First Look: 2010 KYMCO Scooter and ATV Line - No Photos, Though

It is a nice list of the new machines from our friends in Taiwan, KYMCO. They will be offering 17 scooters and 11 ATV models in the US. All of their machines are competent, and they are improving them all the time. If you have a dealer near you, check them out. You never know...the Japanese brands were once considered cheap and unreliable, in case you have forgotten. (You may have forgotten this event as it happened over a month ago.)

http://tinyurl.com/yetknml

First Ride: 2010 KYMCO Quannon 150

The new to our market KYMCO Quannon 150 is something of a beginner bike - slotted just under the Kawasaki Ninja 250 and the Hyosung GT250. This motorcycle was originally designed for the European market as they have the graduated licensing (have to start off on a small displacement and move up through time and experience; something we should adopt here as well) and those new riders usually purchase a 125c.c. vehicle to improve their skills with until they can take the next test and move up. But, with the recession, the popularity of scooters, and high fuel prices coming back all too soon, KYMCO has decided to sell this machine in the US. Now, let's see if it will become a popular mode of transport - I sure hope so!

http://tinyurl.com/yg2btfz

The Kymco 2010 Scooter Line-up First Ride

Honestly, if you have not heard of Kymco, you must be leaving in a cave. They hit the US market just a few years ago, but their quality and low price relative to the competition has made them very popular here - though, not as popular as they are in Taiwan, their home country. The varous scooters in their 2010 line-up live up to their reputation. For instance, the Downtown 300i pictured here feels like a 250 in weight and handling, but performs like a 500 on the road.

http://tinyurl.com/ykljs78

Kawasaki Has Entered a Joint Venture with KYMCO

Taiwan's largest two-wheeled vehicle manufacturer has signed up with Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan to make small, general-purpose gasoline engines in China. Yes, that sounds rather protracted, but it is a good plan and is a well-capitalized venture to produce engines for lawnmowers, generators, and similar purposes. They expect to be turning out 1 million a year within the next five years.

http://tinyurl.com/yfphcgq

The Taiwan Powersports Industry Gets Some Attention

The 4th Annual Taiwan International Motorcycle Industry Show (Motorcycle Taiwan 2009) organizers invited several world-class moto-journalists to the show. They were asked to come to see just how far the Formosa (Taiwan) two-wheeled industry has improved over the last few years. Many were very impressed, but they still feel that Taiwan has a ways to go on the world stage in the motorcycle industry...

http://tinyurl.com/ylqx2xu