As mentioned earlier, the 215-kg Kymco Xciting is a load to handle. Stay focused and strive to keep it perfectly upright at idle. Also, watch out for sudden stops in traffic and parking maneuvers downtown.

The comprehensive instrument panel will satisfy most users.

The comprehensive instrument panel will satisfy most users. My only complaint here is the speedometer: the digits are too small to ensure easy reading at a glance.

Riding dynamics
In the city, the Xciting 500 Ri is able to thread its way through traffic with no major hesitations. Takeoffs are reasonably quick, but they could definitely be quicker.

The engine works best once you reach 60 km/h, allowing smooth and safe passing maneuvers. The quality brakes also help make the riding experience safer.

On byroads, the Xciting cruises at decent velocity. It easily leans into corners and regains momentum like a true touring scooter. When you get to the highway, it has no problems keeping pace with cars and trucks. However, crosswinds are a concern.

Due to an unreliable speedometer on my tester, I was unable to record any kind of performance data, like 0-100 sprints and top speed. To give you an idea, while I was tackling regular traffic (110 km/h) on Highway 640 on Montreal's North Shore, the speedometer read... 140 km/h! It didn't make any sense! Turns out the company gave me a non-calibrated model that had arrived from Italy just a few days earlier.

The Xciting 500 Ri offers relative comfort. While the ride is fine on highways and well-maintained byroads, it becomes hard on the spine when you step on most city streets and bumpy roads. The front damping system is too stiff and does not provide sufficient travel. Moreover, the rider's seat is a bit too firm to make up for the hard ride.

On byroads, the Xciting cruises at decent velocity.