People scooter

[iamgumby]

I was knocking around Lubbock, TX this weekend and saw a scooter parked at Wally World. It looked pretty new. It looked like a Metropolitan but it was much taller and longer. The only name I could find on it was "People"....and I think it had some kind of permenant saddle bag system to it. And was kind of a dusty medium blue. Just got home and haven't had a chance to Google it yet. Thought someone here might be familiar with them.

[Dodsfall]

They are made by Kymco, and have styles ranging from 50CC all the way up to the monsterous 250CC.

[primalmu]

They are made by Kymco, and have styles ranging from 50CC all the way up to the monsterous 250CC.

They also make the 500cc Xciting 500Ri.

[Maico Shark]

Are they Chinese made?

[Dodsfall]

I believe they are Chinese-made.

[primalmu]

Kymco is a Taiwanese company.

[BH121869]

monsterous 250CC.

??? Is 250 cc considered monsterous these days?

[Dodsfall]

??? Is 250 cc considered monsterous these days?

For scooters it is. :)

[loudest143]

Kymco is Taiwanese, and a notoriously well built and well supported brand. I've rode one, and they are super quick and very smooth.

loudest143

[HarveyCreek]

A coworker of mine who immigrated from Indonesia, used a 125 cc People that he had bought used for commuting to work. He averaged 95 mpg, traveling along a route that had some speeds up to 45 mph with some significant hills. It appeared to me to be a well built machine, which would be expected as he told me back in Indonesia it was a very popular make, and due to the quantities in use, they probably have more experience making scooters than most manufacturers.

He has since gotten a Triumph Bonneville, and was able to sell the scooter within 6 hours of posting it on Craig's List.

[thamil]

Kymco is a Taiwanese company.

yes... exactly....

not the best quality


Italian made scoot are the best quality

[thamil]

monsterous 250CC.

??? Is 250 cc considered monsterous these days?

other than the 3-wheeled 500cc MP3 500, 250cc is huge for a scooter, and almost overkill for cruising around town on a scoot

[Coney]

yes... exactly....

not the best quality


Italian made scoot are the best quality

Not even close. KYMCO (Kwang Yang Motor Company) make some of the most solid scooters. The People line is fantastic and I would take one over a Piaggio with out thinking twice about. Especially if you live in the U.S. as Piaggio still can't figure out how to get parts shipped on time to service the bikes they sell. KYMCO has a U.S. office and warehouse in the Carolina's. Their bikes are are quite sophisticated and built with tight specifications. Another great Taiwanese manufacturer starting to make a name in the U.S. is SYM.

I love Italian styling but in my opinion the KYMCO bikes are a better value.

[Coney]

other than the 3-wheeled 500cc MP3 500, 250cc is huge for a scooter, and almost overkill for cruising around town on a scoot

Actually Suzuki sells a 400 and a 650cc, Honda has a bike close to 600cc, Yamaha has a single 400cc and a twin 500cc, KYMCO, Piaggio both have 500cc bikes. And Gilera has an 850 available.

The 250cc maxi-scooter is really the entry point for the big bikes. It's sort of the crossroad from urban scooter to the big highway scooters that are more like motorcycles.

[Archangel]

Ya being able to get parts has to count of something that and how often you have to do it.

Most people getting larger scooters just don't want to have to learn how to shift or are not able to handle the extra ability it takes to do it but they still want to ride on the express way so they get the larger scooters.
I was looking in to getting one for a while It is just one less thing to worry about not having to shift allows one to just cruse and forget the extra work of shifting and the clutch.

[BH121869]

Actually Suzuki sells a 400 and a 650cc, Honda has a bike close to 600cc, Yamaha has a single 400cc and a twin 500cc, KYMCO, Piaggio both have 500cc bikes. And Gilera has an 850 available.

The 250cc maxi-scooter is really the entry point for the big bikes. It's sort of the crossroad from urban scooter to the big highway scooters that are more like motorcycles.

Finally, someone that knows something about scooters being up to 650cc and above.
I've ridden the monstrous, as some say, 250 Vespa and it is top quality but wound tight at 75 MPH. The Piaggio is also the same quality and very good on the highway. Top speed around 90+. Piaggio now owned Vespa. I'm still waiting for the Cushman to come back into production. ???

[BH121869]

Kara with her Vespa 05
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii69/BH121869/vespa288.jpg
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii69/BH121869/88.jpg
old Lambretta scooter I believe ,seen in Italy http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii69/BH121869/Picture053.jpg
My kind of Scoot.
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii69/BH121869/HDCushman.jpg

[Steve Young]

I love thew Harley-Cushman but, having a fuel tank up by your 'nads, can't see how it qualifies as a scooter.......

[abalmer]

Kymco is a very good quality bike, my friend has ridden one for many years with very little major repairs.

[B-K BOSS]

Ya being able to get parts has to count of something that and how often you have to do it.

Most people getting larger scooters just don't want to have to learn how to shift or are not able to handle the extra ability it takes to do it but they still want to ride on the express way so they get the larger scooters.
I was looking in to getting one for a while It is just one less thing to worry about not having to shift allows one to just cruse and forget the extra work of shifting and the clutch.

My Suzuki, Burgman is a single lung 500 cc. It will run on the highway at 80 all day long. I don't have any problems shifting my Honda magna or my B-King.:icon_mad:

[Steve Young]

My Suzuki, Burgman is a single lung 500 cc. It will run on the highway at 80 all day long. I don't have any problems shifting my Honda magna or my B-King.:icon_mad:

Hear, hear. I got my first fully-automatic scooter 13 months ago, after 35 years riding. Not wanting to learn how to shift obviously had nothing to do with it. Superior comfort, weather protection, and secure storage (under the seat) had everything to do with it. Actually, I don't consider shifting to be work at all - just second nature. I actually miss it sometimes.

I didn't think Suzuki made a 500cc Burger btw - 400 and 650, yes, but not 500. Only 4 America, maybe?

[SteveM]

Kymco used to be a supplier to Honda for parts and components and had to maintain strict quality and standards. This helped them a great deal when they entered the market and the scooters they build are extremely well sorted and put together. They also come with a two year warranty.

I ended up with a Piaggio Fly 150 as I managed to get a better price.

[Jeff10236]

Kara with her Vespa 05
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii69/BH121869/vespa288.jpg
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii69/BH121869/88.jpg
old Lambretta scooter I believe ,seen in Italy http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii69/BH121869/Picture053.jpg
My kind of Scoot.
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii69/BH121869/HDCushman.jpg

That picture of the woman with the SAA style revolver, is that a Ruger or one of the Italian made clones? From what I can tell from the picture, I'm guessing the Ruger (can't tell if it has adjustable sights or not so can't tell if it is the Blackhawk or Vaquero). What caliber? Do you have open carry in FL or is that private property?

Hmm, someone posts a picture with a pretty woman and pretty bikes, and leave it to me to notice the gun. :o

[joncallihan]

Hear, hear. I got my first fully-automatic scooter 13 months ago, after 35 years riding. Not wanting to learn how to shift obviously had nothing to do with it. Superior comfort, weather protection, and secure storage (under the seat) had everything to do with it. Actually, I don't consider shifting to be work at all - just second nature. I actually miss it sometimes.

I didn't think Suzuki made a 500cc Burger btw - 400 and 650, yes, but not 500. Only 4 America, maybe?

Steve,

You wrote my experiences exactly. UNlearning the clutch was the major part of the learning curve. I, too, miss the shifting, especially when the silly thing engages "neutral" under 12 or so mph. It can be exciting if it does it unexpectedly in the middle of a turn.

I think the 500 Burger just suffered a bit of inflation, the single sold here is a 400, the 650 is a twin. My Silverwing is listed 600, really 582 or so. :D:D

Jon

[Jeff10236]

Hmm, I recently bought my first motorcycle and haven't even been out on it yet (2 weeks until I get my motorcycle license), but I have also been thinking about a scooter (80-90MPG would be nice around town where I don't need much speed anyway). I noticed the People scooters at one of the dealers but didn't pay much attention to them. After reading this thread the first time I started looking into them a bit. I really like the looks and idea behind the People 50 and 150 (the 200 and 250 look just a tad too big for the design- the 50 and 150 look nicer to me, and I love the 16" tires instead of the usual scooter 12"ers). I think these may actually be a better overall choice than most of the Yamaha and Honda options. Anyway, I'm a teacher and off during the summer, if I get a summer job this year (far from guaranteed in this economy) I'll probably use the summer job money to pick one up.

[kabory]

I owned a Kymco Grand Vista 250cc, It was a very well made scooter, extremely fast. I rode it on the highway at 85mph. Kymco has been around for along time. I believe Polaris uses their motors.http://i349.photobucket.com/albums/q398/kabory/Grandvista/DSC_0004.jpg?t=1271519764

[GeekPod]

I have an XY150ZK- Chinese Made
It's great for around town.

[Jesserazer]

The XY150ZK is awesome I had one too

[B-K BOSS]

Hear, hear. I got my first fully-automatic scooter 13 months ago, after 35 years riding. Not wanting to learn how to shift obviously had nothing to do with it. Superior comfort, weather protection, and secure storage (under the seat) had everything to do with it. Actually, I don't consider shifting to be work at all - just second nature. I actually miss it sometimes.

I didn't think Suzuki made a 500cc Burger btw - 400 and 650, yes, but not 500. Only 4 America, maybe?

Daaaaaaaaaa... I'm out to lunch on this one. You're right 400cc, don't know what I was thinking......