We’ve put some mileage on the Kymco. Editor Ross elaborates…
Big scooters are great. They’re practical, comfortable and quick off the line – and yet, in the UK, we don’t buy them in anything like the volumes as our European counterparts. Maybe it’s the weather; maybe it’s because kids here can only start riding at 16 (at which point they might as well wait and do their car licence); or maybe it’s an ego thing, with British bikers largely forgoing scoots in favour of something a little more sexy, something a bit better suited to a specific task. Something like an adventure bike, for example…
But what if you’re too short, old or lazy to clamber on a whopping great ADV with a tall seat and long travel suspension? What if you want something that offers top weather protection, a good whack of storage space and is quick enough to hold its own on motorways? Kymco’s DTX360 320 might be the machine for you.
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Kymco has been doing its thing in the UK for years, making its name as a reliable purveyor of value-for-money commuter machines. But not content to rest on its laurels, the Taiwanese factory has raised its profile and stepped up its game, building a small suite of mid- and large-capacity scooters which are good enough to challenge some of the best-selling machines from the ‘big name’ manufacturers.
Its AK550 has Yamaha’s brilliant, but seriously expensive TMAX in its sights, and does a pretty good job of holding its own in the battle for maxi scooter superiority. But the latest firm on its hit list is Honda, and it’s ADV350. Is Kymco’s newly-released adventure-crossover scooter good enough to swipe some sales from Honda and tempt a few others that scooters are a great way to get about? Only time will tell. But after spending a month putting it through its paces, I can confirm the DTX360 is more than up to the job – although its credentials as a go-anywhere machine are potentially up for debate.
An adventure scooter? Autos with some off-road ability have been about for years, though Honda’s re-ignited some interest in the category and carved out a bit of a niche with its X-ADV and ADV 350.
That’s why Kymco has decided to re-imagine its existing Downtown 350i – adding a few bolt-on parts, making a few tweaks, and fitting some new bodywork to create its new DTX 360 320.
It’s worth noting that the 360 in the name doesn’t refer to its engine. It’s meant to be a clever reference to its globetrotting (360 degree) capabilities. It’s actually powered by a 321cc, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, four-valve single-cylinder engine. It’s nothing groundbreaking but delivers a nice punch of smooth, accessible, usable power. It kicks out 28.2bhp at 7,500rpm and 22lb-ft of torque at 5,750rpm and is up for bombing along at 80mph all day long (with a top speed of around 95mph).
Kymco claims it can do around 65mpg, which means you should be able to manage well over 130 miles from a single top-up of its 12.5 litre fuel tank. And on reflection, that’s around about right – though with more aggressive riding you might get that figure closer to 100 miles.
It’s a shame the tank isn’t bigger, particularly when you consider the scoot’s adventure intentions, but in truth, it’s unlikely you’re going to ever be that far from a petrol station (and you can always chuck a jerry can under the seat).
While we’re on the subject… scooters are often renowned for their under-seat storage space, but the DTX is a bit of a disappointment. There’s a reasonable amount of space and there’s an automatic light to help you see what you’re doing in the dark, but you’ll struggle to get a full-size adventure-style lid (or even a standard full-face one) in there. It will take a helmet, but you’ll need something a little less chunky. There is also a double glove compartment up front, to throw the stuff in you need to hand.
Back to the riding experience – and stopping power comes from a pair of 260mm floating discs with three-piston calipers up front, while at the rear a twin-piston caliper bites a 240mm disc. There’s a Bosch ABS system, too. It’s all pretty standard, but it does a very good job of hauling the 194kg scoot to a halt quickly and safely.
The 37mm diameter forks (with 110mm travel up front) and twin shocks (with preload adjustment and 108mm travel at the rear) are much better suited to rough Tarmac than any serious off-road terrain. They do a nice job of ensuring that the scooter is both comfortable and poised under pressure.
Credit must also be given to the 14-inch wheel at the front and a 13-inch at the rear, which are shod in some knobbly CST dual-sport rubber. They offer plenty of grip on the road in both dry and damp conditions, but I have little confidence in their abilities on anything other than bone-dry off-road sections.
And I have ridden the DTX off-road. The legal lanes around me are pretty tame and the weather’s been mostly good of late, so I haven’t really had the chance to slosh around on slippery stuff and see how it handles that. But for light lane work the Kymco’s quite capable. I know that’s not exactly an overwhelming amount of praise, but in truth you could take a sportbike down a green lane with enough skill and determination. The Kymco is a bit better suited, and the knobbly tyres, soft-leaning suspension and switchable Traction Control help make it fun to ride in the dirt. I’d just not fancy taking on anything too challenging at the risk of bashing the plastics to smithereens.
You can expect a comfortable ride, thanks to the plush 800mm tall seat, roomy cockpit and two foot positions. There’s also a decent size screen and a set of knuckle protectors, which help to deflect the worst of the weather away from the rider.
It feels plenty spacious for my 6ft and a bit frame and I’d happily spend all day riding it. Elsewhere, there’s a simple LCD dash, a couple of USB ports and keyless ignition. It’s all easy to navigate and operate, although its switchgear arguably doesn’t have quite the same level of sheen as the more established competition.
It’s also worth mentioning that the battery of the scooter we rode ran flat after a week of standing still. It’s not the end of the world, and it happens, but to access the unit and pop it on charge, you have to remove the screen and front fairing. It’s a bit of a pain, though if it were your own bike you could feed a cable through into one of its pockets for easier access.
The Kymco DTX 360 320 is a cracking scooter. It’s quick and capable and very well put together, and priced at £5559, I reckon its very good value for money too. The only problem? It’s only a couple of hundred quid less than Honda’s £5799 ADV350. Is that enough of a saving to tempt punters to seriously considering buying Taiwanese and not Japanese? I’m not so sure.
Tech spec
Kymco DTX 360 320
Price: £5559
Engine: 320.6cc liquid-cooled, four-stroke, single cylinder
Power: 28.2hp @ 7500rpm
Torque: 22lb-ft @ 5750rpm
Weight: 194kg
Seat Height: 800mm
Fuel tank: 12.5 litres
Contact: www.kymco.co.uk
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