We were recently invited to a press event by Kymco UK. Basically, it consisted of a selection of their current and future range for us to have a blast on around Buckinghamshire for the day.
Obviously this won’t be an in-depth or exhaustive road test but it will give you our first impressions of the brand new IONEX electric scooter and the eagerly anticipated CV3 550. Even though it looked great and rode very well the CV3 wasn’t a final finished production machine but still looked pretty stunning, I’m not sure what they’re able to improve on the production version to be honest.
We’ll also take a look at the excellent AK 550 and DTX 360 so we’d better get on with it! In this feature you’ll find four videos, one of each model and a basic look at what they are and what they do. There’s also a gallery of images for three of the models, so get stuck in…
CV3 550
The three-wheeled scooter sector is very well established around the world, particularly in Europe. Kymco’s new CV3 breaks the mould by releasing their own car licence friendly machine with the same potent twin cylinder engine as they use in the AK550 – that’s 51bhp to play with.
GALLERY
Ride on a car licence
The CV3 looks mean, it’s quite striking in appearance with lots of angles, recessed detailing, colour changes and different finishes to give it sensory overload. I love the way it looks. It also comes with heated grips as standard, has a full-colour TFT display with Noodoe connectivity (Kymco’s smart connected platform), cruise control and realtime tyre pressure monitoring. The scooter is built to the correct proportions to allow anybody* with a full car licence to ride it and for it to be used in London without falling foul of congestion charging.
* Full car licence must have been obtained before January 19th 2013.
The twin cylinder engine gives the scooter instant character when you start it up and as you’d imagine it’s pretty quick as well. I instantly noticed that the steering felt very natural and light, some three wheelers take a little bit more familiarisation than the Kymco.
If you’re unfamiliar with the three-wheeled concept, the front wheels tilt independently of each other to allow the scooter to grip much better than on a conventional two-wheeler. This gives increased levels of stability, road holding, better braking and in this case superior suspension. Riding one of these on wet, slippery or loose surfaces is infinitely safer than on an ordinary scooter and most importantly – just as much fun. The front end can also be locked upright to allow you to sit at a standstill with your feet off the floor and as soon as you twist the throttle the front unlocks and away you go. This does take a little getting used to though so don’t try it on your first time out!
Price and expected arrival
During our short test ride I was mightily impressed with the whole package. A great engine wrapped up in a modern and attractive shell with great handling, equals a scooter you can really enjoy. It left me wanting more though so we’ll revisit this in 2023 once the production machines arrive. The only fly in the ointment for the CV3 is its price tag, it’ll be just a quid under £13,000, although to put it into context it is only £300 more than a TMAX. A Piaggio MP3 Exclusive 530 retails at £11,500.
The CV3 is due to arrive in quarter 1 so there’s not too long to wait.
Who are Kymco?
The Taiwanese Kwang Yang Motor Company were founded in 1964 as an overseas partner of Honda, becoming one of the Japanese giant’s high quality overseas manufacturing facilities. After great success, (including the Honda badged Jockey scooter selling over 1 million units between 1990-2008) Kymco began manufacturing under its own brand name in 1992. Honda held significant shares in the company until Kymco bought them back in 2003 after 28 years of close collaboration between the two companies.
Kymco are the number one brand in their home country and have also gone on to become market leaders in the mobility sector around the world. They’re also a major player in the world of ATVs and of course their scooters and motorcycles are very well known. The 125cc Kymco Agility City scooter was the best seller in both Spain and Italy in 2021.
Kymco also make scooters and supply engines to BMW and Kawasaki, amongst other big names.
IONEX i-One
We managed to grab a quick first ride on the brand new IONEX electric scooter whilst we were there. This one was unregistered so it literally was a quick ride around the car park but it looks to be built well – as I’d expect from Kymco.
It’s a nippy scooter and will come as a restricted moped (AM licence) or a slightly less restricted version that can be ridden on an (A1) learner licence with CBT. Both will have similar levels of rapid acceleration though and will be perfect for town, city and rural commuting with a 37-mile range.
The IONEX is very smooth, light and practical. It also looks good and the price isn’t too bad either at just £3999. It’s more expensive but will still be a threat to the £2500 Piaggio One.
The IONEX is arriving in Kymco dealers now.
DTX 360
This crossover model is available as a learner legal 125 or (A2 licence) 320cc – both are liquid cooled. We rode the DTX 360 which makes 28.2bhp and 30 Nm of torque. Styling wise this has more than a hint of adventure about it and comes with hand guards, a short screen, chunky tyres and traction control that can be turned off if you’re riding off road. Dropping a big plastic scooter whilst messing about on mud and gravel is going to be an expensive repair bill though!
GALLERY
The DTX is actually a great scooter, you jump on it and feel comfortable straightaway. It’s got a compact feel to it without being cramped, thanks partly to the short wheelbase (1545mm). It’s nimble enough and handles well with good geometry, making it feel stable and easy to turn. Like most of the scooters we rode on this test day it also comes with keyless ignition and a large and informative dashboard.
The DTX 360 costs £5599 (£4899 for the 125) and is well worth a try if you’re in the market for a scooter with road presence and a little bit of individuality. Don’t buy one if you’re planning to do the Dakar Rally on it though! It can cope with riding over the odd patch of rough terrain but it’s built for the road. If you want something a bit more serious for off road use I’d suggest the Honda X-ADV.
Riding a mid-capacity scooter as opposed to a maxi is a good option, they’re cheaper to buy, run, maintain and insure but still have enough power to get you literally anywhere. The DTX has a good blend of power, agility and style. I really enjoyed my short time on board.
AK 550
We’re no strangers to Kymco’s flagship super scooter at SLUK. We had one for a few weeks back in 2018 and loved it, you can read a road test we did here.
We also did a head to head road test with the AK550 and TMAX.
It was good to get back on this scooter though. The Kymco is the only other twin-cylinder sports scooter in production and it can rival the mighty TMAX. In fact, the Taiwanese offering has more power and costs close to £3,000 less. That’s a big saving.
GALLERY
The AK 550’s belt driven power plant really is a great engine with plenty of power on tap. You’ll see three figures on the clock and enjoy riding it. It’s an out and out sports scooter with fine bike-like handling, great brakes from Brembo and fantastic suspension. What you get with a sports scooter – as opposed to a bike, is the practicality of storage space, weather protection, rider comfort and less maintenance. I promise you, you’ll use a scooter more often than you will a bike just because they make life so much easier.
The AK550 is great fun.
Kymco UK
From left to right, Vice Chairman Jeff Wu , Managing Director Mark Hermolle, Senior Area Sales Manager Neil Keeble and Marketing Coordinator Thomas Bradford.
The previous UK agent for Kymco sadly went bump in 2017. Existing company, Kymco Mobility Ltd headed up by Mark Hemolle stepped in to take over the motorised part of the brand and formed Kymco UK Ltd. Although Mark is a keen motorcyclist he had to make the transition between his leading mobility scooter brand and the all-together different demands of the scooter/motorcycle and ATV rider. He also had to improve the existing dealer network, not easy just as a pandemic was about to strike.
The company are based in Bridgend, South Wales and all spares, machines and equipment for the various Kymco departments are housed close by. They currently have 60 dealers nationwide and aim to grow the brand in the UK.
Find out more
You can get the full specs and info on the Kymco range and find your local dealer by visiting them here.
