WHAT WE LIKE
• Relaxed riding position
• Easy to ride
• Styling
• Big fuel tank
NOT SO MUCH
• Speedometer
• Brakes
OVERVIEW
Kymco's first 250cc motorcycle to arrive in Australia is a fairly low-tech machine with a drum brake at the rear and carburetted fuel delivery system. Yet after spending some time in the saddle, I think this newcomer warrants a much closer inspection.
Though the Kymco name is not instantly recognisable in Australia, it has a long history, having started building bikes back in the 1970s after beginning life as a parts supplier to Honda in 1963.
Based in Taiwan, the company builds scooters, ATVs and now motorcycles, with the Venox 250 one of its largest displacement models to date.
But can a company which has a long history of manufacturing scooters make a successful switch to building motorcycles?
PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
The Kymco Venox 250 will attract a lot of buyers on a budget – learners or otherwise. Priced at $6490 (not including government and delivery charges) it's a veritable bargain and compares very favourably to similarly marketed LAMS-approved cruisers such as the Honda VT400 and Hyosung GV650 Aquila, both of which retail for $9990.
For the money you get a fair bit of kit, including a liquid-cooled 249cc V-twin DOHC engine at the bike's core, situated inside a tubular steel frame. With two valves per cylinder, the fuel delivery system uses carburetion and the engine develops a claimed 28hp at 11,000rpm and 20Nm at 9000rpm.
The Kymco's 28 ponies are put to the ground via a five-speed manual gearbox and the Venox features an electric start, a no-frills tank-mounted speedo (no tacho), luggage tie-down hooks, a sidestand and seating for two.
The front 17-inch 'cruiser style' wheel is cushioned by telescopic front forks with 140mm of travel and features a single disc brake with braided line, while the solid 15-inch rear wheel is suspended by twin shocks with adjustable preload. The rear gets a drum brake and the tyre size aspect ratios are 110/80 at the front and 150/80 at the rear.
Our test bike was delivered 'as is' and at the time of writing Kymco was still working on an accessories list for the Venox, which should be available soon.
Colour choices are black, metallic grey or red and the Venox 250 comes with a two-year warranty.
ON THE ROAD
Getting onto the Venox is effortless. Shorter riders will have no trouble swinging a leg over thanks to a low 725mm seat height and with easy-reach handlebars and well positioned footpegs, the Kymco Venox 250 is a comfortable steed. The seat cushion is fairly supple too, ensuring the 'cruiser' aspect of the bike is no idle boast.
Though the engine did take a few hits of the electric starter button to get going on colder mornings (the manual choke does help though) there's a lot to like about the Venox.
It's not a powerhouse by anyone's measure and won't be angling for any traffic light trophies in stock form, but at 175kg the bike's light weight and low centre of gravity make the Venox an incredibly easy bike to ride.
Whether commuting through gridlocked morning traffic or just cruising through the outer suburbs looking for a Subway sandwich with extra jalapenos, Kymco's cruiser is very easy to ride.
You sit low in the bike which helps keep some wind off you at highway speeds, and the seating position is general is very good. You certainly won't be feeling any strains when riding this Taiwanese V-twin.
The Venox's relatively low weight and seat provide it with a sense of approachability that will appeal to learner riders, plus it handles fairly well should you feel the need to cut through a few apexes.
In most instances the brakes are adequate, but when you start pushing through corners and have to hammer the anchors hard, the front single disc provides poor feel and not much bite. The rear drum brake is much the same.
Another underwhelming aspect of the bike was the instrument cluster, which comprises an orange-on-purple speedometer with numerals printed in a rather curly (read: offensive) font, mounted on the tank. There's a number of small LEDs for low fuel and sidestand alerts and other functions. Though it all looks a bit gaudy, it works well enough.
The gear shift is nice and smooth and the engine revs cleanly and, though it's not a particularly powerful donk, it does make the right V-twin noises and will cruise at 80km/h in fifth gear smoothly. There is a touch of vibration when you're trying to keep up with bigger bikes, but you'll have to be trying freakishly hard to rattle your bones.
The Venox doesn't mind if you're in second gear or fifth – it just rolls along to its own tune – though it does struggle sometimes when you try to gas it at speed. The engine sometimes takes its time to reach its sweet spot.
Kymco has done a decent job replicating the cruiser style too, what with the twin pipes, solid rear wheel, the curvature of the seat and the chrome highlights. It's not really my cup of tea, but I will admit the Venox's 'too kool for skool' image grew on me somewhat.
While it's not best-in-class, the Kymco does do a lot of things well and the value equation is hard to beat. It's difficult to know how reliable the bike will after only a couple of weeks testing, but by and large it feels well bolted together.
We put a lot of kays on the Venox's clock, riding it through rain and shine (no hail though) and it performed diligently in all conditions. The mirrors could be a little bigger, but overall it would make for a fun bike for first-time buyer/riders.
SPECS: KYMCO VENOX 250
ENGINE
Type: 249cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC, four-stroke, V-twin
Bore x stroke: N/A
Compression ratio: 11.0:1
Fuel system: Carburetion
TRANSMISSION
Type: Five-speed
Final drive: Chain
CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame type: Tubular steel
Front suspension: Telescopic forks, non-adjustable
Rear suspension: Twin shocks, adjustable for preload
Front brakes: Single disc with twin-piston caliper
Rear brakes: Single drum
DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Wet weight: 175kg
Seat height: 725mm
Wheelbase: 1340mm
Fuel capacity: 14lt
PERFORMANCE
Max. power: 28hp at 11,000rpm
Max. torque: 20Nm at 9000rpm
OTHER STUFF
Price: $6490 (manufacturer’s price before dealer and statutory costs)
Colours: Italian Red/Accurate Silver Metallic or Graphite Black/Accurate Silver Metallic
Bike supplied by: Kymco Australia & New Zealand, tel: (03) 9580 0788
Warranty: 24 months, unlimited kilometres
Find out more about the new Kymco Venox 250 in the New Bike Showroom.