i300 questions

[sissy mary]

I own a 2007 X500, and I like what I see in the i300. But for all you guy's, how is it for freeway touring as I use my X500 as one would a Goldwing. How is it up hill? Two up? At what speeds will or can it do hour after hour on hi-ways and the dredded freeways? Thanks in advance.

[TANWare]

The answeres to your questions are subjective to each rider and situtation. To me comfotartable up to 350 LBS total I would say 65-70 MPH for hours on end and a bit stressfull 75-80 MPH hours on end at the same weight load. 350 is really pushing it and up to 300 LBS would be much better.

Being a 300 rather than 500 has alot to to with the weight loading capability. Also unrelated the seating may not be a hours on end thing you can handle. leg movement is restrictive................

[Cortez]

I own a 2007 X500, and I like what I see in the i300. But for all you guy's, how is it for freeway touring as I use my X500 as one would a Goldwing. How is it up hill? Two up? At what speeds will or can it do hour after hour on hi-ways and the dredded freeways? Thanks in advance.

If you consider how heavy the x500 is compared to the DT300, the power difference is so small it
only comes into equation after 80mph, or more or less when the DT300 tops out.

With both bikes stock, the DT is actually faster to 60mph!
I'd stick with the X500 for freeway (and any kind of touring) because of it's stability (feels more planted
at speed) and being able to stretch your legs out. You can't do that on the 300i.

However, the 300i around town feels like a 125cc scooter after the X500..
It's closer in ease of use and feeling of lightness/agility to my Agility 125 then my Kawasaki ER6F
(which is the same weight as the 300i).

Considering both the 300i and X500 are rather slow in real gps top speeds, I'm gonna say I'd keep the
300i at 5mph less then the X500 for long hauls, but BOTH can do above legal speeds anywhere and
2 up without a problem.

I try not to rev the bike past the 2/3 point of available revs (that's 2/3 of where the maximum power
is at) for long if I don't need to, and that should make it run for years without problems.

That equals to about 5500rpm on the 300i and just 55mph.. so I guess I'd have to skip that rule if I
ever bought one. The maximum torque is at 6500rpm, that's around 65mph.

Anyways, I'd put some DrPulley sliders in for a few hundred revs less at 65-70mph and ride there.
Tanware has a lot of posts on that subject.

p.s. There's a new Xciting 400 coming with the 400cc/35hp engine and that's a lot ligher then the
current 500!

[roboscoot]

great stuff and advice ...i totally agree.....for 2-up touring ....the dt may not meet your needs....esp re leg room....and comfort for long hauls.....but that 400 they are introducing sure looks like it would hit the sweet spot on all accounts!

[Cortez]

great stuff and advice ...i totally agree.....for 2-up touring ....the dt may not meet your needs....esp re leg room....and comfort for long hauls.....but that 400 they are introducing sure looks like it would hit the sweet spot on all accounts!

I've been trying to decide if I should get the DT300 or the XC500 for a long time now, and not being able to sell
my kawasaki has helped since I can't buy the new bike before I sell the old one.

Both the DT and XC500 have their shortcomings, but the XC400 migth be the best of both worlds and I'll hopefully
sell my Kwak in spring to get one of these!

[sissy mary]

Thanks to all. I need to set on a i300 to see how I like the seat and leg room. But it looks as if maybe I should stick with the 500 due to weight for both stability, and how much it care carry. A 400 might be nice? People who own the 400 Majesty and 400 Burgman sure love them. But I am kind of leary as to free way speeds on a 400? But who knows, they seem to think they are fine? If I can afford a new bike in the spring, I want to make the right choice, not to feel as if I had made a misstake after the purchase. I think I need to look at power levels at 65 & 75 MPH, wheel base and so on before I make a final choice. But if I don't have the cash, then I am going to up-grade my 2007 X500 with a malossi variator, clutch & belt. An after market K&N style air filter and go up 1 to 2 main jet sizes on the carb as I already have a Leo Vince system. Thanks again. I wish I could get 70 plus MPG on my X500! And I sure would like an X500 with fuel injection versus the carb! Oh well.

[TANWare]

The DT300i is every bit as powerfull on the road as the 400's out. You loose 1-2 HP but also weight. Wehere you loose out is the 400's are slightly more powerfull but more importantly produce more torque at a lower RPM. this changes the power profile to the nroad ant it really shows up at 65 MPH plus. While the 300 with the DR Pulleys is good 65-75 MPH the 400's are inevitably slightly better.

Now if there is a DT 400i that also better than the 400 class that is out there, ie 40 HP rather than the usual 32 or so, it very well could be a game changer. We could easily see a 60+ MPG, 2 up, interstate milage eater................

[Hoolander2]

This is the first I've heard of a Kymco 400!  Can anybody point me to pictures, stats, or any info, official or otherwise?   

[sissy mary]

Yes, same question as the Hoo Man. If they have up-dated the engine on the new 400 & it has the same power or more of the 500, it may be the way to go?

[Cortez]

Just google Xciting 400, there's a lot of web sites with the answers.
It's got 35hp and is a lot lighter then the current 500.

[roboscoot]

i found out about it this summer.....i am assuming it will be available in usa.....don't know if new power plant or what but....i think the trend will be lighter weight scooters with higher/hp cc.torque and enhanced maneuverability....piaggio i believe followed this path...with the scarabo line.....

[Hoolander2]

Ok, I have seen the pics of the Xciting 400 now and read what I could find in a short search.  It does look awesome.  Still the talk seems to be that it won't come to the USA right away, if ever? 

[streetdown]

400

[TANWare]

35 HP is bad news for USA bikes if ever. The DT 300i Euro version is 32 HP but USA limitations bring this to 29 hp. Imagine what it would do to a 35 HP 400cc bike........................

[Cortez]

35 HP is bad news for USA bikes if ever. The DT 300i Euro version is 32 HP but USA limitations bring this to 29 hp. Imagine what it would do to a 35 HP 400cc bike........................

The Downtown we get (Croatia, EU) is 30hp.

What ever they do to it in the USA, they do the same thing to the XC500 so the 400 should be
AT LEAST just as fast, because of less weight. It should be a lot better in MPG figures, too.

A win/win situation, IMHO.