An appreciation of my Kymco Yeger GT 200
Today, after twelve years of ownership, I hit 10,000 miles. I bought it new, as a step up from my first scooter, a Yamaha Vino 125.
The problem is that my wife always wanted a Vespa, and after I found her a slightly used 250 GTS, I loved her ride more than mine, I had to have one too. So, after less than two years, the Kymco became the extra scooter. When I lost garage storage, I paid to store the Vespas inside while the Kymco sat snow covered through NYC winters.
As a fourth scooter, it costs around $50 a year for full insurance coverage, registration, and state inspection. It has never been worth enough to sell, so I keep it as a spare.
Recently, I started to ride it more after my wife got her new Wutherspoon Edition Primavera, so as not to leave her in the dust when we ride together. Although she loves her new Vespa, she takes her 250 when we go on longer rides.
I’ve developed a new appreciation for the Kymco. Despite its name, it is powered by a liquid cooled, fuel injected, 175 cc motor. I outweigh my wife by 120 pounds; despite that, the Kymco is so much faster than the Primavera. Unlike Vespa, the Kymco speedometer is accurate; reading exactly the same as GPS. On any kind of serious hill, she gets left behind. Unlike the 150 Vespa, it really is highway capable; it will top out at better than 70mph with a rider under 200 lbs.
I admit it is ugly, and for a tall rider like me, it is nowhere near as comfortable as my GTS. It has been extremely reliable, with very little maintenance other than oil changes.
It has some nice features, like a flash to pass headlight button, and a second trip odometer that when it hits 600 miles, lights the oil can icon. I think it was intended to remind owners to do the first service, but I like it as a reminder to check the oil, even though it never uses any.
So, while not my first love, it’s the one I’ve owned the longest, and it’s a keeper.