Kymco Xciting 250

There are many well-thought-out features on the Xciting 250. The dash board includes a centrally located speedometer that indicates kilometers per hour on the outer ring, and miles per hour on the inner ring. AThe indicated speed was about 5% optimistic compared to the actual. There are temperature and fuel gauges to the right, and a tachometer to the left. Yes, a tachometer on a CVT automatic scooter - maybe Kymco felt they needed it to give the dash "balance." Just below the analog speedometer display is a multi-function digital display including a clock and tripmeter. The fuel filler cap is located to the lower-right of the dash. The ignition switch includes releases for the seat in several positions, a release for the fuel cap, a steering lock and a shield.

Braking

The dual front (and single rear) disk brakes provided plenty of stopping power for this 400+ pound scooter. Of course with me in the pilot's seat, those poor brakes need to bring over 600 pounds to a stop and this they did without complaint. The brakes did not feel either light or heavy to me. In fact, I would say that the effort needed to operate them was just about perfect. There was no noticeable dive or fade.

Storage

If you are planning on touring with a Kymco Xciting, you will need to add some luggage. There are two small storage areas: one to the lower left of the dash that can handle a pair of sunglasses and other small items, and a... coin tray(???) at the tip of the seat. When I first saw this little bit of hard plastic I was concerned that it might make the seat uncomfortable (especially for the shorter among us). It didn't. As it happened, I couldn't think of a use for it during my test, but it did not interfere at all with comfortable seating. The storage area under the seat is somewhat shallow, but it gobbled up a 3/4 helmet just fine. During my Friday evening ride with my wife, we fit both of our armoured jackets under the seat. Bob at scooterville said there is a colour-matched rear trunk available for the Xciting and I would consider that a mandatory addition for any real touring. The battery is located in the "tail" and is accessible behind a plastic panel under the seat. There is also a light under the seat, a power outlet, and a mount for your mobile phone.

Seat

In looking around on the web and talking to other scooterists, the main comment about the Xciting seemed to be that is was a "tall person's" ride. If you glance back to the comparison chart, you will see that the Xciting at 30.3 inches is the tallest with the Majesty next (29.5 inches), then the Reflex (28.3 inches), and the Burgman 400 being the lowest (27.4 inches). Of course none of these compares with the King - The Honda Helix at 26 inches off the road. While the scooters in the chart share a similar layout, one height difference is obvious. Look at the tire sizes. As one would expect, they pretty much follow seat height. The Xciting has the biggest rubber with 15 inch front and 14 inch rear tires. These big skins contribute to the distance from the ground and give the Xciting a remarkably stable ride.

Riding impressions

The Xciting started easily and quickly settled into a fairly smooth idle. I did not run any acceleration tests, but my seat-of-the-pants opinion is that the Xciting is a touch faster off the line than the Reflexes I have ridden and was about the same for roll-on speed. What about the top end of the speedometer you ask? With a 200+ pound pilot, GPS indicated 79 mph on a flat stretch. A lighter pilot would likely see just past 80 mph. With the aforementioned pilot and his wife on board, the top was 75 mph.

Part of my test ride involved some twisties and hills on the run between Prescott and Hudson. The Xciting demonstrated very competent handling and offered a spirited but not sporty ride. At no point did I feel "under-vehicled" on this ride.

Fit and Finish

One word: outstanding. The coloured body-work is glossy, all the pieces fit well with each other, and the components appear to be of very good quality. Of course the real test is time. After a season of doing my best to break my People 250, I can say that Kymco's reputation for quality is well-deserved. I believe that the Xciting will prove to be the equal of the major Japanese manufacturers in quality and reliability.

Value

This is where the Kymco Xciting really shines. With twice the warranty period of the other scooters in our comparison chart, the Xciting is still the least expensive to purchase. Granted, Kymco does not have the dealer network that Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha do, but the brand is still relatively new to the US marketplace. According to Bob at Scooterville, Kymco's support and parts availability has been excellent.