SBF Kymco Downtown 125/200/300/350i Cafe 2013

[juanpauk]

Haha. Kymco engineers probably were having a day off I guess.

 

My 125cc isn't having problems. The only problem is the high fuel consumption [or at least it's getting higher with each tank].

 

Anyways, what's the motorcycle age and engine cc restrictions in the UK?

 

Isn't it like 14/15 yrs old can start riding moped, 50cc around?

 

16yrs old, with an L-Plate on the bike, it's eligible to ride up to 125cc??

 

Then 17/18 yrs old, is anything upwards??

 

Yeh, more or less what you said, to be elegible to ride any poed you need to pass a CBT, which is basically an all day event where thay show you videos and give you some safety tips in a class room, then they take you for an in door training and after that if they think you are in good shape they take you to the roads for some observation, after that you are certified to ride on any bike up to 125cc for 2 years.

 

17/18 You have to take the CBT and then you are allowed to take the proper theoretical test, indoor test and on the road test.

I took my test on a automatic bike and I have a restriction for up to 32cv for the first 2 years, after that I can ride any automatic bike.

[topgearalwaysrock]

HOw's the aftersales and distributor network over in the Uk for Kymco?

[juanpauk]

According to these stats http://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/kymco_downtown#!tax

 

, we are not that many Dowtown owners here (300cc the 125 did'nt make it to the UK), however other Kymco models are sold everywhere you go, they are not as famous in here, people opt for the Piaggios, Vespas or hondas when it comes to scooters. I was told by the people who services my bike that parts are requested from France as Kymco have a bigger market, I used to have an Agility City 125 and never had problems in terms of aftersales.

[topgearalwaysrock]

Haha. I heard about the website from TopGear.

 

=)

 

Well, I'm not sure if Kymco deciding to tie up with BMW to co-develop their engines is a good idea. BMW bikes aren't good for their reliability.

 

The older tie up with Honda seems to be a better bet though.

[parotae]

@juanpauk

Yes great writeup Will consider the HIT clutch option, sounds great.

 

@Doremi

Locally can get from taihin enterprise, the last time i saw, they only stock the popular ones like T-Max, runners, Xciting 500...

 

Taiwan Dr Pulley Site

http://www.unionmaterial.com/

[synman]

Sounds good so far Juan.

 

I think I might have strain my engine a little in my annoyance with the bike ..... lol

 

Find it louder than usual!

 

Still hoping that the local distributor will bring in the new shoe soon.

Then hook it up with the Dr Pulley.

 

Btw, I also have the problem where the bike seems to lose power when the tank is at the last notch initially.

 

Nowadays, the problem is more or less gone cept that I may feel it once in a while when my tank is emptying.

 

Not sure what petrol grade you guys put into the bike though. I am using Caltex 98.

 

Tried one round with the 95 to try out the FC. It is about the same cept that I didn't really like it hence why i have

change back to 98. I find the 98 a tad smoother for my liking!

[synman]

@Juan

 

Btw, how much did it cost you to bring the HIT set to UK?

[BaMBiNo]

@BaMBiNo the full stand scraping maybe normal as Downtown early batch always scrape the full stand and Kymco make it higher for the new batch which I am having. Obviously I still can get the scoot to scrape the lower body and exhaust but not the full stand. Now don't dare to try as new paint work after I drop the scoot ha ha

Bambino your scoot is 1 liter engine oil and no oil filter so have to change at recommended 3000km. Oil rating I not sure. Call MS to check. Thicker oil lessen vibration but increase fuel consumption, engine internal drag and engine protection. Ha ha , good and bad mix together.

 

@topgearalwaysrock I guess it's an idication that the synthetic you use is good for 3800km only. You can just try changing the oil just to see if there is a difference in fuel consumption without touching other parts to make sure it's accuracy. If you can change the oil yourself it's best bit you like to leave it to the expert. As this is a test, oil filter not necessary to change so as to confirm the higher fuel consumption. After you confirmed whether is the oil or not then you can change to oil and filter together. This is how I would do, though not recommended by theory as this is only a test. You can change the oil and filter together but more expensive but then again a filter is still cheaper than changing an engine ha ha.

 

So yes, change your oil and oil filter soon and check your air filter and see the difference in consumption. ?W50 will increase fuel consumption substantially but with better protection and lessen vibration.

Thanks... I have just hit abt 200.. I noticed the vibration increased and the initial move off is mot so aggressive..the the oil part point noted bro.. But hor is the sudden vibration normal? And also I feel that the pull is not so agressive also..is it due to the hard breakin?altho smoother now.. I just wanna know for knowledge sake.. will an oil change now help?

[BaMBiNo]

I also scraped my pcx main stand when i had corner with the pillon. Yep, it has to do with weight as scooter is heavy in the rear.

hmm I can continue to to stay fat la? Lol thanks for the heads up bro

[juanpauk]

@synman

 

Interesting, I also feel that mine is getting a bit louder maybe the scooter is maturing, who knows (2nd service due in 500km). Also here is the UK is getting cold 5 – 10 degrees Celsius, and when I start the bike for the first time in the day the idle revs stay at 2000 for a while... Not sure why, I blame the weather...

 

I have not experience the lack of power when low on fuel and I tend to let it go low.

 

I paid about 230 Euros for it.

[topgearalwaysrock]

Ok.

 

I think I'll change to HIT once I get for myself the Xciting 400i. Haha!

 

Vibration wise, I think it has something to do with it telling u to change oil. I had the same thing closer to the oil change.

 

Was ok after each oil change. Then closer to the next oil change, the engine becomes coarser, vibrates more, and doesn't seem to have the eagerness to rev off the line.

 

Guess this is typical. Haha. Especially with CVT.

[topgearalwaysrock]

But not to worry.

 

The engine can still run without issues even if it's vibrating more and sounds coarser and not as powerful off the line.

 

These are tell tale signs that the next engine oil change is coming.

 

CVT's are pretty sensitive to all these. My dad's previous Toyota CVT also has these problems.

[parotae]

Thanks... I have just hit abt 200.. I noticed the vibration increased and the initial move off is mot so aggressive..the the oil part point noted bro.. But hor is the sudden vibration normal? And also I feel that the pull is not so agressive also..is it due to the hard breakin?altho smoother now.. I just wanna know for knowledge sake.. will an oil change now help?

 

Should be normal, change your oil and filter soon. Most Scoot are like this at first very little vibration then later more vibration and rougher. Mine just change half the oil as I'm left with 700cc of oil. I just drain out half and put in another half of the left over mineral oil. It's no difference in the beginning after changing oil, now it's smoother.

[topgearalwaysrock]

I realise many who are riding DT300i used to ride the old Grand Dink 150.

 

They've no problems whatsoever with the GD150.

 

I hope it's the same for the DT300i. Haha. Or else they'll be really disappointed.

 

I'll transfer the handguard to the Xciting 400i when I get one. Haha. Wonder how it'll look like on the Xciting 400.

[parotae]

But not to worry.

 

The engine can still run without issues even if it's vibrating more and sounds coarser and not as powerful off the line.

 

These are tell tale signs that the next engine oil change is coming.

 

CVT's are pretty sensitive to all these. My dad's previous Toyota CVT also has these problems.

 

Your dad's Toyota CVT and scooter CVT are different.

[parotae]

I realise many who are riding DT300i used to ride the old Grand Dink 150.

 

They've no problems whatsoever with the GD150.

 

I hope it's the same for the DT300i. Haha. Or else they'll be really disappointed.

 

I'll transfer the handguard to the Xciting 400i when I get one. Haha. Wonder how it'll look like on the Xciting 400.

 

Show your hand guard leh. I wanna see how it look like before I install.

 

Feel like funny leh, got use meh? Protect from stones? Rain maybe but I wear gloves.

 

This not scrambler leh but Herbert 700 put very nice.

[parotae]

Look like this?

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v319/jeryll/3607c31e.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v319/jeryll/e74b9b4d.jpg

Edited January 10, 2012 by parotae

[eellvviinn]

As my xciting 300 , previous owner had this hand guard installed, looks nice, but when you turn it fully to either side, the free end of the hand guard will knock onto the wind shield, which i think is dangerous...!

Assuming xciting 400 front body is same including wind shield , then it will also face similar turning restriction

 

NO double is nice, but it will restrict your bike turning or even cause accident, if it doesn't restrict the turning i will also installed....hehehe

 

it is the same hand guard that parotae show below which is wat MS have!

 

 

I realise many who are riding DT300i used to ride the old Grand Dink 150.

 

They've no problems whatsoever with the GD150.

 

I hope it's the same for the DT300i. Haha. Or else they'll be really disappointed.

 

I'll transfer the handguard to the Xciting 400i when I get one. Haha. Wonder how it'll look like on the Xciting 400.

[topgearalwaysrock]

Yah. Looks like the one you posted except without the LED DRL.

 

Yes, it does touch the windshield, but it doesn't affect the turning radius.

[parotae]

where you buy and how much, thanks.

[juanpauk]

I have the Acerbis handguards installed on mine, took some pics but cannot upload them any ideas why?? I keep getting an error when uploading from my computer.

[parotae]

I've just checked. The clearance is so little, I wonder how you did it fixing the hand guard?

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v319/jeryll/a604b83a.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v319/jeryll/aa243bfa.jpg

[juanpauk]

 

Using the basic uploader seems to work. This is how they look on mine, they do not touch the screen at all, there is like 1/2cm of space between them

Edited January 10, 2012 by juanpauk

[juanpauk]

Double post

[parotae]

Black is sexy:thumb:

Ok no hesitation then ha ha.