I wrote Kymco about the AK 575 Premium availability in the US about 8 months ago

[MeSeaHunt]

why are u wanting the kymco? is the 400cc not enough(just curious)?? i agree on the missing equip(there is more) that SHOULD be standard, it just seems that the engineers of the scoots don't have a clue(just like bmw) and it is very confusing to me..... the scoots in the usa lack many things that the european models have standard or they are just "loaded" when our models have it as an "option"???

i called several kymco dealers and they ALL say their market is the atv side of the house and they will not order scoots unless someone comes in and pays for one, it is just not their $ market...... makes it hard to shop and touch one...

 

[mgg]

why are u wanting the kymco? is the 400cc not enough(just curious)?? i agree on the missing equip(there is more) that SHOULD be standard, it just seems that the engineers of the scoots don't have a clue(just like bmw) and it is very confusing to me..... the scoots in the usa lack many things that the european models have standard or they are just "loaded" when our models have it as an "option"???

i called several kymco dealers and they ALL say their market is the atv side of the house and they will not order scoots unless someone comes in and pays for one, it is just not their $ market...... makes it hard to shop and touch one...

The Kymco Premium has several features that I like and can't get on the C400.
The 350cc is adequate. (But as the saying goes, you can never have too much power.)

On my Pro's list I have the following:
Cruise Control (Don't use it often but when you need it, it is nice to have.)
Electronic Windshield (I thought this was a gimick until I had one on my Indian Challenger)
The ability to do 100+ MPH. (This is great when you want to pass someone on the freeway.)
TMPS (This is not a biggy for me as I'll just check them a few times per year.) It could be important though if you are riding and develope a slow leak, which actually happened to me once on my Indian Scout.)
I like that the rear wheel is 15 inches because I think you get more replacement options in that size.
I like the dash much better. It is amazing in person. I did not see the Premium but I was able to sit on, start, bounce, etc on a used Kymco 550i ABS in Chicogo. I think the dash is the same.
In my Pro's and Con's list I also added that there seams to be more maintenence videos on YouTube for the Kymco.
I think the maintenace manual is easier to read.
Possibly easier to maintain at home. Although replacing the oil filter looks messy.
Also now that I have seen one I actually think it looks a little better than the BMW. The one I saw was the gray color which I really like.
If I were buying new today I would get the Kymco. But now I have to justify paying a lot of money to get something different. And I really like the C400 as well. In the past when I had 2 bikes one of them got used 98% of the time and the other one just sat.

I listed the pro's for the C400 as follows:
I think it has a lower center of gravity?
It is 75 lbs lighter.
It gets 65 MPG ( I have gotten 70+ with just city riding, as opposed to 51 MPG
Color The Kymco only comes in black and matte brown.
Better glove boxes. The 550 feel cheap in comparision.
Auto canceling turn signals.
It's paid for. (This is a big one.) And I would most likely have to sell it myself if I decided not to keep it.
And I really like the handling of the C400. Best handling 2 wheeler I have ever owned.

 

[MeSeaHunt]

The Kymco Premium has several features that I like and can't get on the C400.

Cruise Control (Don't use it often but when you need it, it is nice to have.)
Electronic Windshield (I thought this was a gimick until I had one on my Indian Challenger)
The ability to do 100+ MPH. (This is great when you want to pass someone on the freeway.)
TMPS (This is not a biggy for me as I'll just check them a few times per year.) It could be important though if you are riding and develope a slow leak, which actually happened to me once on my Indian Scout.)
In my Pro's and Con's list I also added that there seams to be more maintenence videos on You Tube for the Kymco.
I think the maintenace manual is written better with photographs. My opinion.

i would only caution you to this important consideration(verified by all the kymco owners i sp/w);

if u do not have a local dealer(tech) who works on THIS specific machine on a regular basis, be prepared for a manf cust svc nightmare... another wards what the owners tell me is GOOD LUCK getting responses/help from kymco post sale when it comes to maint issue(s).... this frustration also seems to be evident on their forum??? as w/anything else, some are lucky & some are ready to strangle the crap outta someone.....

 

[mgg]

i would only caution you to this important consideration(verified by all the kymco owners i sp/w);

if u do not have a local dealer(tech) who works on THIS specific machine on a regular basis, be prepared for a manf cust svc nightmare... another wards what the owners tell me is GOOD LUCK getting responses/help from kymco post sale when it comes to maint issue(s).... this frustration also seems to be evident on their forum??? as w/anything else, some are lucky & some are ready to strangle the crap outta someone.....

Thanks for that info. I have not been able to sign into their forum. I can search stuff but I can't ask any questions. This has been frustrating. Another thing to add to the cons list.

 

[mgg]

Update
As mentioned if I were doing this from scratch I would purchase the Kymco AK 550 Premium over the BMW. But taking into consideration the lack of dealer support if you have a warratee issue, that the dealers will not take my BMW in trade, that the AK 575 is likely to come to the USA next year, and the initial investment I just can bring myself to do it. Maybe things will change/shift next year.

 

[jnichola]

There is one for sale not far from me, 2025 AK 550 premium. I've been meaning to go down there and take a look at it. The color is listed as flat brown, but the photo on the site is just a stock image. I really like the TPMS, and cruise control. Also 550ccs with 53 hp and only 30 pounds heavier sounds awfully exciting. But at the end of the day, I don't think the build quality could possibly compare to the BMW, and service is more convenient for me with a BMW dealership not too far away.

 

[MeSeaHunt]

There is one for sale not far from me, 2025 AK 550 premium. I've been meaning to go down there and take a look at it. The color is listed as flat brown, but the photo on the site is just a stock image. I really like the TPMS, and cruise control. Also 550ccs with 53 hp and only 30 pounds heavier sounds awfully exciting. But at the end of the day, I don't think the build quality could possibly compare to the BMW, and service is more convenient for me with a BMW dealership not too far away.

if u go let us know ur 2cents...
also ask the dealer if 2026's will be avail to order and if there are any changes?

 

[mgg]

There is one for sale not far from me, 2025 AK 550 premium. I've been meaning to go down there and take a look at it. The color is listed as flat brown, but the photo on the site is just a stock image. I really like the TPMS, and cruise control. Also 550ccs with 53 hp and only 30 pounds heavier sounds awfully exciting. But at the end of the day, I don't think the build quality could possibly compare to the BMW, and service is more convenient for me with a BMW dealership not too far away.

I sat on and started a used 2023 ABS version at a dealer in Chicago. I thought it looked and sounded great. The dash is amazing. The only thing I was disapointed about was the glove boxes. Nothing wrong with them they just seemed flimsy after using the C400 glove box which have the slow open mechanism and the auto lock. Everything else looked and felt really nice. I have not seen the Premium yet. I would love to hear what you think about it if you go to see it. I'm still on the fence about it but I might take the leap.

 

[Jemickarz]

Gents

Miguel here from the Philippines, i’ve test ridden the C400 gt, kymco xciting 400 and Kmyco AK 550, the AK 550 will absolutely destroy the C400 in every aspect, the xciting 400 is a perfectly capable daily commuter not as refined as the C400 but plenty capable with all its features, i presently own a C650 GT, love it for long rides but the AK 550 is also very capable and somewhat more responsive than the C650. Would i buy an Ak 550? Definitely!!

 

[HalfPriceGerman]

Is it confirmed that the AK575 is coming stateside next year? I think anything that is a luxury/toy item and imported in low volume (like a Maxi Scooter) is likely to get the axe because of tariffs making them cost prohibitive. Especially since I think the entire industry is in a slow down right now and not much is moving off the floor.

 

[Jemickarz]

Is it confirmed that the AK575 is coming stateside next year? I think anything that is a luxury/toy item and imported in low volume (like a Maxi Scooter) is likely to get the axe because of tariffs making them cost prohibitive. Especially since I think the entire industry is in a slow down right now and not much is moving off the floor.

The prices of scooters here in the US are prohibitive to say the least in 2023 a honda pcx 160 cost $5000 whereas in other countries it cost $3000, now the new Yamaha nmax 300 is $8500 and it costs $ 5200 elsewhere, say hello to new tariffs .

 

[mgg]

Is it confirmed that the AK575 is coming stateside next year? I think anything that is a luxury/toy item and imported in low volume (like a Maxi Scooter) is likely to get the axe because of tariffs making them cost prohibitive. Especially since I think the entire industry is in a slow down right now and not much is moving off the floor.

I am right on the fence about this. One week I am ready to call and place my order and the next week I am doing a pro's and con's list. One of the things on my con's list was that the AK 575 will likely come to the US in. From browsing the Facebook forum it has been confirmed that the 2026 models in the US will be the AK 550. Weight is an issue for me and the AK 575 is listed as 40 lbs heavier than the AK 550 and the only feature I see reported of the 575 is that low end torque 0-60 time is improved. Thing is the 0-60 time of 7.0 seconds on the 550 is already pretty good. If I get some unexpected money this winter. I will definetly pull the trigger and I will not wait for the 575 in 2027.