cortez]

Can anyone confirm (or not..) the top speed of the xc500 that I just got from a friend by email.

His 07 carbed 500 will do an indicated 160km/h, however his GPS says that the real speed is only 143km/h.

That seems a bit low for a 40hp bike and a huge
speedometer error. I just had the 28hp people
300 up to 160km/h indicated so..

I'd like to know it anyone tested their FI 500i/Ri for top speed and speedo accuracy.

Stock bikes first, please but varous dr pulley setups are also welcome, just to see what works best.

Thanks!

[ts1]

My x500 carb had 145.x on GPS and 165kph on speedo. Measured in 2 opposite directions short after another. Scoort&Sport (01/2006) said 145.5kph
But it has "only" 37.4hp.
Huge speedo errors are a common Kymco gimmick.

[Cortez]

My x500 carb had 145.x on GPS and 165kph on speedo. Measured in 2 opposite directions short after another. Scoort&Sport (01/2006) said 145.5kph
But it has "only" 37.4hp.
Huge speedo errors are a common Kymco gimmick.

Yeah, I've noticed that on my Agility 125, I thought 10km/h was a lot, but 20!! :-x

I wonder if all other 500cc scoots have similar errors, or is the xciting 500 the slowest
500cc scoot on the market. 

However, I've seen factory rating at 147km/h on various sites, which seems about right.
As for the power, I've seen anything from 37 to 43hp, and usually higher rating for the
FI model.
 

No wonder tuned XC500s (on youtube) can hit 180km/h 

[ts1]

... or is the xciting 500 the slowest
500cc scoot on the market. 

Yes, probably. But despite its proper equipment the cheapest too.
But top speed doesn't mean much to me. I tested it once in its livetime and will perhaps never do it again.
I love its reliability, comfort and stability.
I love 10 hours cruising through x-thousand corners and x-hundred switchbacks and 5 hours hiking (onto various mountain tops) during a summer day.
No mc driver of my local club dares to drive with me on a full day trip in the mountains, even though they have a FJR1300 or R1200GS & Co. They complain about their legs, butt, back or neck or anything else.
My xciting needs a fuel stop every ~200km. I don't. That gives us a remarkable average speed.

[Cortez]

Yes, probably. But despite its proper equipment the cheapest too.
But top speed doesn't mean much to me. I tested it once in its livetime and will perhaps never do it again.
I love its reliability, comfort and stability.
I love 10 hours cruising through x-thousand corners and x-hundred switchbacks and 5 hours hiking (onto various mountain tops) during a summer day.
No mc driver of my local club dares to drive with me on a full day trip in the mountains, even though they have a FJR1300 or R1200GS & Co. They complain about their legs, butt, back or neck or anything else.
My xciting needs a fuel stop every ~200km. I don't. That gives us a remarkable average speed.

Yeah, asking about top speed may lead to the wrong assumption that I care about it, but it's
actually the usable average high-speed highway cruising that I'm interested in.

I'd like to be able to run the bike at REAL 130-140km/h on the highway (80-87mph) and not worry about
the high revs (and I tend to do that), and I'm about 150 miles away from the "good roads" or
any other place that I might want to visit with it.

I'd probably replace the roller weights with dr pulley sliders of similar weight to get rid of at least
500rpms at higher speeds etc.

It's a bit hard going from a 72hp bike to a bike with half the power and even more weight.

[ts1]

I'd like to be able to run the bike at REAL 130-140km/h on the highway (80-87mph) and not worry about the high revs (and I tend to do that)

The x500 can maintain the speed, but would loose cruising range and flexibility. No useful acceleration at 140kph when there is a +250kph upperclass sedan car behind you. On the left lane of the autobahn, all scooters are considered "toys" and misplaced.

Regarding the high revs, you might consider the Burgman650 with its manual option. Use overdrive on the highway or shift down in the twisties.

[Cortez]

The x500 can maintain the speed, but would loose cruising range and flexibility. No useful acceleration at 140kph when there is a +250kph upperclass sedan car behind you. On the left lane of the autobahn, all scooters are considered "toys" and misplaced.

Nah, no left lane or acceleration beyond 140km/h needed, just the ability to cruise at or near that
speed for an hour or two. Then I get to the good stuff and get of the highway, and it's endless
switchbacks and 50-70mph forever.

Regarding the high revs, you might consider the Burgman650 with its manual option. Use overdrive on the highway or shift down in the twisties.

I wish!

The Burgman 650 costs almost $20k (US) here, and that's waaay over my budget, and I'd like
a bike that cheaper to insure and run then my current 650cc kawasaki, and the Burger is
actually more expensive then that.

Even the XC500 w/ ABS will set me back around $9k!
I just read in another thread that it will redline at 83mph, but it didn't say if that was
GPS or speedo indicated speed.

Anyone?

[ts1]

Imho the 83mph should be GPS speed and "only" the beginning of redlining (>=8000 rpm).
Driving with my motorcycle friends I sometimes hit ~140kph indicated and up to 130kph on the GPS, but I don't remember the tachometer in the red. From my top speed test, I recall 8300 rpm (NB at 165/145 kph). But I don't know, if the tachometer is correct.

Cave: All I know applies to my carbureted Xciting.
But the fuel injected has 500rpm less nominal rotation speed (7000rpm) and according to www.kymco-ersatzteile.de the same vario and final gear and rear tire.
The 500i might have a relatively short transmission (simply & cheap from old model) and is redlining earlier. I just don't know exactly.

[Cortez]

Imho the 83mph should be GPS speed and "only" the beginning of redlining (>=8000 rpm).
Driving with my motorcycle friends I sometimes hit ~140kph indicated and up to 130kph on the GPS, but I don't remember the tachometer in the red. From my top speed test, I recall 8300 rpm (NB at 165/145 kph). But I don't know, if the tachometer is correct.

Cave: All I know applies to my carbureted Xciting.
But the fuel injected has 500rpm less nominal rotation speed (7000rpm) and according to www.kymco-ersatzteile.de the same vario and final gear and rear tire.
The 500i might have a relatively short transmission (simply & cheap from old model) and is redlining earlier. I just don't know exactly.

I guess I'll have to wait for someone with the FI model to report in, but thanks for your info too!
Looks good to me so far, and nothing I couldn't fix with an aftermarket clutch or Dr Pulley slider
for a few hundred revs less at speed.

[roboscoot]

generally all efis will post higher mph/////...the difference in speedo vrs actual/gps....is not a kymco trick.....i think you find it across the motor sports spectrum....the upwardly bias read outs are manufacturers ways of making us feel we are moving faster than we actually are while protecting us ...yea right....from going to fast!

[guile]

I managed to push my Xciting (2006) until the speedometer wouldn't go further. I did have heavy tailwind.
My Xciting has a Malossi variator, nothing more.

[mcg305]

Speedo/Odo(fi 500): Within 2% (95% of the time).

[Cortez]

Speedo/Odo(fi 500): Within 2% (95% of the time).

That's interesting.. I'm sure you've read the above posts.
What's your indicated top speed then?
150?

[jan.strydom]

my speed is out by 10kph - 160 = 150 on the gps

[axy]

I'd like to be able to run the bike at REAL 130-140km/h on the highway (80-87mph) and not worry about the high revs (and I tend to do that),

There is a way to fix this - stop worrying!
You would be AMAZED that I never thought about revs I drive at, unless I had a gauge so I could actually see them.
It is possible, trust me!
It may take some time, meditation, relaxation music, but it IS possible!

It's a bit hard going from a 72hp bike to a bike with half the power and even more weight.

There is a solution to this - more powerful bike. Or scooter.
GP 800, for example.