The first time I saw the KYMCO-KRV180 was at the 2021 Beijing International Motorcycle Exhibition. Its unique transmission structure and sporty appearance were enough to tantalize people. But when the price was announced, it raised questions: “Why is it priced at 27,800-29,800 yuan?”

After I rode the KRV180, I understood that: regardless of the costs, KYMCO has used various kinds of technologies on KRV180, creating a pure sports toy for motorcycle fans with extreme riding fun.

Exterior design: sporty and aggressive

KRV180’s overall design is aggressive. The split headlight is impressive and the body lines extend to both sides and the tip-tilted tail.

KYMCO is also fastidious about color scheme and materials. The currently announced colors are indigo blue, snowy silver and ether black. The test bike is in indigo blue, which gives a strong visual impact under the sun.

The blue paint refracts good texture in the sun, similar to the metallic paint of automotive processes. No matter in the light or daylight, the gloss of KRV180 has been upgraded. The front matte frosted panel, matched with the bright black windshield, makes the front face look more layered. Overall, KRV180’s unique shape design echoes its sports performance, maintaining good texture and aesthetic quality.

New technology: PTM

Speaking of the new technologies applied to the KYMCO-KRV180, the PTM drivetrain comes first, which sets the KRV180 apart from most scooter models. The PTM, or Power Transmission Matrix, is derived from the medium and large luxury scooter model the AK550. It is KYMCO’s patented technology.

How exactly does the PTM system work? How does it improve the KRV180? For the appearance, the most direct change is that the left side bloated variable speed mechanism is gone; The rear wheel is driven by a simple external belt and connected to the frame via an aluminum rear rocker arm.

The KRV180’s main transmission structure is integrated on the right side. With “coax” technology, the KRV180’s transmission structure is smaller than ordinary scooters.

The PTM system allows KRV180 to have a shorter wheelbase, more concise appearance, and easier maintenance. A more compact body structure is more difficult to design, but shorter wheelbase and lighter lower-body weight improve KRV180’s sports performance.

Power performance

The powertrain of this sporty, fun-oriented KRV180 is a single-cylinder, four-valve water-cooled engine. The maximum output power is 12.2kW at 7500rom, peak torque reaches 15.68N•m at 6000rpm.

But don’t just look at the parameters on paper. The actual performance is real. Under the high temperature of 40+℃ in Chongqing, we tested KRV180’s acceleration. 0~40km/h is 2.6 seconds; 0~60km/h is 4.9 seconds; 0~80km/h is 9.2 seconds; The acceleration performance of 0-100km /h is more than 10 seconds. Scooters of this grade rarely speed up to 100km/h, but in the hot weather it could easily reach a top speed of 120km/h.

Based on the paper data and the actual performance in our test, the acceleration performance of KRV180 in common acceleration rev range well meets daily riding. The high-rev engine and unique transmission structure also enable the KRV180 to achieve good ultimate speed in extreme conditions.

Riding experience

The riding experience of the KRV180 is enhanced not by power, but its cornering performance. Go fast at curves is really fast. The KRV180 is such a machine that brings you great fun at corners.

The body size of KRV180 is: 1960×755×1115 (mm); 795 mm seat height. It is very friendly for riders above 170cm. The flat pedal design allows more foot space. The rider can choose more foot support points in and out of corners.

Different people take corners in different ways, but most of the time you need to get used to the bike. The KRV180 feels easier to handle, especially in low-speed corners. The distinctive frame structure and shorter wheelbase make it easy to roll over in continuous low-speed bends. At the same time, the higher ground clearance brings a larger roll angle, and the rider can get closer to his limit during the mountain bends.

In high-speed corners, the KRV180 performs more accurately, benefiting from the overall body center of gravity change brought about by the body adjustment and PTM transmission structure. The nearly 50:50 front/rear weight ratio and high body rigidity boost riders’ confidence.

The riding experience in the city is not as pleasant as on the mountain roads. For simple tasks like getting people from point A to point B quickly, the KRV180’s advantages of short wheelbase and strong power are reflected. In the urban traffic flow, with the help of TCS, ABS and the front and rear double-piston calipers’ strong braking force, rider’s control of the bike is more secured.

The test bike is the TCS version (29,800 yuan). TCS in such a scooter is still very necessary (TCS can be turned off). It uses LED lights. It is worth mentioning that the front turn signals are designed on the handlebar. The separated LCD dual meters provide more clear and comprehensive riding information.

The application of new technologies and high-end configurations enable more users who prefer small displacement motorcycles to experience the charm of new technology. Therefore, KYMCO-KRV180 is more about bringing fun to users than saving costs.

Source: http://www.chmotor.cn