Kymco People 150 Review

Overall Rating

Easy to handle; great gas mileage; reliable; good suspension; 16 inch wheels; high-beam flash button; fast enough for any local road travels and short commutes.

Under-seat storage is not good enough to hold a normal helmet. The odometer registers kilometers not miles. The mirrors are a bit too short until you add extenders or a sport-fairing.

I've had my KYMCO People 150cc scooter for 8 months now. I've put about 1,400 miles on it. It is my second scooter and I've put about 70,000 miles on sport motorcycles in all seasons so I'm an experienced rider. I have a 3.5 mile commute to work and have ridden my scooter to work most every day including in full rain with wind to 40mph. I put a sport- fairing on the scooter and it made a very big difference in comfort and appearance. I have ridden it at a true 60 mph to a nearby town 3 times. I put a remote alarm on it because I really want to keep it. I get 70-76mpg. My opinion: I love this scooter. It has everything I need for a short commute and is fun to ride. It looks pretty boring in most pictures, but once you ride it, you just don't care. I ride through the San Juan islands on it and really enjoy being able to get first in-line for the ferries. If you want a thrill - trust me, going 60mph on a small scooter is pretty exciting. It is a very practical machine.

Members' Comments onfloatnboat's Review

• garyklee on 22nd Aug 2006

  Thanks for the review. I've been mentally weighing the pros and cons of a scooter versus a small 250 motorcycle. The scooter seems more convenient and easier to use as a short trip commuter - just hop on with street clothes and shoes and scoot over to the market. No need to put on the motorcycle boots and and other protective gear besides a helmet.
  
  On the other hand, a Yamaha 250 Virago is about the same price and looks way cool. I could ride it out to the canyons and cruise the twisties for an exhilerating Saturday ride. It can also be used as a commuter - just not quite as convenient. Life is full of tough decisions - scooter or motorcycle?

• rochetto on 19th Apr 2007

  You're wrong about not having to put on gear, boots, helmet, etc. A 150cc scooter IS a motorcycle. You need a motorcycle license to ride one for a reason. Having an accident while going 40mph on a scooter will give you exactly the same injuries as on a traditional motorcycle. Scooters are safer than standard motorcycles yet the injury/death rate on them is rising. The reason is that too many people think they do not have to ride defensively and dress properly because it is a "scooter" and not a "motorcycle".

• RockinR on 4th Jul 2008

  Hi and thanks for the great review. I am very close to closing the deal on purchasing my new 2007 Kymco People 150. I'm having a windshield installed (which I expect may slow the scooter down a little) as well as a luggage compartment on the back.
  
  I'm putting my Honda Elite 80cc up for sale (LUVED it for the past 2 years but 45mph/tops 50 does not cut it anymore). I now feel the need for speed - at least 10mph more, and would like to know what is the max mph you have ridden for any considerable length of time? You say 60 but can you (or will it) do 65 comfortably for a good while? If I want to go on a road trip with a friend for a few hours, how bad is my butt going to hurt after, let's 2.5 - 3 hours straight? Most (90%) of my driving is on local "city" streets - US Hwy. 1 in Florida where speed limits are 40 - 55mph but I like the option to occasionally go on a nice little road trip and try to keep up best I can with my friend on her Vespa 250. (I'm not kidding myself here - my friend promises to keep her speed on her Vespa to 60 but I'd certainly love the ability to go the distance at 65.) If I can't keep the speed at 65mph comfortably , maybe I need to just up it to a People S200 or even to the People 250 - which I know is a whole other ballgame. Like I stated earlier, I love my little Honda and the People 150 still has that great little, jump on and go scooter fun. That's where my hesitation lies in going bigger/heavier than the 150. I didn't get the opportunity to test the People S 200 and the weight is not much more than the People 150 but I've read the 65mph shouldn't be a problem with the 200? (As far as aesthetics, I like the "Retro" look of the People as opposed to the People S MUCH better.) Any feedback at all is appreciated. THANKS! (Sorry for rambling but I'm ready to bust out my wallet within the next day or so and want to make the best informed decision possible.)