Girls sure to like Kymco's new scooter

Jul 2 2009 Harriet Ridley

KYMCO knows what scooter-loving girls want. Just look at its latest creation, the Like 125. I'm a girl and I don't just like it - I love it!

The Like 125 is built for girls with its smart retro styling and sophisticated Italian design.

Of course, Kymco isn't Italian. It's Taiwanese, but it knows the Italians rule in scooter kingdom so it got Italian designer Massimo Zaniboni to style the Like.

Zaniboni moulded it on the 50s and 60s 'dolce vita' look, giving the Like a white pearlescent paintwork, chrome mirrors, wide body panels and chrome surround headlamp.

It looks stunning, and not just from afar. The finish, small details and build quality of the Like is at least as good as on any scooter from the top brand names.

I had the bike for more than a month and racked up some serious mileage, taking it all the way from Hertfordshire to Wiltshire one weekend on a whim. I used it every day for my Hatfield to London commute whatever the weather and it never missed a beat, not did it ever give me any sign it might fall to pieces as some cheap scooters often do.

And although looks hark back to the good old days, there's nothing retro about the Like's performance. The modern 125cc air-cooled, four-stroke engine runs smoothly and so efficiently it can manage 100mpg, and tops 65mph, while brakes are disc front and rear.

The Like is ideal for big city streets with nightmare traffic thanks to its small dimensions and outstanding agility.

But it will also happily whiz down the motorways, the wide fairing shielding you from the elements, and the relatively large 12-inch wheels and decent wheelbase keeping things stable.

People are gob smacked when I tell them the mileage I cover on this type of scooter. But they're ideal for it: The speed is there for national limits and they're incredibly comfortable and practical.

The Like comes standard with its colour-coded top box, which means loads of storage for my oversized handbags and waterproofs.

There's also the obligatory underseat storage that will take an open-faced helmet.

A bag hook at the front combines with a flat floor for maximum carrying capacity, while a neat cubby hole at the front will hold sunglasses, documents and, well, make-up!

The instrument panel tells you how many miles you've covered and how much fuel you have among all the usual things, and there's also a super-handy digital clock to keep track of time.

I felt such a stylish girl about town with my all-white Arai helmet that matched the scooter (and top box!), and my trendy leather jacket and tall boots that I couldn't resist turning up at outdoor pubs and BBQs on it to meet up with my envious friends.

And I got more than a few wolf-whistles from white van men at the traffic lights on my way there.

You'd never believe the Kymco Like 125 is a budget scooter. But at just £1,699 with an offer of free insurance, it certainly won't bust the bank, and leaves you with an invaluable tool for tearing about town and beyond at a fraction of the cost of public transport.

Kymco is rapidly eclipsing the seemingly millions of Chinese scooter manufacturers all vying for a slice of the European scooter market.

This manufacturer from Taiwan has built a reputation for solid, reliable machines with a cheap price tag.

It's been making a roaring trade on the continent and in the UK, becoming a real rival to the Italian scooter giants.

And now with its latest batch of models, it has even me lusting after a Kymco scooter.

FAST FACTS

Kymco Like 125

Price: £1,699

Engine: 125cc four-stroke air-cooled

Transmission: Automatic (CVT)

Maximum speed: 65mph

Brakes: Front Disc, Rear Disc

Front Forks: Hydraulic Dampers

Rear Shocks: Adjustable Dampers

Seat Height: 780mm

Net Weight:110kg