Had my 2016 C650 Sport for 4 years now. Four years of wonderful not-so-well-maintained mileage. Not to go into specifics but I'm surprised that it still runs. 11k miles and it has never let me down and it had every right to do so. I'm actually keeping the C650 and will give it the maintenance that it so well deserves. Just wanted to let everyone know that I've had a good experience with my C650 sport and will move on to another brand. Or am I really moving on to another brand? Anyway enjoy guys!!!
Adding a Kymco AK550 to the stable. They are now Available in the USA
- Thread starter Tony
- Start date
please list a source for the AK 550. Selling dealer ?
Delray
Well-known member
Just looked at a 2021 Kymco AK 550 in a showroom. Interesting. Sharp looking. Felt substantial and solidly built, although the passenger foot pegs and parking brake control were definitely Tinker Toys.
It had 14" tires, decent storage under the seat, two small glove boxes (so small I'm not sure what they are designed to hold. My hand?). No electronic screen. No tire pressure readouts like the BMW. I think it has ABS, definitely has two disks in front. Dealer said he could sell it for "Nine grand, maybe $8900." He also said they were hard to get ... "Only 32 were shipped to the U.S. and I got two of them."
Maintenance looks simple from online videos (plenty available) and it was easy to find a free pdf of the Kymco Service Manual. I downloaded one in case I need it some day.
My current ride is a 2013 BMW C650 GT with 18,600 miles. I got it with 15,100 miles, updated the maintenance and it's run like a Swiss watch. As long as it's trouble-free, I'm happy to see how far it will go. I know riders here have put on 60,000+ miles with no troubles. If I switch bikes, I'll go with a newer BMW C650 GT.
BUT ... since BMW stopped production of the GT, making it extinct like Suzuki's Burgman 650 and Honda's Silver Wing, we maxi-scooter afficianados have to keep our eyes open for future rides. I'd say Kymco's AK 550 is worth a good look.
It had 14" tires, decent storage under the seat, two small glove boxes (so small I'm not sure what they are designed to hold. My hand?). No electronic screen. No tire pressure readouts like the BMW. I think it has ABS, definitely has two disks in front. Dealer said he could sell it for "Nine grand, maybe $8900." He also said they were hard to get ... "Only 32 were shipped to the U.S. and I got two of them."
Maintenance looks simple from online videos (plenty available) and it was easy to find a free pdf of the Kymco Service Manual. I downloaded one in case I need it some day.
My current ride is a 2013 BMW C650 GT with 18,600 miles. I got it with 15,100 miles, updated the maintenance and it's run like a Swiss watch. As long as it's trouble-free, I'm happy to see how far it will go. I know riders here have put on 60,000+ miles with no troubles. If I switch bikes, I'll go with a newer BMW C650 GT.
BUT ... since BMW stopped production of the GT, making it extinct like Suzuki's Burgman 650 and Honda's Silver Wing, we maxi-scooter afficianados have to keep our eyes open for future rides. I'd say Kymco's AK 550 is worth a good look.
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Good input, coming from Delray.
I happened to accost a fellow the other day who pulled up next to my parking spot on
a 2015 TMax. Turns out he's a tech for a large local independent dealer. He's prepped AKs, and ridden a demo for hundreds of miles. IHe felt that the 530cc generation TMax is still the superior bike. However, he said he would quite readily grab an AK if one turned up used, over the earlier, 500cc Max. He sold his 09, and I sold mine a few mos ago, LOL.
Since my GT ownership was part of the conversation, he did lovingly remind me that IT, too, has a Kymo engine.
I happened to accost a fellow the other day who pulled up next to my parking spot on
a 2015 TMax. Turns out he's a tech for a large local independent dealer. He's prepped AKs, and ridden a demo for hundreds of miles. IHe felt that the 530cc generation TMax is still the superior bike. However, he said he would quite readily grab an AK if one turned up used, over the earlier, 500cc Max. He sold his 09, and I sold mine a few mos ago, LOL.
Since my GT ownership was part of the conversation, he did lovingly remind me that IT, too, has a Kymo engine.
Skutorr
Active member
No, it's a BMW-designed engine, made in China as cheaply as possible and supervised by KYMCO. That's why it had so many recalls, timing chain debacles, etc. KYMCO has NEVER built anything that slipshod...
Minister of Etc
Member
Where are you getting that figure? Kymco's own specs page list dry weight at 226 kg/498 lbs, while my c650 Sport weighs in at 237 kg/522 lbs, and the GT's only about 25 lbs more, and they all gain equivalent amounts of weight when you add wet stuff like gas, oil and coolant.
Even with my shoes off, I can't get to 120.
Minister of Etc
Member
GT's are 575 pounds wet (25 more than the Sport). So, 625 if you loaded it up with a sandbag under the seat.
There's no denying that c650's are heavy, but they've also got the best power:weight ratio of all maxi-scooters, and the AK550 is close enough to be in the same class as the C-series, and would definitely get a look from me if I had to stop riding my Sport.
I just don't buy new vehicles -- I let other people drive 'em off the lot for me, and figure out the flaws the engineers didn't catch before releasing them. So, it'll be a few years before the big Kymco's on my radar.