Downtown vs People (300)?

[xbillyx]

What are the main differences and reasons for buying each?

[Cortez]

I'll try to keep it short (you can find reviews on both here and on advrider forum, I posted on both sites):

Downtown - More nimble, takes less effort to throw around town, very easy to change direction,
faster from 50mph to top speed, better wind protection (if you're 5'11" or close - you'll need another
windscreen), more storage space. Better high speed handling, less frame flex. Bigger gas tank.
Cheaper tires. Dr Pulley slider mod does wonders, it's not faster then People in every situation.

People - Faster up to 50mph, more comfortable (both because of wheels and the suspension is
softer), feels more planted, harder to throw around but will hold it's line in a curve/bend better.
Better front end feedback. Twitchy at higher speeds and prone to rear end fishtailin on hard
decelaration (more so then most other scoots I tried). Good wind protection for the legs, clean
air on upper body, but no protection. More room to move around. Flat floorboard. Girlfriend says
it's more comfortable at the back then DT too. Better leg position for passenger (fold out pegs).

Brakes and top speed are about the same on both, the rest is purely subjective.
I got the DT300 after riding both, but I can see a lot of situations where People 300
would be better.. but it's the same vice versa.

Here's some pics,

People test bike:
https://picasaweb.google.com/105893937491000655510/2011KymcoPeopleGTi300

DT300 test bike:
https://picasaweb.google.com/105893937491000655510/2011KymcoDowntown300i

Mine:
https://picasaweb.google.com/105893937491000655510/My2012KymcoDowntown300iABS

Questions!?

[jwalz1]

How tall are you?

The Dowtown can be cramped for taller riders and the shorties will not flat foot a People.

And Cortez, when you say "cheaper tires" for the Downtown, do you mean "more average size and cheaper to replace", or  "not as good as the tires on the People" ?

[Cortez]

How tall are you?

5'11" (180cm).
I'm comfortable on the DT, but it's a close call.

And Cortez, when you say "cheaper tires" for the Downtown, do you mean "more average size and cheaper to replace", or  "not as good as the tires on the People" ?

I mean cheaper to replace.
The Kenda tires that come with the DT300 are better then some of big bike OEM tires that I've ridden on
(like the BT020 on my Kawasaki, BT054 on the CBF600 etc).

If you can afford the replacement, I'd go the Michelin City Grip route.

[ailixhomes]

Kymco is well known brand to manufacture bike its make bike by using latest technology. Through my opinion both bike Downtown and People (300) are great to use and both gives good mileage as well as average. People 300 is good to ride. Its comfortable in compare of Downtown. Its have good features like it give good mileage, average, good fuel efficiency. It looks stylish and good to go with speed.

[axy]

Kymco is well known brand to manufacture bike its make bike by using latest technology.

Sounds good, but except injection, Kymco (and other) scooter technology is around 60 years old, and I would like to see that they start using anti-rust technology one day.

[ailixhomes]

Sounds good, but except injection, Kymco (and other) scooter technology is around 60 years old, and I would like to see that they start using anti-rust technology one day.

Hi Axy, nice to meet you here. Thanks to appreciate my comment. I know that Kymco and other scooter technology is around 60 years old but today it use new technology to manufacture scooter.

[axy]

Hi Axy, nice to meet you here. Thanks to appreciate my comment. I know that Kymco and other scooter technology is around 60 years old but today it use new technology to manufacture scooter.

Any example? I am not referring to top of the range 800 cc scooters like Aprilias or Gileras, but your typical 50-300 cc scooter.

[Cortez]

Sounds good, but except injection, Kymco (and other) scooter technology is around 60 years old, and I would like to see that they start using anti-rust technology one day.

They got a whole lot better with the People/Downtown, and probably the new (not yet
available here k-xct and g-dink).

I've ridden through some rain and snow in Feb and March, still no rust.
I've got around 8000km on the DT now.

Was in Dubrovnik yesterday, Split day before, Zadar today, Osijek tommorow.. 
About 2,5kkm in 4 days.

[JustWantToRide]

I really like the look of the Downtown with the dual headlights - but I'm 6'4" and I was just too big for it.  As far as fit - a really small passenger (ie:  my 5 year old) has a hard time on the downtown because the seat is too wide for them.  I considered 3 different scooters - the People 250, the DownTown 300i, the Xcitiing 500Ri.  I fit the XCiting and the People - but preferred the looks of the Downtown (and it is almost as fast as the XCiting).  The Xciting and the People were both back models, marked down significantly - but the downtown was newly released.  I bought the XCiting instead of the People because it was fuel injected and had more room under the seat - but I'd have been better off with the People - because like the Downtown the passenger seat is too wide for my daughter. 

Personally - between the 300i People and Downtown.  If I fit both I would still get the People and put a couple of Givi E21 saddlebags onto it.  I like the bigger wheels for imperfect roads - and my daughter would fit better.  I do like the look of the Downtown front end - but the Downtown (and XCiting) passengers need to sit with their legs wide apart, and they don't mout saddlebags as easily as the People.

Do yourself a favor and test ride or at least sit on both of them.  Many dealers that say they won't let you test drive are more willing if you tell them you want to buy one or the other and want to test drive to know which...  Finding someone on the forum that lives near you can get you a test drive also.

[axy]

They got a whole lot better with the People/Downtown, and probably the new (not yet
available here k-xct and g-dink).

I've ridden through some rain and snow in Feb and March, still no rust.
I've got around 8000km on the DT now.

Was in Dubrovnik yesterday, Split day before, Zadar today, Osijek tommorow.. 
About 2,5kkm in 4 days.

I do not envy you. Today I had to run many errands around the city, I covered maybe 80 kms, but I was in 15 or so different places. Start the engine, first, second, third, fourth, fifth, turn steering twice, brake, stop, engine off. The temperature was 36 C, my car is black, and aircon on full power could not cool it down sufficiently, especially because I had just a few kilometers between places I had to visit. Driving ANYTHING at this temperature is something I choose to avoid after I turned 30 y.o., if humanly possible, especially if it is work related. Last week I was in Zagreb with my car and my brain melted in 400 kms despite aircon on full.

This feeling is even worse if I have to drive somewhere because of work. That is, at least for me, an utter waste of my personal time and life. The same with long distance airplane flights.

[Vivo]

Got my Super 8 last August 2011 (rainy season), went thru cold and rainy christmas til february, had a rainy summer here, and now it's rainy season again.....   I have rust.. (just a little tho) ...


@Axy:  A car is like an oven... very hot.  Although a scoot is open and has no aircon, its really not that hot when hot sun strikes. Speed up to 30 or 40 and the air cools you. Especially if you have the proper gear. When traffic light turns red, I go under the nearest tree or shade. Can't do this in a car huh. I do errands on my scoot instead of my car.  It's faster and easier. No more first, second, third, fourth, fifth,.... just twist and go! 

[Cortez]

I do not envy you. Today I had to run many errands around the city, I covered maybe 80 kms, but I was in 15 or so different places. Start the engine, first, second, third, fourth, fifth, turn steering twice, brake, stop, engine off. The temperature was 36 C, my car is black, and aircon on full power could not cool it down sufficiently, especially because I had just a few kilometers between places I had to visit. Driving ANYTHING at this temperature is something I choose to avoid after I turned 30 y.o., if humanly possible, especially if it is work related. Last week I was in Zagreb with my car and my brain melted in 400 kms despite aircon on full.

This feeling is even worse if I have to drive somewhere because of work. That is, at least for me, an utter waste of my personal time and life. The same with long distance airplane flights.

I got back, barely alive, 34-38°C temps all-round, got 2150km on the clocks, the scoot worked great, but at 30y.old, I'm with ya on what you said.. 

[Vivo]

I got back, barely alive, 34-38°C temps all-round, got 2150km on the clocks, the scoot worked great, but at 30y.old, I'm with ya on what you said.. 

30 is too young 

[axy]

30 is too young 

Croatians age prematurely!