• 
  
• NEW RIDER INFO
  
• RIDER GEAR
  
• MOTORCYCLE ACC.
  
• HYOSUNG GV650
  
• HYOSUNG GV250
  
• HYOSUNG GT's
  
• KYMCO VENOX
  
• MOTORCYCLE SHOWS
  
• ACCIDENTS
  
• PIWYR MEMBERS VIDEOS
  

Author unknown...

 

''A motorcycle is a joy machine.

It's a machine of wonders, a metal bird, a motorized ..... CONTINUED

• 
  
• Hyosung-Kymco-Qlink/CFMoto-Johnny Pag-Rhino /Blog/Forum: GUESTS
  Guest posting permissions enabled on select forums, try it out !!
  

• 
  
• Riding California’s Highway No.1
  
  
• Riding The American Desserts
  
  
• Riding Boston to Key West part 1
  
• Riding Boston to Key West part 2
  
  
• Riding The Deep South
  

• 
  
• Steve McQueen - had a collection of vintage American motorcycles; competed in the International Six Days Trials in the 1960's on a 50 Triumph. While he studied acting, he supported himself partly by competing in weekend motorcycle races and bought his first motorcycle with his winnings.**
  
  
• George Orwell - author of 1984 and Animal Farm rode a Royal Enfield 350.**
  
  
• Dwight D. Eisenhower - tested motorcycles while in the military
  
  
• Arnold Schwarzenegger - made the Harley Fat Boy popular in Terminator 2
  
  
• Ann Richards - governor of Texas before George W. Bush. She had a white Harley Davidson.
  
  
• Wynnona Judd of Country Music fame is a motorcyclist.
  
  
• Queen Latifa - Her brother and riding partner was killed on a motorcycle. She still rides, but is an advocate for safety and riding.*
  
  
• Howard Hughes - Hughes once built a motorcycle from parts taken from his father's steam engine.*
  
  
• Larry Hagman - of Dallas fame
  
  
• Bob Dylan - On 29 July 1966, was injured in a motorcycle accident near his home in Bearsville, near Woodstock, upper New York State.*
  
  
• Clark Gable - raced in the Los Angeles area in the 1940's
  
  
• Dan Akroyd - rode his motorcycle to John Belushi's funeral.*
  
  
• Keanu Reeves - rides Harleys
  
  
• Elvis Presley - owned at least one HD, and was seen on Japanese motorcycles also. The cover of Enthusiast magazine of May 1956 featured Elvis Presley mounted on his 883cc Harley Davidson.*
  
  
• Michael Jordan - owned a BMW cruiser
  
  
• Ann-Margaret - had Harleys and an electric start Norton; rode in Elvis movies.*
  
  
• Buddy Holly - rode an Ariel Cyclone
  
  
• Charles Lindbergh - owned an American-made Excelsior X V-twin of 1919 vintage
  
  
• James Dean - his first motorcycle, a 1947 Czech Whizzer. Other motorcycles included a Harley-Davidson, a Norton 500, an Indian 500, an Italian scooter and a Triumph T110 with "Dean's Dilemma" painted on the side.*
  
  
• Lauren Hutton - "55 year old Lauren Hutton suffered a badly broken leg as a result of a motorcycle accident during a ride with fellow members of the Guggenheim Motorcycle Club including Dennis Hopper and Jeremy Irons in southern Nevada, October 2000. Hutton has been riding since before she bought her first car."*
  
  
• Nicholas Cage - is apparently a keen motorcyclist with a penchant for Moto Guzzis.*
  
  
• Pink - rides a Harley Davidson Fatboy*
  
  
• Malcom Forbes - at one time owned over 60 motorcycles*
  
  
• Patrick Swaize - Patrick rode with the Biker Dogs Motorcycle Club
  

2010 KYMCO Quannon 150 First Ride
''What we’d really like to see is KYMCO toss a 250 motor in the Quannon, with the extra 100cc of grunt giving it some freeway credibility and a friendlier powerband. The chassis certainly seem capable of handling more power.''

Bart Madson

Managing Editor - MOTORCYCLEUSA.com

     Way over in the land of Europe, they got this thing called graduated licensing. The idea is folks learning to ride a bike, in particular young folks, have to prove their riding ability by sampling horsepower-restricted small-displacement motorcycles. After a couple years, they can then move up to the bigger, meaner monkeys in the motorcycling kingdom, but this licensing requirement necessitates an entire 125cc class of entry-level motorcycles, including sportbikes pretty much unheard of in the US. The Yamaha YZF-R125 and Honda CBR125R all deliver sportbike looks in a newbie-friendly package. Another such ride is the KYMCO Quannon, only this little learner’s actually available in the States.


It may be just a 150 but the Quannon's $2999 MSRP makes it one of the most affordable entries into motorcycling.

Bringing its Quannon to the US as a 2010 model, KYMCO upped displacement to 149cc and slapped it with a low $2999 price tag. Its only real stateside competition comes from a pair of 250cc models: the hardly-seen Hyosung GT250 and the stalwart Kawasaki Ninja 250 – with the little Ninja effectively sewing up the U.S. entry-level sportbike market since… forever!

     So how’s the little Quannon stack up? It’s a question we were eager to answer for ourselves during the 2010 KYMCO press launch in Asheville, North Carolina. What we discovered of an odd little bike that makes for an interesting ride.

As far as appearances are concerned, riders do get a racey-looking little bike with the Quannon. It may not measure up to the latest refresh of the entry-level market from the Japanese marques, but if it were judged to the pre-2008 Ninja 250, the KYMCO looks more authentic. Fit and finish is decent for a 3K bike. In particular, the instrument cluster with an analog tach and electronic speedo with fuel gauge all look good. At $2999 the KYMCO retails for more than a grand less than the Ninja 250 and comes with a year-longer, 2-year warranty.

Toss a leg over the 31-inch seat and riders immediately notice the slender feel. A slim air/oil-cooled Single powers the Quannon, so there’s not much internally for the steel frame to wrap around. With the claimed 299-lb curb weight (conveniently just under 300 lbs), the result is a machine that feels trim, light and easy to maneuver.

True, the KYMCO feels quite small for a rider of my 6’1 dimensions, with cramped pegs. However, the small size feels less dramatic than a small-displacement scooter or past recollections riding the Honda Rebel and Yamaha Virago 250. Handlebar placement is pleasant and the riding position fairly upright, making city commutes (the Quannon’s true calling) and the accompanying frequent stops less awkward.

At low speeds, the Quannon cuts in and out of traffic with ease. Parking lots are not a problem either. There is one exception to its low-speed highs, however, as a tall first gear requires some judicious clutch work when starting from a stop - an odd trait for a beginner mount. I stumbled to a stall more than once and noticed a couple other hiccupped starts from fellow motojournos. The remainder of the Quannon’s five-speed gearbox works well enough.

Getting past city commuting speeds and the Quannon’s chassis surprised us, in a good way. Expecting a flimsy ride, the frame and suspension felt solid and reassuring, transmitting an unexpected amount of feedback. Raking our way down a steep and winding North Carolina side road, the Quannon made for some smiles in the bends. The 17-inch wheels deliver a regular bike feel while the short 53.3-inch wheelbase, combined with its feather light lbs, makes for effortless tosses around the corners. The front fork and rear monoshock certainly aren’t ready for the racetrack, but the overall rolling chassis holds up its end of the performance bargain. Where the Quannon falls short is in the motor and braking departments.

First, the brakes need improvement. There’s not a whole heck of a lot of feel and very little bite up front from the 2-piston / single rotor configuration. The rear’s doesn’t redeem things either. In unison they slow things down… slower than we’d like. For a beginner mount, a little beefier grip up front would be preferred.

The engine, however, is the Quannon’s biggest question mark. Our test unit had just single-digit mileage on the odometer before hopping on for our quick ride. The little 149.3cc Single struggled to deliver much more than anemic power. Sluggish in the lower half of its 10,000 rpm rev range, the claimed 14 ponies don’t kick much to speak of until 7K, with the real hit between 8-10K. Only problem, 8-10K is in the red line…

Tooling up the Blue Ridge Parkway the Quannon lagged up inclines, with even moderate upward pitches dramatically reducing top speed. On flat surfaces, the KYMCO toted our 205 lbs up into the indicated low 60s on the speedo. One of my KYMCO testing colleagues, MCUSA Contributing Editor Gabe Ets-Hokin, saw near 80 mph down one particularly steep hill with a Rollie-Free-esque full body tuck – but the freeway is ill-advised aboard the Quannon. It would be interesting to give the Quannon another fair shake with a fully broken in motor.

No freeway-use makes the 149cc motorcycle on American roadways a hard sell to many, but the Quannon’s engine performance is well suited to urban/surface street commutes. Plus, the little Single promises to be a gas-sipper. Though we didn’t measure fuel efficiency, judging from eyeball estimates of odometer and fuel gauge, we see no reason to contest the 70 mpg claims. Factoring the 3.6-gallon fuel tank equates to a 250-mile range, so it will be a commuter riders can fill up and forget about.

What we’d really like to see is KYMCO toss a 250 motor in the Quannon, with the extra 100cc of grunt giving it some freeway credibility and a friendlier powerband. The chassis certainly seem capable of handling more power. Give the front brake a little more bite and the KYMCO may have a mount fit to challenge the best of the 250 ranks

Criticisms aside, KYMCO deserves credit for expanding the entry-level motorcycle pool with its Quannon. In its present 150 form the little sportbike can still be sourced as a fun, if modest, commuter for those riders who want a bike, not a scooter. Beginners on a budget should consider a test ride.

Peugeot previews another hybrid three wheeler - FULL SCREEN VIDEO
Hybrid3 Evolution

• 
  
• in electric only mode (start-up, low speed and deceleration, offering a range of up to 10 km);
  
• in petrol only mode, at stable speed on the open road, when the petrol engine offers optimal efficiency;
  [8]petrol engine/electric motor combined, with the three-wheel drive offering enhanced safety and stability
  During acceleration, the Evolution offers an electric boost function for extra power and grip and when the vehicle comes to a halt it stops the petrol engine and puts it on standby.

Britten bike to make appearance at Burt Munro Challenge
New Zealand superbike that broke four world records      Burt Munro Challenge steering committee chairman Wayne Affleck said motorcycle enthusiasts would have a chance to get close to the Britten, as well as former top superbike riders, Andrew Stroud and Aaron Slight, at an evening at Ascot Park Hotel tomorrow night.	FULL SCREEN

• 
  
• Took almost 12 years to develop.
  
  
• Only 10 have been made
  
  
• Since 1990, the Britten V1000 has been placed at the Daytona (United States), Assen (Netherlands), Monza (Italy), and the Brands Hatch Races (Great Britain)
  
  
• Britten motorbikes hold several records for the VIM World Speed Records 1994 - Motorcycle 1000cc: -Flying Mile: 302.705kmh -Standing Start Quarter Mile: 134.617 kmh -Standing Start Mile: 213.512 kmh -Standing Start Kilometre: 186.245 kmh
  
  
• The motorbike has a two-cylinder engine
  
  
• The bike was made lighter and more streamlined by using carbon fibre and kevlar
  
  
• The radiator has been moved to under the seat and is fed from ducts, to reduce wind-resistance
  
  
• The front suspension is adjustable as is a wishbone shape to allow better handling at speed
  
  
• The engine castings have been made stronger so they act as some of the framework of the chassis to make the motorbike lighter and faster
  
  
• The engine is no wider than the width of the tyres, reducing wind resistance wThere is an on-board computer, which is used for monitoring six functions
  

• 
  
• The Lazer Superskin Solano (from £224.95) - the full-face motorcycle helmet design. It is available in Matt black (£224.95) and Hyper-reflective Satin Silver (£244.95).
  
  
• The Lazer Superskin SMX Off Road (£199.95) - the off-road motorcycle helmet design. It is available in Matt black only.
  
  
• The Lazer Superskin Rider (from £179.95) - the scooter helmet in the range. It is available in Matt black (£179.95) and Hyper-reflective Satin Silver (£199.95).
  

• 
  
• Lazer Superskin Range:
  · Phillips Head Protection System™ (PHPS)
  · A special, strong anti-rotation membrane
  · Slides over the surface of the shell during first 15 milliseconds after impact
  · Imitates the natural movement of the skin over the skull
  · During an impact, the membrane moves on the helmet reducing rotational impact to the brain, and consequently the risk of brain haemorrhage
  · Compared to a conventional helmet, it reduces rotation up to 60% and increases the protection of your head and your brain by more than 67.5%
  
  
• Lazer Superskin Solano
  · Automatic Quick release buckle
  · Anti-fog Pinlock® lens
  · Scratch resistant visor
  · Wide peripheral vision
  · Neck reflective zone
  · EPS double density – Optimized upper insert protection
  · Front and chin ventilation
  · Morpho System – cheek and head pads available in your size
  · 100% removable and washable inner
  · Quick release visor system
  · Comfortable fabric
  · Removable nose deflector and chin curtain
  · Removable peripheral visor seal
  · Helmet bag
  · +/- 1500 gr (L w/o Pinlock®)
  · Large range of visors
  
  
• Lazer Superskin SMX
  · Double D racing buckle
  · Wide peripheral vision
  · Aluminium screws – no tool needed
  · Goggle strap anti-slip
  · Anti-reflecting sticker under the peak
  · EPS double density – Optimised upper insert protection
  · Full Air System (FAS)
  · Chin cover for better ventilation
  · Morpho System – cheek and head pads available in your size
  · 100% removable and washable
  · Flexible nose deflector
  · Multi adjustment wide angle peak, fast and easy to adjust without tool
  · Flexible and adjustable peak
  · Helmet bag
  · +/- 1250 gr (L)
  
  
• Lazer Superskin Rider
  · Micrometric buckle
  · Scratch resistant visor / double curvature
  · Neck reflective zone
  · EPS double density
  · Large aluminium visor screws
  · Comfortable interior
  · Helmet bag
  · +/- 1250 gr
  · Alternative visors available
  

ATK Motorcycles has partnered with S&T Motors, the South Korean maker of Hyosung vehicles. The partnership eventually will produce a small-displacement ATK streetbike to be sold through Harley-Davidson dealers, ATK announced earlier this week at EICMA.......

DEALERNEWS.com

by Arlo Redwine

     ........ “The goal of the partnership is to strengthen the competitive position of both companies,” an ATK news release stated. “Each company will continue to be run separately, but will work together on several specific cooperative projects involving new product development, distribution, manufacturing and purchasing.”

The press release quoted Taekwon Kim, CEO of S&T Motors, as saying, “I believe this partnership will provide substantial benefits to S&T and ATK and both companies’ dealers, employees, suppliers and shareholders for years to come. We have long admired ATK and are excited about working together to strengthen both companies. S&T can benefit from ATK’s substantial experience in the American motorcycle market and ATK’s presence inside the Harley dealer network.”

ATK CEO Frank White stated, “S&T and ATK complement each other well, and we are very excited about our new relationship. By joining forces, we believe we can strengthen our distribution network, reduce our production costs, spread development costs and substantially accelerate our entry into the streetbike business. We also look forward to sharing some of our off-road technology with S&T. The ATK and S&T management teams should work well together.

“There will be some differentiation between S&T branded products and the ATK-branded products,” White continued. “S&T will send parts from Korea, and we will integrate those with our own American and European parts. These American-Utah-assembled motorcycles will be targeted to be sold through a select group of Harley-Davidson dealers who are looking for a quality smaller-displacement motorcycle to be sold under the U.S. ATK brand name.

“The management at Harley-Davidson knows what we are doing with some of their dealers; however, they do not endorse our activities in any way,” White added.

K&N

 

''Would you like to suggest a new product? Let the K&N R&D department know what products you would like to see for your car, truck, motorcycle, personal watercraft, ATV, etc. We will use your feedback to help us decide which products to manufacture next. If we release a new product for your vehicle we will send you an e-mail notification.''

Here is the link: REQUESTS HERE

by PAUL CROWE

"THE KNEESLIDER"

     Motorcycles represent many things to their owners, but often, the comments some of you leave on a wide variety of posts continually try to inject politics into what should be primarily a technical discussion. No one needs to be reminded that the country is divided, politics today has become more vicious and mean than at any time in my lifetime and I've been around for a little while. Political views translate into anger when anyone disagrees and things spiral off topic, but, motorcycles are not politics.

Electric motorcycles often trigger comments stating they're necessary to save the planet or they're unnecessary because the planet is doing just fine. The builders might be thinking along those lines, but suppose for a moment, some builders see the technology advancing to the point where they believe it might be practical and want to give it a try.

Is it possible to look at electric motorcycles or any similar technology without immediately assessing the political motivations of the builders, supporters or critics?

     We can discuss whether they are practical without getting political.

Back in the early 1900s, there were electric cars, the Baker Electric and the Detroit Electric. Though sold for a number of years, no one was marching to "save the planet," it was just one of several competing technologies trying to establish a foothold in the auto market, but both brands eventually died off.

There was no conspiracy of "who killed the electric car," it was killed by.......

.......CONTINUED HERE: "THE KNEESLIDER'' ^{in ECONOMICS AND POLITICS}

Bart Madson Managing Editor

motorcycleusa.com

     When Motorcycle USA arrived at Asheville, North Carolina to sample the 2010 Scooter lineup from Kymco, we had no idea how robust the Tawian manufacturer’s scooter line actually was. Ranging from 500cc maxiscooters to 50cc 4-strokes, with plenty of mid-displacement offerings on hand, Kymco has added four new models this year: the Downtown 300i, Like 200i, Like 50 and Super 8 50 2T.

There were too many rides and not enough time…

Spoiler: click to toggle

But we did our best, scooting along the Blue Ridge Parkway and the uber-sheik grounds of Asheville’s private Biltmore Estate to get a taste of the 2010 Kymco scooter line.

Kymco Xciting 500Ri - $6299, ABS $6799

As if testing a score of scooters in a 1.5-day window wasn’t daunting enough, we complicated things by arriving late thanks to multiple flight delays and a fitful night of shuteye in the Atlanta airport (Thank You DELTA!!). Literally a day late, we dropped our bags in Asheville, plopped on a helmet and ran over to a waiting Kymco 500Ri. Our testing group was “somewhere south on the Blue Ridge Parkway,” so we twisted the grip and went lookin’.

The solo saddle time made for a grin-inducing jaunt, flogging the most performance-oriented Kymco scoot down the famed southern byway to catch up. The 498.5cc DOHC Single fairly rips in a scooter context and 70-plus mph cruising speed is a simple lickety-split right hand twist. Granted, the large Xciting can feel every bit its 473 lbs (claimed dry weight), yet the chassis and its telescopic fork, plus dual preload-adjustable rear shocks are game enough for spirited riding – though you’re not going to confuse its handling with a street bike anytime soon.

The dual disc front binders teamed with the sturdy rear disc, do a competent job bringing the near 500-lb scoot to a halt. And, yes, the optional ABS is a worthy investment despite the extra 15 lbs and $500.

Riding position is cush, with the feet-forward footrests quite relaxing and making long-distance treks a pleasant affair. Our only real gripe with the Xciting is its lengthy 61.8-inch wheelbase, large size and hefty weight, making low-speed maneuvering more technical than on its smaller, more nimble, siblings. As for fit-and-finish, the inclusion of a tach on the control panel doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, but we’ll forgive ‘em for it – our high-speed scoot down the Blue Ridge will definitely get scratched into our cranial hard drive for a long time to come. (Long-term opinions on the Kymco 500Ri are available in our 2009 Kymco Xciting 500Ri Review.)

Kymco Xxciting 250Ri - $5199

As for the 250Ri, we jumped aboard the 500’s kid brother further down the Blue Ridge, once we caught up with the rest of the testing crew. The rolling chassis on the two Xcitings are identical, from physical dimensions, to brakes, to suspension; that is until the eye rolls down the spec sheet to the 67-lb lighter dry weight! And in a 407-lb scooter that makes for a BIG difference.

A liquid-cooled Single like its sibling, the 72.7mm x 60mm bore and stroke add up to a 249cc displacement (92mm x 75mm for the 500). The smaller SOHC engine pares down the pounds, but definitely gives up some of the oomph compared to the 500. However, the 250 still gets up to speed and should be okay on the Superslab – the power loss is felt mostly under acceleration, particularly at higher speed. Cushioning some of the performance drop is an efficiency claimed at 61 mpg, far greater than the observed mid-30mpg from our previous test run with the larger scooter. Oh, it’s also a full $1100 less than the 500.

Aside from the engines, the two units as a whole felt quite similar – the 250 perhaps more deft at lower speeds and easier to manhandle thanks to the lighter weight.

Kymco Downtown 300i

We spent the most time during our North Carolina testing run aboard the all-new Downtown 300i, which resides between the Xciting 500Ri and 250Ri in the maxiscooter lineup. At first glance the Downtown appears to be just a rebadged Xciting, but while similar in appearance, its differences become apparent behind the controls.

First, there’s the 299cc Single. The nearly square configuration of the 72.7mm bore and 72mm stroke seems a stroked out version of the 250 powerplant, yet Kymco assures us the 4-valve SOHC mill is a totally new design. The assertion is backed up on the road, where the 300’s power and acceleration feel far closer to the 500 than the 250. Top end performance isn’t quite at the 500’s level, but the freeway is fair game, as well as hustling along backroads at a respectable clip.

Perhaps one reason why the engine feels so spunky is it’s pushing only 367 lbs – a full 106 lbs less than the 500Ri (40 lbs less than the 250). We assumed this was a spec sheet blunder, but Kymco promises the new engine and chassis have made the weight reduction possible. And speaking of chassis, the Downtown is more compact – two inches shorter in length with a corresponding one inch-shorter wheelbase at 60.8 inch. Seat height is a quarter-inch higher than the Xciting, and the cockpit feels tighter. While the seat itself is comfy, the close quarters first become apparent when pitching the feet forward, the footrests too close to use on the Downtown – at least for taller riders, myself standing 6’2”.


The Kymco Downtown 300i is a 2011 model that will appear in the second quarter of 2010. The telescopic fork and preload-adjustable dual shocks can get jarred by road imperfections transmitted by the 14-inch front and 13-inch rear tires (an inch smaller on each wheel than the Xcitings). Still, the handling is on par with Xcitings, transitions being a little quicker on the lighter Downtown.

Although using the same braking components as the Xcitings - wave rotor and two-pot calipers - the Downtown sports only a single-disc configuration up front. While delivering less initial bite there’s plenty of stopping power at the ready when jamming down on both the front and rear single-disc units. (Kymco purchases suspension and brake parts from major suppliers in enough volume to brand them themselves – though Kymco reps do confirm ABS is from Bosch.)

Dealers are quick to point out that Kymco is from Taiwan, not China, and doesn’t carry the dubious stigma attached to “cheap Chinese scooters,” the quality of Kymco scoots apparent while riding and backed by a two-year warranty. (Though the Made in China/Taiwan saga and what’s made where, by all manufacturers, is worthy of an article – or even series of articles…) The overall fit and finish on the Downtown may be the best of the Kymco line. Our only minor quibble is the KMPH speedo, with small MPH numbers that are hard to read, and also there’s that analog tach – looks alright, but why exactly am I looking at it?

Overall the Downtown 300i was our pick of the Kymco litter. While price is still pending, the Downtown is actually a 2011 model, which should be due in dealerships by the second quarter of 2010.


Kymco Yager GT 200i - $3499


Out of the 150-250 Kymco class, the Yager 200GTi was the best standout, ample performance and comfy ergos. In the 150-250 class, the star in our opinion is the Yager GT 200i. The biggest reason being its liquid-cooled 175cc Single, which felt comparable to the Xciting 250 and provided plenty of pop on surface streets and backroads. We didn’t approach freeway speeds on the Biltmore Estates (the Vanderbilt overseers would surely release the hounds if we were too obnoxious, or at least the private security force), however, we feel confident the Yager could handle interstate traffic.

The 13-inch front wheel and 54.7-inch wheelbase make for a quick-turning yet stable handler, while the single-disc brakes front and rear also deliver pleasing performance. The quirkiest trait is the oddly shaped handlebars, which look something like seagull wings ready to take flight but make for plenty of legroom – the comfy ergos another big plus in our book. The $3500 pricetag isn’t half bad either, and a lot of bang for the buck – a better deal in our estimation than the Xcitings.


Another standout was the Super 8 150, which delivers the sharp-turning maneuverability of its smaller 50cc kin but with much more palatable performance out of its air-cooled 149cc 4-stroke. The 14-inch wheels and single disc front/drum rear brakes match well with the urban intentions of this metro commuter. Our favorite trait? Has to be the $2299 MSRP.

Kymco People 150 - $2799

An honorable mention in the mid-range scoots goes to the People 150. Freeways are a no go, but the 152cc air-cooled motor seemed game enough for larger surface streets and make the People 150 a proper little city scoot. The skinny 16-inch hoops are easy to turn yet deliver a motorcycle feel and the riding position isn’t as cramped as we expected. However, is it worth the $500 premium over the Super 8 150? Not by our brief saddle impressions.

Kymco Like 200i

The biggest disappointment in the 200 class was the new 2011 Like 200i. We rode it only a short while on the Blue Ridge Parkway, where it did not belong. The all-new air-cooled 163cc motor was sluggish, struggling up inclines and from standing starts. The most unnerving trait, however, was the cramped riding position, with our knees effectively acting as the steering lock and making it a dicey proposition for taller riders. Unless the pending MSRP is rock bottom, we don’t see many riders opting for the Like when there are better options in the Kymco arsenal.

Kymco People 250 S - $4499

Unfortunately, we didn’t spend more than a few minutes aboard the intriguing People 250 S, but we did enjoy the time. Short review, motor feels similar to Xciting 250Ri with more compact dimensions and handling characteristics. Would like to get a second ride, until then…

Other notes from the 250 Kymco line, the quirky Venox cruiser? It’s gone baby, gone – dropped from the 2010 lineup.

SOURCE:HERE

• 
  
  
• quote from dealernews ,Publish date: Sep 2, 2008:
  
  KYMCO Stoked By Venox Sales
  '' and KYMCO USA says retail sales of the Venox 250 for the first six months of 2008
  were up 50 percent compared to the same period last year. ''
  
  --------------------------------------------------------
  
  
• KYMCOUSA 2010 SCOOTERS & MOTORCYCLES;
  PDF FILE
  
  ATTACHMENT KYMCO_OnRoad_2010_Web.pdf (4.05 MB)
  
  And of course the Venox is not listed....
  
  ------------------------------------------------------
  
  
• From another source:
  

  motorcycledaily.com

   

  I was also eager to try out the Quannon, Kymco's 150cc sportbike. It's now Kymco's sole U.S. motorcycle offering, as the Venox, a 250cc cruiser, was dropped for 2010.

  
  source: Kymco 2010: Do You Know Kymco?
  
  -----------------------------------------------------