October 2007 - www.autotrader.co.uk - KR Sport 125 Review

KYMCO KR Sport 125 - The learner legal 125 that thinks it’s a supersports!

Now testing a learner legal 125 was always I thought going to be something of a challenge for me, given that I’m 6ft 3”, weigh far more than your average 17 year old and I can just about remember being 17! I expected a cramped, uninspiring ride, how wrong preconceptions can be.

The first thing that strikes you about this 125 is the looks; they’re stylish, eye catching, sharp and bang up to date! They make the bike look like a far bigger capacity machine. Its true size is only given away by the small power plant. The bike really does have super sports dimensions and looks. I parked the bike up on test in a busy touristy town centre and loads of people asked me what the bike was and most were surprised when I told them its was KYMCO 125. They all thought it was a mid range Japanese super sport, I’m certain this will give the bike massive street appeal and road presence.
The bike doesn’t just look big, it is big, it easily accommodated my 6ft 3” frame, I was amazed.

KYMCO are a major Taiwanese manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters and with Honda having a major share of the company for many years, the Honda influence, really shines through on this 125. I’m sure some styling clues have been taken from Honda’s CBR 125, certainly the quality has. This bike is almost over engineered for its somewhat small power plant. Its huge single beam frame is far sturdier than the maximum 10bhp power out put requires. This over engineering continues to the large ventilated single discs front and rear, with twin pot calliper and the front and single on the rear. These stop the bike effectively and safely, though we’re not talking about slowing it down from super sport speeds. Claimed top speed is 65 mph and it only weighs a mere 141 kg, so the brakes are not being over stretched!

The super sports styling and high quality continues throughout this machine, from the full aerodynamic fairing, the raked screen, the twin headlights, white glass indicators, sculpted tank to the semi-prone riding position, all adding to the super sports illusion.

Particularly eye catching is the instrumentation, the KR Sports has white faced rev counter with red and black figuring, which makes them very clear to read, additionally the bike also has a big clear digital speedo, digital fuel gauge, odometer and clock.

Supersports ride?
The KR Sports has hydraulic forks up front and rear adjustable monoshock (with eye catching red spring) and sits on painted 5 spoke alloy wheels which are shod with Cheng Shin tyres. I wasn’t expecting great things from the handling, but was again surprised. Within the limits of the power available this 125 has razor sharp handling with a taut and firm ride. Obviously the light weight helps, but the bike is also very planted and not easily thrown off line. The Cheng Shin tyres for the most part provide excellent grip even on gravel strewn country back roads, not a surface I’d recommend riding on generally. The light weight means the KR Sports can be flicked through corners, like the super sport bike it pretends to be.

This lightness of action is complemented by the light action clutch and sweet 5 speed gearbox, both of which enabled rapid and smooth gear changing; though, out on the open road it was quickly up through the box to fifth to make the most of the available speed.

Disappointingly the KR Sport only produces 10bhp at 10,000 RPM from its free revving single air/oil cooled engine, which is almost 4bhp short of the legal maximum for a learner. This does somewhat blunt the ultimate performance in that the bike tops out at 65mph, but for many learners this will be more then fast enough. It was really on hilly roads that I noticed this most, when it meant keeping the bike near the 8,000 RPM redline in fourth, rather than changing up into fifth, to get the bike to haul my weight up the hill, obviously a svelte light weight youngster would have less of an issue. The engine can be come a little buzzy as revs approach the red line but for the most part it’s fairly smooth.

However riding twisty roads is where the KR Sport really excels, its lightness and good handling enables quick changes of direction and spirited cornering to be easily achieved, which make one easily forget the bikes modest power output.

Because of the bikes large dimensions its is surprisingly comfortable, even with the semi prone riding position, it was really only the squab seat which after a couple of hours riding lacked a little in the support department. But I doubt this sort of bike will be used for touring.

Top Choice
The KR Sports is very easy to ride with its excellent handling, good brakes and lightness of controls it will makes an ideal first learner legal machine. Overall it is hard to fault the KR Sport and it should give the more firmly established Japanese choices a really serious challenge.

It should be cheap to run as well. Whilst I didn’t have the KR Sport on test long enough to run conclusive MPG checks, it was obviously very frugal on fuel. I’m told by KMYCO UK the bike should average 85MPG. The bike has a 6,000 KM or six month service interval with typical service costs* being £65 for an interim and £100 for an annual service Combined with a competitive suggested retail price** of £2,399 which includes a two year unlimited mileage warranty and I’m sure the KR Sport 125 will be at the top of the buy list for many new riders.

*Note service costs are an indication only and will depend on local dealer labour rates
** Suggested Retail Price - Includes PDI, delivery, number plate, VAT, 1st registration fee and 12 months road fund licence.

For further information on the KYMCO KR Sport 125, please click here

Article and Photos by Jon Booth - http://www.inter-bike.co.uk - The UK Biker Site
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