Like its namesake, the Kymco Espresso 150 makes for a simple and economical option. Drive.com.au takes a look.


Copying Italian flair is all the rage in the scooter domain but Kymco, Taiwan's largest scooter manufacturer, have gone one step further and even used an Italian sounding name to complete the imitation. Meet the Kymco Espresso 150.

Luckily though, this svelte little scoot has some substance to back up the style. A single 150cc cylinder accelerates the four-stroke Espresso to 80km/h sprightlier than I had expected. Acceleration then slows a little but the Espresso will still maintain 100km/h in most conditions. A modest incline slows the machine to 90km/h while a long and steep ascent will peg you back to around 80km/h.

At speed the Espresso is significantly more stable than any lightweight scooter I have ridden.

Large 16 inch rims help the Espresso shrug off any road irregularities and combine with fairly soft sidewalls on the Cheng Shin tyres to equip the Espresso with a surprisingly good ride.

The rear shocks certainly do not appear to be of high specification and while the left shock mounts to the sturdy drive unit, the right shock suspends from an alarmingly slender piece of steel frame. Which further suggests that the large rims are responsible for the excellent stability and ride.

The shocks do offer preload adjustment via a stepped collar which does allow the rear to be stiffened up if carrying a passenger. The Espresso is equipped with fold out passenger pegs to give the pillion solid foot purchase. A sturdy rear grab-rail is also provided.

ABS is not provided on the Espresso but due to the far from overwhelming braking power available it is not really necessary. Like so many small scooters the Espresso's brakes are barely adequate. It is fair to say that stronger brakes would require stiffer suspension but I do think the Espresso would benefit from stronger stoppers. The single disc front, and drum rear are passable, but only just.

The instrumentation is clear and concise with a conventional speedo and fuel gauge flanked by a digital clock but the lack of a tripmeter is an annoying oversight. The switchgear is tactile and easy to use.

The mirrors are simple stalk mounted items and work reasonably well.

It is forgivable for Kymco to copy Italian styling but they could have left out the ridiculous self retracting sidestand. I found it so annoying that I resorted to solely using the centre-stand which thankfully proves easy to use.

Storage compartments are provided both under the seat and in the front fascia. The lockable underseat storage area is large enough for a loaf of bread and a bottle of milk but little much else. The compartment also gets quite warm when riding but does add an appreciated convenience. The storage area in the front fascia is also lockable and can swallow sundry items and is comparable in size to the glove box of a small car.

The seat height is a little taller than I expected but thanks to the step through design mounting or alighting from the machine proves simple enough.

A windscreen and colour coded top-box are also available to raise the specification level further. Our test machine was equipped with the screen which did help protect my torso from a little weather but is not tall enough to provide any wind protection to the rider's head.

A 6.8 litre fuel cell provides a 170km range and an affordable $3990 purchase price makes for very economical motoring.

Good

Excellent stability
Lengthy warranty

Bad

Stronger brakes would be welcome
Sidestand is recalcitrant


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