{"id":4365,"date":"2024-05-18T14:01:17","date_gmt":"2024-05-18T14:01:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blacktopmedia.co.uk\/?p=4365"},"modified":"2024-05-18T14:04:32","modified_gmt":"2024-05-18T14:04:32","slug":"kymco-a-scooter-manufacturer-youve-never-heard-of","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blacktopmedia.co.uk\/?p=4365","title":{"rendered":"Kymco – Never Heard Of Them? Here’s Why."},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Tweet<\/a><\/div>\n\n

Recently, I was invited to a media day by Kymco where we were offered the chance to spend the day riding some of their scooters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You probably haven\u2019t heard of Kymco, who are they? Here’s a quick potted history…….<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Founded in 1964, KYMCO became one of Honda\u2019s overseas manufacturing facilities. In the UK Kymco has been little more than an afterthought. For years, the petrol product (ATV & 2 wheeled) was looked after by Masco. In 2017 Masco closed its doors, leaving Kymco with a bit of an issue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the time, there was a company selling Kymco mobility scooters in the UK, Kymco Healthcare. In simple terms, a new company was formed and they took on the distribution of the petrol product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sadly, Kymco UK had no experience of petrol products and struggled to look after the dealers and customers. The dealer network dwindled and sales, already small, were not great. Dealers reported a lack of interest and poor product knowledge from the new company and since then there has been a high turnover of external staff at Kymco UK, coupled with hardly any new products. In a world where brands like Sym, Honda, Lexmoto and many more have more up-to-date technology and styling, and at the moment this is a very competitive market, making the ageing Kymco range look less appealing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

DTX 360<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kymco\u2019s DTX 360 is what Kymco call an Adventure Crossover. In reality, it\u2019s just the old Downtown 350 model with adventure-oriented styling and tyres. There are no real concessions to it having any actual off-road ability. The CST dual-sport tyres aren\u2019t very good, lacking feel and grip on the road, particularly in damp conditions. One plus is that these tyres aren\u2019t available in the UK, so you will be forced to find an alternative, which will certainly be better than these.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The heart of the DTX is a liquid-cooled, 320cc single-cylinder engine producing a claimed 28.2bhp and 20Nm of torque, and there\u2019s a CVT gearbox to transfer the power to the road. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not a bad engine when you\u2019re going, but sounds like the exhaust is blowing and seems to pop and splutter on overrun. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One thing I will say about the DTX320 is it has a great seat. The suspension is ok on smooth roads but is obviously budget, unbranded stuff and isn\u2019t great on bumpy roads, but the large, comfy seat makes riding the DTX more manageable. One downside to the seat is it\u2019s really wide. The seat height is 800mm but being so wide means your legs are wide apart so will be forced up onto your tip toes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It comes with TCS (Traction Control System) and has a full-colour dash that shows; speedometer, air temperature, fuel consumption, battery voltage, mileage, trip odometer, tachometer, clock, fuel gauge and coolant temperature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s got a keyless ignition although the ignition switch is a rotary dial that is frustrating to use. There have been many complaints about batteries going flat, possibly due to the complexity of the rotary ignition switch or possibly the budget battery itself. You also have a reasonable underseat storage compartment but it\u2019s not quite big enough for a full-face helmet, and it\u2019ll do 65mpg. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The telescopic front Suspension is unbranded but does an ok job on smooth roads and the twin shock rear suspension is the same, unbranded, budget suspension but adequate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Curiously, the DTX360  isn\u2019t actually a 360. There are two bikes in the range, the 320cc and the 125cc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had a ride of a used one recently. It was just under 3000 miles old and had been looked after. The suspension mounting point, various exposed brackets and most fasteners all showed corrosion, as did the rear springs and the black paint on the forks was peeling. Everything worked as it should and there were no reported mechanical issues though but the bikes are obviously built down to a price. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, it\u2019s cheaper that a Yamaha XMAX, but it\u2019s not in the same ballpark in terms of quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kymco are unknown in the UK, the dealer network is very poor and at \u00a35,299 + otr, it looks expensive next to bikes like the Lexmoto XBV300 at only \u00a34259.99 and the SYM JOYMAX Z+ at only \u00a34699.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n