TAG Magazine - Issue 53 - Dec 2006
Having been impressed with several other models in the KYMCO range, I couldn't wait to get a ride on the Super 9. I have ridden all of the commuter types from the range, but none of the sportier scooters. So it was with some eagerness that the Super 9 Sport 50 was sampled.
Taking the Super 9 onto the open road brought no surprises; the solid road-holding experienced with every KYMCO model I've tested is very much evident in this one too. This is maintained in and around town with the Super 9 proving to be a good performer, holding its own travelling along with heavy traffic or driving in and out of it.
One of the best ways to find out how stable and easy to ride a bike can be is to follow a car a close proximity, as we often have to do during a shoot to get the close-up moving shots. The Super 9 ranks among the best of all 50cc scoots in this respect, easily holding station with other moving vehicle thanks to its great response to small inputs of throttle, while feeling solid and safe throughout.
This KYMCO can get in and out of a bend with the best of them, keeping true to its intended line at all times and feeling safe and competent. Beefy 32mm telescopic forks hold the front end nicely in shape while the rear is taken care of by a bright red oil-damped shock absorber that feels to have a good grip on the situation particularly when ridden solo. The powerful brakes, a 210mm disc and twin piston caliper up front and a very keen drum at the rear, being on hand at all times to haul the plot up should things get out of hand, while the rock-steady chassis and fat tyres don't compromise agility, as so often can be the case with such a substantial looking setup.
As rides go, this is certainly a good one. The Super 9 is just as happy on country roads or making its way through dense traffic in the city.
The plastics, like the rest of the bike, are well finished and put together with deep lustre to the paintwork that should last well and look good for years, providing you don't go sliding it up the tarmac on its side. The bright red and black, chequered flag effect looks good and fits in well with the overall shape of the bike. This colour scheme is finished off with bright red cast alloy wheels, while up front is a wide and bright parabolic headlight that makes it hard for myopic car divers to miss you. The smoked transparent screen finishes the bar area off nicely giving this scoot a real racey look.
It's a well-thought out and put together scooter that could easily have originated in Europe rather than the Far East. On top of all that, it's backed by a full two-year warranty and at the moment can be insured on the cheap too, thanks to a subsidised scheme organised by the importers.
As for equipment, the Super 9 doesn't disappoint and has just about everything any other 50 has regardless of price, a reasonably sized underseat storage area and a hook in the front of the legshield area should the need to carry your mum's shopping bag be an urgent one. A sturdy, brightly painted, aluminium rear carrier is fitted as standard, giving even more possibilities should top box be required, while just behind the legboards sit a pair of hefty foldout pillion rests for those able to carry a passenger.
The only area that the Super 9 is left wanting is in the speedo department; it is a simple affair with none of the bells and whistles found on more expensive scoots, no push-button clock or lap timers to play with mid-journey, just a speedo, fuel gauge and the usual warning lights for main beam indicators and two-stroke oil level. Somehow even though a rev counter isn't fitted, you can sense the punchy and lively engine isn't quite revving out to its full potential and there can be no doubt that there is a few more mph just waiting to be liberated so they can run wild and free again. This would most likely push the top speed well into the half-century part of the speed dial.
This scoot is solid but not at all heavy or hard to manoeuvre. It's clearly been designed as a whole unit rather than being the product of a bolt-on process and this shows in the way it carries out the job in hand. There are few (if any) areas of complaint to be aimed at the scoot, especially when the price is taken into consideration. It looks good, goes very well and is clearly built to a very high standard. With KYMCO currently offering a subsidised insurance scheme on this model as well as the comprehensive two-year warranty the Super 9 is a viable alternative that should be considered thoroughly when buying a sporty 50.
VIEW THE SUPER 9 50
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