Motor Scooter Guide

KYMCO SCOOTERS

Kwang Yang Motor Company got their start making parts and assembling some bikes for Honda in 1963. In the October 1992, Kwang Yang Motor Co. decided to start the scooter brand Kymco, as a result of a desire to move into designing their own scooters. They used their initials (K.Y.M. company) to form the name Kymco. This new direction lead to a split with Honda as they were now a competitor, so Kymco branched out on their own and has since been rapidly designing a large number of new scooters.

Kymco entered the USA market for the 2001 model year and the Canadian market for the 2005 model year. Since that time they have offered a rapidly improving and evolving line up of scooters. Kymco Canada and Kymco USA are run by different importers with BECO Motor International running Kymco Canada and Kymco USA initially being a joint ownership between the global Kymco company and STR Motorsports. STR Motorsports ran Kymco USA from its start in 2000 to 2007 where they sold half of Kymco USA to Kymco worldwide. Then in April, 2011 they sold the other half, so Kymco USA is now entirely owned by Kymco global.

2001

An STR Motorsports owned Kymco USA began importing scooters in 2000 as 2001 models. Information on these early years is hard to come by as Kymco USA didn’t even have a functioning website, but it seems Kymco sold the ZX 50, Filly 50, Cobra Cross and the People 50 large wheeled scooter for their USA debut. The ZX50 (below right) and the similarly styled Filly 50 (below left) were both sporty looking scooters with the ZX50 having 2-stroke power and the Filly 50 offering less power but better fuel economy with a 4-stroke engine.

The People 50 (right) was more of a retro styled design but with larger wheels for stability. The Cobra Cross (top right) was a mix between a sporty and an off-road look that seems targeted at the popular Zuma/BWs market segment. Most of these models would be replaced or discontinued within a few years, as they were aging designs that were introduced in the mid-late 90’s elsewhere in the world.

USA MODELS: ZX 50, Filly 50, Cobra Cross, People 50

2002

It seems that the larger People scooters (150cc and 250cc) were added to Kymco’s lineup for 2002, but it is possible they were also offered for 2001. Kymco sales were pretty slow for the first couple years, so these early models aren’t very common.

USA MODELS: ZX 50, Filly 50, Cobra Cross, People 50 / 150 / 250

2003

The very sporty Super 9 (shown at right) was introduced as Kymco’s top of the line 50cc scooter. Initially a liquid cooled (Super 9 LC) and a cheaper air cooled (Super 9 AC) versions were offered but the liquid cooled version didn’t meet emissions after the first 2 years or so, so most Super 9’s out there are the air cooled ones. Both versions of the Super 9 use the same core engine.

It seems Kymco also imported the ‘Racer’ version of their Cobra scooter for 2003, which was called the Cobra Racer or Cobra R. This scooter was the same scooter as the Cobra Cross, but with street tires and no wire grill covering the headlights. If a few of these Cobra Racer scooters did make it to the USA, they were only sold for the 2003 model year.

USA MODELS: Super 9, ZX 50, Filly 50, Cobra Cross / Racer, People 50 / 150 / 250

2004

Kymco introduced their Bet & Win scooters for the 2004 model year. Both 150 and 250cc models were offered and both of them used liquid cooled motors which was a first for Kymco in the USA. The People series and Bet & Win series seem to have sold fairly well and both enjoyed a long run, with some People series scooters still be on sale as of 2011.

USA MODELS: Super 9, ZX 50, Filly 50, Cobra Cross, People 50 / 150 / 250, Bet & Win 150 / 250

2005

Kymco USA dropped their off-road inspired Cobra Cross scooter and added the sporty new Vitality 50 (shown in blue). The Vitality 50 started off as a 2-stroke, but a 4-stroke version would arrive in later years. Kymco also added the 250cc Grandvista scooter to their line up. The Grandvista 250 was similar to the Bet & Win 250 but more touring/highway oriented. The rest of the line up carried over unchanged.

North of the border, BECO Motor International brought Kymco Canada to life and began importing the first models. Their 2005 debut lineup included four scooters ranging from 50cc to 250cc - there was two 50cc's and two larger Bet & Win scooters. The ZX50 was their affordable 50cc option, while the Super 9 was the premium sporty 50cc option. The Bet & Win 150 and 250cc (below right) scooters rounded up the Canadian line up.

USA MODELS: Super 9, ZX 50, Filly 50, Vitality 50, People 50 / 150 / 250, Bet & Win 150 / 250, Grandvista 250
CANADA MODELS: Super 9, ZX 50, Bet & Win 150 / 250

2006

Kymco USA's big news for the 2006 model year was the debut of the 500cc Xciting maxi scooter. The Xciting 500 was a big introduction for Kymco, as it was their first real maxi-scooter. The Grandvista 250 was a capable touring machine, but it wasn’t a full on highway devouring maxi like the Xciting 500.

Aside from Xciting 500 introduction, Kymco freshened their lineup by dropping the aging Filly 50.

Kymco Canada was still getting rolling in the new market. Their line up went unchanged for 2006 as they worked on expanding their dealer network.

USA MODELS: Super 9, ZX 50, Vitality 50, People 50 / 150 / 250, Bet & Win 150 / 250, Grandvista 250, Xciting 500
CANADA MODELS: Super 9, ZX 50, Bet & Win 150 / 250

2007

Kymco USA

expanded their line up for 2007 with the low priced Agility 50 & 125cc (below left) and People S (50cc, 125cc, 200cc, 250cc) lines (below right) of scooters. The Agility scooters were introduced at a mere $1399 (50cc) and $1899 (150cc) which is an incredible value, although it does make the other Kymco’s sharing a lot of parts seem a bit more expensive. Also new for 2007 was a 250cc version of the Xciting maxi scooter. The lone casualty for 2007 was the aging ZX 50 which was dropped after a three year run, although it would continue to be sold in Canada for another year. STR Motorsports sold 50% of Kymco USA to Kymco Global this year.

USA MODELS: Super 9, Vitality 50, Agility 50 / 125, People S 50 / 125 / 250, People 50 / 150 / 250, Bet & Win 150 / 250, Grandvista 250, Xciting 250 / 500
CANADA MODELS: Super 9, ZX 50, Bet & Win 150 / 250

2008

For 2008 Kymco USA kept their existing lineup intact except for cutting the Bet & Win 250 from their crowded line up. In Canada, Kymco played catch up by introducing a number of models that were already available in the USA. The People S line (50cc, 125cc, 200cc) was introduced except for the largest 250cc variant. Kymco Canada also began importing the Xciting 500 and the Vitality 50, both of which had been on sale for several years in the USA.

USA MODELS: Super 9, Vitality 50, Agility 50 / 125, People S 50 / 125 / 200 / 250, People 50 / 150 / 250, Bet & Win 150 / 250, Grandvista 250, Xciting 250 / 500
CANADA MODELS: Super 9, Vitality 50, People S 50 / 125 / 200, Bet & Win 150 / 250, Xciting 500

2009

Both Kymco USA and Kymco Canada made some major changes to their line up for 2009. Kymco Canada added the all new Frost 200i (aka Yager) which was an important model for Kymco. The Frost was the first mid-size Kymco to not use the same aging motor found in all mid-sized (125cc - 200cc) Kymco’s previously. The new engine was 174.5cc and used fuel injection & liquid cooling which was big news from Kymco. Aside from the Frost, Kymco Canada also added the retro styled 4-stroke Sento 50 (below in black) and they added a 4-stroke version of the Vitality 50.

In the USA, the Vitality 50, People 200, People S 50, People S 125 and the Bet & Win series were all dropped, while the Sento 50 (shown in black), Sting 50 and Super 8 50 & 150 models were added. The Sento 50, LIke 50 (left) and Sting 50 scooters were essentially an attempt to freshen Kymco’s 50cc line using new body styles on top of the same mechanics as other 50cc Kymco’s. With the large wheeled People and People S lines, what

Kymco did was to reduce the overlap between their very similar People and People S lines by keeping only the smaller People scooters (50cc, 150cc) and the larger People S scooters (200cc, 250cc).

The Super 8 is a sporty scooter that seemingly was introduced as a replacement for the Super 9 in both 50cc and 150cc versions, but they were sold alongside each other for 2009. For 2008, just a 4-stroke version of the Super 8 50 was sold in the USA, but a 2-stroke version would be added in future years.

USA MODELS: Super 9, Sento 50, Like 50, Sting 50, Agility 50 / 125, Super 8 50 / 150, People 50 / 150, People S 200 / 250, Grandvista 250, Xciting 250 / 500
CANADA MODELS: Super 9, Vitality 50, Sento 50, People 50 / 150, Bet & Win 150 / 250, Frost 200i, People S 200 / 250, Xciting 500

2010

Kymco USA added the new and stylish Yager GT 200i (shown) to their lineup, which was introduced a year earlier in Canada as the Frost. They also dropped the aging Super 9 now that the newer Super 8 was selling well. The Super 8 scooters used the same aging 4-stroke motors Kymco has been using for years, but both the Frost 200i used

a new higher tech engines that offers better power and fuel economy for its size than previous Kymco motors.

Kymco Canada tidied up their product line by dropping the popular but aging Super 9, People series, People S series and the Bet & Win series of scooters and adding the Super 8 50 & 150 and the Downtown 300i (shown in orange) . With these changes, Kymco stopped selling the People, People S and Bet & Win scooters. The new Super 8 150 used the same air cooled motor as the Bet & Win 150 and the mid sized People scooters. The Frost 200i and Downtown 300i stepped things up with new and far superior fuel injected engines that perform much closer to those of their Japanese competitors in terms of fuel economy, power, emissions and refinement. Unlike in the USA, Canadians were offered the 50cc Super 8 in a 2-stroke rather than a 4-stroke, likely due to more lax emissions regulations in Canada. Both 50cc Super 8 engines are older air cooled designs from the 90’s that are likely going to be replaced in the next few years.

USA MODELS: Sento 50, Sting 50, Like 50, Agility 50 / 125, Super 8 50 / 150, People 50 / 150, People S 200 / 250, Yager 200i, Grandvista 250,Xciting 250 / 500
CANADA MODELS: Vitality 50, Sento 50, Super 8 50 / 150, Frost 200i,Downtown 300i, Xciting 500

2011

Kymco Canada kept their lineup unchanged for the 2011 model year, while Kymco USA added a larger 200cc version of the Like. Kymco USA also added the Downtown 300i that was introduced in Canada the previous year and offered a 2-stroke version of the Super 8 50 alongside the previously available 4-stroke version. While receiving fuel injection, the Like 200i still uses a smaller (163cc vs. 174cc) and older core motor than the Frost/Yager GT 200i.

In corporate news, STR Motorsports sold their remaining 50% of Kymco USA back to Kymco global in spring 2011, making Kymco USA now wholly owned by Kymco global.

USA MODELS: Sento 50, Sting 50, Agility 50 / 125, Super 8 50 / 150, People 50 / 150, Like 50 / 200, People S 200 / 250, Yager 200i, Grandvista 250, Downtown 300i, Xciting 250 / 500
CANADA MODELS: Vitality 50, Sento 50, Super 8 50 / 150, Frost 200i, Downtown 300i, Xciting 500

2012

At Kymco USA’s summer press event in South Carolina, the biggest news for 2012 was the new People GT 200i and 300i scooters. These scooter share extremely sharp styling that is perhaps the best yet from Kymco. The new People GT 300i uses the same advanced motor as the Downtown 300i, while the GT 200i uses an all new 205cc 4-valve motor with fuel injection. These scooters replace the People S 200 and People S 250 models.

Also sharing this new 205cc motor is a smaller version of Kymco’s Downtown scooter. The new Downtown 200i can be had for $400 less than the 300i model.

Another interesting idea from Kymco for 2012 is ‘LX’ versions of their retro styled Like 50 and Like 200 scooters. The ‘LX’ version includes a neat two color paint job and various chrome accents. It’s going to be a popular package amongst like buyers since it only adds $100 to the MSRP.

Several models were dropped for 2012 which are the Sting 50, Grandvista 250, Xciting 250 and 4-stroke version of the Super 8. It’s easy to see why the Sting 50 and Xciting 250 scooters were squeezed out of Kymco’s line up with all the great new models they are introducing. The 4-stroke Super 8 is likely not being

offered since the 2-stroke version was far more popular in 2011.

Kymco USA is carrying over the Agility 50 & 125, Sento 50, Yager GT 200i and Xciting 500 models unchanged.

Kymco Canada made quite a few changes were made as well. Canadians are being offered the new People GT in only the smaller 200i size. Some of the biggest news for 2012 is the Canadian introduction of a new generation of Sento, which is being called the ‘New Sento’ (shown right) and is available in both 50i and 110i versions. Also new is the Agility City 50, which is the first time Canadians have been offered an Agility model. The Agility City 50 is the same core scooter (frame and motor) as the Agility 50 sold in the USA, but the ‘City’ version receives larger wheels and a number of nice upgrades like a windscreen, rear case, nicer rims, integrated and more.

Kymco Canada is carrying over the Vitality 50, Super 8 50 / 150, Frost 200i, Downtown 300i and Xciting 500.

USA MODELS: Sento 50, Agility 50 / 125, Super 8 50 / 150, People 50 / 150, Like 50 / 200, People GT 200i / 300i, Yager GT 200i, Downtown 200i / 300i, Xciting 500
CANADA MODELS: Vitality 50, Agility City 50, New Sento 50i / 110i, Super 8 50 / 150, Frost 200i, People GT 200i, Downtown 300i, Xciting 500

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