Kymco People 250
When my bud Steve pulled into the driveway on this machine, I had no idea
what it was, except that it had two wheels, a motor, and was some sort
of scooter. I'm not very well acquainted with these bikes, as I prefer
something with a little more va-room!
Steve likes entry-level vehicles, normally Asian or German cars with the lowest possible trim level and the least amount of equipment available. He'll drive hundreds of miles to a dealer to get one. So, it was no surprise that this machine was foreign. In fact, it has the distinction of being the first known motor vehicle on my property of Chinese origin.
But I think he's on to something here. Kymco is getting great reviews! In a recent Consumer Reports survey, the Kymco Agility 125 scooter ranked first, alongside the Vespa LX150, for the best choice in a 150cc scooter. Also, their Venox 250 cruiser was reviewed as one of the best starter cruisers in the U.S. market in one test.
Kymco started in 1963 as the Kwang Yang Motor COmpany, Ltd., with headquarters in Taiwan. They now have over 600 dealers here in the U.S. and are looking to grow.
Steve purchased his Kymco in 2008 due to the high gas prices; this People
250 is not only a gas sipper, but also a product of clever cargo packaging
at its best. A lockable under-seat bin stores a helmet, a 12-pack of
beer, or enough fresh Tennessee road kill to feed a family of four (our state passed a law allowing this a few years ago). On
the rear luggage rack, the detachable carrying case can also tote a
jacket or two, should the weather change from fair
to foul.
Powered by a 249cc 4-stroke with one overhead cam, Kymco estimates the 250 will get 70 miles per gallon; it holds 2.1 gallons. I could not find a horsepower figure.
The bike has a continuously variable transmission (CVT),
front and rear disc brakes, and a cell phone accessory plug. They come
in Steve's "Wine" color, or if you feel more conservative, "Grey" is the
other option.
I didn't ride this scooter. I've never ridden a step-through anything. But after a recent trip to San Francisco where gas was $3.30 a gallon compared to $2.30 here in Nashville and watching some urban commuting, the need for vehicles like this is quite apparent. They are very easy to park, too.
There are a few semi-enclosed scooters on sale in other parts of the world, and if I found myself living in a busy environment, the practicality of one of these as a second or even a third vehicle would be hard to turn down.
A Kymco People 250 will set you back about 3,999 beans, plus shipping, taxes, registration, insurance ... all the usual "Gotcha!s." Kinda pricey, but you also get a substantial 2-year warranty.
Steve didn't go cheap this time. He got the good one!
--That Car Guy (Chuck)
Thanks to Wikipedia and Kymco's home site for some technical information in this post. I took the pictures.
Mochi Mochi on December 29, 2009 at 02:52 PM
As with cars, there are new options and used options. For every discovery of a new vehicle there's something that is old that costs a fraction of what a new vehicle costs and does just as well or better than the newer models. Scooters are no different than cars in this regard.
The Kymco is a great example. There are a ton of great old motos out there that are every bit as good or better than a Kymco and you can pick them up for a song. From a marketing perspective the Kymco is a good machine - it's well integrated in terms of accessory luggage, simple/little maintenance, and it has a CVT, which is very attractive for novice riders. But you still need to get a full on moto license to ride one. And if you are going to do that you might as well get a real bike.
The formula for the Kymco People 250 was established 50 years ago by a small japanese firm you may have heard of - Honda. The honda cub, the super cub, and the Dream 305 were the originals. They were brilliant and durable. They changed the way the world thought of motorcycles. They were and still are, bullet proof.
2 or 4 wheels is all good to me. Buying something new - sure you can do that. But getting something with a little experience is so much better. If someone loves the People 250 and has the cash to spend on it I wish them luck, happiness, and safe riding. But for the rest of the world there's a host of great bikes which get as good or better mileage and are a lot more fun to ride.
Finally anyone who rides a step-through scooter is going to miss out on a huge and important part of what moto control is all about. Knees in - grip the tank - leverage - and or the ability to weight shift. It's not obvious given the way a lot of people ride motos but if you don't have something to grip with your knees you are not really riding a bike the right way. The use of knees to steer a moto is a little known but hugely important part of riding. No step-through will ever be able to handle the way a standard moto handles just by virtue of the fact that the rider cannot use his knees to turn, weight shift, or stabilize a bike. Motorcycle ergonomics rely on the use of feet and foot position, knees and core muscles, as well as arms and body angle. Sitting on top of a scooter is really like being out of control of a moto. Motos designed like this have compromises in their geometry that are required to make up for the lack of physical control... they become stable but not especially agile, and if you are going to ride you need agile especially in a city like San Francisco.
Anthony Cagle on December 30, 2009 at 01:23 PM
I quite like the scooter concept. Great for congested urban transport and it doesn't require as much attention to drive as a cycle. True, you give up some agility, but then again you can ride one in a skirt and heels (um, not that I do, btw).
Not very macho though. Like riding a moped, it's kinda fun until someone sees you.
Rawja on December 30, 2009 at 03:31 PM
Scooters don't have to be dowdy. I LOVE my '06 Yamaha Morphous, it's sleek, stylish, quick and draws many admirers everywhere I go. They're readily obtainable inexpensively used and they're built with an amazing level of fit and finish. That I get about 60 MPG is a welcome added bonus.
DaveP. on December 30, 2009 at 04:38 PM
Scooters are fairly easy to steal- two healthy guys and a pickup truck can do the job. Remember to throw in some bucks for a quality motorcycle cable/chain and lock (remember to lock it TO something that can't be moved!); or for an insurance policy that covers theft. I know at least three people who wish they'd done so.
Air Yeezy on April 14, 2010 at 06:22 PM
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by Air Yeezy
Erik Clark on May 14, 2010 at 08:46 AM
The Kymco is made in Tiawan, not China. There is a big difference between the P250 and the Chinese junk all over the market. Kymco is a former associate of Honda and made engine and transmission components for Honda before Honda spun them off. There is good parts support and they are a robust machine. I got my 2006 P250 for $3500 brand-new. That is waaay less than a comparable Euro-Scooter or other Japanese name brand (your Euro-scooter may have a Kymco engine/trans). I ride mine in urban and suburban commuting, which is what the P250 is made for. I can outrun most cars and keep up with all traffic. Top speed 75mph with a load. Hills, no problem. Handling - quick, responsive, solid road manners due to 16 inch wheels. I don't know what Mochi-Mochi is talking about; the P250 is NOT a sportsbike and that level of handling is not required where a scooter is at home. I am 6'-2" at 230 lbs (this scooter is BIG) and I ride this thing aggressively on Pirelli's Diablo tires with no issues - rain or shine. I have 26K miles and counting (yes miles) with NO breakdowns - never used the 2 year warranty.. Ugly? Yes, so is a mule, but a mule lasts and can pull. Cheers...
Lewis Balentine on November 26, 2011 at 07:57 PM
Mochi Mochi mad a few statments that need to be addressed.
First of all I own a Kymco 250 and ride it in and urban enviroment. I also have a Vespa Grand Turisomo. I also (in my much younger days) owned an origonal Honda 50 Cub (and rode it into the ground trowing news papers). By the way Honda still produces and sales the Cub in many parts of the world.
[The honda cub, the super cub, and the Dream 305 were the originals.] Todays Twist and Go CVT scooters mechanics have very little in common with the Honda Cubs that us a multi plate lever activated wet clutch and geared transmissions.
[The use of knees to steer a moto is a little known but hugely important part of riding.] ... [Sitting on top of a scooter is really like being out of control of a moto.] TOTAL BS ... it is all a matter of shifting weight and you do not need to try to crush the gas tank with you knees unless you are at extreme speeds in the corners ... and in that case you will likely had a skid plates on your boots as well.