Kymco Australia have announced the release of the Agility RS 125 aimed at offering an effective delivery solution for $2790 +ORC.
2020 KYMCO Agility RS 125
The Kymco Agility RS 125 comes equipped with all the necessary features for modern day delivery including universal phone holder, USB charging port and heavy-duty rear carrier rack.
USB charging is standard
Powered by an efficient Kymco 125cc 4-stroke engine and twist and go CVT automatic transmission. Braking is disc at the front and drum at the rear.
The 125cc 4-stroke engine is twist and go
Available in a new black/white colour combination, the RS 125 is also supported by Kymco’s three-year warranty program.
Front disc brake
For further information on the 2020 Kymco Agility RS 125, get in contact with your local Kymco dealer or head to the website www.kymco.com.au (link).
Kymco have announced their Xciting S 400i, ushering in their next generation maxi-scooter with high spec suspension and brakes, a powerful 400cc engine, high tech dash and large wheels.
2020 Kymco Xciting S 400i
The Xciting S 400i will sit between the flagship AK550 and the smaller capacity Downtown 350i models, offering a package closer to the AK550 with a strong sport touring focus, but priced competitively for those not after all the bells and whistles and the attached price tag.
The Kymco Xciting S 400i offers a sports-touring option under the flagship AK550
Sporty styling is matched to a single-cylinder fuel-injected powerplant producing 26.5kW or 35.5 horsepower, with the four-valve four-stroke offering fuel economy and an automatic transmission for easy commuting duties.
Styling is sporty with 35.5 horsepower on offer
Large 280mm petal rotors are found on the front of the Xciting S 400i, with a large 15-inch front wheel.
Large petal discs are featured on the 15inch front wheel
The rear also boasts a 240mm rotor and is a smaller 14-inch wheel, with Bosch 9.1 ABS run on both ends to ensure high levels of safety.
A smaller 14inch rear wheel is run, with Bosch 9.1 ABS and parking brake
The chassis has also been updated with redesigned engine and frame links, ensuring more strength and a double-clamp between the frame and fork, which is more on par with motorcycle designs. The changes ensure strong stability at high speeds, where the 400i will be performing past the expectation of smaller urban focused scooters.
An updated chassis ensures high levels of stability at speed, with motorcycle-inspired design elements
On the suspension side of things there’s a set of non-adjustable telescopic forks, while dual rear shocks offer five steps of preload adjustability, which is ideal for two-up riding or when laden up.
Rear shocks offer five-step preload adjustability
The 400i also features Kymco’s Noodoe dash, offering smartphone connectivity and navigation, as well as the option to customise the dash display, with custom displays sharable via Noodoe cloud.
The Kymco Noodoe dash offers plenty of customisation options and smartphone connectivity
Storage comes in the form of two-stage underseat, as well as two locked glove compartments, complete with a 12V charging port.
Underseat storage on the Kymco Xciting S 400i
Lighting is also LED, while an adjustable screen is standard fitment, as are heated grips for a bit of luxury.
Lighting is LED with a futuristic taillight
The Xciting S 400i features a 805mm seat height, 12.5L fuel capacity and weighs in at 195kg dry, coming with a three-year factory warranty program, offering an addition year over the standard two year warranty if you have your vehicle serviced exclusively at an authorised dealer and retain an accurate service history.
Glove compartments are electronically locked and there’s a 12V outlet
The Xciting S 400i is arriving in dealers now and will be available for $8,990 plus on road costs in Matte Deep Blue. For further get in contact with your nearest KYMCO scooter dealer or head to the KYMCO Australia website at www.kymco.com.au (link).
The 2020 Kymco Xciting S 400i is available for $8,990 plus on road costs in Matte Deep Blue
2020 Kymco Xciting S 400i features
400cc single-cylinder EFi 4-valve 4-stroke engine
26.5kW of power
KYMCO’s Noodoe smart phone interactive dashboard
Twin 280mm disc brakes
Bosch 9.1 ABS braking system
Preload adjustable twin rear shock absorbers
Adjustable sports touring screen
LED headlight with daytime running light and LED taillight
Two electric auto-locking glove boxes with 12 volt charging port
Two stage seat-opening design with plenty of storage
Five-stage heated grips
805mm seat height
15 inch front and 14 inch rear wheels
Pillion foot rests
Rear wheel lock/park brake
Three-year factory warranty
Available in Matte Deep Blue
Adjustable sports-touring screen2020 Kymco Xciting S 400i seat2020 Kymco Xciting S 400i
Kawasaki appears to be joining Kymco in proposing a battery that can the owner can swap quickly to recharge their electric motorcycle.
The company filed a patent for an electric version of its baby Ninja in 2013, but the patent has only now been published.
In the main photo above, the battery and motor are shown to the left of the motorcycle to demonstrate how it can be pulled from the tubular frame of the machine.
That seems strange because only the battery would need to be replaced, although it would make maintenance on the motor easier.
That’s also strange as motor maintenance is not an issue with electric vehicles. They tend to be long-lasting and have low maintenance requirements.
Battery swap history
The patent varies from the Kymco plan to make only the battery replaceable.
Kymco also has battery swap vending machines.
Battery swap technology is not new. British company Battery Traction Ltd came up with the idea in 1938, but it was sidelined by World War II.
Better Place also suggested the idea in 2008 and went broke in 2013.
Better Place battery switch station in Israel
Car companies dabbled with the idea, but have largely canned it because their batteries are too big.
However, Tesla has patented a robot that can charge an electric car’s battery in 15 minutes and some small electric city cars can swap batteries in under a minute.
Standard battery swap size
While battery swap technology makes a lot of sense and would solve the problem of hours-long recharging, it would require all manufacturers to get on board with standard sized batteries.
However, Kawasaki’s patent doesn’t seem to advance the notion of a standard battery size the whole battery and motor coming out of the motorcycle in one unit.
Electric motorcycles and scooters need smaller batteries than cars, so a quick battery swap system for two-wheelers could still be likely.
Since battery technology is developing at a rapid pace, especially decreasing in size, a standardised battery size would become obsolete in just a few years.
Kymco suggest multiple small batteries would get around the battery size issue. However, their batteries are still quite big – about the size and weight of a 1990s laptop (about 5kg).
The Ionex is powered by two batteries stored under the floor pan. Each battery is good for about 30-40km.
Kymco says riders can also rent up to three extra batteries and store them in the underseat compartment, extending range to 200km.
Underseat storage
But then you lose the advantage of underseat storage for your helmet, jacket and gloves.
The Ionex can also be charged by plugging the scooter into a power outlet or plugging each battery into a portable charger you can have at home or work.
Chairman Alan Ko says they are launching 10 electric models in the next few years, establish their own charge battery-swapping networks in 20 countries and sell more half a million electric vehicles worldwide.
“With the Ionex, together we start an open movement that celebrates one of the most important social missions of our time,” he says.
Batteries run a rear hub motor
Infrastructure hurdle
There is also the problem of the expense of infrastructure to provide vending machines in enough places to make it workable.
Kymco battery vending machines
It may work in large cities, but would be impossible to get adequate con ergo in a large country such as Australia.
Kymco isn’t the first scooter company to suggest battery swap technology.
San Francisco company Scoot has about 700 electric scooters for short-term hire.
Now they are looking at moving into small cars with swappable batteries.
One of the biggest hurdles in the coming revolution of the electric vehicle is finding enough charging stations so motorists can ride and drive beyond the city limits.
Taiwanese motorcycle and scooter manufacturer has a unique idea for private charging stations that can be owned by individuals.
Now they have launched a range of charging stations called NOODOE (pronounced “new dough”) which can be privately owned by individuals.
No, it’s not an April Fool’s Day prank.
The cloud-based systems could actually be a viable alternative to the inaction on the part of big business and governments to supply suitable infrastructure for the nascent electric vehicle industry.
Noodoe chargers
Obviously business will be involved once EVs reach a significant proportion of traffic.
And surely governments and businesses will have final say over the placement of such infrastructure.
Electric vehicle infrastructure
Noodoe charging
In Australia, businesses and governments are working together to build charging EV infrastructure.
Kymco announced their SuperNEX concept electric motorcycle at EICMA, ushering in a superbike themed offering that the brand boasts will include a gearbox to try and retain the familiar characteristic for motorcyclists interested in going electric.
Kymco SuperNEX Concept Superbike
Allen Ko – KYMCO Chairman
“While people have no doubt that the next era of personal transportation is electric. Many are still pondering over the profound implications of electric in the world of supersport motorcycles. The quiet nature of the electric motor troubles motorcycle enthusiasts and without the gratification of gear shifting, the simple twist-and-go interaction feels more utility-oriented, and sometimes even toy-like. Also, most electric motorcycles today lack the sustaining thrill of acceleration to the top-end after the initial rush. As a result, many sportbike lovers fear that supersport might lose its charm in the impending new electric era.”
Kymco SuperNEX Concept Superbike
These design philosophies built around Kymco’s rider insights in this segment come to life in five tangible approaches: that shifting is an important part of motorbike riding, the best acceleration feels like a completion of a thought; excitement comes from exploring limits with confidence; sound is part of the character of the machine; and a great vehicle elevates the rider’s every occasion.
Kymco SuperNEX Concept Superbike
Electric Motor – Sport Transmission
The SuperNEX was designed around the philosophy that shifting is an integral part of motorbike riding, which is a fair assumption since almost any machine without gears is a scooter. Hence, Kymco’s electric supersport machine will feature a six-speed transmission that allows riders to more fully engage with their motorcycle. The SuperNEX also comes with a clutch-less upshift and downshift feature however, in true modern supersport form, while a slipper clutch further helps smooth out the ride on aggressive downshifting.
Kymco SuperNEX Concept Superbike
Interesting power delivery
Kymco also claim that an unfortunate shortcoming of today’s electric motorcycles is that the inherent characteristic of the electric motor has a power curve that reaches maximum horsepower at midrange and then declines thereafter.
As a result, on a single gear electric motorcycle, once it reaches a certain speed the surge of acceleration starts to fade noticeably. Moreover, this lack of power is most often felt at high-speed riding, which supersport riders enjoy the most.
Kymco SuperNEX Concept Superbike
To combat that they present the SuperNEX as featuring the six-speed transmission to allows riders to make use of the more traditional optimal ‘power band’ of the motor to extract a more engaging experience.
The gearbox helps improve not only the efficiency and responsiveness, but also the acceleration and top speed. As a result, the SuperNEX can go from 0 to 100km/hr in 2.9 seconds, from 0 to 200km/hr in 7.5 seconds and from 0 to 250km/hr in 10.9 seconds.
Rider Aides
The capabilities of today’s supersport motorcycles exceed the skills of most riders, with electronics often being used to reign in the incredible performance on offer. To allow sportsbike lovers to confidently engage with the SuperNEX, Kymco created Kymco FEP – Kymco Full Engagement Performance – a performance management system that allows the rider to explore the limits with the benefit of rider aides.
Kymco SuperNEX Concept Superbike
During hard acceleration, FEP ensures there is no wheelie or wheel slippage. During hard braking, FEP prevents rear wheel lifting. When riding through uneven or wet surfaces, FEP also provides maximum traction. Moreover, the degree of FEP engagement can be adjusted to riders’ preference.
Kymco Active Acoustic Motor
Electric motor are quiet by nature, and this becomes an issue on a supersport bike because without sound, the character, sensation, and passion of the machine are lost. The SuperNEX, on the other hand, offers the Active Acoustic Motor, which is designed to convey the heartbeat of the machine.
The motor has a multi-frequency acoustics generator that reconstructs the dynamic sounds of the motor with great authenticity. It delivers the iconic supersport thrills and messages that sportbike riders seek. The sound can be further tuned to rider’s liking for its character and volume.
Kymco SuperNEX Concept Superbike
“Adaptive Machine Personalities”
Today’s supersport motorcycles let riders set certain electronic functions, and in a departure from the conventional electric motorcycles, SuperNEX offers four modes of vehicle ‘personality’, which they describe as:
Poised
Assertive
Bold
Extreme
These ride modes or ‘personalities’ will offer sportbike riders a variety of different motorcycle characteristics, making for a more dynamic experience, whether that means picking the mode that suits them as a rider, or just their day to day mood.
Kymco SuperNEX Concept Superbike
Allen Ko
“With SuperNEX, Kymco marks the beginning of the next era of supersport, we believe electric opens up a new era of boundless opportunities to win the hearts of the most discerning riders all over the world.”
The SuperNEX concept electric superbike features some serious kit including Brembo brakes, Ohlins suspension, Oz wheels, an alloy frame and Metzeler Racetec tryes.
Dial in sound
But the most interesting aspect to us is the sound.
Electric vehicles are quiet which is not only a turnoff for riders, but also a danger to pedestrians in the urban landscape.
On the highway, electric motorcycles can actually make quite a bit of noise. In fact, like most motorcycles, at that speed the loudest noise is tyre on tarmac.
But for those who love to hear the motor working, Kymco has developed what they call a dial-in Active Acoustic Motor.
They don’t say how it works but claim the rider can dial in sound and “tune” it to their taste.
But the most interesting aspect to us is the sound.
