Kymco is gradually revitalizing its range, and if the DTX 125 (tested here last month) is a very avant-garde scooter, this X-Town City is more of a safe bet. It’s a very practical and functional scooter, especially thanks to its flat foot platform, which guarantees easy travel in increasingly chaotic urban centers.
125 cc scooters are usually divided into those that are totally urban and maxi-scooters. This X-Town City has features from both areas – even in terms of price – because while it is true that it has larger dimensions and greater refinement than the traditional fully urban proposals, on the other hand, it lacks some equipment and technical features to be able to compete with maxi-scooters, the most luxurious automatics we can find. In the Kymco range, this model can be distinguished in the following respect: among the proposals with a flat platform for the feet (something almost extinct these days), this is the most modern scooter from the Taiwanese brand. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t draw inspiration from other models of the past.
PAST AND PRESENT
This X-Town City is a scooter with very pleasing lines, featuring beautiful gray decoration and spectacular LED headlights at the front and rear. But if you take a closer look at the model, you’ll notice that there are some old-fashioned details, from the controls to the shape of the ignition and even the instrumentation, which is too simple in design and content. The geometry of the set and the riding position don’t hide the age of the design either, as the seat is low and the foot platform is somewhat elevated, so your legs are somewhat bent and your back suffers in impacts. We’re also too close to the handlebars and the lumbar support doesn’t allow us to reach further back, which could complicate the task for a tall user. In other words, this X-Town City is clearly a “washed face” of a proven Kymco base that has been around for several years, which even gave rise to Kawasaki’s J models, those without the flat platform and which have since been discontinued.
With all this, we end up with a footwell that is an asset, both when getting on and off the scooter – especially for users with reduced mobility or women wearing clothes other than pants – and also when you need to carry bags or larger objects, with the help of a hook to attach them. A bag with several tennis rackets, for example, fits perfectly and securely in front of us.
EQUIPMENT AND FEATURES
Under the seat, which has a hydraulic shock absorber, space is limited, so you can fit a full-face helmet and little else, and the space is shallow. At the front there is a keyless glove compartment and a USB port in the center of the handlebars, and the instrumentation could hardly be simpler, with two large analog dials and some digital information in the center, although without an on-board computer. In the back, the passenger has a good seat, well-designed grips and plenty of space.
THE BEST Flat foot platform; suspension comfort; aesthetic details TO BE IMPROVED Ergonomics; level of equipment and instrumentation; ground clearance
In terms of performance, this liquid-cooled engine, which delivers 12.7 hp of power, needs a lot of revving to get going. That’s why it’s not the quietest single-cylinder on the market either, but it does guarantee good starts and a top speed of 110 km/h, actually 120 km/h if the X-Town keeps moving. More importantly, the engine has plenty of power and even on the steepest AE climbs it holds up well at 100 km/h. The throttle has a very light touch and the levers are adjustable and have a soft feel, which isn’t always the case in this segment or even in higher ones. The front brake ends up being a little spongy, but overall the decelerating power on both wheels, with a combined system, is more than enough.
DETAILS AND DYNAMICS
We liked the presence of side “pipes” on the 13-inch wheels, making it easier to check the pressure of the tires, which in this case are CST and which, at least when dry, work well. The suspensions are soft and quite comfortable, and at the back they are even above average in the segment in terms of operation. The front windshield offers plenty of protection but also a slight amount of turbulence and, overall, the dynamics of the vehicle are very positive, with a good compromise between agility and stability, where only the low ground clearance when cornering at low speed sometimes makes the pace a little more lively. In terms of economy, we can tell you that in our calculations at the pump, this X-Town City used exactly 3 liters per 100 kilometers, which is well within the average. It’s a scooter with a lot of positive aspects, but it’s also somewhat constrained by the early age of the project, so it all depends on whether the user wants an automatic with a flat foot platform. If that’s the case, then this model is one to think about! The price is acceptable, but for this amount we would have liked to see some details on this scooter, such as keyless ignition, a start&stop system or an on-board computer in the instrumentation.