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I've generally been inclined toward some level of adventure, and when time allows I like to include a scooter into the mix. A family vacation to the Lake Michigan shore had been in the plans for quite awhile, but my schedule did not allow for a full week away in July during the peak of the season for Scooterville. That's where a recently traded in Kymco and a ferry boat combined to save the day.
The trade-in was a 2006 Kymco People 250 with just shy of 20,000 kilometers on the odometer.
It had been purchased at Scooterville and well maintained by a customer in rural northern Wisconsin. This spring, he felt the urge to go bigger and traded it on a new Kymco Xciting 500.
My challenge was to catch up with my wife, kids, and dog who had packed up the wagon and headed down the road on a Thursday, a couple days ahead of me. My work schedule kept me in town through Saturday to display bikes for Scooterville and Mill City Motorcycles at the annual Bearded Lady Motorcycle Freak Show.
A thirteen hour ride was not in the cards. Especially after spending the day in full July sunshine. A little research and fond recollection of a project we took on a few years back yielded a solution. In 2004 we participated in a torture test of sorts with the folks at Minnesota Motorcycle Monthly. The ultimate goal was to run a 250cc scooter for 24 consecutive hours, and the subject was a Kymco People 250. With this fresh trade in front of me, I was reminded of the challenge from 6 years prior and I started thinking about documenting the performance capabilities of a higher mileage scooter.
A web search revealed a car (and motorcycle) ferry that offered an overnight excursion. Problems solved. All I needed was flawless performance by the scooter and reasonable support from the weather. I got both! Aside from a short stretch of rain in each direction, the weather was perfect. And the scooter? It was nothing short of amazing! On the return trip I covered the stretch from Green Bay, WI to St. Paul, MN in four hours. The average speed on the return leg, including two fuel stops, was just under 70 mph. Fuel economy was in the mid 50s (mpg).
We look forward to another 24 hour run this fall with the folks at MMM. This time on a scooter with 25,000 kms.
When you're looking for a scooter don't forget about the capabilities and versatility of the 250cc line-up from Kymco.