Kymco Bet and Win 250cc Review

Overall Rating

Quality, Handling, Performance, Value, Fit and Finish, Warranty, Dealer Network

My commute is too short and my time on it isn't long enough!

I think the Kymco Bet and Win 250cc is one of the best kept secrets in scooters. I've had mine now since June 9, 2006 and put on over 3400 km.

So far, no problems...nor do I expect any. I find the fit and finish to be as good or better than on the top name bikes from Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha. And if you ever want a confirmation you made the right decision, just check out the Tank Scooter forum on Yahoo! and see the troubles they have with cheap Chinese clones. They didn't pay as much, and they got their money's worth. Everywhere I look, I find nice design touches that indicate the scooter will probably last for years if I just take care of it.

Regarding performance, the speedometer isn't accurate, nor are the speedometers on most scooter/motorcycles from what I've been reading. Generally, they are about 10% off. I took mine out on a stretch that is 70 mph (because I knew I wouldn't be speeding by much if I got caught) to see what the top end was. With a GPS, I hit 81 mph and that was with a cross-wind. I think it would hit 85 with no wind. Since I keep it within 5 mph of the speed limit, this gives me plenty of available acceleration if wanted.

I find a Puig windscreen to be a wonderful addition. Through my dealer, I got it for $90 US. Between it and the front lower fairing on the scooter itself, it cuts through the air wonderfully. Another way you can confirm that you made the right choice is to come up next to a semi, or follow one...and find the turbulence and wall of air that should be there doesn't affect you much at all. That constantly amazes me.

I ride mine on the freeway all the time around Seattle and don't find a problem. I also do some things to make sure I'm very very visible. I wear a bright yellow (not orange) safety vest with reflective tape. And I bought a Givi clone top case on eBay for about $60 US with a brake light that rotates when applied. And, I added red reflectors for the rear and applied white reflective tape on the side and front wherever I could find that would fit without being obvious in the daytime. I generally don't get tailgated, and I don't have people pull out in front of me.

Oh, and if you do get someone tailgating you, just do a little weaving in the lane. They back off quick. They probably figure you're crazy and will fall any moment!

I've looked at other scooters like the Xciting, but I'm not impressed. The seat height is lower, but in reality is actually more since the seat is wider. If you have long legs, they'd be great, but I don't and can actually touch the ground better on the B&W. And the large front fairing didn't have much in the way of storage built in. So to me, it didn't add any value. And the underseat storage is about the same as on the B&W. In short, I think there's better value in a B&W. Like I wrote in the beginning, the B&W is one of the best kept secrets.

Like many people, I wanted a longer seat on the B&W. I guess I was used to a motorcycle and leaning forward. It took me awhile to realize it works well if you ride it in a more upright "scooter" position.

One of the best endorsements of the B&W 250 is realizing you wish your commute was twice as long -- so you could ride it more!

Members' Comments onDaboo's Review

• Daboo on 13th Feb 2007

  2/12/2007 - Update to the review. I have over 8000 km on it now, with still no problems. We had winds over 50 mph and it handled just fine in the wind. I've also ridden it in temperatures down to 30 F degrees and it starts without any problems. Even leaving it in the garage for a week or so when the snow hit the area and didn't melt, didn't cause a problem with starting.

• Daboo on 7th May 2007

  I now have over 10,000 km on the Kymco Bet&Win 250 in 11 months. So far there have been no problems...except withdrawal when I don't have an excuse to ride the bike. Nothing has broken, and the only maintenance has been that called out in the owner's manual i.e. oil changes.
  
  I rode the scooter last Friday for around 100 miles round trip in Seattle rush hour traffic and pouring rain. There are other less expensive scooters that I would be hesitant to take on that kind of trip. Not this one. It never skips a beat.
  
  Another reviewer mentioned it was "top heavy". That might be a matter of perspective. When I took the Experienced Riders Course last July after only having the scooter a month, I found the bike handles so well, I pushed the limits in one corner. I realized going into the corner that I was a little "hot", and as I leaned the bike over, I was very aware of how near my right shoulder seemed to the pavement. I heard a "pop" and found out later that was the exhaust pipe scraping the pavement briefly.
  
  This scooter seems like a sport bike of scooters with good disc brakes front and rear, and tires wider than some of the big motorcycles I park next to every day at work.
  
  You won't be disappointed with this one.

• wilbrod on 31st Aug 2007

  Good review! I bought a Kymco B&W 150cc last spring and I have over 2500 km on it. It runs like a charm and you can feel when you drive it that they put effort into the design. I am driving in two weeks to Seattle from Edmonton Canada with it for a journey of about 1500 km each way.
  
  Cheers!

• timblack57 on 19th Feb 2008

  I too have just discovered this scooter; it is the only 250 scooter I know of that my 7 year old can sit on the back AND put his feet on the footrests. Much safer obviously.