KYMCO Venox - 10,000 km review
The KYMCO Venox - 10,000 km review
The most accurate motorcycle reviews probably aren't the ones you hear from strangers who take a motorcycle out on a test ride for a day or two. The best reviews come from the horse's mouth, the riders who’ve spent thousands of kilometers on a bike, drawing his or her own conclusions based on the experience. After 10,000 km (6,200 miles), it's time I shared my two cents.
Let’s clear up any possible misconceptions:
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KYMCO is a Taiwanese company, not Chinese or Korean.
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KYMCO has produced bikes for Honda in the past, and more recently, is the maker of the engine BMW used to launch its 450cc enduro.
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KYMCO is well known in Asian and European markets, particularly for their diverse line up of great scooters. The company makes ATVs as well.
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2 Year warranties come standard!
So what is the Venox?
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250cc, 90-degree “L-Twin” 8V engine with DOHC
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28 horsepower; 15 ft torque at 8,500 RPM
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Liquid cooled
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120/80-17 Front; 150/80-15 Rear
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14 litre fuel capacity
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63” wheelbase, she’s wider, heavier, longer, and taller than any other 250cc cruiser we have here in Canada.
The first ride, Edward asked “How was it?”
The first thousand kilometers on my brand new KYMCO Venox were impressive. The bike looked, handled, and performed better than any other 250cc cruiser I’ve seen. There was no comparison between the Venox and my old Honda Rebel. The 8-valve liquid cooled DOHC twin carbureted motorcycle could blow the fish of its class out of the water.
Any problems in the first 1,000 km?
Admitted, there were two minor issues in the early going:
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Mileage was considerably lower than the other 250cc cruisers I had been on. However, the bike still averaged roughly 51 MPG. My guess is that this was due to the break-in oil and would be the case for any new bike. After the 1,000 km service, my mileage has been averaging 60 MPG. I've been tracking it on Fuelly.
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One of my front fork seals began leaking. This is common in new seals, however it was later determined that the seal did in fact need to be replaced. That was done at a later, covered by warranty, I was in and out of the dealership in the same day.
And then it got better: Performance
From 1,000 km to 3,000 km is where things picked up. Mileage jumped to a steady average of 60 MPG. Much more importantly, performance increased tremendously as well. Unlike the other the other 250cc class bikes that really need to be revved up to get you accelerating quickly, the Venox can speed up well without ever approaching the 11,500 RPM rev. limiter. At 28 horsepower, the bike is only a couple ponies shy of the Ninja 250R, once you’re out of that “breaking-in” stage don’t hesitate to take her out on the highway. Without a windscreen and completely stock, the KYMCO Venox did an indicated 140 km/hr, I’ve verified a top speed of 137 km/hr on my GPS. I may have been able to push her a touch further but that was all conditions allowed.
Comfort? Handling?
The bike has an obvious long rake to the front wheel. The 63-inch wheelbase and the suspension provide a bike so stable you can ride with no hands without fear. The seat is wider, longer, and I believe overall more comfortable than other bikes in its class. The tires (front: 120/80-17, rear: 150/80-15) are a big help around the potholes, streetcar tracks, and “bus knuckles” of downtown Toronto and add to the stability. The seat height is taller than the other 250cc cruisers on the market and the overall size and feel is one of a 600-650cc bike. Ashley found the back seat of my Honda Rebel and similar bikes such as the Suzuki Marauder and the Yamaha V-Star 250, to be unsupportive and uncomfortable. The back seat of the KYMCO Venox is much wider and softer. Ashley had no issues on the back seat for the 110 km from Toronto to Collingwood for the 2009 Ride for Sight.
Not a bad ride!
No, it wasn’t. After roughly 3,000 km Ashley and I piled the Venox up with our camping gear. Together with our gear we likely added 300 pounds to the bike. The bike didn’t struggle, with the exception of handling being a little heavy on the occasional take-off and stop. We were impressed with the way the Venox could just hustle. Even on the steep uphill slopes on Airport Rd. from Toronto to Collingwood Ontario, she had no problems carrying us uphill. When we arrived at the Ride For Sight there seemed to be no end to the people who came to stop, look, and ask questions about the Venox, which the Harley crowd referred to as “the little V-Rod”.
Routine maintenance
Well, some of my screws are starting to form rust, which I really need to clean up. Maintenance otherwise has been a breeze. All parts are easily accessible, the fenders and other parts are easy to remove thusfar. I’ve installed a 12V lighter to power the GPS I have mounted to my handlebar. I’ve also installed a lightbar (this required a bit of work). The stock horn (a loud, chippy “meep meep” sound) was replaced by a decent 130 decible low-tone horn. Finally, I had my baffles modified slightly, the resulting noise the Venox produced was incredible.
Complaints:
All in all, an excellent bike, but in the spirit of providing a fair, un-biased review, so I’ll address the few issues I do have:
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There is a bolt around where the exhaust pipes join. This bolt is visibly corroding. I’ve noticed this on other Venox models as well. You don’t notice it unless you’re on the floor looking at the bike. If every bike has at least one cheap part, that’s the one.
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Aftermarket and OEM accessories are difficult to come by. You can get saddlebags, a windshield, and of course a tool kit fairly easily. If you’re looking for other products such as lightbars, engine guards and backrests you’ll need to get them from Tony Tucker of Tucmoto in the United States. As far as I know he’s the only distributor of Custom SPAAN accessories in North America.
Honda, BMW?
Take a look at the Honda Magna 250, sold in Australia, and the KYMCO Venox on this review of a 2003 model. For more information on BMW's partnership with KYMCO, check out the links at the bottom of the page or click here.
Final thoughts
The KYMCO Venox saves me roughly $1,000 a year on insurance. At an average 60 MPG, I can get 350 km to the tank and save every time I fill up. For anyone who’s comfortable with simply cruising at 130 km/hr and under, this is all the bike you’ll need. It’s big, comfortable, handles very nicely, and the technology put into the bike into the bike give it great performance.
Where to find KYMCO in Toronto?
Check out Studio Cycle Group located near Keele and Dundas at www.StudioCycleGroup.com
More Venox info:
- PDF document with full specs from KYMCO Canada.
- TotalMotorcycle.com’s Review: Big Cruiser Looks, Big Cruiser Sound (interesting 8 page full review).
- The KYMCO Venox on Wikipedia.
- BMW's partnership with KYMCO in their new Enduro bike.
- Review of a 2003 KYMCO Venox addressing the similarities to the Honda Magna 250.
- KYMCO Venox Lightbar modification.
- KYMCO Venox exhaust pipe baffle modification (to make it sound loud).
- KYMCO Venox Exhaust Baffle Mod step by step Instructions with Images.