Review of KYMCO’s 2008 ATV, UTV Lineup

Any individual doubting KYMCO’s dedication to the off-highway powersports market place only desires to peruse the firm’s fast-expanding lineup.

KYMCO has steadily refined its all-terrain goods and broadened its choices with every single design 12 months. The Taiwanese firm’s latest attempts involved the so-so MXU 500 utility quad for 2007 and revamped 2008 Mongoose 250 and 300 activity quads.

This time all over, KYMCO is acquiring even bolder, and has arrived at the desk with the highly expected UXV 500 UTV and all-new MXU 375 utility ATV.

We just lately traveled to the backyard of the firm’s US division, scenic South Carolina, to trip KYMCO’s whole line of 2008 merchandise, and also put in some time behind the wheel of its very first-at any time UTV. At this position, 1 detail is for guaranteed: KYMCO is taking notes and producing severe strides to match its American and Japanese opponents in fashion, general performance and products choices.

Placing The Table
The placing was Carolina Experience Globe, a nevertheless increasing privately-owned off-street using place with far more than 100 miles of trails, a mud bog and a few motocross tracks. We have ridden there ahead of though traveling to for Polaris and Kawasaki intros, and, just like KYMCO, the facility keeps acquiring better as it carries on to experienced.

Temperatures could have been a bit more spring-like, but skies had been clear, the grass was inexperienced and ailments had been ripe for some mud-splattered off-roading.

UXV Is UTV
Yamaha, Polaris, Arctic Cat and Kawasaki have their large-advertising leisure facet-by-facet gamers in place. Honda’s much more operate-minded Massive Pink is on the way shortly, and Can-Am not long ago declared programs for what we be expecting to be a extremely athletic (RZR beating?) UTV. There had also been speculation KYMCO was readying its have entrant into the exploding category. All those rumors ended up confirmed soon after the firm took the wraps off its new UXV 500 at the EICMA powersports display in Milan, Italy, final fall.

Then we bought to see it for ourselves. Heading off appearance by itself, it appears the business experienced the Rhino, Teryx and Prowler firmly in its sights. Its traditional UTV structure implies a machine intended to break up the big difference concerning work and enjoyment, just like the most productive players in the phase.

The spec sheet lists a 500cc four-stroke motor, impartial suspension, locking front differential and a huge tilting cargo bed able of hauling 420 lbs – the principal ingredients we phone for when generating a UTV.
Pricing had not been finalized at push time and a few minor technical specs on the prototypes were nonetheless subject to improve before ultimate production.

Guiding The Wheel
Time was confined, but we got the chance to experience KYMCO’s UTV from the driver and passenger seats, as effectively as by thick mud, about steep hills and fording it by deep water.

We didn’t get the opportunity to haul any cargo all around, but our experience time gave us the significantly-appreciated probability to peek less than the hood and rack up some miles with the UXV.

Lateral steadiness (i.e. rolling more than) has been a thorn in the side of several UTVs. To this finish, KYMCO made a decision to up the ante with a extensive, steady system that measures 59 inches vast. For comparison’s sake, the Prowler is 61.3 inches huge and the Rhino steps 54.5 inches across.

The further girth translated to flat, predictable handling that is extra reassuring than some of the narrower competitors in substantial-speed corners. It created winding by means of the using park’s restricted woods trails considerably far more demanding, however, and will also make it tough to shoehorn the UXV into the again of a pickup truck.

Like the new Teryx, EFI wasn’t integrated – obvious expense-reducing to help KYMCO contend on price and rush its model to the current market. With out any will need for the dash-mounted choke, our warmed-up UXV fired up quickly.

Stepping into the throttle, the liquid-cooled 500cc DOHC 4-stroke felt reasonably taxed by the 1,157-pound (dry) body weight, but the electric power was enough to surmount steep hills and energy the significant male by means of some amazing mud holes.
A tiny vibration was current, but motor refinement is in line with the bulk of the activity utility phase. The exhaust observe appears much more agricultural than sporty, a further common trait shared with practically just about every other side-by-facet.

It really is all enterprise inside of the cabin with frills retained to a minimum. A center-mounted gauge cluster shows all the standard information, and the shifter is mounted on the middle console between the seats. Shift action was spotty, as reverse equipment failed to always engage when the lever was moved to “R.” With any luck , this can be cleared up right before closing manufacturing.

Seating lodging are ideal on the cash with enough aspect bolstering to continue to keep the riders in location. Foot place and dash positioning is also on target – undoubtedly much better than a few of its competitors.

Leading pace is estimated at 45 mph – best for a auto of this dimensions and intent.

Suspension is a twin A-arm style that offers 7.5 inches of vacation at both ends and 12.2 inches of ground clearance. The transmission involves substantial and lower ranges, and also contains a differential lock. Halting motion will come from two discs in the front and a single disc brake in the rear.

The tilting cargo bed is huge enough to cope with total-size hundreds up to 420 lbs, and the tailgate has a straightforward latching method just like the Rhino’s.
Our quick journey uncovered a qualified perform car or truck that ought to have loads of playtime capability. Pricing is continue to not finalized, but we expect it to undercut the opposition by some measure. Time will explain to. The UXV 500 4×4 will be out there in crimson, green, grey and camo, with a 1-year factory guarantee.
MXU 375

Our Carolina journey also incorporated time on prototypes for KYMCO’s latest utility quad – the MXU 375.

Soon after currently being underwhelmed by the company’s previous utility entrant, the MXU 500, we ended up pleasantly amazed by a capable offer this time all over. On the other hand, just like the 500, the MXU 375’s sketchy entrance-conclusion dealing with characteristics are a disappointment for intense path driving.

Styling and create excellent are strong, with aggressive capabilities and intelligent design and style that prove this organization is thoroughly in the functioning with its North American and Japanese opponents. Even with the chassis’ at times unsettled front close, it stays a no-excuses mid-displacement utility quad.

Though firm officers will not affirm it, the new MXU’s engine is shared with Arctic Cat’s new 366 4×4 utility, and the foundation platform for the two products are eerily identical. We feel the KYMCO model is the superior seeking twin. Its motor, a 366cc four-stroke, is sufficiently strong and sleek, a best match for its supposed function.

As outlined, dealing with was a mixed bag, and different equipment on-hand experienced distinctive configurations. The front-end dealing with is just as unstable as it is on the Arctic Cat variant in excess of undulating ground – much too considerably overall body roll, and steering that is simply thrown off-kilter.

The functionality of the carbureted and lover-cooled engine is a great deal better – clean, with a refined exhaust be aware and torquey electricity shipping and delivery.

A few options on our exam mules, like change alerts and hazard flashers, is not going to be making it to the ultimate U.S. edition and business engineers are even now tweaking the closing braking setup.

The most important stats will see generation unchanged – twin A-arm entrance and rear suspension (7 inches of vacation), a CVT with large and small gears, and disc braking in front and out again.

When it will come to function qualifications, the tiny MXU can strap 225 lbs . to its racks, and tow 1,050 pounds in its wake.

This new 375 will make a strong competitor in the entry-amount class, with a wonderful engine primary the way. Like a handful of other producers whose solutions share identical managing characteristics, KYMCO requires to emphasis its initiatives on building cars that retain their composure all-around corners and uneven terrain. Its competent engine and beautiful styling suggest a utility quad that has some sporty genes in its DNA. That is not actually the situation, but it is really not far off the mark.

A Clean Goose

Our former analysis of the new-and-enhanced Mongoose 300 at final fall’s ATV Trials party confirmed a significant roster of alterations that massaged the firm’s entry-degree CVT sport quad into a little something a lot more attractive than the primary.

KYMCO included a (substantially-required) sturdier chain and a much larger carburetor, stretched the wheelbase with a for a longer period swingarm, widened the monitor by a whopping five inches and softened up the overly-rigid front end with progressive fee springs.

In our newest take a look at, the ‘Goose tore by the tight trails of Carolina Journey Environment with eagerness and equilibrium. The CVT furnished incredibly snappy throttle response – a lot more intense than expected. Listening to riders, taking notes and continually evolving has served the firm and its products properly.

Energy from the liquid-cooled 270cc motor could continue to be stronger, especially at the top conclusion, but powertrain vibration wasn’t an problem, so it is pleased being pushed challenging. Physique roll is stored in examine and the progressive price springs make a ride which is considerably more comfortable than the ’07 design. The improvements are especially visible around severe trails.

A CVT tranny in a sport quad is even now rather uncommon, but was nicely-suited to the tight, winding trails we rode. Spunky general performance, good dealing with and a inexpensive sub-$3,800 rate make this entry-stage quad a intelligent option for activity riders seeking for the ease of a CVT.

While we didn’t get the chance to trip it, the updates manufactured to the ’08 Mongoose 300 were being also utilized to the 250.

This pair of Mongooses (Mongeese?) is now up there with the greatest equipment in the course.