I've owned a few Kymcos - a People 300 GT and an Xciting 500 Ri ABS. They're very reliable bikes. The 300 was a product of Kymco's new engineering and was a fun, good handling large wheel (16") step through sporty, scooter. The Xciting 500 was a reliable long distance hauler but it did not have a proper suspension even with after market shocks. I did not pay a lot of money for either of them and they were a good value. Neither could hold a candle to the BMW - BUT neither seemed have the teething problems we are seeing in the C series. The 300 was a beta version and it never even sneezed. The Xciting was old technology but you never worried about getting home. I have several friends who own 500s with nearly 50,000 miles. Kymco takes a bashing from the motorcycle types - usually out of ignorance. I traded my 500 to get the Sport and the sales manager was all over bad mouthing Kymco until I informed him of the origin of the motor I was trying to buy.
The BMW is in a class of its own. However, not being in that class does not necessarily make another bike bad - just not a BMW.