2010 KYMCO Quannon 150 Ride

The KYMCO Quannon is an entry-level option for American

Way over in the land of Europe, got this thing called licensing. The idea is folks to ride a bike, in particular folks, have to prove riding ability by sampling small-displacement motorcycles.

After a years, they can then up to the bigger, meaner monkeys in the kingdom, but this licensing necessitates an entire 125cc of entry-level motorcycles, including pretty much unheard of in the US. YZF-R125 and Honda CBR125R all sportbike looks in a newbie-friendly Another such ride is the Quannon, only this learner’s actually available in the

How does a 149cc sportbike up on the road? Watch the KYMCO First Ride Video .

So the little Quannon stack up? a question we were eager to for ourselves during the 2010 press launch in Asheville, Carolina. What we discovered is an odd bike that makes for an ride.

As far as appearances are concerned, riders do get a little bike with the It may not measure up to the latest refresh of the market from the Japanese but if it were judged to the pre-2008 250, the KYMCO looks authentic. Fit and finish is decent for a 3K

In particular, the instrument cluster an analog tach and electronic with fuel gauge all good. At $2999 the KYMCO for more than a grand than the Ninja 250 and comes a year-longer, 2-year warranty.

The Quannon feels small, but not as small as the 150 moniker would it seem.

Toss a leg over the seat and riders immediately the slender feel. A slim Single powers the Quannon, so not much internally for the steel to wrap around. With the 299-lb curb weight just under 300 lbs), the is a machine that feels light and easy to maneuver.

True, the KYMCO feels small for a rider of my 6’1 dimensions, cramped pegs. However, the size feels less than a small-displacement scooter or recollections riding the Honda and Yamaha Virago 250. placement is pleasant and the riding fairly upright, making commutes (the Quannon’s calling) and the accompanying frequent less awkward.

At low speeds, the cuts in and out of traffic with Parking lots are not a problem There is one exception to its low-speed however, as a tall first requires some judicious work when starting a stop — an odd trait for a mount.

I stumbled to a stall than once and noticed a other hiccupped starts fellow motojournos. The remainder of the five-speed gearbox works enough.

The Quannon makes for a city commuter, with its weight and slim profile easy to maneuver at low speeds.

Getting past city speeds and the Quannon’s chassis us, in a good way. Expecting a ride, the frame and suspension solid and reassuring, transmitting an amount of feedback. Raking our way a steep and winding North side road, the Quannon for some smiles in the bends.

The wheels deliver a regular feel while the short wheelbase, combined with its light lbs, makes for tosses around the corners. The fork and rear monoshock aren’t ready for the racetrack, but the rolling chassis holds up its end of the bargain. Where the Quannon short is in the motor and braking

First, the brakes need There’s not a whole heck of a lot of and very little bite up from the 2-piston / single configuration. The rear’s doesn’t things either. In unison slow things down… than we’d like.

For a mount, a little beefier up front would be preferred.

The 149cc Single powering the doesn’t match up with the even many beginners demand.

The engine, however, is the biggest question mark. Our unit had just single-digit on the odometer before hopping on for ride. The little 149.3cc struggled to deliver much than anemic power.

in the lower half of its 10,000 rpm rev the claimed 14 ponies don’t much to speak of until 7K, the real hit between 8-10K. problem, 8-10K is in the red line…

up the Blue Ridge Parkway the lagged up inclines, with moderate upward pitches reducing top speed. On flat the KYMCO toted our 205 lbs up into the low 60s on the speedo. One of my KYMCO testing MCUSA Contributing Editor Ets-Hokin, saw near 80 mph down one steep hill with a full body tuck – but the is ill-advised aboard the Quannon.

It would be interesting to give the another fair shake a fully broken in motor.

No makes the 149cc motorcycle on roadways a hard sell to but the Quannon’s engine performance is suited to urban/surface street Plus, the little Single to be a gas-sipper. Though we didn’t fuel efficiency, judging eyeball estimates of odometer and gauge, we see no reason to contest the 70 mpg

Factoring the 3.6-gallon fuel equates to a 250-mile range, so it be a commuter riders can fill up and about.

It may be just a 150 but the Quannon’s MSRP makes it one of the most entries into motorcycling.

we’d really like to see is toss a 250 motor in the Quannon, the extra 100cc of grunt it some freeway credibility and a powerband. The chassis certainly capable of handling more Give the front brake a more bite and the KYMCO may a mount fit to challenge the best of the 250

Criticisms aside, KYMCO credit for expanding the entry-level pool with its Quannon. In its 150 form the little sportbike can be sourced as a fun, if modest, for those riders who want a not a scooter. Beginners on a budget consider a test ride.

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