In a sea of scooters, the Kymco KRV 180i manages to soar above the crowd. It’s the world’s first compact scooter to feature an independent swingarm derived from the motorbike architecture of its bigger brother, the AK 550 maxi-scooter. It features ABS, traction control, LED lighting, and even a nifty keyless system.
The TCS model also gets an upgrade from the previous KRV DDS, with a chain instead of a belt driving the rear wheel. The chain-driven system supposedly allows for easier and more affordable customization, smoother acceleration, and lower maintenance costs.
I’ve been using the retro-styled Kymco Like 150i for about 5 years now, so I welcomed the chance to test out this sporty-looking bike for a week. The KRV 180i TCS proved easy and comfortable to use for a ride out of town from Quezon City to Laguna and back as well as city driving.
Styling
While I personally prefer the look of classic scooters, the KRV 180i still looks appealing. It looks aggressive, yet still sleek. It’s not boxy or sharp-edged at all. There’s something hawk-like about its features.
The front reminds me of Batman’s mask and cowl with angry squinting eyes. With its digital dashboard, LED lighting, and tech features, you can feel like you’re on a mini-Batmobile powering through the city streets.
The standard flat-foot body design allows optimal riding position for short and long rides. But it’s the back of the bike that’s particularly eye-catching with a crankcase serving as a part of the suspension swingarm mechanism. The KRV uses an independent one-piece suspension arm similar to those seen on big sports bikes, so immediately, it looks different from other scooters when viewed from the rear.
The KRV 180i is heftier than other scooters with dimensions (1,960mm long, 755mm wide, and 1,115mm tall) comparable to the Honda ADV160 and the Yamaha Mio Aerox. The model I used was a beetle-like shade of dark green (officially called Psychedelic Green), but this model also comes in other colors like Midnight Black, Cold White, and Restless Red, a dark wine or plum shade rather than the usual bright red. Very classy-looking colors, in my opinion.
The saddle
The bike’s saddle is thick. Like ultra-padded Sofa King-level thick compared to the thinner seats in most other normal scooters. You can feel the comfort and cushioning while cruising on longer traffic-free roads and rougher mountain passes as well as going over humps, potholes, and unevenly placed manholes in the city.
The downside for not-so-tall riders is that it feels slightly unwieldy to use in high-traffic situations. At 795mm, the seat height feels a bit tall for me. I’m only five feet tall, so I’m literally at the edge of my seat to reach the ground on tiptoes at standstills. Then I have to adjust my position to sit more comfortably and see the side mirrors once traffic starts to move. Taller riders will have an easier time reaching the ground from the middle of the seat.
While I didn’t get to test out the bike with a pillion rider, the suspension is ideal for both single riders and when carrying a passenger.
Engine performance
The KRV comes with a newly developed 175cc four-valve liquid-cooled engine that provides strong and smooth power delivery. I could feel the burst of power every time I twisted the throttle. You can feel the power when going uphill and overtaking.
The KRV adopts the PTM or Power Transmission Matrix design concept of the AK 550 and has a similar independent swing-arm design, which separates the engine and transmission system.
According to Kymco, the KRV 180i has an average fuel consumption of 37km/L. During our weekend ride, it managed to cover 122.4km with just two bars going down from the full 7.2-liter tank capacity, which means roughly 40km/L. But that’s just based on one long ride with fast highway driving. It seemed to guzzle gas faster during accumulated shorter city rides.
In an r/PHmotorcycles forum on reddit, a KRV owner of nine months claimed his average fuel consumption for the KRV 180i on long rides was 37-40km/L and around 28-31km/L for city riding, but also mentioned that new units tend to be “medyo matakaw pa sa gas.”
Ride and handling
I’ve used several scooters in the past decade, which are often light with low seat heights. Despite the KRV’s bigger size, it was surprisingly comfortable, light, easy to use, and well-balanced. The lower center of gravity made it easy to control and use when turning corners. I liked how it stayed balanced even when going very slow in traffic, so I didn’t have to put my feet down all the time.
It was also great to use on twisties and flat, straight highways, and had good traction on mountain roads. The extra cushioning from the seat helped and I felt less vibrations going over rough roads than some other smaller scooters.
Another thing—I could easily put the bike on the center stand without much strength and back it out of parking areas.
I did enjoy using the KRV 180i outside the city rather than through city traffic. It felt a tad bulkier and a bit tiring to use (mainly because of the seat height) in areas where traffic crawls uphill. If I were to use this bike regularly, I’d consider shaving off an inch or two from the seat.
Extra features
One thing I loved about the bike was the convenient keyless system. There was no need to hunt for the key fob in my bag—where items always disappear. Just having the key in proximity to the bike means you just push a button and twist a knob to turn the engine on, open the gas tank, and access the seat compartment. So there’s no danger of accidentally locking your key inside the seat compartment.
Speaking of the seat compartment, this bike has huge under-seat storage (with an automatic light to boot!) to stash a whole helmet, which was convenient for errand runs. I appreciated not having to bring my helmet with me when going to the grocery, mall, or bank. The front compartment is open, but it can be handy for keeping gloves and other small items. There’s also a USB charger in case you need up to juice up your phone for navigation.
Verdict
The KRV 180i TCS is a solid scooter that offers comfort, convenience, handling, and great performance to power your urban adventures. Its automatic transmission and spacious storage make it convenient to use around the city, while the powerful engine shines best during weekend rides. While there are more fuel-efficient models out there if all you need is a nimble daily commuter, the unique styling and extra features make it a worthy bike to consider, especially for first-time motorcycle buyers in the market for an adventure scooter.
Its P199,900 sticker price is higher than other models in its displacement class, so your budget will play a factor in whether or not you’d get this bike.
SPECS: Kymco KRV 180i TCS
Price: P199,900
Engine: 175cc four-valve liquid-cooled
Power: 16.8hp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 15.7Nm @ 6,000rpm
Transmission: automatic
Swingarm: independent
Head- and taillights: LED
Dry weight: 143kg
Seat height: 795mm
Fuel-tank capacity: 7.2 liters
Compartment capacity: 25 liters
USB charging port: dual slot
Ignition: keyless
Braking system: equipped with ABS
Traction control: equipped
Dimensions: 1,960mm x 755mm x 1,115mm
Wheelbase: 1,400mm
Fuel system: injection
Score: 9/10
