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Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 26, 2013 14:31:27 GMT -5
Still on my quest for the "perfect" used 250, and after trying out a Kymco "Exciting" 500, and 250, I find them too unwieldy for me. (I got off the 500 and got onto a Honda 750 V-twin and found the Honda MOTORCYCLE much lighter in feel, and easier to handle than the Kymco SCOOTER!) Cheesh! That Exciting platform is comfy, very nice, but a real boat-anchor. So, while searching for a "Grand Vista" 250 (obsolete, but just about perfect for me) I came across a number of "People" 300cc Kymcos. I thought all the People 300cc platforms were similar; large, high-wheel  mph Italian-style bikes which resemble giant Honda Cubs. Very practical, but NOT my "cup of tea".Apparently THAT platform is ONLY the "People 300i". Now, on the net, I find the "People GTi300". Hmmmmm........... Dang near a copy of my much-loved but too slow Chinese GY6 150! Very similar to a "regular" step-through 150, but nicer cosmetics, 15" wheels, a little smaller and a LOT lighter than the People 300i... AND a fuel-injected, 4-valve 30 hp jewel of an engine. A few tests I read REALLY praised the GTi300, saying it's the perfect blend of light, quick-handling city scooter, AND solid, road-capable bike capable of near 100 mph and  mph cruise. In other words, the very scoot the Grand Vista was supposed to be, but came just a tad short with its 12" wheels and 250 carbureted engine. Anybody out there tried either, or both of these similarly-named, but VASTLY different scoots? (People 300i and GTi300)... inquiring minds want to know! Leo in Texas |
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Post by tarkus on Sept 26, 2013 18:00:28 GMT -5
I'm not sure what a kymco people gti300 is. I can't find specs on a 300 with 15" wheels. I am not aware of any people series other than 125,150,200 and the 250. The first 300 as far as I know is he currant model the gt300i. Most all maxis are boat like. www.kymcousa.com/showroom/index_onroad.htmlI saw a review buy a guy in Croatia .......are you sure this was a US release ? |
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Post by tarkus on Sept 26, 2013 18:17:08 GMT -5
Almost forgot. The currant GT300i is a great scooter, if you like tall bikes.
It's smooth, fast, has very good breaks and is a true step thru if you like flat floors.
It's more than fast enough even two-up for jaunts on the freeway. Still small and lite enough to flick around in town. One up you can loose your license without a problem, its fast.
If you don't like the maxis this along with the BV and SportCity are about the only choice in that displacement . Opps forgot the Vespas.
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Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 26, 2013 21:30:49 GMT -5
OOPS... I meant to say 16" wheels, NOT 15".Here are pix of the new GTi 300, and the regular People 250/300i. Totally different scooters! But both (I believe) use the same fabulous 300 fuel-injected 4-valve 30 hp motor! This puts them ahead of even the great Italian similar scoots! One road test even reported 70 mpg gas mileage IN-TOWN! THAT is as good as my carbureted 150!THIS gem HAS to be the ultimate "upgrade" for we scooter-jockeys who love everything about our air-cooled 150's EXCEPT the speed...  screenshot on pcYou can see why I go for the style (and weight, handling) of the GTi... A little "pricey" but worth checking into anyway!Leo in Texas
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Post by jeepsteve92xj on Sept 26, 2013 21:41:12 GMT -5
Someone at work has a Kymco 250 16" wheel scooter. My ITA150 is a cheap knock off with all of 8hp.
I found a wrecked Honda SH150i. I'd bet swapping the Honda motor into my Xingyue wouldn't bee too hard. Twice the hp for a $1000 or so.
Wish it was easy to get the Kymco or Sym motors just to stuff into the cheap frame.
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Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 26, 2013 23:46:04 GMT -5
Jeepsteve92xj,
I agree! After quite a bit of ferreting around though, I'm becoming convinced that it's cheaper in the long-run to search and find a good-condition 250cc or bigger. I still like the basics of our 8hp little 150's though... flat floors, smallish wheels and overall size and general handling. I have test-ridden just about everything in an attempt to find my "ideal" ride, and have about settled on an outdated Kymco Grand Vista 250. It's pretty much this GTi300 but with 12" wheels and a carbureted 250. Not modern, but still adequate... AND affordable!
I did ride a Honda SH150i, and it really honks for a 150! That engine swapped into a Chinese 150 frame WOULD be mighty slick! If you pull it off, be SURE to post the details!
Ride safe!
Leo
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Post by prodigit on Sept 27, 2013 3:11:28 GMT -5
One thing I've noticed, is that those maxi scooters have round about the same weight as cruiser motorcycles. The only thing is, when they have a CVT, pushing them around is much harder, as the CVT kind of forms some resistance to the bike when trying to push it forward or backward, making it very difficult to move around.
Personally I prefer a geared bike over a CVT any time. The only time I would want a CVT is when I'm constantly start-stopping, where I use it a lot, like in city traffic.
Other than city riding, suburb riding or highway riding, a CVT makes losses, the belt is a weak point of the engine.
To each his own I'd say, but I'm staying with manually geared motorcycles as my main ride.
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Post by tarkus on Sept 27, 2013 8:21:37 GMT -5
Still confused here. That's a pic, the silver scoot, of a S200.
I still can't find a 300cc People that was a US release prior to the GT300i.
I'm not busting balls just trying to figure it out.
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Post by spandi on Sept 27, 2013 9:52:04 GMT -5
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Post by tarkus on Sept 27, 2013 10:38:25 GMT -5
That's all I could find. I pretty familiar with the kymco line, that's the only step-thru 300 |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 27, 2013 14:29:35 GMT -5
Still confused here. That's a pic, the silver scoot, of a S200. I still can't find a 300cc People that was a US release prior to the GT300i. I'm not busting balls just trying to figure it out. I'm no Kymco expert, just finding that I really like their quality, FEATURES and variety. They offer, and have offered some models that are quite unique from the rest... And, sticking to only USED ones due to budget, it gets more confusing yet, with my original first choice being the old Grand Vista. Anyway, yes, the silver scoot IS a 200. I couldn't find a photo of the regular "People 300i". My local Kymco dealer has one though, so they DO exist. Looks just like the sliver 200. so I used the silver 200 only as a cosmetic reference. A wonderful scooter no doubt, but I just don't like the tall-wheel styling. To my eye, 16" is the absolute biggest-diameter wheels that look "right" on a scooter, and even that's pushing the envelope. Everything considered though, the 16-inchers do look pretty nice on the GTi300... Like a GY6 150 that's been to the gym... LOL! Now, since the chances of my finding a GTi300 used, and AFFORDABLE are somewhere between slim and none... I'll most likely end up with a several-year-old Grand Vista 250. They won't cruise , but they will cruise near 70, and that will do, since I absolutely LOVE everything else about these outdated rides! We shall see!Leo in Texas |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 27, 2013 14:42:54 GMT -5
THAT indeed IS the one! Pretty sweet, ain't she? Absolutely MADE TO ORDER for the die-hard GY6 150 jockey who wants a little more, but in a similar package... Like ME for example... LOL!I couldn't find anything on the "regular" high-wheel "People 300i" either... My local dealer has one though, so they do (or DID) exist. I'm thinking the 16" wheel "GTi 300" might have replaced the high-wheel "300i" early in the model year, and the high-wheelers "disappeared"... Maybe? Only my guess... I'll most likely stick with a good old out-of-production Grand Vista... They're out there, clean, low-miles and AFFORDABLE. I surely like the 30hp injected 4-valve 299cc mill in the GTi, but you can't buy a new Ferrari on a used Hyundai budget... LOL! Heck, a Hyundai ain't all that bad! And an aging Grand Vista will still get me to Wally World, OR the next town down the freeway just fine. And, OOOHHH, that BIG, CUSHY seat! LOL! Leo
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Post by tarkus on Sept 27, 2013 14:51:37 GMT -5
The grand vista is a very good scooter. I test rode a few last time I was replacing scoots and it was quick and had no problem cruising at 70-75 mph. Good quality I have had a few Kymcos and all were solid rides.
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Post by tarkus on Sept 27, 2013 14:58:34 GMT -5
THAT indeed IS the one! Pretty sweet, ain't she? Absolutely MADE TO ORDER for the die-hard GY6 150 jockey who wants a little more, but in a similar package... Like ME for example... LOL!I couldn't find anything on the "regular" high-wheel "People 300i" either... My local dealer has one though, so they do (or DID) exist. I'm thinking the 16" wheel "GTi 300" might have replaced the high-wheel "300i" early in the model year, and the high-wheelers "disappeared"... Maybe? Only my guess... I'll most likely stick with a good old out-of-production Grand Vista... They're out there, clean, low-miles and AFFORDABLE. I surely like the 30hp injected 4-valve 299cc mill in the GTi, but you can't buy a new Ferrari on a used Hyundai budget... LOL! Heck, a Hyundai ain't all that bad! And an aging Grand Vista will still get me to Wally World, OR the next town down the freeway just fine. And, OOOHHH, that BIG, CUSHY seat! LOL! Leo Ok confused again. All the people series had 16" wheels. From the 125 thru the 250. The 250 had a larger frame but still had 16s. The Gt300i has 16" wheels. So when you say "high wheel" I get mixed up. All have 16"wheels. That makes them all high wheel. Does the gti300 have 15s? If it has 16s then its a "high wheel" Yikes I'm sooooo mixed yo  |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 27, 2013 15:08:12 GMT -5
One thing I've noticed, is that those maxi scooters have round about the same weight as cruiser motorcycles. The only thing is, when they have a CVT, pushing them around is much harder, as the CVT kind of forms some resistance to the bike when trying to push it forward or backward, making it very difficult to move around. Personally I prefer a geared bike over a CVT any time. The only time I would want a CVT is when I'm constantly start-stopping, where I use it a lot, like in city traffic. Other than city riding, suburb riding or highway riding, a CVT makes losses, the belt is a weak point of the engine. To each his own I'd say, but I'm staying with manually geared motorcycles as my main ride.
I totally agree, and was shocked to find the "maxi-scooters" to be SO bulky and heavy... NO real difference between manhandling them manually, and a Harley bagger or Honda Gold Wing. I couldn't believe a 500cc scooter could be such a "lead sled"... LOL! The Kymcos I'm watching are not actually maxis... I don't think most of us even realize that. They don't have the massive weight and cumbersome feel of the maxis. Given the choice, I'd still prefer a full-sized clutch n' gears motorcycle too. Problem is, I'm aging FAST. I'm not nearly as strong, or agile as I was 40 years ago in my biker days. And worse, arthritis has made it nearly impossible for me to climb onto a regular motorcycle. It's even difficult to get over the "hump" of a Honda Reflex, or Kymco Exciting. Nope, it's gotta be a flat-floor step-through from now on. I'm not too sad about that. I have fallen in love with my little Xingyue 150. EVERYTHING about it suits my needs fine, EXCEPT its 150cc performance limitations. Whomever gets "Lil' Bubba" will be getting THE most pampered, tweaked, de-bugged and reliable Chinese 150 they're likely to encounter. But it's STILL a 150, and NOT intended for highway speeds. I've ridden various 250's, and while they could still benefit by an extra 20 mph top-end, they will at least allow 65 mph+ cruise. Now, this new Kymco GTi300... THAT is a different animal! Like the old Grand Vista, she's NOT a "maxi-scooter", but more like a light, 150 on steroids... A quick-handling scooter that will still nudge 100 mph and cruise . That is having your cake and eating it too... I rode an old Grand Vista, and pushed around a new GTi300, and both are only marginally bulkier than our little 150's. If I could use a maxi, I'd surely go with a full-size motorcycle too. More performance and better handling... But for me, the flat-floor Kymcos seem to be just right. Time will tell... LOL!Leo |
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mph Italian-style bikes which resemble giant Honda Cubs. Very practical, but NOT my "cup of tea".
mph cruise. In other words, the very scoot the Grand Vista was supposed to be, but came just a tad short with its 12" wheels and 250 carbureted engine.
