All the Tests – Test Xciting 400i: the Kymco scooter goes to the max – Kymco’s best scooter

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Xciting 400i test: the Kymco scooter is at its best

All the Tests - Test Xciting 400i: the Kymco scooter goes to the max - Kymco's best scooter

The maxiscooter segment is booming and Kymco intends to take advantage of it with a brand new model, the Xciting 400i. With the best weight / power ratio in its category, it plays the sporting card … like a certain Yamaha Tmax ! Test.

The best scooter from Kymco

, the maxiscooters segment saw its sales increase by more than a third compared to 2011. "From 2007 to 2012, the market share of the maxiscooter increased from 3.90% to 8.58% for a total of 15,262 units sold in this segment in 2012 (+ 37.2% compared to 2011, excluding MP3)", specifies Jean-Luc L’Hermine, Kymco Lux sales director (Luxembourg, Belgium and France).

Xciting 400: availability, colors and price

  • Availability: immediate in the

  • Colors: White or Black

  • Price: € 5,799

The phenomenal success of the Yamaha Tmax 500 and then 530 (read our) is the perfect illustration of the interest, or even of that this type of machine arouses among French bikers. Because yes, you need a "motorcycle" license to drive a scooter (two-wheeled) over 125 cc !

The responses of BMW and Honda confirm this craze for the maxiscoot ‘, particularly sensitive on the French market (read our).

To carve out a slice of this appetizing cake, Kymco has deliberately chosen a displacement slightly smaller than those of the three flagship models compared by MNC. "We wanted to offer a price / performance ratio consistent with what we represent", explains Jean-Luc L’Hermine.

The French official and the senior Taiwanese leaders are indeed not fooled: "today we do not have the means to offer a "hypersport" scooter of 500 cc or more. And then everyone does not necessarily have 11,000 euros to spend", continues our interlocutor.

Admittedly, the manufacturer of scooters, motorcycles and quads – which is celebrating its 50 years this year – recently launched on the market a 700 cc GT-type scooter, cut to compete with the Burgman 650 and C650GT (read our), but the sales of this model remain marginal.

"We have not yet acquired the legitimacy of Honda, Yamaha or BMW on large engines", recognizes the commercial director of Kymco."In addition, the MyRoad 700 arrived very late: its design dates back five years, so that it is already behind in terms of technology, design and especially weight.".

The Kymco Lux team is much more "excited" – it is the case to say it! – the idea of ​​marketing the Xciting 400, because "it is simply the most successful vehicle ever designed by Kymco", proudly announces the Luxembourgish French team.

"This scooter is at the same time racy, easy, powerful and comfortable", they summarize when leaving us the keys to a brand new copy. By browsing the technical sheet and taking a first look at our frame, it is clear that Kymco has made its" maxi ".

Equipped with a new 399 cc, 4-stroke and 4-valve single-cylinder (code name "G5 SC"), liquid cooled and Keihin electronic injection, this new scooter arrives among the "400 scooters" with the best power ratio /weight.

According to Kymco’s calculations, its 26.5 kW (36 hp) and 209 kg all full facts would allow this 2013 novelty to beat, on paper anyway, the Burgman 400 (0.116 kW / kg), X10 350 (0.113), Satelis 400 (0.106) and other Maxsym 400 (0.104).

Even at the undisputed leader of the maxiscooter in France, Yamaha, the Majesty 400 (0.113 kW / kg) and the (0.110) do not do better. The Xciting 400 marks a first entry point !

From an aesthetic point of view, we must again recognize that the Taiwanese have hit the nail on the head: the general line of their scooter, slender and well balanced, is punctuated by a multitude of small sporting touches that should appeal to French customers..

The two petal discs attached to the 15-inch front rim immediately catch the eye. Bitten by two imposing radial calipers, they would not mismatch on a Superbike and all that is missing is an inverted fork to complete the illusion. !

The short, smoky bubble that overhangs the two sharp headlights and underlined by a myriad of LEDs accentuates this sporty touch on the front part. Light-emitting diodes have taken over the entire rear part: indicators, brake light and position light give the Xciting an original posterior.

Still at the rear, the mastoc swing arm benefits from a plastoc covering that does not make too much knock. Intolerable on a motorcycle, this black painted part sharpens the general line of the scooter on its left side … which, on the other hand, does not allow the pot assemblies on the right side..

The final touch is, of course, at the top of the machine: Kymco has installed particularly elaborate mirrors on its new maxiscooter which offer as a bonus a good view of what is happening behind you..

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