AK550 - First Motovlog. Pt. 1
Vložit
- čas přidán 15. 06. 2022
- My first motovlog on my new bike, the Kymco AK 550. I give an overview of the bike's performance, updates on events happening in my life, including sharing a stage and screen with a beloved Grammy and award winning musician and filmmaker. Watch and enjoy!
Watch my introduction speech at 1:13:40. - • University of the Arts...
Questlove's speech - • Ahmir “Questlove” Thom...
My Gear
2022 Kymco AK 550 Maxi-Scooter
2013 Kymco Downtown 300i Maxi-Scooter
GMax GM54S Modular Helmet with LED back light
Jackets 4 Bikes Track Motorcycle Biker Armor Leather jacket - Black
Joe Rockets Super Moto Gloves - touch screen fingers
Equipment
Drift Ghost S action cam
iPad Pro 10.5 and iPad Air 2 9.7
Rylo 360 camera
GoProMaX 360
Dragontouch Vista 5 action Cam
Canon EOS Rebel T7i
Purple Panda Lavalier Mic - Zábava
Can't wait to buy my new ak 550 premium in the philippines as a vacation bike. I wish kmyco will bring the ak 550 premium here in the u.s .
Maybe in time. Sales are doing pretty good, but they'd be better if Kymco would have an advertising campaign for their bikes.
Finally someone is US riding AK 550, can't wait for mine!
Yes, and thanks. Part 2 of this motovlog will be posted tomorrow, or Saturday at the latest. Thanks for watching!
Had mine nearly a month now. Great ride, not a replacement for a motorcycle really more a replacement for a car, but great ride especially in heavier traffic.
@@mellon3891 That’s one of the reasons I like a scooter over a MC, they do a lot of the work of a car, but with just 2 wheels. Mine have been great for commuting.
Seems like this would be great to tour with.
Take care, ride safe.
Great to see you out and about on your new bike, cool you can put your logo on the dash! :D
Sounds like you are getting on well with it mate! 🙂
Thanks! It's been an incredible experience, especially with the road trip with Anthony and Lone Wolfer to New Hampshire.
@@ScooterwolfsMotovlog I bet mate
Great video. I call my Kymco X-Town Kym 😉
I call my AK "Tank"...solid and rides like its on treads. Just STICKS to the road.
Plus the suspension is so tight.
Tankbike
Everyone I know who has one has given it a name.
@@MrJeremywarner I know what you mean. I've never liked riding in the rain until I had this bike.
@@ScooterwolfsMotovlog A frend called it Batbike. I got a black one ;-)
That seems like a really sweet sport touring scoot.
I can see how. And why. It's not ultra pracrical for like everyday commutes. But it probably accomodates longer trips really well.
And just joy rides. Personally i'd put 10% lighter rollers in the variator. Just to see if it's like normal, where the meanufacturers make it really fresh for trials, but then increase roller weight in the end for the extra 5% mpg increase and emission level reduction. In my experience all 4stroke bikes after 2012 needs 10% lighter rollers.
But for longer trips anf lots of steady pace cruising the slightly heavier rollers makes sense.
This kymco for some reason reminds me so much about my uncles 79 pontiac trans am. Fast, comfy, beautuful. Visceral. The dash looks amazing regardless of its functionality hahahs
I'll have to wait until the warranty expires before messing with the rollers, but that sounds like good advice. I've been using it for commuting, and it's been great, especially since I've added the top case. I just got a tunnel bag as well with adds a lot more to what I can store on the bike.
I'm on a trip in New Hampshire and there have been zero problems, and I've been keeping up with the two other Harley riders I'm traveling with.
@@ScooterwolfsMotovlog uuuh tunnel bags are epic. Usuallly i ride flat footboard scooter with a backpack on the luggage hook. Functions the same way basically. It's like in a car, with the space between ypur legs. Only wat better haha.
When you bring it in for service you should be able to ask about the roller weights without it impacting warranty. I'm thinking the minus 10% would make you outrun the harleys. It makes them that much more snappy with gear changes and keeping the revs up under full accelerations.
It also means you keep a lower gear/ engine runs at higher revs when cruising at 25% throttle at like 50 mph.
But where you' need 33% throttle before to keep it at 50, with lighter rollers the gear is kept lower so the engine is in powerband and can run at less throttle to maintain the same speed.
My commute scoot did 52 mpg with 5.5 gram rollers and with 4.5 now it does 46 bu feels like a pontiac trans am more than than a toytoa prius. More sound. Full power at whatever speed upon request, and yet able to cruise at low throttle and relatively low rpm for great mileage.
Anyways souns like a good road trip. Taje care, beware and i'll see you there 🙃
@@Lifeisawheelie Thanks. I really miss the extra space in the running board nook. On my Downtown 300i I can put my messenger/computer bag there secured on the shopping hook.
Can't do the same with the AK, but I can stow the messenger bag in the top case just the same. The tunnel bag has a clear top pocket so I can place my iPad there and access it if I need it.
I'll talk to the mechanics at the dealership where I got the Ak about the warranty conditions and what I can change without effecting it.
I use mine every day for Doordash :D
Its really surprisingly light and nimble in town
@@ScooterwolfsMotovlog so you think that changing the variator/rollers ect out would cause an issue with the warranty on the rest of the drivetrain?
I guess one could put the OEM parts back in so its not like anyone would know...but im just asking academically/hypothetically if you think it could void a warranty
Hi. More videos on your kymco ak550. Yes. Nice. Miles.
Thanks. I'm close to having my Thanksgiving break and hope to get some time to post another video. Thanks for watching.
The tendons in my left arm are starting to make me sick of working a clutch (even with a quickshifter that means I only use the clutch to take off), so I've suddenly developed an interest in both this bike and the Yamaha TMax.
They are both great bikes and I don't think you can go wrong with either. If possible, try out both and pick the one that fits your needs the best.
Ride safe and I hope you continue riding!
For the same reasons I bought a Honda Silver Wing because I'm a Honda guy. But I low key love this Kymco 550.
Waiting until 8 minutes in before you talk about the AK 550...... And let me suggest Toastmasters International, especially because you are a teacher. That aside I loved the points you mentioned about the bike. I'm looking to pull the trigger on a 2023 and trade my Honda CTX700 DCT and my beloved Yamaha Majesty for the Kymco AK 550. Thanks for the video, and ride safe out there! Cheers!
Thanks for the suggestion. Hope things work out on your trade in. I’m still super impressed by the bike, and the heavier weight is the only challenge, while the amazing brakes, suspension and power make it hard to imagine having another bike.
Thanks for watching.
@@ScooterwolfsMotovlog My 2007 Yamaha Majesty YP400 weights in a 432 lbs and at 5-5 I can't sit on it flat footed. However, once moving on her, I can thread a needle she's so nimble. But really want the AK 550 for long touring. Cheers!
@@MrGF1582 it’s a great bike for long rides. I rode from Philly to Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and back in September, and even in rainy weather it was the most comfortable rude I’ve had on a bike.
@@ScooterwolfsMotovlog Cool! That's what I want to do, rides from FLA to TX, to all points northeast and more. Thanks again!
@@MrGF1582 hope everything works out and let me know how you like the bike!
How did you acquire your Kymco, they do not seem available in Colorado?
Do you mean the AK 550, or just Kymcos in general? I purchased mine from a scooter dealership in Philadelphia, PA. I’d imagine there’s a dealership in Colorado. This website may help you find a dealer - kymcousa.com
What's your experience riding at night? I find I'm outrunning the headlights. Even highbeams is meh
I think I’m used to bad headlights no matter what bike I’m on. That just seems to bee the case for stock headlights. I try to avoid driving at night, but only on roads I’ve never been on or are unfamiliar with. If there’s no choice I’ll, do it, but probably taking it easy along the way.
So far from what I have seen, Miles has been quite the great bike!
I'm still blown away by how well it's handling the road trip. It's not everyday a scooter can run with two Harleys.
@@ScooterwolfsMotovlog 😄👍🏍🛵
Maxi Scoot... MAXI Fun !!!
Exactly! Thanks for watching!
Great review.
Having had a number of maxi scooters in my scooter career I like to say that Kymco got it right in the power and handling and suspension departments .For me not so much in the
Ergonomics ....on really long rides over 300 miles my legs seem to be to high and both hips make themselves known.
Wander about your experience.
We are a few brave ...no maxi scooters coming to the USA anymore .
Safe riding
Thanks. I found my legs and hips felt more comfortable and less sore if I placed my feet on the high running board pads on the AK. Doing that somewhat simulate the highway pegs on a cruiser.
I just got back from a long distance ride from Plymouth, New Hampshire back to where I live near Philadelphia. 395 miles, in 9 hours. My butt got sore, but nothing chronic, or worse than the other rider I was with who was on a Harley cruiser. Best of all I don’t feel saddle sore after I woked up this morning.
The AK was amazing, and the worst thing that happened was the battery on the keyless fob died yesterday morning.
@@ScooterwolfsMotovlog
Do you have any idea what the button on the key fob is for? I don't see anything in the manual about it. Guessing it's for testing the battery by seeing if the light goes on, but don't know for sure.
@@ScooterwolfsMotovlog Hello, i'm German from Stuttgart and i got a AK550 3 years ago. When i retired 3 month later i made my first 4 week trip all around Spain and Portugal. That have been ~ 7500km (~4700 miles).
Also my butt got sore but not my back or anything else. Very comfortable even for an old guy with sore knees, shoulders and back. Last year i went to Greece with it. For the suffering butt i used a gel pad (pillow) and took off the hump which hurts my tailbone.
The AK550 has power enough, once i got (measured with the navigation of my Samsung Phone) a bit over 160km/h (100 miles) and there was more possible. But at that speed it is consuming lots of gas. Speaking about gas - the instruments are awful, nice to look but the speed is shown around 10% higher than you really drive, the fuel gauge is more or less a guess. And if the sun shines you won't see anything. The Noodoe App is a piece of worthless crap, but nice looking :-)
Conclusion after 3 years and around 15,000 km? Great to drive at any speed with a very good chassis that takes a lot, a motor that does whatever your right wants without really vibrating (hands at the evening!) very good brakes, a very good seating with the possibility to have your knees in a > than 120° angle. But i need a additional pillow and to take out the hump.
Assembled is a big windshield which covers alsom the hands and is a bit higher.
I also got 2 Shad side cases and a big Givi top case which is for 8kg (~18pounds). Btw. The Shads are very good quality.
As a phone holder i assembled a Ram-Mount holder.
The batteries of the keyless fob are very small. So i recommend to take one as a spare part with you.
@@przemeksledziewski1973 I have no idea, but i really think your guess is quite correct. :-)
@@hansjanko7966 Thanks, and after my trip to New Hampshire I fully agree with your assessment. I’m hoping that Kymco will upgrade their dashboard (through a firmware update if possible) so that the digital font characters have a black outline around them to make them more readable in the sun.
I found that if you plant your legs in the higher foot pad position it takes some of the direct weight off your butt. It’s almost like the highway peg position you’d see on a cruiser. When I got home from a nine hour ride from New Hampshire I wasn’t as saddle sore as I was with a long ride on my Kymco Downtown. If my wife ever wants to go with me on a long trip I may get the panniers to add to the bike.
I own this scooter. Unfortunately the early 2021 models are developing small coolant leak at the bottom of the engine. It's related to a faulty mechanical seal of the water pump. Mine is at the dealership now waiting for a new mechanical seal. All covered under warranty.
Sorry to hear about the leak, but glad you’re covered by the warranty. With luck you’ll have your bike before you know it.
@@ScooterwolfsMotovlog Unfortunately it was not just me, so far 4 people at the forum had the same issue with coolant leak. After 6 weeks waiting, finally the mechanical seal arrived from Taiwan at the dealership. Now they have to replace it and hopefully no more leaks.
@@goru426 I have a 2022 model and so far there haven't been any mechanical problems on that level. Still, I'm crossing my fingers.
I've been experiencing problems with the Noodoe clock falling behind in its time, though I suspect that may be related to a need to update the app.
I can certainy see how going from floorboards to pegs for the passenger wouldfeel like a step backwards. Otherwise, it sounds like it has some great features 👍
I wish there was an after market mod I could add to replace the pegs with flat pads, but so far that doesn't seem to be the case. My wife is expressing an interest in riding my older bike though.
What's your opinion regarding a 6'4" guy on one of these? Good idea or not.
It has more leg room than my Downtown 300i which I would not recommend to anyone over 6 ft. 9I’m 5’11”). If you can find a dealer Ask for a test ride. I don’t think you will be disappointed.
Where'd you get the topcase if I can ask?
It’s a Shad SH58X. I got it a lot cheaper at FC-Moto, compared tomShad’s own site, plus they were sold out at the time.
www.fc-moto.de/epages/fcm.sf/?channable=02097969640037363630343538373099&ObjectPath=/Shops/10207048/Products/SH-D0B58206&Locale=en_US&gclid=CjwKCAjwzeqVBhAoEiwAOrEmzctq5Niu0JfUb_6A0UAme9FKKHWxEZfLRgPyT5zgSgf-UIMedGZcxxoCzPQQAvD_BwE
Welcome back! Question, did you add the turn signal noise in post, or is it that loud?😄
It’s actually that loud. Lone Wolfer said the same thing when In was riding next to him at Laconia in New Hampshire.
@@ScooterwolfsMotovlog That's funny.😄
It's true 👍 the bigger the scoot the heavier the weight. Those features are to die for: heated grips and tire pressure 🤤👍 and keyless 😭
Wow, questlove. Who are you, really tho 🤔 This is just a reminder to never judge a book by its cover.
I'm looking forward to hearing more about your new Bae!
Congrats 👏
Thanks. Just got back from an amazing ride from Laconia Bike week in New Hampshire. Bike ran like a charm. Only problem was the battery of the keyless fob ran out, but just replaced it today without any problems.
Do you look over the windshield or thru it???
Over the windshield. On my other bike the windshield was just at my eye level and it drove me crazy when I was first riding. The AK’s windshield is really clear too, with no distortions when looking through it.
When anyone says Miles, as a name, I immediately think of Devon Miles from the original Knight Rider
You know, I didn’t even think of that. Miles is just one of my favorite names, and it makes me think of Jazz musicians as well.
Vroom!
Ha! Thanks Jeffrey!
You mentioned the 2 speedometers...The only advantage ive found in that middle speedometer is that the center screen is extremely visible in full sunlight...more visible in full sunlight even
So ive had times where its KINDA hard to see my speed on the LED display because of the sun but the "reflective liquid crystal" display is clearly visible
Aside from that id say ya...seems pointless...and even with the visibility its nearly pointless :D
Great review btw
I fully agree. I'm on a trip in New Hampshire and the glare on the dash is blinding.
You and Anthony always rubbing it in that you have heated grips on your bikes!
It’s my first time having them, but I never thought I like this much. If you can install them, go for it!
Lovely scooter (I have a 2021 in Space Gray), but beware, read the Google Reviews of Kymco USA Inc in Spartanburg before purchasing. Dappled among the customers complaining about lack of service from Kymco USA Inc is more than one dealership that has decided to call it quits.
I’d sell the Kymco 300cc and buy a burgman 400 or 650 for touring with your wife, she will be much happier. Then keep the ak550 for you and short trips for 2up
The Burgman is definitely a great bike, but my wife found even my 300 to be too heavy for her. If I sell my Downtown I may just get a 50cc bike for her since she doesn’t have a MC license. After that, if she really likes riding, we may see about moving up from their.