Scooter Pic of the Day

OK… let’s try this AGAIN!!!

Up above you see a nifty little discovery: Another Kymco Agility 125!! This one was brand new with the temp plate still on the back of the bike.

It seems word is getting out that these bikes rock, although the new owner needs to learn to lock their steering column!

As for the lack of postings as of late, I do apologize.  I recently made the upgrade to Windows 8, and while I’m loving the faster layout and the improved performance (went from a 1 minute 18 second boot up time to 16 seconds cold!), it seems developers are keen on seeing this platform die by making the CRAPPIEST apps in the world!! C’mon WordPress!!!  Your web based publisher sucks horribly, and what passes for a Windows 8 desktop app is so limited, I can create more in depth posts on my PHONE!  You can’t even edit from the new Windows 8 app, only post.  And, the formatting options aren’t worth a damn either.

Very Disappoint, WordPress…. very.  Guess the most widely used OS in the world isn’t hipster enough for you guys to actually make a decent app, huh?

(The opinions herein do not express the overall opinion of the Slow Kids Scooter Gang and are an editorial by the author.  But, wordpress is sucking pretty hard right now, so there!)

Over at the In N Out with the Phoenix Meetup Scooter Club

So, I had a weekend night with no shows.  This meant, as a production tech with no life, I had zero on my plate on a hoppin’ Friday night.  But, I saw on the local Phoenix Meetup board a notice that there was going to be a meet at the Tempe In-N-Out burger joint.  So, after a quick wash of the scooter and a fill up, I headed out to finally try to be social with *other* riders in the valley.

As it turned out, it was a great time! There were about 12 others there on bikes of all types.  From a couple of Chinese rides to top-of-the-line Vespa GT300’s, there were even a few Kymcos (Including my trusty little Agility) and even a 4-Stroke Stella and vintage style Honda Helix!

Turns out that the rider, Keith, is a reader of this very blog!  It was crazy hearing him recount articles that I have written on this very page… it was like someone was actually reading this drivel.  And, it was a first chance for me to hear a 4-stroke Stella in person, and it’s almost too quiet.  And, it didn’t “smell” right, but that’s the 2-stroke enthusiast in me.  Otherwise, it was a sweet machine.

Another bike that caught my eye was this Honda PCX.  It was a really slick machine at night, but after sitting on it I came to the conclusion that, after riding the Agility, the seat “hump” on the PCX’s saddle was just in the wrong place, forcing me forward. But, from the owner’s reports there is more than enough power, if it weren’t for the limiter chip installed in the bike from the factory. Major suck on limiters..

As I mentioned, there were a few Chinese scooters there, but they were all running which was unusual in it’s own right.  One of the riders, Prescott, was already mentioning his interest in looking for a step up from his ride (which cost about $1049 from what he reported).  But, it sounded in working order and he like the rest there was a great guy and very welcoming!

There was even another Kymco in the mix to welcome others of the Taiwanese marque.  This Grandvista had a few years on it, but from the looks and sound you would never know!  These bikes hold up extremely well and seeing one look this good after a few years only increases my confidence in my bike.

It was a great meet up and I had a chance to finally meet some other riders in the valley. It was honestly refreshing not having to deal with the vintage-snobs and the cliquish club riders that have pretty much faded into obscurity in the valley.  Hopefully I can get on a few more of these rides when I can get even a little time off. 

And, the weather was PERFECT: 71 degrees and clear skies.  Can’t get better than that.

Slow Kids Field Trip ‘13, Part 2: From daily life to preparation

For most of us, our scooter is a daily mode of transport.  It’s the workhorse of the transportation world and as such is ridiculed by many other motorcycle riders as not being a “real” bike.  As someone who’s ridden everything from Triumphs to Harleys to Vespas, I of course would disagree. 

But, that’s not to deny that they are made for a particular environment.  It’s why I myself chose the Kymco Agility 125.  It’s a durable, reliable if not boring looking scooter.  It does the job of commuter better than nearly anything on the road for it’s price and it doesn’t look like a Chinese POS (which is very important in the scooter world ). And it does the daily chores expected of such a scooter with ease (such as the weekly bottled water runs seen below)

Or even grabbing a pizza:

But, when you talk about cross country trips, THEN people really start looking at you like you’re nuts, and perhaps you may be just a little.  But, that’s half of the joy: Taking something designed for one purpose on an adventure doing something completely out of the ordinary.  When we think about Amerivespa, it means taking our daily riders and subjecting them to several THOUSAND miles of asphalt, gravel, dirt roads and NO roads in two different countries.  That means that both the bikes and the riders are going to have to prepare for things they never had to do before (for most). 

In the following entries, I’ll highlight my experiences with cross country riding, and how it’s going to be far different on a scooter.  I may do it with this Agility I have.  And why not? It’s known for being bulletproof reliable, simple to work on and made to be abused.  I also may do it on a Stella or a vintage P-series that has the same reputation from 30 years ago.  Either way, the choice of bikes is critical.  Also, there is the physical training of taking your body and wrestling a single cylinder small bike across Northern Mexico and the Southwest US.  It will be anything but easy, and probably more physically grueling on the rider than doing it on a fancy BMW or Kawasaki Adventure bike with 1200cc’s of power and custom made off road suspension.  Then of course there is the financial and mental preparation.  Any motorcycle adventure succeeds or fails on proper planning when it comes to logistics and financing.  Do we need carnes? What about Passports? What is the exchange rate? What if we break down and needs parts? What if we need a tow? HOW do we tow it home if needed? All of these are critical. 

So, stay tuned and you will see how we as city commuters start to attack the daunting task this next summer.  I think the difference in perspectives will shed some light on an awesome subgroup of riders most motorcyclist overlook… even when they are your own kind!

Musings after 1500k

 

It’s been quiet around here.  That’s to be sure.  BUT… there has been some interest because yesterday we hit our HIGHEST per-day count yet: 69 BABY!!!

So, I figured it would be a good time to discuss the musings of using a commuter bike as the main bike for someone who’s ridden and lusted after fine Italian steel much of his life.  

As you see above, the Agility 125 has become part of the family, even taking it’s  own spot in the living room.  While some may question why take such care of a “commuter” bike, it is still *my* bike, and the only one I have.  And, while my new digs (The new “bunker” if you will)  are nice, the surrounding neighborhood is still on it’s way up.  I don’t want to take any chances, and this way it keeps nice and preserved without being beaten by the Arizona sun constantly. 

As far as growing performance, it’s settled into a top speed of about 65K-Mph (Kymco Miles Per Hour), which registers to about 61 Mph by GPS.  It has great pep and acceleration all the way up to about 45-50, but then plateaus pretty quick there after.  The ride is still stiff, but the bike makes up for the rough ride by some amazing cornering and handling hampered only by the strangely profiled tires.  With new tread, there’s no reason why I couldn’t drag with the best of them!  Seriously, this bike handles great, and way above it’s class and price point.

The brakes are a bit of a sore spot.  They’re “OK”, but not great.  And, the front disc has developed a squeal that I just can’t get rid of. I’ve tried sanding the pads, constant applications of brakecleaner to remove dust… nothing.  Still there. May have the dealer look into it after I can afford to do my 3rd service interval.  Other than that, all the rest of the material of the bike is holding up well into it’s 1500th Kilometer.  No broken bits and every bit of plastic seems to be in great condition.  The only minor bit is that the center stand likes to stick when folding it back up, but that’s the only thing I could find to harp on.

 

All in all, the bike has proven a great daily driver.  It’s neutral styling doesn’t attract the wrong attention, while it doesn’t look like a cheap China-Container scooter.  It’s build quality is impressive for the price point, and the performance is solid.  No, it’s not as smooth as a Vespa LXV or as sleek as a Honda PCX, but we’re talking about bikes that cost two to three times what this did!  And, I’ve been seeing more pop up on the roads here in Phoenix.  When gas makes it’s innevitable climb above $4/gallon as it does every winter, I’m sure that with the number of dealerships Kymco is pushing in Arizona, we’re going to see A LOT more.

And, as for the great Mexico to San Diego Amerivespa trip?  This could be a contender.  Yes, I haven’t forgotten about that promise.  The pressures of full time work, more than full time school and moving into a new place may of taken me offline for a bit, but I have still been thinking of that journey.  Current conditions may preclude me getting another vintage scooter for the great trip, so the Agility may have to step up to the challenge of fighting the journey South of the border instead.  And, so far? It may just do fine!

Although, the ride is a bit rough, there’s no doubt the machine is up for the challenge!  And to make a trip on what is considered to be the cheapest quality-made bike on the market could be a bragging right on it’s own!

In the Wild: Another Agility!

It’s not exactly Earth-shattering, but in a city that prides itself on a plethora of “bro-dozers” and “cowboy Cadillacs” seeing scooters is always refreshing.  And, as the economy has taken a sharper downturn than the financial gurus would like us to believe, quality makes of scooters have been coming to the forefront.  Of course, this also means there are a ton of Chinese junker clone scoots coming out of the woodwork too.  But, I think many people are getting wise to their tactics.

This also means new brands or brands that aren’t well known may fight against the stigma that every bike not a Vespa is a “Chinese” scooter. Really, it’s the Chinese clones that have ruined the reputation of scooters in the US as being “real” bikes.  But, companies like Kymco, Genuine Scooter Company and SYM have thankfully not given up.

Proof? Dunno if it’s proof, but I saw another new Agility 125 on campus today! This gentleman bought  it from the dealer in Avondale (who charged him freight, assembly and “paperwork” on top of tax/title/license, while my dealer informed me that freight and prep are included in the MSRP by Kymco… interesting).  The Agility is priced right and has a modern look without the modern Piaggio or Honda price.  And, it’s made in a plant OWNED and regulated by Kymco, even if it is on the Mainland.  Far different than those build-and-forget crap Chinese scooters.

Good to see I’m not the only one on campus who gets it!

“IIIIIII…. would scoot 500, er, kilometers…”

So, I have had the Kymco Agility 125 for about a week officially.  It has yet to have a name, but it has been put to the magic number of 500 kilos.  So far, the break-in period is going fantastic, and I even have a bit of observation to report:

-It’s a punchy little guy!! Just *barely* slower than the Buddy 125 on initial acceleration, but from what I’ve seen, same top speed.  It may even be a hair faster, but I won’t push it to WOT until I get 1k on it

-Fit and finish, while Spartan, is tight! Not one squeak, rattle or loose bolt yet.  Although, being a single cylinder scooter I know loose bolts are coming and are a fact of life.  But so far, it’s proving itself well

-The tires? Eh. The sudden drop-off on the lip of the tire means there isn’t extra real estate to go “knee down” in the turns, and they have modest grip.  They just are cheap tires.  But, when you get a brand new scooter for under $2200 US with ALL FEES, you have to expect a cut corner or two.  This is the only place other than the copious amounts of flat unpainted plastic that shows the Kymco’s budget roots.

-Average MPG so far? 88 Miles Per Gallon.

-The suspension is tight, but perhaps a bit *too* tight.  It can be a rough ride on less developed or less maintained roads.  Of course, the tight suspension also lends itself to great cornering and it’s sporty, almost Agile if you will, feel.  It’s not for everyone, but again at this  price point you can either get comfort and sloppy handling or a bit of a rough ride and excellent handling.

All in all, this is a great urban scooter perfectly suited for the quick-punch acceleration and maneuvering critical in large urban environments.  This bike was tailor made for the commuter with decent underseat storage, sporty handling, quick acceleration, a rear rack that’s actually USEFUL and decent looks that don’t scream “Chinese Scooter Clone” just because it’s inexpensive.

Granted, this bike still costs more than the nicest Chinese clone, but not by much.  And, after seeing what this bike can do… why the hell would anyone buy a no-name bike when they can have a Kymco at this price?

On The Road Agaaaaaiiiinnnn…..

It’s been a while, I know.  But life has thrown some severe curves at us.  It has eaten up two bikes that I have tried to incorporate into my life and along the way thousands of dollars. During the journey homes have been shifted, friends gained and lost, jobs gained and a long trudge to two degrees has evolved.  But, the while is over.

Actually, it took a LONG while, and even then it was a fight but here it is: The new steed of mine!

A 2013 Kymco Agility 125!!!!  Top speed of around 65mph (a smidge faster once broken in I am told), amazingly tight construction and a price that wouldn’t even bag me a clean USED Vespa.  And, it comes with a  2 year warranty! 

With Kymco’s hard push into the US market, I could no longer ignore the marque.  After finally test riding one I realized something pretty profound: They have passed some of the Japanese in build quality, and their “commuter” bikes like the Agility actually may be BETTER than Piaggio’s budget line of Flys and Typhoons!  I am dead serious in this respect too.

I would have to be.  I don’t make enough money to throw around on bikes that “maybe” better.  I had the option of buying a 2009 Piaggio Fly 150 with only 900 miles for about $800 less, and I *still* went with the Kymco. 

That is how Impressive it is in build and performance.

Looks may be a bit debatable since you either love or hate the modern styling.  There is a lot of treated plastic on this bike (hence it’s flat black finish), so it’s going to take a lot of upkeep with the plastics protectant.  But, the wheels run a 12” rim, unlike the Genuine Scooter Co’s Buddy which rocks 10” steel rims.  The handling shows with the larger, wider running gear as well.  The suspension is VERY tight and almost rough, but in the corners this bike grips hard, making use of that tight suspension. It’s not as smooth and refined as the Vespa, but this bike is $1,899 MSRP.  Yep. That’s the everyday price.  Out the door, I paid $2149. 

You try finding a bike this well built for under $2200!  I couldn’t.

So, there it is.  I will do a proper report once I get more than 12 Kilometers on the machine.  Until then, stay tuned!

The “Replacements”: So long, Piaggio. Hello… Kymco?!

So, as the few regular readers on here know, it’s been a bit of a fight as of late to keep a scooter on the road here.  Much of it is funds, since I work in the arts and life has this pesky way of taking that meager artist’s salary and finding ways of spending it before I can.  But, a lot of the issue is finding a bike that can put up with the insane environmental conditions of where I live in Phoenix, Arizona.  Where temperatures are in the high 110’s to 115’s, and on the street surface can easily climb over 122 degrees machinery doesn’t last too long out here.  Cars literally burst into flames on the side of the highways and tires become so overheated blowouts are as common as the ubiquitous Filibertos Taco Stands that dot the city. 

There is another factor that keeps many scooters off the roads here in the US: Parts.  You see, Piaggio thinks we in the United States are no better than a rural farm town in Russia, or a tiny island in Malaysia.  This is because scooter sales here are tiny in comparison to the rest of the word, and for Piaggio and Vespa, if it’s not the number one market, they simply won’t care.  In fact during the LARGEST Vespa rally in North America, Piaggio USA did not send ONE representative.  Not one person from Piaggio came to support the largest group of Vespa riders.  Also, if you have ever tried to order parts for your Vespa, you pretty much can’t.  If you do get it, expect to wait a month to 4 months for it.  And, then there are the dealerships… or lack thereof.

Of course, then there is the price for being a member of the “elite” Vespa brand image.  What was once a shining example of transportation and style for the masses has become the iProduct of the motorcycle world, commanding prices that only the upper middle class can afford and twice to three times that of an inexpensive used sedan

It’s enough to drive you up the wall!!

So, what is a scooterist who values affordable, fashionable and fun transportation to do?  Companies like Genuine Scooter Company in cooperation with LML and PGO have done wonders in keeping the nerdy spirit of scootering alive, but they aren’t the only ones in the game.  I myself LOVE , LOVE, LOVE the Stella but their “Buddy” line of scooters are just too small to fit my tall, skinny English frame.  The Japanese makers see scooters as an afterthought in the US, where they can easily sell a liter superbike faster than a 50cc.  So we get the cast offs and the most sparse of offerings from them.

But  another company has caught my eye, and knows what they are doing when it comes to scooters.  They are the 5th largest manufacturer of motorbikes in the world, have offerings that outsell Vespa in Italy itself and have decided that the United States is where it’s at next.  It’s Kymco.

After 15 years in the US, they have gained traction as a reputable company with amazing ATV’s, Quads and scooters.  They started out working as a Honda OEM manufacturer in the 60’s, and now make some of the most popular bikes in the world and are even the manufacturers of the new BMW scooter engines and the BMW 450cc engine they use in their enduros!  They dominate in Taiwan and Austriallia, have taken HUGE positions in the market in Japan and Italy and are known for reliability and quality that rivals Honda, and that puts Piaggio in it’s place. 

And, Kymco has been building their image in the US by partnering up with NHRA race teams, sponsoring giveaways at local scooter rallies where winning a T-shirt isn’t an option, but an ENTIRE SCOOTER!  And, they have themselves thrown some crazy rallies in the US in an effort  to show that not every company ignores it’s enthusiasts.  And, it’s People 150 scooter is still considered one of the best bikes on the market nearly 10 years after its release in the US.

And, it’s down to two of their scooters for me: The Like 200i and the Agility 125.

The “Like” 200i must be one of the most bland names in scooter history.  It’s not passionate, driving or even sensible!  But, for what it lacks in creativity, it brings in features!  Now, the Like 200i isn’t actually a 200cc… it’s 163cc.  Yeah, a little misleading.  But what it doesn’t tell you is that it makes up for this with a Fuel-Injected engine with front and rear disc brakes all on a largeframe scooter chassis backed by the typical bullet proof Kymco engine and a 2 year/unlimited mileage warranty!  While some are quick to point out that it’s “retro” styling is too close to Vespa, I tend to disagree.  Vespa didn’t invent the scooter even if it wants the world to think so  (much like Apple not stopping people from thinking it invented the touchscreen smartphone).  To me, it says more “Lambretta” with those flat vented sides and strong front rake. 

So it’s fuel injected, well equipped with braking and even comes with the topcase as standard.  What’s to make *me* buy this over a Vespa LX150?  Well, the LX150 starts at $4,200US plus fees.  The MSRP on this? $2,599US.  And, Vespa will only give you a 1 year warranty.

This is the front runner because a local dealership has TWO on sale for the low, low price of $2,095US!  You get all the features of a Vespa (save the all steel body) with a lot more piece of mind.  And, you can actually find more than one Kymco dealer in your state as opposed to the Italians (if your state even has a Piaggio dealer).  In fact, many states have more Kymco dealers than Yamaha dealers, and I have respect for the tuning-fork logo!

The other scooter on my radar is at the bottom of the price range, but not the last in the line when it comes to quality: The Agility 125

This is a bare-bones scoot, but well put together: 125cc air cooled, carbureted mill.  Front disc, rear drum.  It’ has all the modern scoot basics and an engine that will get you to 60-ish miles per hour… and that’s it.  No auto-stability system, no GPS systems, no nothing.  Just scooter.  It’s the modern smallframe and that’s a good thing.  It’s the same base engine as the Kymco 125cc lot of other scoots, but in a clean, poly shell and tube steel chassis.

So, why the hell is this thing so interesting?  Try an MSRP of $1,799US.  No, that’s not a clearance price.  Yes, that includes the 2 year warranty.  Their 50cc Version eeks in at under $1,399US!  You can hardly get a China-Clone scooter for that!!! And, it’s one of the top 10 selling scooters in Italy, known for being one of the largest and most competitive scooter markets in the world!  They sell more scooters there than in the entirety of North America!  So, that’s a lot of Agility for the buck.

To be fair, these scooters aren’t manufactured in Taiwan, where Kymco is headquartered.  They are made in a Kymco-only owned factory in China.  Now, some may balk at this idea especially after how much I rag on Chinese scooters.  BUT, this is a Kymco run facility and they have a rep around the world for running a *tight* ship.  Also, consider that the Vespa S150, Piaggio Fly and Piaggio Typhoon are ALSO made in China under a plant owned by Piaggio.  Yep: You think you may be buying Italian and thus buying “better”, but as it turns out Piaggio is taking a page from Kymco in an effort to stay competitive. 

So, it’s down to these two for me.  There will be another Stella in my drive, make no doubt about that!  But, for the winter and for commuting, it’s down to these two juggernauts of the scooter world that 10-15 years ago would have been unthinkable: Taiwanese scooters out-performing and out lasting Japanese and Italian competitors?  Then again, who would of thought ten years ago that our cell phone choice would depend on what operating system and what video phone options we could get.

The times, they are a’changing….