This Kymco KRV 180i Will Leave The Yamaha Aerox 155 In The Dust

The KRV 180i is a maxi-style scooter which Kymco says is a “compact sport recreational vehicle”. Packing more performance than the Yamaha Aerox 155 and innovative hardware which is uncommon on scooters, the KRV 180i sure looks eager for some fun.

Traditionally, the scooter market is divided in the middle, on one side you have compact commuters, and on the other you have maxi-style sporty scooters. The KRV 180i is a hybrid. It’s packing maxi-performance in a compact shell. From the front, its tall apron looks like any other European maxi-scooter, but behind it there is no prominent spine or 4,000 square feet of real estate for you and the pillion, it’s all compact. 

One of the ways Kymco has been able to achieve this compact packaging is by moving away from traditional CVT transmission format for the PTM method. Essentially, it’s a belt driven motor like on Kymco’s flagship scooter, AK 550. Unlike conventional scooters, the KRV 180i features an independent swing arm (like on the Ather 450X), allowing a lower center of gravity and optimised weight balance.

It also gets a newly developed 175.1cc, liquid-cooled engine which churns out 16.99PS and 15.68Nm. That seems, at least on paper, a very squared-out engine which should be pretty tractable and fun for daily city jaunts. For perspective, the Aerox makes 15PS and 13.9Nm.

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The frame is suspended on a telescopic fork at the front and a monoshock at the rear. It also gets 270mm and 234mm petal discs at the front and back respectively. Rider safety has traction control and dual channel ABS covered. The KRV 180i is a proper Kymco at heart and gets all the stuff you’d want on a sporty scooter like LED lighting, digital instrumentation and keyless access.

The price for one of these is approximately Yuan 27,800 (roughly Rs 3.2 lakh). This pricing makes the KRV 180i a direct rival of the Desi Keeway Vieste 300, which is priced at Rs 2.99 lakh (ex-showroom). It’s unlikely that we will see the Kymco KRV 180i in India anytime soon, but if you're looking for a sporty maxi-scooter, then the Vieste is the only choice in the sub Rs three lakh price bracket.