I think the "Like 200i" is the Best "Value" scooter in the US Market

[MassScoot]

Hi All: Just purchased a  Kymco GT300i a couple of weeks ago & already have 500+ miles on her. My wife wants to get into the scoot action & cruise with me.

Looking @ the entire Kymco line-up for the US market, I think the Like 200i is the best value overall. Not the best scooter mind you, but the best value.

What not to like? $2699.00 retail.

163cc with Fuel-Injection

Front & Rear Disc Brakes

Color-Matched Top Case.

Euro-Looks

2-Year Warranty

Decent selection of colors.

Water-cooled would have be nice, but that's asking too much for the price. My dealer has Red on hand, but the wife wants Ivory. Red is my favorite. We may hold-off until next Spring as there are no Ivory color around New England. Plus, it will be time soon enough to put away the scoots anyway. for those of you that do own one, I think it's best Kymco scoot for the money myself.

[tuffguy]

Yes, you are right, the kymco like 200i is the best scooter in its class for the money.If you wait until gas prices skyrocket
I don't know if they will still be around. We will see. Ours was hard to find in the spring.-----

[MassScoot]

They'll be around. Kymco needs a 200cc type scoot for that money, in that class. Hell...I paid $3300.00 for my 2005 Kymco People S200 that wasn't FI or had rear disc brake!

I think they can offer the Like 200i @ that retail price now, because it's made in China, as my S200 was made in Taiwan (much higher labor costs) I told my wife...If that Red Like 200i is there in the Spring with our local dealer, then we'll work them down in price & grab it. She likes the Red, but the Ivory is kind of a "chick" color. 

[jprestonian]

I think the red is a bit orange, to my eye. I liked the "black," but it's midnight blue. :)
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[big blue]

Hi all, all the things you mentioned made me go for the Like. My other choices were the Sym Fiddle(no F/I and 125cc) and the Piaggio Fly(again carbed and higher price). I liked the Fly but only 1 year warrantee and here sold by an HD dealer with a bad local reputation for service. So far I love it and no issues. My dealer is about 18 miles away but is very knowlegable and has a great rep.

[MassScoot]

Hi all, all the things you mentioned made me go for the Like. My other choices were the Sym Fiddle(no F/I and 125cc) and the Piaggio Fly(again carbed and higher price). I liked the Fly but only 1 year warrantee and here sold by an HD dealer with a bad local reputation for service. So far I love it and no issues. My dealer is about 18 miles away but is very knowlegable and has a great rep.

Big Blue: Nice purchase! Spoke with my local Kymco dealer & he is willing to shave-off $175.00 off retail, but they have a $375.00 freight/dealer-prep & document fee (sigh...)

Plus...He'll keep the scooter in a nice dry/heated warehouse in the Winter months for free. I think that's a fair deal. I'm going in on Wednesday to talk with them.

My Kymco dealer is less then 10 miles away & they are very good @ service, plus they carry Honda, Yanaha & Suzuki as well.

I think the Like 200i is perfect for my wife. She is pretty tall @ 5'10" but is skinny as a rail! She sat in it & felt fine with it.

Il love my GT300i (great scoot), but I feel that the Like 200i is simply the best value out of the entire Kymco line-up myself. 

[jprestonian]

I feel that the Like 200i is simply the best value out of the entire Kymco line-up myself. 

If looks and saddle comfort don't matter, I think the Agility 125 is the better value, actually. But I'm counting stuff like acceleration, storage, etc.
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[Vivo]

All Kymcos, in my opinion, are good value scooters. Their counterpart Taiwanese SYM scooters are more expensive, European scooters are expensive, Chinese scooters are cheapos, Japanese scooters are likewise expensive.

[jprestonian]

All Kymcos, in my opinion, are good value scooters. Their counterpart Taiwanese SYM scooters are more expensive, European scooters are expensive, Chinese scooters are cheapos, Japanese scooters are likewise expensive.

At least in the U.S., they offer more choices and options than any other reputable manufacturer.
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[Vivo]

At least in the U.S., they offer more choices and options than any other reputable manufacturer.
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In our country, they carry:

Grand Dink (Grand Vista)
Dink (Yager)
Xciting 500
Like 125
Like 200
Super 8 125
Agility 125 (New)
Visa R 110
Jetix
Spike
Free 115
K-Pipe (just landed on our shores)


Lots of spare parts including body panels and very cheap labor... A full major engine overhaul costs 1,500 pesos or around $34.00...

[MassScoot]

If looks and saddle comfort don't matter, I think the Agility 125 is the better value, actually. But I'm counting stuff like acceleration, storage, etc.
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Umm...Acceleration I cannot comment on @ this point, but storage wise the Like 200i blows away the Agility IMHO. Decent size storage under the seat & it comes with a matching-color top case.

Like 200i @ $2699.00 gives you rear disc & FI, plus top case. Worth the extra $800.00 bucks IMHO. Granted, the Like 200i looks aren't for everyone. The Agility is a wonderful "value" scooter @ 1899.00, but let's face it, it's a tad cheap looking.

[TroutBum]

I purchased my Like 2001 about 6 weeks ago. It's Ivory. My dealer has all the colors plus the two-tone LX. I wished they had it in forest green or silver, but I can live with Ivory. The scooter begins to show it stuff after 300 miles with accelerations and idle smoothness is improvement. I have one complaint and that is the front fork squeak. My dealer is going to replace the oil with a qualilty fork oil at the initial 600 mile service (200 miles to go).

Around here Red is favored by the women. The black/blue is a slow seller.

Seating takes some time to soften up. My ass was sore the first 300 miles of use. Even when riding only 20 minutes.

All-in-all I think your wife will enjoy the scooter as long as her inseams are less than 33-34  inches. Make sure she can sit on the bike without hitting her knees while turning the front wheel. I have a 31 inseam which is a great fit for this scoot.

[jprestonian]

Umm...Acceleration I cannot comment on @ this point, but storage wise the Like 200i blows away the Agility IMHO. Decent size storage under the seat & it comes with a matching-color top case.

Like 200i @ $2699.00 gives you rear disc & FI, plus top case. Worth the extra $800.00 bucks IMHO. Granted, the Like 200i looks aren't for everyone. The Agility is a wonderful "value" scooter @ 1899.00, but let's face it, it's a tad cheap looking.

Oh, the Agility is VERY cheap-looking.  :)  It's Spartan in every sense of the word.

The Like takes its styling cues from modern Vespas, IMO, albeit with a plastic skin... which in almost every respect, I find to be more desirable, as they are easier to care for and repair/replace, as needed.  

Still, the underseat storage on the Agility is easily 10x what's found under the seat of the Like. The top case was unimpressive, IMO, and very cheaply made (but necessary to give the Like any storage capability at all).

The acceleration -- no comparison. The Agility smokes the Like, here. Top speed is roughly the same on both bikes, but the Agility will get you to that speed quicker. I don't have enough time with a Like to compare fuel economy, but I'm betting the Like is no better than 5% more fuel-efficient, unless ridden at 50cc scooter speeds. I'll look on Fuelly to see what owners are reporting, and eat crow if need be.  ;)
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[Lucasan]

jprestonian you are very right about the cheap topcase on the like. 2 and a half weeks in and I already had to re-glue the rubber liner on the lid. It was a disaster. I don't think it's covered under warranty or I would have told my dealer. It has lousy nylon straps for hinges. I think down the line a higher quality topcase will be in store since my girlfriend needs it for her purse when she rides.

All in all though, without really any reference it's hard for me to say anything negative about the bike. I've really enjoyed every mile I've put on it and I know my girlfriend is in love with it. We're still breaking it in so I've been driving it on the days she doesn't work. It gives me an excuse to explore parts of Long Beach that I would never drive my car to.

Acceleration is quick but not mind blowing. I enjoy the stopping power of front and rear disk brakes. I would say the seat needs some improving. I'm constantly readjusting to keep from getting a sore butt on longer rides.

[big blue]

Lucasan, I had the same issue with the topcase lid but I don't think it is glued in. It is held in by the tension of the rubber. I solved it by applying silicone spray to the seal. So far no more problem. As far as acceleration it seems that the mid range performance is it's strong point. It pulls the biggest of hills around here with no problem and I am 200 lbs. In traffic I can roll away from all but the fastest boy racers. I now have about 900 miles and it will run a tick over 60 mph with throttle to go. You are right about the seat but it does seem to be breaking in though,or maybe it's my butt that is!