Kymco Xciting 400i S: power, performance and technology just a click away [ROAD TEST]

Kymco Xciting 400i S – If you are still skeptical about the goodness of oriental products, let's say non-Japanese ones, this is the article for you. Even if you are looking for a high-performance, modern, but at the same time immediate and absolutely manageable scooter, this article is for you. In short, we recommend that you take a few minutes and learn more about the Kymco Xciting 400i S that we had the opportunity to try just a couple of days ago.

Kymco Xciting 400i S: the first glance

The first impact with the Kymco Xciting 400i S is absolutely positive. Tense but harmonious lines, two beautiful colors, both matt “Stone Effect” verbania blue and allione black, two large front headlights, a generous muffler. In short, nothing is missing. The lights are equipped with the new DRL (Daytime Runnin Light) system which guarantees visibility never achieved before, with the resulting benefits also in terms of safety. The two side handles make us think that traveling for two is one of the priorities of this medium-sized scooter, also because the underseat can accommodate a full-face helmet or a small backpack. Once the ignition is turned on, you can appreciate the mixed instrumentation, analogue and digital, with different functions and different graphics, manageable by the Noodoe system which we will see later. For now we give you all the information you need and more below. The design of the two rear-view mirrors is also very particular, with the glass part protruding slightly from the protective shell to facilitate adjustment. They have a nice cut and guarantee an excellent perspective. The eye also falls on the fork, which is particularly low to be able to work better in the context in which it is inserted and allow greater load capacity.

Kymco Xciting 400i S: let's turn it on and go

The starting point of our test is the splendid Villa Sigurtà in Valeggio sul Mincio. A journey of approximately 60 kilometers awaits us among the surrounding hills which will also take us to the provinces of Mantua and Brescia, among vineyards, country and provincial roads with beautiful bends to be taken with open throttle. The new Kymco features a 5 cc G400SC engine and has the highest power in its category: 36,1 HP, with a torque of 38,4 Nm at 6.000 rpm. It is a super charger engine, with a refined combustion chamber with four valves. The engine is equipped with a single-breasted shaft with connecting rods divided into two and joined by bushings. In short, an engine that is practically more of a motorcycle than a scooter. A power that the Kymco technicians have been able to make docile and manageable by increasing the rigidity of the structure, with a new support that anchors the engine to the frame in an even more secure way. In addition to the nice sound when starting, the engine convinces us after a handful of hundreds of kilometres. It has a fluid but present power delivery, it never jerks but allows you to reach notable speeds, but it is the recovery in tight radius curves, even uphill that surprises us. It never gives the feeling of being out of breath and even well above 100 km/h it always has that gas reserve that allows you to complete an overtaking safely. Once you reach 120 km/h the power becomes a little softer and reaching higher speeds becomes a pleasant extension. In short, the feeling is that of having a scooter that will allow us to wriggle through city traffic without problems but also entertain us for a trip out of town or simply a particularly long home-office journey, perhaps with a motorway stretch.

Kymco Xciting 400 S: comfort without sacrificing performance

The seat of the saddle is wide and with the right padding. The small backrest offers ideal support for the back which never gets tired even when tackling a few too many holes. Yes, because the Kymco The front is glued to the ground with the fork which copies the roughness of the road well thanks also to the double plate structure with which it is made. The new "V" shaped handlebar improves driving precision and optimizes visibility of the dashboard. The Xciting 400i S is also characterized by the large space available: in the large under-seat compartment with central opening, equipped with electric opening and courtesy light, it is possible to place a full-face helmet, while the front storage compartment is double and equipped with a lid with system Theft Protection. There is also a USB socket, while to protect yourself from the wind there is a new windscreen adjustable to five levels. Only the lower part of the legs is a little exposed to the air, but this did not cause any particular discomfort.

Kymco Xciting 400i S rhymes with technology

The new Kymco is a scooter with a lot of technology. The beating heart is the Noodoe infotainment system developed specifically for those who use the scooter every day of the year. Noodoe allows you to communicate with your smartphone and dashboard in an easy and intuitive way. The system improves safety and helps the driver in every situation without ever distracting him from driving. After a few simple configuration operations, the telephone and scooter will be synchronized and the dashboard will transmit all the necessary information for the rider. When stationary you will have notifications for calls and messages, while driving the central part will become a clear, intuitive and very precise navigator, with pleasant graphics. To use it, just load the maps onto an app that can be installed on your smartphone, activate the Bluetooth system and you're done. The instrument panel (with customizable graphics again thanks to the Noodoe system) is completed by the analogue speedometer on the left and the digital screen on the right with the service lights, the rev counter, the fuel indicator, the partial consumption indicator and the various trips taken. There are also the compass and the clock.

Kymco Xciting 400i S: a scooter without defects?

Given that we were very satisfied with the test overall, some small improvements are possible. The saddle fabric, at least in the model we were given to test, was not perfectly adherent to the padding and during sharper braking (by the way, the scooter stops in a very short space and without ever locking the wheels) it tenses a little. ' to slide forward. There are many controls on the right side of the handlebar and perhaps a little too close together, but getting used to them will certainly improve the situation. In the end we find ourselves in front of a complete, beautiful, high-performance scooter on sale at a more than fair price: 6.790 euros (ex-dealership list price) and to which the "5PRO" guarantee can be added: an additional formula that extends the two-year contractual guarantee also for the following three years.

Tester clothing:
Jacket: Tucano Urbano Aeros
Trousers: Tucano Urbano Genova Gag
Gloves: Tucano Urbano Aero Touch
Shoe: Alpinestars Lunar
Helmet: Scorpion Exo-220