1st look at the new KYMCO. I wonder what it will top out at. If it can make it into the 80's I might just become a one bike guy. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Ey62xblZ-ao" allowfullscreen="" width="640" frameborder="0" height="390"></iframe>
Is it coming to the USA? I'm buying either the Kymco GT300i or the Honda SH300i - whichever comes here first!
The Kymco Italia website says it's "velocito max" is 130 kph, which is just over 80 mph, so hopefully that will make the cut! http://www.kymco.it/prodotti/scooter/oltre125/_PGTI+300 Hexnut; good news that it will be coming to the States mid-late summer. Did you hear that from a reliable source?
It's the exact same engine as the Downtown 300i and that will make 83 mph GPS bone stock. It will run with, or better than, any of the other 250-300 range scoots no problem.
From another forum. This guy is a member of the scooter club that is associated with justgottascoot. So who knows... I am reliably informed that Kymco will be bringing the People GT 200i and People GT 300i to the US market in mid to late summer. I predict these badass rides will own the Big Wheel market. David Harrington of http://www.justgottascoot.com is supposed to be getting his hands on a 300 sometime in May. The models are not yet shown on the Kymco USA site, but you can check them out on the corporate site. http://www.kymco.com/event/2010_PeopleGTi/ I WANT!
>>Honda can keep their sh300 I wrote kymco a few weeks ago and asked to purchase a 300 for US product testing, hehehe. They haven't gotten back to me. Kymco has better styling than the Honda, looks a bit roomier too. If you have big feet just an inch or so on the floor boards can make the difference.
I don't really use the under seat storage, but the hook for a shopping bag is invaluable. I picked up a truck part the other day that was about 24", just stuck it right in the shopping bag. Here are picture of the Kymco, this site also has lists of different scooter classes. http://www.scootersales.com.au/News-3672-kymco-people-gti-300-abs.aspx
gti300 28hp, 22 ft lb torque (almost twice the HD200) 57 in wheelbase, I guess it is stretched a bit! 31.8 seat height (@1.5" shorter than HD) 363 lb
Kymco USA can go ahead and put me down for one. This is exactly what I'm looking for - just can't decide on silver or that funky gold/yellow color! I got a Scarabeo 150 which I really like, but I find that I ride it on the fast highway and freeway probably more that is was designed for. I'll get the Kymco GTi for my primary, religate the 'Beo for a "buddy scoot" and sell the Fly 150.
The engine is the same but it's been retuned/detuned, it's got about 2hp less then the Downtown, and the aerodynamics should be a bit worse then the Downtown. I've seen Downtown do everything from 85 to 100mph indicated (not GPS), so the People GTi should come close to that, but to tell the truth, other then the probability that the GTi is a bit better in lanesplitting the Downtown seems like a better choice for any other situation and the DT would be my choice (and maybe will be, if I can't find a good deal on a XC500). And GTi vs SH300? A no-brainer for me, Kymco all the way.
I'm a scooter newbie, and the only scoots I've really ridden are my Fly 150 with the 12" wheels and my Scarabeo 150 with 16" wheels. So maybe I'm "all wet" on in my thinking; but the Aprilia with the larger wheels handles like a good motorcycle and when going over imperfections in the road is far superior! The little fly also seems to want to turn in too easily (oversteer?) when making sharp turns. For those reasons, I am only considering a large wheel scooter. Can't legally lanesplit in AZ, so that's not a factor. A detuned DT wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, especially if it can still do in excess of 80 mph.
I would say that the difference between the Aprilia and Fly you mentioned is about 30-35% due to wheel size difference. I've tried scooters with same wheel sizes that ride completely different. I've got a 12" wheeled Kymco Agility 125 now, had a Peugeot Speedfight 50 with same wheel sizes (and tire sizes) - night and day difference. Different wheelbase and suspension makes for a completely different ride. Bare in mind that I also got a Kawasaki with 'normal' 17" wheels and am used to that too, and I don't see the 12" wheels on my Agility as a bad thing. I'd like to have a 13" front perhaps, but the rear 12" is fine. I've ridden a 16"/14" wheeled Peugeot Geopolis and 14"/14" wheeled Satelis (both over 200kg, heavy scoots) and both handled like a normal motorcycle, maybe even better in some respects then my kawasaki. Don't choose your scoot by wheel size only! Some of the best handling scoots I've ridden had 13" wheels!
An after market windscreen would be a must. I've seen ones made for the sh300, I hope someone will make one for the KYMCO also. For winter commuting, a windshield is a must in my book.
That's another one of the reasons I like the downtown, it already has a very nice, large screen. As someone else said, lane splitting is not an issue for me and for that reason I would rather have the Downtown, in fact I have one on order right now.
Finally! A scoot with a bit of grunt that doesn't weigh 1/2 ton. Do they come in silver with red racing stripes?