The Kwang Yang Motor Company first brought its “Agility” scooter lineup to the domestic market back in 2007, and here it is a decade later and still going strong. It comes with a choice between a 49 cc and a 125 cc powerplant, but both models share the same sporty looks and Spartan appointments. Meant to serve as an entry-level ride, the Agility siblings keep things simple, clean and with nothing of the superfluous to clutter up the looks or drive up the price. I wanted to see what KYMCO is doing to try and keep these rides relevant.

Continue reading for my review of the KYMCO Agility.

2016 - 2018 KYMCO Agility

Specifications

• Make: Array
• Model: 2016 - 2018 KYMCO Agility
• Engine/Motor: single cylinder
• [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

Design

If “agility” is synonymous with “skinny,” then the Agility is certainly aptly named. This is a very narrow scooter folks, so it doesn't matter what the weather is like, you're going to get too much of it. The legguard section is just barely wide enough to capture the front forks and mount the headlight, but little else. A glance behind the guard reveals that it's wide open in back with no inner fairing to finish it off. It's not a dealbreaker, but it seems like KYMCO missed an opportunity to build in some glovebox-type dry storage, or at least a few open nooks for your possibles. I've seen folks add cup-holders and small trinket containers inside the fairing just to add makeshift glovebox-type storage. It's a plastic fairing, so that's easy to do.

Up top, a fairing encloses the handlebar as well as the instrumentation, but it departs from the classic Italian look by leaving the front headlight down below. Regardless of which engine you pick, the body remains the same, and so does the limited storage capacity to be found under the saddle. Well, “limited” may be a bit biased, but I like to ride with a modular full-face bucket, and you can forget about stuffing a couple of those lids under the seat; it just ain't going to happen. Smaller helmets maybe, but none of those Dark Helmet (Spaceballs, anyone?) looking jobs.

A two-up seat comes standard, but the Agility has a convertible pillion pad that flips up to serve as a rider backrest. No, you're not liable to need that to keep from driving the scoot out from under yourself from the raw, unbridled power, but it's still likely to increase pilot comfort and confidence, though taller folks might feel a bit cramped and leave that p-pad down so they can slide back a little more.

A small luggage rack rides above the molded-in taillight and long mudguard to finish out the rear end. The fuel filler is under the p-pad so the trade-off of having limited underseat storage is that you won't spill fuel on your stowed gear.

Chassis

Details from the factory are scarce, but it's clear that the Agility rides on a proper underframe rather than relying on a stressed-skin monocoque assembly to keep the unit rigid. Motorcycle-style, wet front forks float the front end with a single, coil-over shock to tame the motion of the swing-mount drive system out back.

Wheel diameter is likewise consistent across the board at 12-inches with a 120/70 and 130/70 on the front and rear, respectively, and the wheelbase measures out at a compact 52.5 inches. A hydraulic disc brake slows the front wheel, but KYMCO doggedly hangs on to the antiquated drum brake on the rear wheel in spite of growing demand for all-around discs. Not that it matters much since 70-percent of your stopping power is in the front wheel, but still, it is the 21st century now...

Drivetrain

The traditional scooter drive unit consists of a thumper mated to a continuously-variable transmission, and the Agility line is no exception. At the bottom of the range, the 49 cc “50” runs a 39 mm bore and 41.4 mm stroke with a blistering 1.9 horsepower and 3.0 pound-feet of torque. The engine is restricted to 30 mph, though with some crafty wrench-turning and a fatter main jet, you can coax it up into the low-to-mid 40s.

Much more roadworthy is the big brother that runs a 52.4 mm bore and 57.8 mm stroke with a much-more-capable output of 9.25 horsepower and 6.7 pound-feet of torque. Carburetor induction is constant across the board, as is the forced-air cooling system and starter system that delivers push-button starts with a kicker for backup.

Pricing

MSRP on the Agility 50 rolls for $1,599 MSRP, and the more-capable 125 is only marginally prouder at $1,899. Color packages are all two-tones with a blue/silver, red/black or my favorite, orange/black, as the available options this year.

Competitors

KYMCO may be a lesser-known brand on our side of the pond, but both Kawasaki and BMW have used the brand to produce engines for them so it's safe enough to grant them a little respect. With that in mind, I decided to pull from the top-shelf to see how it stacks up against some known competition, namely the Typhoon 125 from Piaggio.

The Typhoon is just as skinny as the Agility, with just as little in the way of protection. It mounts the headlight down low with a handlebar fairing up high, but unlike the Agility, the backside of the legguard is enclosed for a more-finished look.

Underseat storage is roughly equal, and though the Typhoon lacks the nifty rider-backrest feature of the Agility, fit-and-finish points to a somewhat higher-quality product. Frame design and suspension are nearly identical, as are the brakes as both manufacturers (amazingly) stick with the ol' rear drum.

Piaggio surrenders a single cube to KYMCO with a 124 cc thumper on propulsion duties, and I'm happy to report that KYMCO manages to toe the line against the iconic Italian brand on the dyno. The Typhoon's 9 ponies and 6 pounds o' grunt are neck-and-neck with the Agility, even a skosh short, so big kudos to KYMCO on that point.

If fit/finish and name power alone aren't enough to pull you into Piaggio's camp, engine quality and price will certainly make you lean the other way. While the Agility rolls for $1,899, Piaggio's pride bumps the Typhoon up to $2,599, and that will be a definite factor for buyers up against a budget.

He Said

My husband and fellow motorcycle writer, TJ Hinton, says, “Nice enough I reckon, if you live on campus, or are unable to hold a driver's license and need something that qualifies as a “moped” for basic transportation. Couldn't load me into a cannon and shoot me onto the highway with either one of these, though; too light, too small and far too insubstantial for my taste.”

She Said

“OMG, why do I ask my husband about scooters? Even though he'll readily give a scooter the low-wave on the road, he's such a snob when it comes to thinking about them in terms of practicality. Low price, good fuel economy, and easy parking are things that immediately come to mind when talking about using a scooter for urban mobility. Now, the fit and finish on the Agility isn't stellar, but for a budget scooter, what do you expect, right? If you drop it, a lot of bits and bobs are going to crack and/or break, but probably nothing some tape and zip-ties won't make right enough again. It's a little scooter, very narrow so you'll be able to filter through some tight spaces.”

Specifications

References

See our review of the Piaggio Typhoon.