Modern Vespa

Ready to trade in the old one Bob?

https://www.rideapart.com/news/663735/kymco-ak-premium-launch-europe/

kz1000st,

Isn't that the deal. You buy a great new model and they immediately
upgrade it the next year. I'm okay with mine. I am still trying to
figure out all the electronics. One thing, at the low weight, it is a
rocket.

Bob Copeland
Minnesota

I saw that at the London Bike Show.

It's very nice.

Oh please. Those of us old enough to remember the first days of Japanese domination saw the changes taking place in one model year alone. You had to know the date of manufacture for your '66 bike just to buy points, brakes and battery. Sometimes there were three updates in just one year.

Kymco UK put an aftermarket exhaust on their Demonstrator but failed to cover it up during some overnight rain.

Water collected in the bottom of the exhaust and it refused to start.

It's gone back to OEM now.

Having owned a Kymco I can attest to its quality and attention to details. But...I have a lot of trouble with their revolving door policy of models. Scooters come and go too quickly for me and the issue of parts availability leaves me wondering. As long as it stays trouble free I'm sure it's a joy but when a part that's OEM only is required it might hang one up for months.

I know that especially in the USA Kymco parts are hard to come by.

The good news is that they very rarely break but are you going to take that risk ?

Whenever I travel to France and Spain I see loads of them.

Having bought and used one new Kymco in US---they are fine quality, don't break---Xtown 300I----but lack strong N American dealer network, just like Vespa----not good for wide touring rider. So one for enough.

In AK550 News - I saw one today that had snapped its drivebelt at 37,500 miles because it had never been adjusted or changed.

The rear drive had been mangled by the belt biting into it prior to failure.

they've only missed 3 belt changes then!

Belt and hub utterly ruined. Regular Servicing Schedules totally ignored.

I don't know anything about the 550.

But - These folks have become the go-to dealer for OEM Kymco parts for owners in the USA.
www.leesonsarcticcat.com


Fortunately - Kymco scooters are constructed well enough that most of us need little more than consumables* over the life of our ownership.


O.S.
* OEM Kymco belts are the best! This advice is from long-time Kymco owners.

Keen to try out an AK550 out to see what it rides like. The idea that the engine isn't part of the back wheel appeals to me. 👍 Suppose it depends on the other details too. Price is quite high though.

Had a 400cc scoot for a while - it was a Malagutti, so suspension etc was rather budget. It wasn't stable enough at speed, hence switching back to a 600cc motorcycle when I had the chance.

I'd suggest you give one a go. I had one for a while and they are pretty damn good even if it does have the pointless keyless start thingy.

At slow speeds you can feel its weight but on the highway it really shines however, it could have done with a bigger tank.

I believe that they have resolved the battery issues common on the early models.