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Yamaha also offers the 250, this is a true V-Twin called the Virago. ("Virago" is a tough, angry woman, so I do not know who is calling and why ..) When the air-cooled V-twin engine and modern (then) design, we drove - and happy - Yamaha 1997.But a wheel is still very small price is $ 3499, and although it is faster than the Rebel, not really blow away: Taming of the Rebel does not ("strange, does not seem shrewish") Virago takes a little over 18 HP to the pavement.

Suzuki also builds a 250cc cruiser, the GZ250. MO has not tested this bike, but it seems a little bigger and heavier than the Rebel and Virago despite the fact that sports just a single cylinder, instead of a twin. It is also priced around $ 3,000 to $ 3,199 mark.

 

Enter The Dragon. Since 2003, Kwang Yang Motors, Ltd., Taiwan has offered American buyers their Venox 250 cruiser as an alternative to small Japanese cruisers. But the Chinese may be, their bad reputation for bringing affordable quality imitations of Japan to win tenders with the machine more expensive? How does the Kymco cruiser is suitable for use in America?

Kymco is a large motorcycle company located in Taiwan. Since 1963 they have been building and exporting motorcycles and scooters worldwide. Over the last four years they have been selling scooters and motorcycles in the United States.

 

Unlike the myriad of importers bringing in millions of non-Chinese name scooters and motorcycles to sell on eBay and lawnmower shops across the nation, is Kymcos products and customers seriously, with a network of authorized distributors, the support parts, and a two-year warranty. They did not try to compete by discounting; Kymco scooters are priced the same as their Japanese and European competitors.

The Venox Kymco motorcycle is to offer the U.S. market and is also the largest motorcycle they make worldwide. It uses a very modern, liquid-cooled, dual overhead cam eight-valve engine with a square bore and stroke 58 mm x 47.2. With 11.5:1 compression, makes Venox motor 28 HP: much more than the Japanese 250cc cruisers do.

 

-Cylinder 247cc motor is hung on a steel tube frame reminiscent of the late 80s Honda Magna, a perfect staggered mufflers, solid disc rear wheel. It looks like the Asian market Honda Magna 250, but a careful examination reveals significant differences: the Honda engine is above the lighter square, with a wheelbase shorter. The fuel tank is below. It can Kymco makes the Magna for Honda, which does not allow you to build a set of components and the entire motorcycle Japanese companies, but Venox is a product designed and built Kymco.

In fact, Kymco hired German firm Naumann design the shape and style of this small car, explaining its European sophisticated look. Naumann also designed the elegant MZ 1000S and Honda projects and Audi. It is a bold step for a density and a commitment to producing advanced products. Do not be resigned to producing cheap copies of existing motorcycles and scooters.

 

The style is so surprising that people standing in the street and traffic lights, demanding to know who makes this distinctive-looking machine. Kymco adds to the confusion by leaving the logos on the bike for most. The tank is undecorated, and there is one and easy to remove "Kymco" decal on the front triple clamp for fans to know who made the bike. That would be fun to tell people its a prototype mini V-Rod, but the Harley people have spies everywhere, so I tell the truth.

When examined closely, this bike is world class in terms of build quality and fit and finish. Everything is set up as well. The controls, levers and switches work well and are strong. The pods are shaped and polished without metal. No squeaks or rattles, and everything works as it should, without the shameful parts, and components do not match a rider can be found in some Chinese brands. Now that is a V-Rod!

 

In terms of features and other details, Venox is fairly rudimentary. There is a light beam, but the clock. You get the passenger foot pegs and a support strap, but no tachometer. There is a counter, but no temperature gauge, but only one signal lamp at high temperatures. The key is nice, with a Kymco logo and "Venox" printed on it. The Venox has all the features you need or expect of a small cruise.

It is an ugly little with the long, skinny frame down tubes, and exposed in front of the radiator, but a big fork and a slick chrome tank surrounds the balance that out. Shock chrome, and Fat Boy-style solid rear wheel to return at the end of the muscle, the muscular appearance. The seat is low, 27.5, "said saddle height, but may not be low enough for a very short riders. Reseller relationships are easy to shave the sides of the seat down to facilitate micro drivers to get their small feet on the ground.

The brakes are another nice surprise. Although only a single front disc is a twin-piston caliper with a brake pressure steel braided. Hes feeling very nice to him and slows the bike as much as you want. The rear drum is cheaper, which took some trampled to lock. This may be due to fat and Maxxis tires stick with a classic 150-section in the back as a mid-size cruiser.

 

Jumping aboard, the driver is greeted with a seating support plane and the pilot pin and controls that are in front of the pilot, but so far they are sitting feel strange or uncomfortable. After playing "Wheres the fire?" For a moment, you can change the button and fire the little V-twin.

This bike comes to life with great clamor career certainly not run-of-the-mill 250cc cruiser motor! I asked Curtis Fisher, co-owner of Mid-America Power Sports as well as the Kansas City area Kymco dealer, why cycling is so strong. He said he had taken "four rivets in the calm eye, pull [ed] in the chicanes, [and] cut 2 inches off the deck." Modification of any net increase in power, but come alive with the sound and is essentially free, apart from the cost of the rivets. You can hear in the video clip. A balance of Venox is very quiet.

 

The cruiser was definitely feels bigger than a 250 cruiser usually. It has a large weight and a quality, solid feel to it. The brake and clutch are not adjustable: not so good for small hands. And 418.5 pounds * Dry weight is claimed a good deal heavier than the competition too.

But if I may a little editorial here, I do not think should be the first motorcycle a moped pen. I think a motorcyclist should be properly trained before she bought her first bike. I have seen many 200-pound scooters wrecked with less than 500 miles on them. Just having a light bike is not an excuse to start riding without training and with proper training of a 400-pound motorcycle should not feel overwhelming.

Even with all that weight, 28HP motor pulls the bike Venox has a stop very well, no problems with the clutch and smooth power delivery and progressive. The gearbox works well, and the city speeds, the brakes are more than adequate, with a good impression on the lever forward and dive at least the beefy front forks. The two shocks in the back looked very good in their chrome covers but have little travel and little damping. They help provide the experience of large cruise through the transmission of jabs to the riders rump and kidneys.

 

Now we get onto the freeway where I want to answer the question of potential buyers want to know: this thing has enough power to safely monitor the traffic? She is my wife end up in Winnebago hood ornament if I have one of these things himself? Well, fear not, because I liked the gas on I-435 until the small wheel to speed up, trying to keep Curtis on his MZ 1000S, which he did not ride with the flow of traffic. Well, not the flow of traffic in Kansas City. The flow of traffic in Los Angeles, yes.

250 has continued to grow past 90 MPH (indicated) on flat ground, and looked like it would go if I had enough space, re-baffled exhausts making a very cool micro-Ducati sound behind me as the engine approached the 10000 - rpm rev limit. Twenty-eight power is what makes the Ninja 250, and are good for about 100 MPH. Of course, they weigh about 80 pounds less, so shave 10 MPH off of this, and expect to reach that speed much slower than the Ninja with friends. Those of you, more than 180 pounds can have a different experience, of course!

At high speeds, it feels very stable Venox. The solid rear wheels do not seem affected by crosswind. Freeway cruising is for when some small engines hard work, vibration can quickly turn a trip to a chore. The Venox is certainly hard work, but he takes it in stride with Jack Lalanne-like stoicism. The vibrations are there, but it is not offensive. Protection against wind, of course, minimal, but the positive attitude does not put the driver in play mode, so windblast is manageable.

 

However, this bike is about cruising speed of no more road works, so how do you cross? In a winding road, this bike does not really shine. The Venox likes to ride as any small displacement motorcycles, the engine of Sorrows, near the rev limiter, keeping corner speeds up. Ground clearance is acceptable for a cruise, at least as good or better than the Suzuki Boulevard M50, Honda VTX1800, or other cruisers Ive ridden recently.

One of the best features of the Venox is that looks and feels like a much bigger bike. The long wheelbase, chassis, wide handlebars, solid and decent brakes and suspension are in addition to a fun ride. It lacks the fluttery feeling, light tomboy, or Rebel in volume and longer wheelbase. Do not allow the chassis or the wheel or fork flex as you would on some cruises, and not enough ground clearance so you can throw in enough depth if you want to.I knoow owners Venox potential may not have the representation track for the first time in the lists of important features, but its good to have a bike to feel safe and confident in all types of driving situations.

At the end of my test circuit of 80 miles, which had chased Curtis and local twisty roads, walked many miles from the interstate, and ridden through the streets with potholes, bumps in Kansas City. I never felt the bike bit sloppy in a practical way in the city or on twisty roads, though personally I like a lot more power on the road. But judging how to drive in most regions of the country, 80 MPH is fine, and light weight, good handling, versatile little bike all you need. With a two-year warranty (which Curtis maintains he never made a claim Venox) and a lower price $ 3999 of income, Venox is an incredible value, both as the cycle of a lot of us would ever need or want.