Kymco introduces new Quannon 150 at Long Beach

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Taiwanese Kymco is continuing its move beyond the scooter world with a new 150cc bike that looks pretty competent. The Quannon is slated as a 2010 model with all the standard small-bike features, including an air-cooled 150cc powerplant, disc brakes, monoshock and a tepid 14 HP. Kymco is touting the bike as a perfect entry-level machine with 75mpg fuel economy. Unfortunately, the company’s not fooling anyone with an MSRP of $3,449.
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The problem is that for an extra 50 bucks 500 bucks, you could just go buy a new Kawasaki
250R Ninja. Expect to see these sported by the hipper Chinese food
delivery guys as post-apocalyptic Blade Runner street fighters with
crazy rattle-can paint jobs, megaphone exhausts and homebrew folding
cargo boxes.

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Kymco Press Release.

The New 2010 KYMCO Quannon 150 is an entry level motorcycle with sportbike styling that offers big performance in a small package. It’s racy, lightweight design and low 31″ seat height makes it a real flat-footed confidence builder that’s fun to ride and frugal to own.  The Quannon 150 will sure to become a favorite among beginners with its sleek race bike look with a big bike feel without the price tag.  The 150cc 4-valve highly fuel-efficient engine has all the power you’ll need to get you around town with plenty of fuel to spare so you can relax and enjoy the ride.
 
All KYMCO motorcycles are backed by a 2-year warranty and up to a 4 Year KYMCO Extended Protection Plan is also available from any authorized KYMCO dealer.
 
Engine Type                        4-stroke air-cooled 4 valve
Displacement                      149.3cc
Horsepower                        14 HP
Bore/Stroke                         62×49.5
Cooling System                  Forced air
Ignition                               Electric
Gearbox                             5 Speed
Chassis                              Steel
Front Suspension                Telescopic forks
Rear Suspension                 Mono shock           
Front Brake                         Single disc
Rear Brake                          Single disc
Front Wheel/Tire                  110/80-17
Rear Wheel/Tire                   140/70-17
Dimensions (LxWxH)           81″x28.5″x46.2″                   
Seat Height                         31.5 in.
Wheelbase                          53.3 in.
Fuel Capacity                      3.6 gals.
Estimated MPG                   70-75 MPG
Weight                                299 lbs.
Available Colors                  Blue or Red
MSRP                                 $3,449

  • http://twitter.com/skadamo skadamo

    Hmm, I love when a manufacturer breaks the mold in the US. I really do. Kymco has a great reputation. But $50 < than the Ninja? Yeah, tough sell. Only benefit might be simpler licensing in some states.

    If someone starts a race series for 150ish cc bikes the small capacity motorcycle might become a cool niche. Classic Motorworks will be importing the TVS Apache RTR 160 this year. TVS in Indian. See here…
    http://www.othermakes.net/motorcycles/150cc-Motorcycles-US-2009

  • Tanshanomi

    I am surprised that nobody has started importing the Bajaj or TVS Apache from India. That market is awash in well-made 150cc four-stroke sportbikes and sport standards with fairly high-tech chassis.

    • Tanshanomi

      …and, if I would have read more closely, skadamo’s link made my post moot. Thanks for the info.

  • http://irs-media.net Sandra

    The 2009 Ninja is $3900 – so it’s $500 more than the Quannon, not $50.

    Besides, the Quannon is a 2010 model coming out early, who know how much more the Kawasaki will be in 2010.

    • http://hellforleathermagazine.com Wes

      Thanks for the clarification Sandra, we’ve corrected the story.

  • ct

    guys if you are talking about 150 cc racers in india the yamaha r15 leads the class and 3bhp more than the apachertr160. and the rtr has tyre issues too unlike the r15.

  • Brad

    I bought a FZR400 with R6 forks and a yzf swing arm for winter weather commuting last year and loved it! It’s amazing how much a good rider can do with a fairly well handling 50 horses on a good set of tires. Maybe this is a brilliant idea.. Fuel economic 50 horse inline 4′s or singles built to ride with similar sportbike stance, handling, and braking to inline 600′s of today. Low insurance, high fuel economy, and a confidence building 50 horses without the disrespect of the typical beginner bike packaging. This can even be a street fighter type package to save build/crash costs. As long as it is built to keep up in the corners. Makes a fun and well performing starter bike or 2nd commuter bike. A fun size to race too!

  • mototom

    most guys I see riding 600s, liter bikes or mega cruisers are poseurs of one sort or another. Most are not capable of riding these machines well or safely. All would benefit from learning how to ride small displacement bikes.

    The only thing scarier that a fat 50+ proctologist on a cruiser is a 16 year old on a liter bike.
    Or me naked but we probably don’t want to get into that here.

  • Nick R

    Its nice, they could sell it at kiosks in the mall.

  • Nick R

    Ok, just kidding, I like it, it looks good, perhaps a bit too Honda looking. I wonder though if I would fit on it- literally, Im 6 foot 9 inches, 245 lbs.

    • http://hellforleathermagazine.com Grant

      I think it looks alright as well. I just wish Kymco had squeezed a little more power out of that 150, which we know they’re full capable of doing.

  • http://www.robotribe.com robotribe

    I dunno. I ride a middle-weight naked and a 250cc scooter, and what I consistently find in conversations with either the scooter crowd or bike crowd is that in one way or another, they associate with some sort of “cultural identity” that’s tied to them and their bikes.

    This 4-stroke 150cc, 14hp and fully-faired sport bike isn’t far enough removed from it’s pocket bike counterparts they sell at auto supply stores. It’s barley an “underpowered sports bike”; a BB gun dressed to look like an AK-47.

    Instead of pretending to be something it isn’t, I think they should go after a new niche crowd looking for small displacement bikes with their own identity. Stripped down, nouveau, small displacement cafe racer, perhaps? Would they get more traction with the same bike if it looked like old BSAs or Matchless bikes? At least then it doesn’t suffer being compared to the thousands of 600 and 1000cc sport bikes already littering the streets.

    I think there’s an opportunity for the manufacturers of small displacement bikes to capitalize upon a niche market or subculture the way the major bicycle manufacturers have gone after the homegrown, fixed gear/messenger bike trend.

    Instead of small underpowered “sport” bikes that try to look cool, how about smaller, honest-looking bikes that are cool because THEY AREN’T sport bikes?