Modern Vespa

Kymco MyRoad 700i , anyone seen it?

Kymco MyRoad 700i

That is one mean looking machine

Wow, could they be the fastest-growing scooter mfg in today's race? They're pushing out different models almost every year! They might just come out with a model just like the Mana. But I wouldn't be surprised if they do at the rate they're going.

One of the advantages that European companies have over most of their Asian counterparts, Japanese companies generally being notable exceptions, is that they have a tradition of design innovation. Many of them were started by inventor-entrepreneur types who were solving problems for themselves and established that kind of culture in their companies.

Many companies were manufacturing subcontract partners to bigger companies before striking out on their own. Kymco was a partner/subsidiary of Honda, and learned a lot about making good products and solid engineering practices. That said, I don't see them going out on a limb and doing anything crazy like the Mana. It's not what they're known for, and they don't have the market penetration in places like the US to offer something that has this kind of risk.

Bryce, that is why I respect you and your insights so much (ever since the good 'ol bbs days). 8)

Now that you've mentioned it, there are no automatic motorcycles in the U.S. that have lasted long enough to prove their worth - not even the Honda-matic! It's too bad.

Thanks, I appreciate it. If an automatic motorcycle is ever going to do really well, it will probably come from Honda or Harley. Those are the only 2 companies that I think have the market presence, brand regard, and customer base to make a real go of the concept.

As an addendum to what I said, I had a classmate from Taiwan when I was working on my industrial design degree. She is a an excellent designer. When she returns to Taiwan, I imagine she will demonstrate the value of good design to her employer and to her country. The European companies who have resisted making themselves into the total package because they have strong cultures of innovation are going to have to get with the times because they will be facing companies who can do everything they can but with improved quality, better multi-level customer (distributor, dealer, consumer) support, and probably lower cost too. I don't think there are any companies in the world right now with laurels with enough value to rest upon.

[quote="EN82pg"] Thanks Tom, I have pictures, have you seen the scoot in the flesh? It looks cool to me.....I might just skip the HD and go for it....

Wow. That is going to be 200ccs harder to sell than the 500.

dude that shit looks hot tho

+1

Let me add a -2 !
Big time yuck - you boys are being seduced by size again !

Or maybe a splash of common sense? IMO neither the MP3 nor the GTS belong on a freeway. Sure they'll do 70-75 but with no reserve power and innadequate weight in cross winds. Now before anyone gets to flaming, it's all about the individual and their comfort....nothing to do with boys and thier size....

I have 2 buddies with Xciting 500's and they love them. Kymco is a solid bike. These are pretty heavy bikes though. The 250 is way under powered. The 500 will cruise nicely. This one must be a rocket!

[quote="Bryce-O-Rama"] Yamaha FJR1300A. Full on sport-touring with automatic. It shifts kind of like the Porsche or Ferrari paddle shifters. No clutch. Traditional moto-mags don't rave about it, but then they don't like scooters either.

i rode there 500 cc it needs the extra 200 cc.

Who in their right mind would buy that if for the same price you could have a stageoned rubber mount 883?????? Or for a bit more a modern Bonnie.
Theres a bombshell-let battle commence among you bigger is betta quasi motorcycle guys!!!!.
See all you guys at Brighton next Bank holiday.
Vespas rule ok!!

I like where yer heeds at man X2

Cheers

Inadequate freeway weight in cross winds on an MP3 - haven't found that at all. But if you are thinking common sense and need more reserve oomph then I vote Fuoco not Kymco - IMO

Riding a 250cc scoot on the freeway is not unsafe; you just have to have a different mindset. It's kind of llike driving an old VW Bettle. Instead of the old adage of "When in doubt, gas it!", you've go to bide your time to pass a group of cars, and be prepared to slowdown instead of accellerating out of trouble. If you can wrap your mind around that basic diffence, you'll be safe riding an MP3, GTS, GT, etc on the freeway. If all you can do is twist the throttle, then good luck to you, because skill is more then just riding fast, and having unlimited power at your disposal.

By the way if you want a motorcycle, buy a motorcycle, but if you want a scooter, buy a scooter. I've had a bunch of motorcycles over the years, and it's a breath of fresh air riding a scooter again!

+1
I have nothing against Kymcos, but the Fuoco is as big I can see needing, and I justify lusting after the extra cc's mainly to make up for the extra weight... (OK, really I just prefer the look to the MP3.)

If you want both, buy a "motorscooter"

+ 1 - these things lack style and I just don't like them.

I'm in agreement on the crosswinds thing. The MP3 really doesn't seem to be affected much by them. How much of that is the extra front wheel or how much is the dry weight above 400lb, I couldn't tell you.

The biggest potential automatic motorcycle market in the USA are women who want to get off the back of their husband's Harley. This motorcycle would have to be cruiser-ish. have a low seat height, not too heavy, and for this customer base preferably not Japanese/asian. The perfect bike would be a Moto Guzzi with the PiaggioCo 850/CVT in a Nevada sized motorcycle with Bellagio styling.

yeah, just buy a motorcycle.

yeah, just buy a motorcycle.

That scooter to me is hideous! I cannot see the point of it. No style whatsoever.
Buy a motorbike, changing gears is not difficult.

deeyup

I agree with who you think the prime customer would be, I also agree with the spec you think the bike would have. I disagree that a Guzzi would be perfect. Honda and Harley really make the most sense. Cruiser bike folks don't tend to care much for European bikes with few dealers, poor support, a limited number of available accessories, and that Italian [lack of] reliability that has become so legendary.

I could see it looking something like that Bellagio, but I couldn't see the guy with a Victory, Harley, or a metric cruiser from Honda, Yamaha, or Suzuki steering his wife in the direction of a quirky Italian bike. I can see someone who owns any of those brands considering a Harley or Honda.

I like the Fuoco, but it's pointless for me to buy and ride a scoot I can't get good service and support on. I accepted the downsides of the GTS, but only because I wanted Vespa style regarless of the cost. Aprilliaand Gilera are nightmares in my market....but I di get your drift!

Motorcycle, Motor Bike, whatever the name
A scooter of sorts can play the quite the same

If speed is your quest then rice be your diet
If sound really matters, a Vespa is quiet

For each has his own most favorite frame
To discount the scooters would be such a shame

It will surely be an honest, reliable, fast scooter, but it completely lacks style. By style, I do not mean the simple looks. Style is a synthesis of form and function.

Until now, taiwanese (chinese) and korean scooters have been something from simply ugly to middle-of-the-road. Very honest and cheap, though.

It is really difficult to attain the manic perfection of the Japanese (T-Max, Burgman 650) or the surprising, out-of-control genius touch of some italian products (Scarabeo GT500 ABS, Vespas, Mana 850...).

It takes culture and history. Let's give 'em some 5 years more...

Kymco has been making scooters since the 60s. I don't think they are going to come around to the American sense of style any time soon. They make the scooters they do because they sell well in Taiwan and Europe.

And for the record, Taiwanese scooters are not Chinese scooters, and I don't think we get any Korean models here. There are some Hyosung motorcycles. Does anyone know of a Korean model that is imported here? At least with actual dealers?

I would like to give some style credit to the Taiwanese PGO Bu-Bu (Genuine Buddy)

Hyosung makes scooters. Not sure which dealers have them. Sorry, but Italian "design" has been primarily about form for the past 25 years. I'm by no means a design historian, but I've got a passion for it and I haven't seen much function coming from Italian designers in my life time. The MP3 is a fairly notable exception, but it's one of a handful.

I stand corrected. Thanks Bryce.

LOL. These threads crack me up.

Statistically, the modern designs outsell the 'classic' style by a significant margin, and it's only in the US where the 'classic' lines are considered the 'best'. In India, they buy the LML Star because it's cheap, not because it's 'vintage styling'.

Shrug, go figure