Kymco: Performs as solid as it looks

Fire Kymco's 250cc Venox up and there's a pleasantly throaty note from the stubby twin pipes. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Kymco owners have the perfect response to the BMW or Honda rider who curls their lip at the Taiwanese-built bike. For Kymco got its start building parts for Honda back in 1963, and today constructs engines for BMW's G450X, among others.

Its first direct foray into two wheels was a 1970 scooter, with the Kymco brand launched in 1992.

My handsome mount is the Venox, a 250cc cruiser that's been on sale here for around a year. It looks like a big bike that's shrunk in the wash, especially when you swing a leg over. But settle in and you'll find a grown-up riding position that should accommodate taller riders than my 1.67-metre frame.

Fire her up and there's a pleasantly throaty note from the stubby twin pipes, though not as throaty as the after-market set I heard recently that imparted the gruffly sexy note of a more powerful machine.

Either way, this one doesn't sound quite as sanitised as the specs suggest.

Power feels modest, thanks partly to this bike's relatively hefty weight - it tips the scales some 28kg heavier than Yamaha's similarly-focused 250 Virago.

Initially, the relaxed delivery wasn't helped by relatively high gearing, but there is a solution; keep your toe tapping to maintain the most effective cog for your speed. Fifth is a cruising overdrive and any demanding road, head wind or 100km/h overtaking manoeuvre will require a change to fourth. But this free-revving engine is at its best when it's whirring; get used to it and she's soon scampering along, revealing effective suspension and reasonable comfort, despite a hint of a buzz through the footpegs at higher revs.

Now point the Venox at some tight bends and you'll find a better-than-average handler for a small cruiser. The riding position isn't as exaggerated as some, assisted by a set of bars that look cruisy enough, but sit fairly flat and thus impart good steering control. The rear suspension allows you to fiddle with the preload, although I didn't need to.

The Venox feels reassuringly solid, too. There's no suggestion of chrome-coloured plastic, no rattles and squeaks, nothing about its feel or visible build quality to set it aside from established mainstream brands.

That said, it's a bit of a disguise artist - those engine fins are covers designed to impart a spuriously classic air. I suppose such subterfuge could annoy - I found it amusing.

I have to admit I didn't ride this bike as far as I usually do - it was parked up for much of the recent stormy weather which whipped up the surf, downed trees and cut both power and phone for two days.

The wind remained forceful the day I returned it, a day which sealed my respect for this week's bike. Yes, we were blown around a bit, but the Venox felt stable, predictable, and easy to correct. At $6690 (including 15 per cent GST), it's only a nudge under the mainstream equivalents in terms of price, but feels their equal in ride appeal.

KYMCO VENOX 250

We like
Handsome looks, sweet handling, integrated luggage tie-down points

We don't like
A tad heavy for the modest power, tank-mounted speedo not easy to read at a glance

Performance
20.5kW at 11,000rpm, 19.8Nm at 9000rpm

Powertrain
249cc four-stroke liquid-cooled V-twin, five-speed transmission, chain drive

Price
$6690

Vital stats
2325mm long, 725mm seat height, 175kg wet weight, 14-litre fuel tank